As we head into September, it’s getting colder, the sun is setting earlier, and we’re forced to reckon with the inevitable passage of time. Thankfully, we’re also coming up on the best season for sitting in the darkness watching TV. And what service has shows that can be hard to watch when you have any natural light in your room? Yep, I’m talking about HBO Max.
While I unfortunately do remember the final season of Game of Thrones, HBO Max is still a personal favorite and probably the service I watch the most. Whether you’re already subscribed, considering a new subscription, or honestly don’t remember what you’re paying for anymore, here’s a look at everything coming to the service in September.
What’s Coming to HBO Max: Highlights
I’ve picked out some highlights for the audience here at IGN, but feel free to jump to the very long bulleted list of the full September lineup.
New Deal With GKIDS Kicks Into Gear (September 1)
A series of highlights this month stems from HBO’s recently announced deal with GKIDS. A spread of otherwise hard to find live-action and anime movies from Japanese directors are joining the streamer’s existing slate of Studio Ghibli movies. The following films will all make their North American streaming debut on September 1:
Fortune Favors Lady NikukoGhost Cat AnzuLonely Castle in the Mirror Love & Pop The Place Promised in Our Early Days
Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name. will also be making its 4k streaming debut on the service, though keep in mind 4K streaming is limited to Premium HBO Max subscribers.
Rick and Morty Season 8 (September 1)
The latest season of Rick and Morty aired on Adult Swim earlier this year. IGN’s review describes a slow start, but that “things do get markedly better as the season progresses, culminating in two all-time banger episodes.”
Unlike most animated shows in the modern era, Adult Swim decided against streaming new episodes after the live premieres. Instead, the full season is coming to HBO Max several months after its finale.
The Fate of the Furious: Director’s Cut (September 1)
Fast and Furious is one of those franchises where it’s impossible to find every movie on one service. The eighth installment, The Fate of the Furious is just one of the several movies in the series that is only available to rent or buy on digital. Well, until now. Both the theatrical and director’s cuts are landing on HBO Max on the first of the month.
Friendship (September 5)
If you’re a fan of Tim Robinson or cringe comedy in general, you have to watch Friendship. The comedian stars alongside Paul Rudd as neighbors, one of which is certainly on the quirkier side. (Take a guess on who plays who.)
Katie Rife’s review for IGN goes so far as to say it’s “an absurdist take on the buddy comedy that plays like a loosely connected series of sketches from Robinson’s Netflix hit I Think You Should Leave.” Which, again, I truly think is a good thing. The directorial debut from Andrew DeYoung hits HBO Max on September 5.
Task (Premieres September 7)
From Brad Ingelsby, the creator of Mare of Easttown, Task is a new crime drama that follows a Philadelphia detective assembling a task force to take on a local criminal. The series stars Mark Ruffalo, Tom Belphrey, and Emilia Jones, and will take HBO’s prime time spot, streaming new episodes at the same time they air live on Sundays at 9pm ET.
Warfare (September 12)
The latest from Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza hit theaters this past April, and while it arrived on digital within a few weeks, the movie is coming to HBO Max around five months later.
As an immersive look at the Iraq War, IGN’s review describes Warfare as “the kind of film where you’re sitting holding your breath, tensed up, for much of the run time. (94 minutes, in case you’re wondering whether or not it’ll be too much to endure.)” Garland’s next project is none other than the Elden Ring movie, which he seems to be preparing for in appropriate ways.
Everything Coming to HBO Max in September
As with most streaming services, HBO Max is getting a massive batch of new movies and series on the first of the month, as Warner Bros. rotates their own offerings and adds more recent acquisitions. After that, a steady stream of releases make their way to the service from other Warner Bros.-owned networks. Keep in mind that this list is subject to change.
If you’re subscribed to the HBO Max bundle with Disney+, you can also check out what’s coming to the Disney-owned service in September.
