How to watch Babylon 5 Remastered online (with or without HBO Max)

By Henry T. Casey
published

Excited to watch Babylon 5 Remastered? You're not alone

how to watch babylon 5 remastered
(Image credit: Warner Bros)
Babylon 5 remastered details

Seasons: 5
Episodes: 22 per season, 110 total
Release dates: 1994 - 1998

We've got great news for anyone looking to watch Babylon 5 Remastered, which finally sees its release today (January 26). J. Michael Straczynski's sci-fi series is looking better than ever, and it's available both to own and on a streaming service.

This newly released version of the 90's series looks extra sharp because it's using 4K scans taken from the original camera negatives. Then, the team at Warner Bros downscaled the show back to HD quality (so as to not make it look eerily sharp), did a color correction and removed any dirt and scratches from the scan. 

According to Engadget, Warner Bros. didn't pull the same mistake seen in the original Babylon 5 DVDs (or what Disney Plus did with The Simpsons). Babylon 5 Remastered is only available in the original 4:3, not a re-cropped widescreen format.

And while this is a remaster, don't expect it to be some wild high-end reimagining. In fact, you might see the original show's low budget reflected a bit more clearly in the series now that it's been cleaned up. You may also find the series' pilot movie, The Gathering, included as a special feature. 

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Babylon 5 Remastered online.

How can I watch Babylon 5 Remastered from anywhere on Earth?

If you're on the road, you may not be able to access HBO Max — the service isn't available outside of the United States. But do not worry. Watching the service remotely is pretty easy with the right VPN (virtual private network), you can stream the show from wherever you go.

Our pick for the best VPN is ExpressVPN. It meets the VPN needs of the vast majority of users, offering outstanding compatibility with most devices and impressive connection speeds. You'll even get an extra 3 months free if you sign up for a year, or there's a 30-day money-back guarantee if you just want to give it a try.

ExpressVPN

Our favorite VPN service, ExpressVPN, really shines thanks to its safety, speed and simplicity-to-use. It's also compatible with loads of devices - from iOS and Android to Roku, Apple TV and PlayStations.

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How to watch Babylon 5 Remastered on HBO Max

Want to binge Babylon 5 Remastered more than you want to own it? HBO Max has the entire series streaming now, and its $15 per month price is a lot more manageable than how much it costs to own the show, especially if you're not sure you're how long you'll want to live with the series.

HBO Max

HBO Max is one of the new kids on the streaming block but it's already got a ton to offer. First, it's got all of HBO, which means you can stream Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and the City and all of premium network's prestige series. Plus, HBO Max has its own originals like Love Life, Expecting Amy, Search Party and Doom Patrol.

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How to own Babylon 5 Remastered

Babylon 5 Remastered on Apple/iTunes: for $69

Babylon 5 Remastered on Apple/iTunes: for $69
If you love a show, you don't want to simply rent it with a streaming service. Buying Babylon 5 Remastered from iTunes (where it's $80 cheaper than on Amazon) means you won't lose it if it leaves HBO Max for say Netflix or somewhere else. This purchase can be streamed on the Apple TV app, which is on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, PS4 and PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S and select LG, Samsung, Sony and Vizio smart TVs.

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Babylon 5 Remastered on Amazon: for $29 per season

Babylon 5 Remastered on Amazon: for $29 per season
Amazon doesn't offer a bulk rate discount, so you'll be spending $150 total to get the series through Amazon. This is why we recommend buying it through Apple.

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Babylon 5 Remastered on Apple/iTunes: for $69

Babylon 5 Remastered on Apple/iTunes: for $69
If you love a show, you don't want to simply rent it with a streaming service. Buying Babylon 5 Remastered from iTunes (where it's $80 cheaper than on Amazon) means you won't lose it if it leaves HBO Max for say Netflix or somewhere else. This purchase can be streamed on the Apple TV app, which is on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, PS4 and PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S and select LG, Samsung, Sony and Vizio smart TVs.

