HBO Max – quick links
HBO Max: new this week
In the Same Breath – 1 March
Documentary film (2021). In this HBO Original documentary, director Nanfu Wang investigates the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, examining how both Chinese and US leadership used misinformation and propaganda to manage the narrative.
Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union – 1 March
Docuseries (2021). An HBO Original, this three-part series directed by Peter Kunhardt chronicles the personal and political journey of the 44th President of the United States of America. It explores his life from his childhood to the White House, with a strong focus on his racial identity and the complexities of his presidency.
NYC Epicenters 9/11 –> 2021½ – 1 March
Docuseries (2021). This documentary mini-series chronicles life, loss and survival in New York City across two decades, from the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Small Town News: KPVM Pahrump – 1 March
Docuseries (2021). This six-episode documentary miniseries follows news station KPVM-LD in Pahrump, Nevada, and centres on news anchor Deanna O’Donnell as they take on the challenge of expanding into the Las Vegas market for greater exposure.
DTF St. Louis – 2 March
Series. An HBO Original, this darkly comic new limited series explores a volatile love triangle between three adults trapped in the quiet desperation of middle age. As longing, regret and impulsive desire collide, what begins as an attempt to feel alive again spirals into obsession and betrayal – ultimately culminating in a shocking death that exposes the dangerous cost of chasing second chances.
Starring Jason Bateman, David Harbour and Linda Cardellini. Episodes drop weekly, same day as the US.
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Seasons 1-5 – 4 March
Series. This surreal sketch comedy series from Adult Swim plunges viewers into a deliberately offbeat ‘nightmare version’ of television. Created by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, the fast-paced show blends bizarre short films, warped public-access-style musical performances and absurd fake commercials into a chaotic comedy experience, featuring memorable appearances from guest stars including Bob Odenkirk, John C Reilly and Weird Al Yankovic.
The Bus Driver: Britain’s Cocaine King – 7 March
Docuseries (2025). This two-part documentary series reveals the true story of Jesus Ruiz Henao, a Colombian refugee who hid in plain sight as a London bus driver while operating a billion-pound cocaine trafficking empire during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Naked and Afraid Season 19 – 8 March
Series. In this reality series from the Discovery Channel, each episode chronicles the lives of two survivalists (one woman, one man) who meet for the first time and are given the task of surviving a stay in the wilderness – completely naked.
HBO Max: recently added
Splitsville – February 24
Film (2025). This new film gives the sex-comedy treatment to the politics of modern marriage. The story begins with Ashley (Adria Arjona) asking Carey (Kyle Marvin) for a divorce, sending the good-natured Carey straight to his close friends Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Covino) for support.
Murder in Glitterball City – 20 February
Docuseries. Based on the true-crime novel by David Dominé, this two-part documentary follows the story of a murder in a crumbling Louisville mansion, and the decades of secrets and corruption that live within the old house’s walls.
Neighbors – 14 February
Series. This funny documentary series from the producers of Marty Supreme takes a close look at complicated and chaotic disputes among neighbours across the US. Each episode features a different set of neighbours in the heat of their grievances, uncovering spirited disputes about property lines, animal ownership and even a pair of yellow Speedos.
Like Water for Chocolate Season 2 – 15 February
Series. In the second and final season of Like Water For Chocolate, Tita glimpses the possibility of a new future with Dr Brown – one where gentleness offers refuge and reinvention. But Pedro’s return rekindles a forbidden passion that challenges every rule and tradition she has been bound to.
Set against a Mexico undergoing violence and profound social change, each character is driven to confront past traumas, long-buried secrets and the true cost of love and freedom. Amid the magic of the kitchen – where traditional Mexican dishes and ancestral alchemy shape their world – Tita and Pedro learn that some loves are destined to burn bright, no matter the obstacles.
Blending magical realism with rich cultural heritage, the series delivers a visually captivating story of family, emotion and enduring desire.
