What's coming to HBO Max in May 2026 : new releases
May 2026 brings a massive wave of new content to HBO Max, and we've gone through the full lineup so you don't have to. Between originals, licensed films, and returning series across every genre, the platform is clearly doubling down on variety this month. Let's break down what's worth your time.
Originals and must-see new shows dropping this May
The standout arrival this month is without a doubt Wuthering Heights, hitting Max on May 1st. Directed by Emerald Fennell, this bold reinterpretation of the classic novel casts Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. Their forbidden love spirals into obsession, madness, and something genuinely unsettling. It's the kind of film that will divide audiences — and that's exactly why it's worth watching.
On May 9th, Song of the Samurai makes its debut. Set in Kyoto during the final years of the Edo period, the series follows the Shinsengumi — the legendary samurai force that protected Kyoto as the shogunate crumbled. Yuki Yamada plays Toshizo Hijikata, a street fighter who finds brotherhood among warriors. The show mixes spectacular action with a grounded, historically-rooted narrative. Think loyalty tested by betrayal and war, told with real visual ambition.
May 14th brings back On The Roam, Season 2. Jason Momoa continues his cross-country journey, this time exploring craftsmanship, art, and human connection through a cinematic documentary format. Six episodes, all shot like short films. It's one of the more original docuseries formats on any streaming platform right now.
On May 22nd, HBO Original Josh Johnson : Symphony lands on the platform. Filmed at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, the stand-up special tackles family, religion, and relationships with a point of view that doesn't feel recycled. Johnson is sharp, and the material is genuinely fresh.
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 | Wuthering Heights (2026) | Film / HBO Original |
| May 9 | Song of the Samurai, S1 | Series / HBO Original |
| May 12 | U.S. Against the World (Men's Soccer) | Documentary / HBO Original |
| May 14 | On The Roam, S2 | Docuseries / Max Original |
| May 22 | Josh Johnson : Symphony | Stand-up / HBO Original |
| May 29 | Miss You, Love You | Series / HBO Original |
Two other HBO Originals deserve a mention : Behind the Bars : Shot in the Spotlight on May 12th, and Slaves of Faith : Heralds of the Gospel on May 21st. Both lean into documentary territory, covering very different social realities. Also on May 29th, The Moment (A24) arrives — and anything A24 touches tends to be worth a look.
Licensed films and catalogue additions for May 2026
The licensed film catalog gets a serious refresh on May 1st. Among the highlights : Spider-Man : Across the Spider-Verse (2023), Saltburn, Crazy Rich Asians, The Florida Project, Pitch Perfect 3, and Love, Simon. That's a strong mix of crowd-pleasers and critical favorites landing on the same day.
Die Hard fans will be happy — both A Good Day to Die Hard and its extended cut are available from May 1st. The franchise has always found a comfortable home on HBO Max, and this addition fits neatly into a movie night lineup. Walk the Line and its extended cut also arrive simultaneously, which is a nice touch for music biopic lovers.
- Greenland 2 : Migration (Lionsgate) — May 8th
- Tomb Raider (2018) — May 24th
- Rampage (2018) — May 26th
- A Complete Unknown — May 27th
- The Moment (A24) — May 29th
Greenland 2 : Migration on May 8th is one to watch if you liked the original disaster film. And A Complete Unknown, arriving May 27th, rounds out a month that covers a surprisingly wide range of cinematic styles. Worth noting : Disney currently bundles HBO Max with Disney+ and Hulu for $19.99/month (ad-supported) or $32.99/month (ad-free) — making access to all of this content relatively accessible compared to stacking subscriptions separately.
Reality TV, CNN originals, and everything else worth tracking
Reality content is heavy this month. 90 Day Fiancé Season 12 kicks off on May 11th alongside 90 Day Diaries Season 8 — both TLC staples that consistently pull strong viewership. Deadliest Catch Season 22 starts May 9th on Discovery, and BBQ Brawl Season 7 launches May 12th on Food Network. If you track reality TV across platforms, May is unusually stacked.
On the CNN Originals side, May 5th brings 50 Years of Apple with Bill Weir, and May 9th introduces K-Everything with Daniel Dae Kim — a timely deep dive into Korean culture's global reach. Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports : Weed 8 follows on May 19th, continuing a long-running series on cannabis and health.
One addition that genuinely surprised us : Harry Potter : The Official Film Podcast, Season 1, arriving May 19th. For a franchise with this level of cultural weight, an officially licensed audio-visual retrospective makes sense — and could attract a whole new generation of fans to the Wizarding World catalog. If you follow arrivals across platforms — and we track those closely — May also marks Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 finally arriving on Netflix, making it a big month for genre content overall.
Between prestige originals, blockbuster catalog additions, and a deep bench of reality and documentary programming, HBO Max's May 2026 lineup covers more ground than most months. The smart move is to build your watchlist now — because this much content arriving at once means some titles will inevitably slip under the radar.