5 Best New HBO Max Series To Binge-Watch This Week (October 12–16, 2026)

Published Oct 12, 2026, 8:35 PM EDT

Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.

Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.

Recently, I've been re-watching the Emmy-winning crime drama The Night Of on HBO Max, which offers a brilliant story about a young man who is accused of murder he seemingly didn't commit in New York City. Other notable HBO Max series that you can start and finish this week include Mare of Easttown, Rooster, DTF St. Louis, and The Rehearsal. That said, if you want the newest shows worth watching on HBO Max this week, the following five series are now trending worldwide and should do the trick.

The Serial Killer Connection

The Serial Killer Connection is a brand new true crime docuseries that premiered on Wednesday, October 7. The 3-part series will continue with its second installment this Wednesday, October 14, followed by its finale on October 21. The story follows two women who were connected to the serial killer, Richard "Marc" Evonitz. One of the women, Bonnie Lou Gower, was married to Marc for eight and a half years, while the other, Kara Robinson Chamberlin, was abducted by him at the age of 15 and was able to escape from captivity. If you love true crime series, you won't want to miss this one on HBO Max.

Collision

Collision is one of the top trending new series on HBO Max that somehow feels like it's still going under the radar. The Spanish-language series combines modern corporate drama with classic Mexican telenovela elements to create a deeply immersive and suspenseful binge. The story follows the intense power struggle that forms after a wealthy businessman suddenly dies in a helicopter crash and is based on two novels, No le hagas caso a tu hija and Cumplí tu condena, by celebrated Spanish author Corín Tellado. With 29 of its 39 episodes already available, this is one of the best new shows on HBO Max to binge.

Youth

Youth remains one of the most popular streaming options on HBO Max this Fall and is currently the 5th most-watched series on the platform worldwide. The series stars and was created by Sharon Horgan, who played Alex, a middle-aged woman struggling with the modern dating scene while also taking care of her parents and son. The sixth of eight episodes of Youth arrives on Sunday, October 18, with the finale set to drop on November 1. Youth earned a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 97% and is worth binge-watching this week as it keeps up its momentum throughout October.

Lanterns

Although HBO Max released its season 1 finale back on October 4, Lanterns is still one of the biggest shows on the platform, as evidenced by its #1 worldwide ranking at the time of writing. Even with its great performances led by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, massive streaming popularity, and a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, the future of Lanterns remains uncertain as it has not been renewed for a second season. That said, Lanterns is a well-made, albeit expensive, series that is worth checking out now that all eight episodes are ready to binge from start to finish on HBO Max.

War

War is our top choice to watch on HBO Max this week, especially since it has already been renewed for a second season even though only two of its eight episodes are currently available. The legal thriller stars Dominic West and Sienna Miller, who play a wealthy married couple engaged in one of London's most high-profile divorce cases. War debuted with an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score and is the #2 most-watched series on the platform right now, trailing only Lanterns. If you enjoy legal dramas and prestige shows like Hijack and Lupin, which were created by War creator George Kay, add this series to the top of your HBO Max watchlist this week.

War

Release Date October 1, 2026

Network HBO

Directors Ben Taylor

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  Dominic West

  Morgan Henderson

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