September always comes with a shift — back-to-school routines, busier days, and less time to binge-watch. So why keep footing the bill for streaming apps you barely open? Cutting a subscription or two can free up cash without locking you out of future favorites. Streaming costs in 2025 aren’t exactly kind to wallets: the average household shells out about $61 a month — that’s over $700 a year, according to a Deloitte report. The good news? Hitting pause on one service is easy, and you can always rejoin when the next big title drops.
For September 2025, HBO Max is the one I’d recommend cutting — even though it ranks first on our list of the best streaming services. While it’s usually packed with prestige hits, HBO Max's September slate is surprisingly thin on major premieres. Unless you’re midway through a rewatch or catching up on a backlog, it’s probably safe to step away and come back when the lineup feels fresh again. Here's why I think you should consider canceling HBO Max this month.
Why I'd cancel HBO Max in September 2025
HBO Max usually delivers plenty of prestige TV to justify its price, but September is unusually quiet. The lone marquee title is "Task," a crime drama from "Mare of Easttown" creator Brad Ingelsby premiering Sept. 7.
Mark Ruffalo stars as the head of an FBI task force chasing a ruthless crew of masked home invaders in Philadelphia’s suburbs. But the job isn’t his only battle — he’s also a widower and ex-priest wrestling with addiction, fractured family ties, and a son on the wrong side of the law. The series also spotlights the criminals’ lives, led by Tom Pelphrey as a conflicted father caught between desperation and survival.
It’s a heavy-hitter on paper, but it’s also the only major original this month — and with weekly rollouts, it may not feel worth paying for in real time. If you’d rather binge it all at once, you could easily cancel now and resubscribe later when the full series is available.
Yes, HBO Max has a few other debuts in September. Two theatrical releases arrive on streaming: "Friendship" (Sept. 5), a dark A24 comedy about a suburban dad’s disastrous attempt at finding a best friend; and "Warfare" (Sept. 12), a harrowing real-time combat thriller co-directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. Plus, there's an interesting documentary on tap, "Prime Minister," a behind-the-scenes documentary chronicling New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern’s rise and legacy.
Solid additions, but not exactly the kind of lineup that screams “must subscribe.” If you’re looking to trim costs, September is a safe window to pause HBO Max without much fear of missing out. You can always re-subscribe in October to binge "Task" and tune into the premiere of "IT" prequel "Welcome to Derry."
How much you'll save by canceling HBO Max this month
How much you save by canceling HBO Max depends on your plan. The Basic With Ads plan runs $10 a month, while the ad-free Standard version is $17. Go all in on the Premium tier, and you’re looking at $21 every month.
It might not sound like much, but if you rotate services strategically throughout the year, those skipped months can add up to a few hundred dollars in your pocket at the end of the year — just in time for the best Labor Day sales or holiday shopping.
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