Top 5 Must-Watch HBO Max Shows This Week: January 12–16, 2026

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After the 2026 Golden Globes, here are five must-watch series on HBO Max for the week of January 12th to 16th. The list includes recent award winners, nominees, and critically acclaimed shows that have earned top honors in television.

HBO Max is home to both classic, highly-regarded shows like The Sopranos and newer, popular hits such as Heated Rivalry. These five picks showcase some of the best TV currently available on the platform, all considered standouts in television history.

House Of The Dragon

After winning a Golden Globe in 2023 for its first season, House of the Dragon is returning with season 3 in Summer 2026. And with a new Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of Seven Kingdoms, premiering this Sunday, January 18th, now is the perfect time to rewatch House of the Dragon!

The new series, A Knight of Seven Kingdoms, takes place after the events of House of the Dragon on the Game of Thrones timeline. If you’re going to watch the premiere this weekend, it’s helpful to have already seen House of the Dragon, which stars Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, and other talented actors.

Succession

HBO’s Succession is a recent Golden Globe winner and is widely considered a standout series, ranking among the network’s best like The Wire and Six Feet Under. The show brilliantly combines intense corporate power struggles with surprisingly funny, often immature, interactions between the Roy family and their extended relatives, Tom and Greg. Succession is a unique and captivating drama that’s perfect for binge-watching.

Many believe the success of Succession helped make way for shows like Industry, which recently launched its fourth season on January 11th. While Succession could have potentially continued for at least five seasons thanks to its strong cast and compelling dynamics, creator Jesse Armstrong decided four seasons were enough to tell the complete story. With what many consider one of the best ensemble casts in recent drama television, Succession is a must-watch for anyone with an HBO Max subscription.

The White Lotus

Last year, The White Lotus season 3 was a major hit and widely discussed show for HBO Max. It earned six Golden Globe nominations for 2026, including a nomination for Best Drama Series (though it often feels like a comedy!). Several actors also received individual nominations, including Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Aimee Lou Wood, and Jason Isaacs.

Each season of The White Lotus features a new location, following Hawaii and Italy with season 3 now set in Thailand. Season 4 is planned to take place in Saint-Tropez, France. While the show is known for its twists and turns, season 3 delivered the biggest surprises yet, creating a compelling contrast between Western indulgence and Eastern spirituality.

No matter which season you enjoy – whether it’s the first with Sydney Sweeney, the second with Aubrey Plaza, or the newest one – The White Lotus is a really fun show on HBO Max that’s worth watching again and again.

Hacks

Jean Smart continued her Golden Globes success, winning her third Best Actress award for a TV Series – Musical or Comedy. She received the honor for her role as Deborah Vance in the popular HBO Max comedy, Hacks. The show itself was also up for Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy, and Jean Smart’s co-star, Hannah Einbinder, was nominated as a supporting actress.

HBO Max’s Hacks has been a critical darling for four seasons, earning an impressive 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The fourth season marked a significant change for the show, moving the setting from Las Vegas and the road to Los Angeles after Deborah secures her ideal job. If you’re looking for top-notch comedy writing on HBO Max, Hacks is one of the very best choices available.

The Pitt

As expected, The Pitt—the 2025 Emmy winner for Best Drama Series—also won a Golden Globe, completing an incredible awards season for the hit HBO Max medical drama. With new episodes of season 2 dropping every Thursday, now is the perfect time to start watching—or re-watch—The Pitt.

The Pitt had a fantastic January 2026, winning both of its Golden Globe awards, including a Best Actor win for Noah Wyle. With rave reviews, awards success, enthusiastic fans, and topping the charts on HBO Max in the US and worldwide, The Pitt is the show everyone is talking about – and you definitely don’t want to miss it.

Looking for something new to watch? Ebaster has updated its guides to help you find the best shows and movies on Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Paramount+.

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2026-01-12 22:20