September 1
A Life of Her Own Almost Christmas Barney’s World, Season 1D Caged (1950)Charley Chase Silent ShortsChildren Who Chase Lost Voices December 7th (1943)Dog Day AfternoonEmmanuelle (2024) Evil Dead II (1987)Fireworks (2017)Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Gasoline Alley (1951) Ghost Cat AnzuGoodfellasHelen of Troy (1956) Jonah HexKeeper of the Flame (1942) Kismet (1944)Lonely Castle in the MirrorLove & PopMan From The Black HillsMary of Scotland MiseryMontana IncidentMr. District AttorneyMurder Is My BeatMystery StreetNight NurseNo End in Sight No Questions AskedNobody Lives ForeverOn Dangerous Ground (1951) Our Miss BrooksOur Vines Have Tender GrapesPirate RadioPresenting Princess Shaw Prometheus Rick and Morty, Season 8 (Adult Swim)Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence (ID) Safe Haven Scene of the CrimeSe7enSelena (1997)Shadow of a WomanSplinter (2008)Stranger on HorsebackSummer Storm (1944)Susan and GodThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel The Cabin in the Woods (2012)The Charge at Feather RiverThe Command (1954)The Fallen SparrowThe Fate of the Furious The Fate of the Furious: Extended Director’s CutThe Place Promised in Our Early DaysThe Sea of Grass The Secret Garden (1949)The Sitter (2011)The Sitter: Unrated (2011)The Woman in White (1948)The Woman on the BeachThirteen WomenVeronica Mars (2014)Vigil in the NightWhen Ladies Meet (1941)Without LoveYoung BessYour Name
September 2
The 33
September 3
Bobby’s Triple Threat, Season 4 (FOOD Network) Guy’s Grocery Games, Season 39 (FOOD Network) Modern Warfare 2.0, Season 1 (Science)
September 4
Billionaire Boys Club (CNN Original)The Last Wright: Building the Final Home Design of America’s Greatest Architect, Season 1 (Magnolia Network)
September 5
Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation, Season 11 (Magnolia Network)Bugs Bunny Builders, Season 2F (Cartoon Network)Friendship (A24)House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 204 (HGTV) House Hunters: Volume 10, Season 245 (HGTV)Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On The World (CNN Original) Most Wanted: Teen Hacker (Max Original, Finland)My Lottery Dream Home, Season 17 (HGTV)
September 6
Maneet’s Eats, Season 1 (FOOD Network)
September 7
Magnolia Table: At The Farm, Season 1 (Magnolia Network) Task (HBO Original) We Baby Bears, Season 2D (Cartoon Network)Have I Got News For You, Season 3 (CNN Original)
September 9
90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Season 7 (TLC) Contraband: Seized at the Border, Season 7 (Discovery) Seen & Heard: The History Of Black Television (HBO Original)
September 10
The Tech Bro Murders
September 11
Dylan’s Playtime Adventures, Season 1C (Max Original) Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa, Season 3B (HGTV)
September 12
Warfare (A24)
September 13
Vacation House Rules, Season 6 (HGTV)
September 14
Build for Off-Road, Season 2 Love & Marriage: Huntsville, Season 10 (OWN)
September 15
Signs of a Psychopath, Season 10 (ID)Truck U, Season 21
September 16
Chopped: Volume 4, Season 62 (FOOD Network) Halloween Baking Championship, Season 11 (FOOD Network)
September 17
100 Day Dream Home, Season 7 (HGTV) Built in the Bronx (Discovery) Truck Dynasty, Season 1 (Discovery)
September 18
Bea’s Block, Season 1D (Max Original) Destruction Decoded, Season 1 (Science)Sin City Rehab, Season 1 (HGTV) Who Killed Our Daughter? (Max Original, Mexico)
September 20
Scariest House in America, Season 2 (HGTV)
September 21
Greatest Mysteries Ever, Season 2 (Science)
September 22
Halloween Wars, Season 15 (FOOD Network)
September 23
American Prince: JFK Jr. (CNN Original) The Kim Kardashian Heist (w/t), Season 1 (discovery+)Seeking Sister Wife, Season 6 (TLC)The Devil Is Busy (HBO Original)The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, Sports Betting: America’s Biggest Gamble (CNN Original)
September 24
Hustlers Gamblers Crooks, Season 2 (Discovery)
September 25
Help! I Wrecked My House, Season 5 (HGTV) On The Case with Paula Zahn, Season 28 (ID)Jesse & Joy: Lo que nunca dijimos, Season 1
September 26
Quiet In Class (Max Original, Sweden) The Graft, Season 1 (Max Original, Turkey)
September 27
90 Day Diaries, Season 7 (TLC)Ready to Love, Season 10 (OWN)
September 28
Heart & Hustle: Houston, Season 1 (OWN)
September 29
Sister Wives, Season 20 (TLC) Two Guys Garage, Season 24 Women Wearing Shoulder Pads: English Dub, Movie-Length Version (Adult Swim)
September 30
Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain (CNN Original)Good Cop/Bad Cop, Season 1 My Happy Place (CNN Original)Prime Minister (HBO Original)
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who, when she isn’t following streaming news, spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
