HBO Max has a massive selection of shows and movies from all of its partner networks, including HBO, Discovery, Food Network, and more. New shows and movies are always being added, so here are my top picks for this weekend and the week ahead, plus everything new streaming below. This week brings one of several A24 horror movies to the service, along with fan-favorite returning shows.
This Week on Max: PCMag’s Picks
Bring Her Back (Oct. 3)
The latest horror effort from A24 comes from the Australian brothers behind the excellent Talk To Me. In Bring Her Back, a pair of step-siblings lose their father and wind up in foster care, where their new mother is not what she seems. This one has haunted VHS tapes, cannibalism, demonic possession, and a career-defining performance from Sally Hawkins.
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Directors: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
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Cast: Sora Wong, Billy Barratt, Sally Hawkins
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Genre: Horror
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Rating: R
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IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Smiling Friends: Season 3 (Oct. 1)
Adult Swim shows are reliably weird, but Smiling Friends goes above and beyond, blending a diverse array of art styles and animation approaches into its deceptively silly stories. Charlie and Pim are loyal employees of Smiling Friends, a mysterious business that exists solely to assist people with their problems, regardless of their severity. The third season brings even more chaos.
Vgly: Season 2 (Oct. 9)
This HBO Max exclusive might have flown under your radar, but Vgly is a compelling and stylish drama about the Mexican hip-hop scene that’s worth your attention. Benny Emmanuel stars as Vgly, a young rapper trying to claw his way to prominence while feuding with foes through beats and rhymes. It has a great soundtrack and moves at a brisk clip.
HBO Max New Releases This Week
October 3
Bring Her Back
Where We Call Home – Season 4
October 6
Smiling Friends – Season 3
October 7
Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: It Doesn’t Have to Hurt
One Day in October – Season 1
Recommended by Our Editors
October 8
Alex vs America – Season 5
Baylen Out Loud – Season 2
October 9
Vgly – Season 2
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About Our Expert
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
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