HBO Max has unveiled a solid lineup of new additions to the service in August. House of the Dragon is headed toward the conclusion of its third season, which will be followed by the next stop in James Gunn’s DC universe, Lanterns. Mother Mary leads the way for this month’s A24 streaming premieres, and the creators behind Robot Chicken will debut a new special for Adult Swim’s 25th anniversary.
Read on for some of our top recommendations coming to the service or jump ahead to the full schedule of everything getting added to HBO Max each day.
What’s Worth Watching on HBO Max in August
House of the Dragon Season 3 Finale – Premiering August 9
This summer’s big HBO Original is reaching its end toward the beginning of the month. House of the Dragon Season 3 has been a real return to form for the Game of Thrones spin-off, consistently earning positive reviews. Things are certainly as complicated as ever, so one can only imagine what will play out for the Blacks and the Greens in the final two episodes. Probably some more devastating misunderstandings.
Already caught up on the new season? Check out our full interview with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal
Sicario – Streaming August 1
As always, HBO Max will be picking up older movies through new licenses. The bulk of these will be available starting on August 1, and one movie that’s definitely worth watching for any fans of the Dune saga is Sicario. Denis Villeneuve’s crime thriller follows an FBI agent who gets roped into a government plot to take down a drug cartel leader. Be warned – It’s one of the most tense and terrifying movies I’ve ever seen.
Lanterns – Premiering August 16
After House of the Dragon reaches its end, a new series from James Gunn’s DC Studios will take its Sunday slot. A Green Lantern adaptation has been in the works through various iterations of the years, but the final version of the series is focused on the more experienced Hal Jordan and the new recruit John Stewart. Nathan Fillion is already confirmed to reprise his role from last year’s Superman, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see connections to future DC projects like Man of Tomorrow.
Mother Mary – Streaming August 21
HBO Max continues to be the streaming home for movies distributed by A24. While we’re still waiting on a streaming release date for breakout horror hit Backrooms, another A24 movie coming to the service we’d recommend is Mother Mary. Starring the incredible Anne Hathaway, IGN’s 8/10 review describes David Lowery’s latest “a pop star ghost story with an amazing look and a story that plays a background role to the interpretive dancing.”
Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special – Streaming August 31
Adult Swim is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and it’s no surprise that Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich were tapped for the festivities. This new special will celebrate over two decades of Adult Swim characters and shows through a murder mystery story in Robot Chicken’s classic stop motion style. It’ll be available to stream on HBO Max the day after premiering live on Adult Swim.
Everything Coming to HBO Max in August
August 1
AmyBarbarianBells Are RingingBilly BuddBlockersEpicFlipper’s New AdventureGreat White Highway (Discovery)Hall PassHall Pass: Enlarged EditionHappy Feet TwoIt Comes At NightMacaoMiss SloaneMojaveMurder on the Orient Express (2017)OrphanPractical MagicPut A Ring On It: Cheat Hab (OWN)Quo VadisRoad House (1989)SicarioSmart MoneyStand by MeStrike Up the BandTaxi!The Band WagonThe Crimson PirateThe Fighting 69thThe Kennel Murder CaseThe Rain PeopleThe Sea ChaseThe Wonderful World of the Brothers GrimmThe Wrong ManThe YearlingThresher Shark: Stun to Kill (Discovery)TuskWho’s That Knocking at My Door?You Can’t Get Away with Murder
August 3
Naked And Afraid: Shipwrecked, Season 1 (Discovery)
August 4
Chopped: Volume 4, Season 64 (Food Network)Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks (HBO Original)
August 6
Monsters of God (HBO Original)
August 7
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Season 1House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 215 (HGTV)House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 260 (HGTV)The Invisible GuestThe Strangers: Chapter 2 (Lionsgate)
August 8
Belle Collective, Season 8 (OWN)
August 9
Heart & Hustle: Houston, Season 2 (OWN)
August 10
Double Lives of Suburban Wives, Season 1 (TLC)
August 11
The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door (CNN Films)
August 12
Signs of a Psychopath, Season 11 (ID)
August 13
Building Giants, Season 5 (Science)Faster With Newbern and Cotten, Season 3Isadora Moon, Season 1D (Max Original)Most Extreme Humans, Season 1 (TLC)
August 14
Normal (Magnolia Pictures)Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes (HBO Original)
August 16
Lanterns, Season 1 Episode 1 (DC Studios Drama Series)
August 17
Thanksgiving (2023)
August 20
ER: Caught On Camera, Season 1 (TLC)Expedition X, Season 12 (Discovery)
August 21
Conan O’Brien Must Go, Season 3 (HBO Original)Mother Mary (A24)
August 22
Abbott Elementary, Season 5
August 24
Margarita: Make Your Story Count, Season 3 (Max Original)
August 25
“Ben Sasse is Coming Home: Lessons in Life and Death” with Jake Tapper, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (CNN Originals)
August 26
1000-lb Roomies, Season 2 (TLC)Bobby’s Triple Threat, Season 5 (Food Network)Homestead Rescue: Intervention, Season 1 (Discovery)
August 27
Totally ’90s House, Season 1 (HGTV)
August 28
House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 261 (HGTV)The Producer, Season 1 (HBO Original)
August 30
Enter NowhereHollaKnock KnockThe Cabin in the WoodsThe Strangers: Chapter 1The Strangers: Prey at Night
August 31
Big Burger Battle, Season 1 (Food Network)The Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special (Adult Swim)
What’s Going on With HBO Max?
Things have gotten a bit funky for HBO Max. Well, they could. Warner Bros. put itself up for sale back in 2025, and after a little bit of a battle with Netflix, Paramount came out as the buyer. More recently, however, 12 states launched an antitrust lawsuit against the potential acquisition, putting the whole thing at the very least on pause until the trial concludes.
What exactly any of that means for the Warner Bros. streaming service? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, HBO Max continues to offer three subscription plans starting at $10.99/month, and is also available in a discounted bundle with Disney+ and Hulu.
Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who, when she isn’t following streaming news, spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
