We're coming into the back half of summer, folks, but that doesn't mean things are cooling down where streaming is concerned. HBO Max, in particular, is keeping the temperature up with a hot crop of new films and TV shows joining its already extensive library this August.
Subscribers of the HBO streaming service will have plenty to choose from in the weeks ahead, from high-profile series — including the new DC Studios drama "Lanterns" starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, and another fun-loving season of the travel show "Conan O'Brien Must Go" — to buzzy movie releases, like the Anne Hathaway-led "Mother Mary" and the Bob Odenkirk-starring neo-Western "Normal."
Below, we give our top recommendations for HBO Max this August, followed by a comprehensive list of every title arriving on the service throughout the month. Happy streaming!
New on HBO Max in August 2026: Top picks
‘Monsters of God'
For this five-part documentary series, filmmaker Eric Goode slithers his way into the underground yet billion-dollar world of exotic animal smuggling, populated by outlaw traffickers (including industry legends Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield), unhinged collectors and the law enforcement agents on their metaphorical tails.
Goode's gonzo doc took home the Audience Award at SXSW 2026, and if you're into so-weird-it-must-be-true crime tales like "Tiger King" and "Chimp Crazy," this should be right up your alley. Episodes will roll out weekly.
Stream on HBO Max from August 6
'Normal'
A team-up between Bob Odenkirk, "John Wick" creator Derek Kolstad and "Free Fire" filmmaker Ben Wheatley, this neo-Western sees the "Better Call Saul" great as an unassuming small-town sheriff with a troubled past. In fictitious Normal, Minnesota, Odenkirk's Sheriff Ulysses inadvertently gets sucked into a dark, town-wide conspiracy after a botched bank robbery interrupts the peace of his provisional posting. Soon enough, Normal isn't seeming so "normal" after all.
The lively action comedy features a crowd-pleasing cast including Henry Winkler, Lena Heady, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Reena Jolly and Peter Shinkoda.
Stream on HBO Max from August 14
‘Lanterns’
Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre play Green Lanterns of different generations in this eight-episode DC Comics drama, a demographical difference that allows for some enjoyable tension between their respective characters, Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Old Lantern legend Jordan is tasked with mentoring rookie recruit Stewart as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. However, that earthly case soon takes on an extraterrestrial edge, leading the duo to darker mysteries and reckonings.
The superhero series also stars Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Laura Linney, Jason Ritter, Ulrich Thomsen, Nathan Fillion, J. Alphonse Nicholson and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
Stream on HBO Max from August 16
'Conan O'Brien Must Go' season 3
Sure, there seems to be a proliferation of celebrity-focused travel shows of late, but if there's anyone we'd want to go flailing around the world with, it's Conan O'Brien.
The third installment of his hilarious, Emmy-winning travelogue series will feature four episodes of the famous funnyman connecting with fans he first met on his "Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan" podcast and experiencing local cultures in India, the Philippines, the Netherlands and Morocco. Ridiculous shenanigans unsurprisingly ensue, with episodes released weekly.
Stream on HBO Max from August 21
‘Mother Mary'
Somehow, in between filming 2026 titles "The Odyssey," "Devil Wears Prada 2," "The End of Oak Street" and "Verity," Anne Hathaway managed to fit in this David Lowery-directed psychological drama. The Oscar winner plays the titular Mother Mary, a world-famous pop icon who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel) on the eve of a big comeback performance. As the two women collaborate, they are forced to confront the pain of their past partnership and personal traumas.
Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, Isaura Barbé-Brown with Sian Clifford and FKA twigs also appear.
Stream on HBO Max from August 21
Everything new on HBO Max in August 2026
August 1
Amy
Barbarian
Bells Are Ringing
Billy Budd
Blockers
Epic
Flipper's New Adventure
Great White Highway (Discovery)
Hall Pass
Hall Pass: Enlarged Edition
Happy Feet Two
It Comes At Night
Macao
Miss Sloane
Mojave
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Orphan
Practical Magic
Put A Ring On It: Cheat Hab (OWN)
Quo Vadis
Road House (1989)
Sicario
Smart Money
Stand by Me
Strike Up the Band
Taxi!
The Band Wagon
The Crimson Pirate
The Fighting 69th
The Kennel Murder Case
The Rain People
The Sea Chase
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
The Wrong Man
The Yearling
Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill (Discovery)
Tusk
Who'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 1
House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 215 (HGTV)
House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 260 (HGTV)
The Invisible Guest
The 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 3
Isadora 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 (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 Nowhere
Holla
Knock Knock
The Cabin in the Woods
The Strangers: Chapter 1
The Strangers: Prey at Night
August 31
Big Burger Battle, Season 1 (Food Network)
The Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special (Adult Swim)
Live sports
**Live Sports available only on select plans. Plan availability varies by subscription provider. Check with your subscription provider for details. Select games available and blackouts may apply.
Please note this list may not be comprehensive and is subject to change. All times are in ET.
MLB
August 4
LA Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs, 8 p.m.
August 11
Seattle vs NY Yankees, 7 p.m.
August 18
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 8 p.m.
August 25
LA Dodgers vs Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Savannah Banana's
August 14
Clowns vs Bananas, 9 p.m.
August 21
Clowns vs Tailgaters, 8 p.m.
August 28
Bananas vs Coconuts, 7 p.m.
NASCAR
August 8
Newton, IA P&Q 2 p.m.
August 14
Richmond, VA P&Q 3:30 p.m.
August 22
Loudon, NH, 10:30 a.m.
August 28
Daytona Qualifying, 5 p.m.
DUNKMAN
August 4
Qualifiers, 8 p.m.
August 11
Qualifiers, 8 p.m.
August 25
Championship, 8 p.m.
These lists are provided by HBO and may not be comprehensive. These lists are subject to change at any point.
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