Fans were excited when HBO Max announced it would start streaming Mad Men on December 1st. A big draw was the promise of seeing the show in 4K resolution for the first time, which was great news considering the series’ beautiful visuals. However, the launch this week hasn’t gone smoothly, and viewers have encountered issues instead of enjoying the upgraded experience.
The standard version of Mad Men available on HBO Max (excluding the 4K version) looks great. However, the 4K version has a lot of noticeable errors that weren’t fixed during the restoration process. These aren’t just minor color or sound problems—in some scenes, important post-production effects are completely missing.
Perhaps the most noticeable mistake in this release is a scene in the first season’s seventh episode where Roger Sterling vomits in front of clients. The updated “4K” version reveals a bit too much about how the scene was filmed, breaking the illusion for viewers.
The new 4K version of Mad Men on HBO Max seems to be missing some final edits. This results in some unusual moments, like accidentally seeing a crew member operating a prop during a scene where Roger Sterling overindulges in oysters – it’s pretty funny!
— johnny (@bigrackspart7) December 2, 2025
During filming, a crew member used a tube to simulate Roger’s vomiting. Another crew member was there to monitor the effect. This footage was removed from the original TV broadcast, but it’s included in this restored streaming version.
As a critic, I can usually overlook a small continuity error or two, but this show on HBO Max is riddled with them, especially in its early seasons. It’s really distracting. Take, for example, a scene in Season 2 where Elisabeth Moss, as Peggy, is supposedly walking through 1960s New York City. But the background is completely wrong – I spotted signs for electronic SIM cards and even a billboard advertising the ‘best burritos in L.A.’ It just pulls you right out of the story.
Adding to the frustration, a lot of the episodes have the wrong titles and aren’t listed in the correct sequence. The launch has been completely disorganized and problematic.
Good news – it looks like a solution is underway. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate mistakenly sent the wrong 4K file to HBO Max. The publication reported this week that Lionsgate is working to replace the incorrect file with the correct one.
Over the next few days, we’ll be watching to see how the new files are implemented. We’re hoping everything works out and HBO Max can finally offer subscribers a genuine 4K version of Mad Men. Ideally, though, a complete 4K version would also be released on Blu-ray or another physical format sometime in 2026.
Are you experiencing any problems with Mad Men on HBO Max? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-12-04 07:10