3 Best HBO Max Series To Binge-Watch This Weekend (Sept 4–6, 2026)

Published Sep 4, 2026, 6:34 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. These three HBO Max original series are essential to watch this Labor Day Weekend if you're looking for the best and most popular shows to binge right now. Between one of the greatest medical drama series of all time, with 25 nominations at the upcoming 2026 Emmy Awards, a sci-fi comedy hit that's currently the #3 most-watched show worldwide, and a gripping crime thriller with action-packed superhero elements, these are the top 3 shows we're watching over the long holiday weekend. HBO Max is full of great series to watch, but these three series remain at the top of our weekly binge-watching guides. If you're looking for more streaming options to enjoy, check out the wildly original dark comedy series DTF St. Louis, which was nominated for 13 Emmys and features a stellar cast, or all-time modern classics such as Watchmen, The Righteous Gemstones, Big Little Lies, and Banshee. That said, HBO Max subscribers who want to make the most of their subscription this weekend should tune into these three shows specifically. The Pitt Everyone has heard of The Pitt by now, the new HBO Max medical drama series that is already being called one of the greatest TV shows of all time. The Pitt season 2 proved that it would not be slowing down after season 1's meteoric rise in 2025, earning 5 Emmys in its debut season, including Outstanding Drama Series. This year, it received 25 nominations at the 2026 Emmy Awards, which will take place in less than 10 days on Monday, September 14. With the Emmys just around the corner, and The Pitt a heavy favorite in multiple categories, now is the perfect time to binge the acclaimed series, even if it's a rewatch of season 2, which premiered way back in January of this year. Emmy-winner and ER veteran Noah Wyle stars alongside a brilliant and talented ensemble cast in the series, which features a new consecutive 15-hour shift each season. The Pitt is about as good as it gets on any streaming platform these days. Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a popular new spinoff series of the modern classic sitcom The Big Bang Theory. It follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom, played by Kevin Sussman, who first appeared in The Big Bang Theory, as he tries his best to save the universe, much to his disappointment. The comedy series combines elements of sci-fi and fantasy and features familiar faces such as Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, and John Ross Bowie. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe earned an impressive 84% Rotten Tomatoes audience score and has been one of the most-watched shows on HBO Max since its premiere on July 23. Already renewed for a second season before its season 1 finale drops on September 24, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the perfect binge for fans of The Big Bang Theory and high-concept, genre-blending series. Lanterns Lanterns remains the #1 most essential show to watch this weekend on HBO Max, as it will officially be halfway through its debut season once its fourth episode airs this Sunday, September 6. Lanterns stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively, two members of the Green Lanterns, an intergalactic police force. John is set to replace Hal in time as the newest recruit, but a mysterious murder involving an extraterrestrial threat interrupts their training. Lanterns is undoubtedly the best new show to watch on HBO Max this weekend, based on its massive viewership – 10 million globally in just three days for its latest episode – and its critical acclaim, earning a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score. If you haven't started it yet, the long weekend is the perfect time to catch up before the fourth of eight episodes arrives on Sunday, September 6, only on HBO Max.