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Henry T. Casey
Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Wolfshadw
    One of the best Sci-Fi series of all time! Already own the standard DVDs. Not going to drop another $150 for the re-mastered version.

    -Wolf sends
    Reply
  • sproggit
    Wolfshadw said:
    One of the best Sci-Fi series of all time! Already own the standard DVDs. Not going to drop another $150 for the re-mastered version.

    -Wolf sends
    Not just one of the best Sci-Fi series of all time, but I think it was also instrumental in recognizing that it is possible to reward an audience for wanting to really invest in a show by giving it a story arc that remains consistent across 5 seasons and 110 episodes.

    Like you, I own the DVD Box set. I would love to own the High Definition versions on BluRay. I won't be buying or renting via streaming as my domestic internet just isn't reliable enough for that. If it were just me, I'd be tempted to move... but apparently if I suggest that again my wife will divorce me - and that would be bad.

    With "The Expanse" , it took significantly longer for the BluRay/DVD copies of Season 4 to be released after Amazon bought the show from SyFy than it did when SyFy were streaming it themselves. My theory was that Amazon wanted to nudge as many people as possible to subscribe to Amazon Prime to see the new season before they sent it to print on Bluray and DVD. I have no idea, however, whether there would be any appetite to offer a BluRay boxed set of a show that was first broadcast between 1994 and 1998, because I guess it would all come down to perceived market interest.

    Then again, when you look at some of the utter rubbish being re-mastered for 4K...

    I hope they do offer BluRay copies. It would be nice to see them maybe film a tribute or two for those who have passed "beyond the rim" - Andreas Katsulas, Richard Biggs, Jerry Doyle, Jeff Conaway, Michael O'Hare, Stephen Furst, and now Mira Furlan.
    Reply
  • sproggit
    sproggit said:
    Not just one of the best Sci-Fi series of all time, but I think it was also instrumental in recognizing that it is possible to reward an audience for wanting to really invest in a show by giving it a story arc that remains consistent across 5 seasons and 110 episodes.

    Like you, I own the DVD Box set. I would love to own the High Definition versions on BluRay. I won't be buying or renting via streaming as my domestic internet just isn't reliable enough for that. If it were just me, I'd be tempted to move... but apparently if I suggest that again my wife will divorce me - and that would be bad.

    With "The Expanse" , it took significantly longer for the BluRay/DVD copies of Season 4 to be released after Amazon bought the show from SyFy than it did when SyFy were streaming it themselves. My theory was that Amazon wanted to nudge as many people as possible to subscribe to Amazon Prime to see the new season before they sent it to print on Bluray and DVD. I have no idea, however, whether there would be any appetite to offer a BluRay boxed set of a show that was first broadcast between 1994 and 1998, because I guess it would all come down to perceived market interest.

    Then again, when you look at some of the utter rubbish being re-mastered for 4K...

    I hope they do offer BluRay copies. It would be nice to see them maybe film a tribute or two for those who have passed "beyond the rim" - Andreas Katsulas, Richard Biggs, Jerry Doyle, Jeff Conaway, Michael O'Hare, Stephen Furst, and now Mira Furlan.
    and I would absolutely support Joe (JMS) Straczynski if he ever got the chance to do something really awesome within the B5 universe, perhaps if they were to revisit the story of the Rangers . One of the sequences in "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" set in 2362 - roughly 500 years after the events that were covered in Season 5 - shows that the isolationist policies chosen by Earth have led to "dark times", with the rangers "living in secret"... and just before the final sequence, set far in the future, where it becomes apparent that not only have the Rangers endured, but that mankind has evolved beyond the need for physical bodies and have become Vorlon-like "Old Ones". That intervening period covers a lot of ground... maybe there is space in there for the story of the way that the Rangers bring Earth and mankind back into the Galactic Community....
    Reply