Published Feb 2, 2026, 3:15 PM EST
Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant who also covers Movies and Music. He's published over 2500 articles at SR, including weekly binge guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.
Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.
With so many outstanding series to choose from on HBO Max, it can be difficult to commit to just one show, especially a lengthy one with multiple seasons. These five series are all critically acclaimed or trending now, making them perfect for the first week of February 2026.
Screen Rant's TV experts have also assembled the best shows to binge this week on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, Peacock, and Paramount+. Don't miss the shows everyone will be watching this week, as well as some all-time classic picks.
Madam Beja
A brand new Brazilian costume drama series that released its first five episodes on HBO Max on Monday, February 2. The entire series will consist of 40 total episodes released between now and late March, with batches of five episodes dropping every Monday.
Shot in Portuguese with English subtitles and dubbed audio available, this epic telenovela series has the potential to be one of the biggest hits on HBO Max worldwide this month. The story follows a 19th-century woman who opens up a luxurious brothel after being shamed by society.
Primal
The adult animation series Primal is one of the most-watched series on HBO Max's international charts this week. Season 3 of teh critically acclaimed series just released in mid-January, with new episodes dropping every Sunday until mid-March.
Primal follows a caveman and a dinosaur who bond due to terrible tragedies and rely on each other for survival in a world gone astray. Rated TV-MA, this is by no means a kids' show and is the winner of 5 Emmys, including Outstanding Animated Program in 2021.
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
The critically acclaimed 2-part docuseries Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! chronicles the magnificent life of one of comedy's greatest and most influential minds, Mel Brooks. Co-directed by Judd Apatow, this series consists of 2 movie-length episodes, but can be binged in one night.
With its perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! is a must-watch for all comedy fans. Featuring all sorts of archival footage and new interviews with legendary comedians, this just may be the definitive documentary about Mel Brooks.
Friends
There's arguably no better comfort show to play on HBO Max than the hit 1990s sitcom Friends, which has enjoyed massive streaming success well into the 21st century. Consisting of an enormous 235 episodes, all ten seasons of Friends can be streamed on HBO Max.
Friends earned 6 Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002, and is considered one of the best TV shows of all time on IMDb. Featuring the immortalized cast led by Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and more, all sitcom lovers should see Friends at some point in their lives.
The Sopranos
Speaking of all-time greats, HBO Max remains the exclusive streaming home of The Sopranos, which still holds up as one of, if not the, best TV shows of all time. While Breaking Bad, The Wire, and Mad Men certainly have their cases, The Sopranos remains an elite series 27 years after its release.
Featuring outstanding performances by James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, and more, The Sopranos won 21 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2004 and 2007. If you're a fan of modern classic prestige TV, The Sopranos is a perfect show to binge this week on HBO Max, especially if you haven't seen it yet.
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