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HBO Max is now live in the UK! If you're wondering how you can get the new service and what is available on it, then you're in the right place. On this page we'll break down how you can sign up to the streamer, the different price tiers available, and a few reasons why you should get on board.
Previously, the only way to see many of the best HBO Max shows was by signing up to NOW, a streaming service owned by Sky. Now that HBO Max has officially launched in the UK, however, you can cut out the middle man and watch the likes of House of the Dragon, IT: Welcome to Derry, The Last of Us, and many more directly on one of the best streaming services.
So join us now as we answer all of your burning HBO Max questions...
What is HBO Max?
This one is easy to answer: it's Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service. This is the company that owns the brands HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios, TNT Sports, and several more.
All of those are huge names, but for the purposes of this site and the sort of things we like to cover, HBO Max is the new UK home of Superman and all the DC movies, the whole portfolio of amazing HBO shows, like Game of Thrones, The Wire, Succession, and future big name series like the new Harry Potter show.
HBO Max launched in the US back in 2020, was rebranded simply as Max in 2023, then went back to its original name last year.
How do I sign up for HBO Max?
The easiest way to get HBO Max is to go to the website hbomax.com, select your plan, and sign up. If you have Fire TV or Roku you can sign up directly within the app itself. There you go, nice and simple.
If you're a Sky customer then there's a strong chance that you will already have the new service! HBO Max Basic with Ads will be included with your subscription automatically from March 26 if you have any of the following: Sky Stream, Sky Glass with Sky Ultimate TV, or if you're a Sky Q customer with Sky Signature, Sky Entertainment, or most other Sky Q packages. The only ones that are excluded are TV Essentials and Sky Basics.
If you're a Sky customer, but want to upgrade beyond the HBO Max Basic with Ads plan then you can do this through the MySky area on your TV, the My Sky app, or Sky.com. You will only pay the difference, which means that the Standard plan will be +£5 per month and Premium will be +£10 per month.
How much does HBO Max cost in the UK?
There are four different HBO Max tiers, with the cheapest starting at £5.99 per month. In the table below you'll find all the details for each tier, to help you determine which one is the right tier for you.
There is also a TNT Sports plan, which costs £30.99 per month, but comes with no HBO content. Instead, this is for dedicated sports fans and includes TNT Sports 1–4, TNT Sports Ultimate, live event feeds, and TNT Sports original documentaries.
Which HBO Max plan is for me?
Plan name | Price | Downloads | Newest films | Ads? |
Basic with Ads | £4.99 per month | None | No | Yes |
Standard with Ads | £5.99 per month | 30 per month | Yes | Yes |
Standard | £9.99 per month | 30 per month | Yes | No |
Premium | £14.99 per month | 100 per month | Yes | No |
Which shows and movies are on HBO Max?
Too many to mention, honestly. But here are just some of the big shows and movies that you'll be able to find on the streamer.
- DC Studios: All of James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DCU shows and movies, plus all the DCEU movies before that.
- Lord of the Rings: All of the movies, including the recent War of the Rohirrim animation.
- Friends: All 10 seasons of the classic comedy.
- Game of Thrones: The original saga, plus spin-offs House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Harry Potter: All eight original movies, plus the forthcoming new TV adaptation.
- IT: Both of the Andy Muschietti-directed movies, plus the recent Welcome to Derry TV show.
- Classic HBO shows: The Sopranos, The Wire, Succession, Band of Brothers, Hacks, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and so many more.
What's happening to NOW?
It's sticking around and, from March 26, HBO Max is a part of the NOW app, meaning that you won't have to install a separate app.
If you were already a NOW Entertainment subscriber then you will have been automatically been upgraded to NOW Entertainment & HBO Max at no extra cost. It's important, however, to understand which of the two NOW plans that you are on.
NOW Entertainment: This is the cheap tier and includes Sky Originals and Exclusives, plus new seasons of all the returning HBO shows (so things like House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, IT: Welcome to Derry, Euphoria). However, you won't have access to the full back catalogue or HBO originals, like The Pitt. It's currently £2.99 if you sign up for a 6-month minimum term, or £7.99 per month rolling.
NOW Entertainment & HBO Max: This includes all HBO shows, including originals like The Pitt, as well as back catalogue films. It's £6.99 per month if you sign up to a 6-month minimum term, or £9.99 per month rolling.
Are there any other ways to get HBO Max?
Yes! You can also access HBO Max as an add-on through Amazon Prime via Prime Channels. That way the service will appear inside the Prime Video app and everything will be managed through a single bill. It will work on any device that supports Prime Video. You won't, however, be able to subscribe to the Premium tier.
If you're a Prime Video Channels subscriber then you can also sign up for a standalone HBO Max account and watch through the HBO Max app, rather than on Prime Video, should that appeal.
For more viewing guides, check out our recommendations for the best upcoming TV shows and upcoming movies.
