HBO Max – quick links
HBO Max: new in August
The Housemaid – 1 August
Film (2025). The Housemaid follows a struggling woman who is happy to start over as a housemaid for an affluent, elite couple. She enters a mansion of secrets, manipulation and escalating psychological games that pull her into a dangerous relationship dynamic. The film stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar.
Monsters of God – 7 August
Series. Most people fear reptiles. A few are fascinated. And a handful will stop at nothing to have them. Collectors call it ‘the fever’ – the relentless drive to chase what is bigger, rarer and deadlier. That fever created a billion-dollar criminal enterprise that spanned six continents over 50 years.Â
Director Eric Goode (Tiger King, Chimp Crazy) follows his first love, reptiles, into the dark and gonzo underworld of exotic animal smuggling. As he digs deeper, he uncovers an empire built on obsession, filled with smugglers, collectors and the animal cops trying to stop them.
Stalked – 13 August
Series. Across three gripping episodes, Stalked presents the experiences of women from across Aotearoa New Zealand whose lives were profoundly affected by stalking, shining an unflinching light on the early warning signs of stalking, the patterns of obsession and escalation, and the systemic failings that have left victims unprotected, often until violence erupts.
Plainclothes – 15 August
Film (2025). A police officer works undercover to lure and arrest men who display lewd behaviour in public restrooms. However, he soon finds himself torn between duty and desire when he develops a secret connection with one of his targets. Written and directed by Carmen Emmi.
Starring Tom Blyth, Russell Tovey and Maria Dizzia.
Shark Week 2026 – 16 August
Series. The ocean’s most formidable apex predators are back—bigger, bolder and more thrilling than ever—as Discovery’s Shark Week returns. This highly anticipated week-long event delivers 20 jaw-dropping premieres across every night, packed with pulse-pounding action, epic breaches and high-stakes encounters.
Featuring pioneering technology, groundbreaking investigations and unbelievable stunts, each special dives deep into the mysterious world of sharks, bringing audiences closer than ever to their raw power, intelligence and untamed nature.
Double Lives of Suburban Wives – 27 August
Series. A new series that re-examines what life in suburbia looks like in the digital age. The series follows six couples in the St. Louis area whose everyday routines from carpools and cul-de-sacs to church and community gatherings coexist with a second, more private side of their lives.
Beneath the polished façade, they’ve built lucrative and unconventional second lives, forging an unexpected bond rooted in navigating lives that many people would never expect.
The Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special – 30 August
Special. To celebrate 25 years of Adult Swim, The Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special brings together an unforgettable lineup of the network’s most iconic characters aboard a cruise ship for a chaotic anniversary celebration.
Featuring fan favourites from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Metalocalypse, The Venture Bros., Black Jesus and more, this special delivers the signature stop-motion comedy and outrageous humour that only Robot Chicken can.
HBO Max: recent highlights
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe – 24 July
Series. Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke.
Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well.
Good Fortune – 17 July
Film (2025). In Good Fortune, a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Aziz Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen).
