From true crime and prestige drama to buzzy documentaries and a return to Westeros, HBO Max’s January lineup is stacked with appointment viewing.
HBO Max is not easing us into 2026. January is coming in heavy with conversation starters, emotional gut punches, and the kind of shows and films you actually sit down for.
Below is the fully updated and corrected HBO Max January guide, with accurate premiere dates, times, and streaming details.
Let’s get into it!
January 1–2
The Cult of the Real Housewife
This one has been building buzz for a minute, and now it’s finally here.
The docuseries traces the rise of Faith Temple under Rosemary “Mama” Cosby, the controversial transfer of power after her passing, and how the church entered a disturbing new era under new leadership.
What makes this especially gripping is hearing directly from former congregants and family members who are speaking out publicly for the first time.
Premieres Thursday, January 1 from 8–11 p.m. ET/PT on TLC
All episodes stream Friday, January 2 on HBO Max and discovery+
January 6
The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story
This series is heavy, and it should be.
Instead of rehashing headlines, it digs into the belief systems, influences, and failures that surrounded the Andrea Yates case.
It’s thoughtful, disturbing, and emotionally difficult, but it adds important context that’s often missing from surface-level true crime coverage.
Premieres Tuesday, January 6 from 8–11 p.m. ET/PT on ID
Episodes available to stream on HBO Max
January 8
The Pitt
Season 2 drops you right back into the pressure cooker.
“The Pitt” continues to show the emotional toll, impossible decisions, and human cost of frontline healthcare work without romanticizing it.
The weekly rollout makes this feel like real appointment TV.
Debuts January 8 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Episodes debut weekly
January 11
Industry (Season 4)
Everyone is chasing power, and nobody is clean.
Season 4 finds Harper and Yasmin deeper into the world they once dreamed of, navigating ambition, money, and relationships that feel just as transactional as the deals they’re making.
The tension between success and self-destruction is very much the point.
Debuts January 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Episodes debut weekly
January 18
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Set a century before “Game of Thrones,” this series follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg, as they travel through Westeros during a time when the Targaryens still hold the Iron Throne.
The scale is more intimate, but the stakes are still very real.
Debuts January 18 at 10:00 p.m. ET
Episodes debut weekly
January 22–23
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
This two-part documentary feels like a celebration and a thank-you letter rolled into one.
It honors Mel Brooks’ legendary career, friendships, and the way humor has carried him and his audience through nearly a century of cultural change.
Part one debuts Thursday, January 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET on HBO
Part two airs Friday, January 23 at the same time
Both parts stream on HBO Max beginning January 22
January 23
The Smashing Machine
This A24 film dives into the brutal reality behind professional fighting, telling the story of MMA legend Mark Kerr.
It’s not just about physical punishment, but the emotional and psychological toll of chasing greatness.
Streaming on HBO Max January 23
January 27
33 Photos From The Ghetto
Using rare photographs secretly taken during the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto uprising, this documentary offers a haunting civilian perspective on one of history’s darkest chapters.
Debuts January 27 at 9:00 p.m. ET
January 30
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Rose Byrne leads this emotionally raw story about a woman whose life feels like it’s unraveling all at once.
Between a child’s illness, a strained marriage, and mounting pressure from every direction, the film captures that overwhelming feeling of trying to hold it all together.
Streaming on HBO Max January 30
Bookmark This HBO Max January Guide
This What To Watch On HBO Max in January 2026 guide will be updated as new releases are announced or premiere times change.
Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss what’s new and actually worth watching.
Frens, what are you watching first?
Frens, Don’t Miss:
- 16 New Movies Arriving In Theaters This January 2026
- What To Watch On Netflix In January 2026: 16 New Movies And Shows
- Prime Video January 2026: 5 New Shows And Movies To Watch
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