HBO’s Follow-Up to Netflix’s Controversial 2024 Megahit Becomes a Streaming Success

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HBO Max is quickly gaining success with its TV shows, and surprisingly, Netflix played a role. So far, 2026 has been a great year for HBO, with shows like Industry, The Pitt, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and DTF St. Louis receiving both positive reviews and attracting large audiences. This is significant because the competition among streaming services has challenged HBO’s long-held reputation for quality television, as some of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows lately have come from Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, and other platforms.

HBO Max has a lot of popular content right now, including shows like Euphoria, Rooster, The Comeback, and Hacks. A standout series is Half Man, a co-production with the BBC, which is performing very well. Starring Richard Gadd (who also created and wrote the show) and Jamie Bell, the series follows Niall and Ruben, two men who grew up like brothers, and explores their decades-long relationship – how it began and what ultimately happened. According to data from FlixPatrol, Half Man consistently ranks among the top 10 shows on HBO Max globally, often around 6th or 7th place in many countries. In the U.S., it’s one of the most popular shows on the service after new episodes are released each Thursday, according to ReelGood.

Half Man Isn’t Baby Reindeer, But Is Still Worth Watching

The popularity of Richard Gadd’s new show, Half Man, is largely thanks to his previous hit, Baby Reindeer, which became a huge word-of-mouth success on Netflix. Baby Reindeer, the dark comedy thriller about a man dealing with a stalker, was incredibly binge-worthy and watched by hundreds of millions of people. This new show is a follow-up to that popular, though sometimes controversial, series, and Gadd has successfully built on that momentum.

While it’s not generating as much buzz as before and probably won’t win six Emmys again, the show is still a success and enjoyable to watch. Critics generally like it – it currently has a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes – especially its honest portrayal of difficult topics and its willingness to be daring and unflinching. With only three episodes aired out of six, it’s easy to catch up if you’re interested in starting it now.

HBO Max’s Biggest 2026 Shows Are Still To Come

HBO Max may have already peaked with its 2026 offering of The Pitt, as it’s a tough act to follow, but their biggest shows are still on the way. Starting June 21st with the premiere of House of the Dragon Season 3, and followed a couple of months later by DC’s Lanterns, these releases are predicted to be major successes, even if they spark debate among viewers.

The biggest release of the year is coming at Christmas: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It’s expected to be the most popular show on streaming this year, creating a major viewing event similar to Game of Thrones – something we don’t see often anymore. This will likely solidify 2026 as a standout year for HBO and HBO Max.

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2026-05-07 16:42