In May 2020, Warner Bros and HBO are embarking on a new adventure. The two subsidiaries of Warner Media want to play on the same ground as Netflix and invest in the then very closed SVoD sector. Following in the footsteps of Disney and Universal, the American company joins the list of historic Hollywood companies to take the plunge into subscription streaming.
While the health crisis allowed living room entertainment to invade more and more homes, HBO Max counted on its impressive gallery of iconic productions to attract fans. HBO is a television juggernaut, a hit factory that only disappoints on very rare occasions, while Warner Bros has some of the most popular licenses in cinema. Quickly, original series were started, marking a turning point for the company which would become Warner Bros. two years later. Discovery.
Four years after this fanfare launch, HBO Max (which has changed its name in the meantime) had not yet invested in France and certain European countries. The HBO channel formed partnerships with local platforms, starting with OCS which broadcast Game of Thrones et House of the Dragon until December 2022. Even once this alliance ended, David Zaslav’s company had not decided to set up shop in France, well not completely. It was via the Warner Pass that HBO made its new releases available, such as the series The Last of Us. This solution was only temporary, the time has finally come to discover what Max has under the hood. From June 11, 2024, Series fans can benefit from access to a rich catalog. But what is it worth?
Films and series in the catalog
Many OCS subscribers had given in to the sirens of the Orange service thanks to the HBO catalog. Taking advantage of the popularity of Game of Thrones, launched in 2011, the French platform found a good place in the consumption habits of series fans. These are as many users as Max flirts with the emblematic titles of HBO, but not only…
HBO Landmarks
Max’s main argument is undoubtedly the HBO catalog. From day one, new subscribers will be able to enjoy access to all seasons of Game of Thrones and its spin-off House of the Dragon. The second returns in a few days, and promises to return to the formula of its elder. All HBO series are also listed via a dedicated tab. There are some key works there, The White Lotus or Sex and The City, as well as new features. Via Max, it will for example be possible to lay eyes on The Sympathizer. The series starring Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. was until now offered via the Warner Pass.
The best of cinema
Nothing really new on the series side for holders of a subscription to the formula via Prime Video, at least on the series side. The arrival of Max especially changes the situation on the film side, with access to all the films produced by Warner Bros and which the media chronology makes accessible. Within the DC universe, spectators will be able to see or rewatch Black Adam as well as Justice League et Birds of Prey. We can also note the arrival of Constantine with Keanu Reeves, who disappeared from Netflix shelves a few years ago.
But the other major argument for Max is undoubtedly his access to the saga Harry Potter, unavailable for streaming for several years. Via Max, fans of the little wizard with glasses will be able to see or rewatch the eight films with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as well as the first two opuses of the franchise Fantastic Beasts. Finally, the release of Mad Max: Furiosa is excellent news for Max who can highlight the previous opuses from the saga of George Miller. Note that French productions are not forgotten since certain films are also offered. This is the case of the film Glittery Shrimp or even Babysitting et L’Arnacœur.
Novelties
Over the coming months, Max should continue to expand its catalog with original productions, from its most emblematic universes. We can cite The Prophecyseries derived from the saga Dune by Denis Villeneuve or even The Penguin, continuation of the story of The Penguin by Colin Farrell. Superheroes will also be at the heart of a comedy written by Jon Brown, The Franchise will tell the behind-the-scenes story of blockbusters adapted from comics. Finally, Welcome to Derry intends to spread fear by exploring more fully the universe of That de Stephen King.
The unmissable
- Harry Potter
- Mad Max
- The DCEU
- House of the Dragon
- Game of Thrones
- The Leftovers
- The White Lotus
- Euphoria
- Rick et Morty
- Larry and his belly button
- The Last of Us
- Visitors
- True Detective
- Succession
- The Flight Attendant
- And Just Like That
- Our Flag Means Death
- A long engagement Sunday
- Eight Women
- I am ok ?
- Farenheit 451
- Sherlock Holmes
- Gatsby
- Casablanca
![Interface Max Montage](https://www.journaldugeek.com/app/uploads/2024/06/interface-max-montage.jpg)
What about the user experience then?
