HBO Max is a standalone streaming platform that offers quality entertainment for all categories of viewers. The service provides quick and easy access to HBO's vast catalog of superb content along with all-time favorites by DC, Warner Bros., Studio Ghibli, and others. Moreover, HBO Max prides itself on being the only platform to run film premieres on the day they are shown in theaters and at no additional charge.
Lots of Excellent Shows and Movies to Choose From
For now, HBO Max’s greatest asset is its extensive and delightfully varied collection of popular TV series and films. At the time of launch, the service tallied 10,000 hours of streamable content, which featured all of HBO’s titles and a plethora of imported high-profile shows such as Friends, South Park, The Big Bang Theory, etc.
The choice of Max Originals available to HBO Max users is currently limited to just a few titles like the rom-com Love Life and the black comedy series The Flight Attendant starring Kaley Cuoco. However, the platform is now working on several major exclusives, including the Friends Reunion Special, the Suicide Squad spinoff, and the Gossip Girl reboot, so viewers will likely have more options to pick from later this year or in early 2022.
While HBO Max is renowned for its adult viewer-oriented content, there are plenty of entertainment choices for children, too – from a comprehensive collection of Sesame Street episodes to Lego movies and Looney Tunes cartoons. In the meantime, the platform’s multiple parental control features will help you rest assured that there is nothing inappropriate being shown to your kids.
An Uncluttered and Visually Enhanced Interface
HBO Max generally provides a more or less the same comfortable scrolling experience as Netflix or Hulu do. Almost anything you might be immediately interested in is available right upon opening your profile: there is Continue Watching, My List, Featured Movies, Featured Series, and Editors' Picks of HBO TV Shows.
The interface looks aesthetically pleasing. The dark black-and-purple theme makes every menu, text entry, and image stand out nicely and, by displaying fewer tiles on the screen at the same time, the app feels much less cluttered and tiresome on the eyes. The only essential fault with the HBO Max interface is that it is sometimes difficult to make out the highlighted text in the menus, so picking a movie to watch can take some time.
Pros
- A solid collection of quality content
- Clean and accessible interface
- Tons of age-appropriate content for kids; adjustable rating settings
Cons
- Little original content beyond HBO’s unique titles
- High subscription price
Conclusion
While it slightly lags behind in the big-name originals department and is still missing a bit of human touch as far as recommendations are concerned, HBO Max is a worthy product fully equipped to withstand the competition of larger streaming services.