The library is not the only argument that comes into play for joining a platform, intuitiveness and functionalities are also essential data that players in the sector must not neglect. Max thus takes advantage of the skeleton of its predecessor HBO Max to offer the most satisfying and fluid experience possible. On computer, mobile and television, does Max have what it takes to entertain on a daily basis?
On computer
Although computers represent a negligible part of the devices used to access online content, Max has still taken care to create a functional and pleasant website. At play.max.com, a fairly conventional interface is deployed. We thus find a gallery of suggested content, among the films and series showing. The reception includes a carousel of highlighted content as well as a menu “Recommended for you”. If it is difficult after a few hours to evaluate the effectiveness of these recommendations, we can expect the algorithm to work with the same precision as that of Max’s competitors.
The Light on our Universes roulette is also a great way to imagine the stamps under the control of the company. In the case of DC, on the other hand, the organization is quite chaotic. While Disney+ relies on a chronological organization, Max prefers to highlight its biggest hits. No DCEU subcategory is also accessible, the company preferring to highlight “the greatest of Gotham” as well as the “descendants of Krypton”. Finally we can note the presence at the top of several tabs, respectively dedicated to series, films, sport and the HBO catalog. This dedicated tab is proof, if proof were needed, of the importance that the stamp’s productions will have for the platform.
On the app
Premium content at your fingertips is the promise of HBO Max with its mobile application. We thus find an interface also easy to use and operational than the web version. The same carousel system is available in scroll mode and allows you to quickly imagine the series and films highlighted. The application is quite bare and only has three tabs at the bottom of the screen, the home page, the content currently playing or saved as well as the search bar. The presence of a my favorites tab, accessible at first glance, is a real plus, it should allow simpler and more efficient navigation.
On TV
Finally, Max cannot invade French soil without a solid application for connected televisions or consoles. This is a very important point for users who want to avoid wasting precious minutes tirelessly searching for a program to watch. Nothing new, we find the same home screen and the same tabs. The player is quite bare, only allowing you to adjust the language and subtitles and access more episodes. We can also note the appearance acronyms to warn viewers of sequences that could shock them. The age requirement is at the top left, along with warnings for frightening content, loud sounds and lighting effects which may affect photosensitive people.
![Home Max](https://www.journaldugeek.com/app/uploads/2024/06/accueil-max.jpg)
Price and features
Such a catalog could have motivated the creation of fairly expensive packages, after all the Warner Pass was available for 9.99 euros per month, in addition to the 6.99 euros necessary for Prime Video. Finally, it is with a price range below those charged by Netflix that Max arrives in France. Between 5.99 euros and 13.99 euros per monthMax’s price list is a little above the formulas offered by Disney+, but demonstrates a greater diversity of content.
Prix
- Basic with advertising: 5.99 euros per month
Two simultaneous devices and Full HD resolution
- Standard: 9.99 euros per month
Two simultaneous devices, Full HD resolution, ability to download and access to channels Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, CNN International, Discovery Channel, ID, TCM Cinema, TLC, Warner TV, Warner TV Next
- Premium: 13.99 euros per month
Four devices, Full HD, 4K, Dolby Atmos sound, ability to download and access to the same channels.
- Sport option: 5 euros per month in addition to the basic package
The formula can be added to any package and allows you to benefit from coverage of sporting events via the Eurosport 1 and 2 channels. It is thanks to it that it will be possible to follow the Paris Olympic Games.
And with ads then?
Before taking the plunge into Premium, some users will undoubtedly want to see what the platform has under the hood. Reduced access thanks to advertising could be an opportunity to see or rewatch iconic series and films without burning a hole in your pockets. However, the experience must not be too weakened… After a few hours of use, we must admit that the platform does not skimp on the arguments to play in favor of this formula. If it will be necessary to count on more three minutes of commercials per episode (for series exceeding 40 minutes per episode) spread over two interruptions of one minute and thirty seconds. We also saw episodes with two interruptions and four commercials.
On the film side, a single advertisement serves as a foreword and two other cuts are in the program. Here again we must count on 1m30 of advertising per interruption. Note that the tool does not seem to adapt to your use and it will probably be necessary to provide several interruptions for the undecided, those who do not watch content until the end.
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