3 Best New HBO Max Series To Binge-Watch This Weekend (October 9–11, 2026)

Published Oct 8, 2026, 5:30 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. The three most binge-worthy new HBO Max series this weekend, October 9–11, 2026, include a near-perfect, critically acclaimed breakout legal thriller. Additionally, HBO Max is premiering two exciting new streaming options this weekend: a chilling 3-part true crime docuseries and the season 2 return of a celebrated dark comedy series that earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for its first season. With the conclusion of Lanterns last weekend, that 8-part crime/superhero series remains a top choice for those who haven't seen it yet, as it is still HBO Max's #1 most-watched series worldwide at the time of writing. Other notable new releases worth checking out on HBO Max include the animated series Get Jiro, which is based on the novel by Anthony Bourdain, and Youth, which is currently halfway through its 8-part first season rollout. That said, the following three HBO Max shows are at the top of our watchlists this weekend. The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story is a brand new HBO Original 3-part docuseries set to premiere this Sunday, October 11, followed by weekly installments every Sunday until October 25. The series examines the 1985 disappearance of Dorothy Thompson, an owner of a pet cemetery in New Orleans whose chained body was discovered in the Mississippi River. The apparent murder went unsolved for decades until it was reopened in 2009 by Detective John Doran, who followed the investigation to supernatural paths. Doran spoke with two witnesses who claimed to have seen the ghost of Dorothy Thompson, which prompted the detective to look more deeply into her past. What Doran finds out flips the strange case on its head as he tries to put together the pieces of what really happened to Dorothy and who she was before she died. If you enjoy eerie true crime stories with paranormal/ghost elements, The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story is a can't-miss new HBO Max series this weekend. Rage Rage, or Furia, is one of the best HBO Max comedy series that has mostly flown under the radar despite earning a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for its debut season. Similar to Netflix's Beef, Rage is an anthology series that focuses on different characters connected by the same theme, namely women who are driven to furious outbursts by the various hands of oppression, manipulation, and other rage-inducing situations. Each episode of Rage is self-contained, meaning a new story is told with new characters in each episode, like Black Mirror. Rage season 1 is easy to binge, with each episode running between 30 and 37 minutes long. Rage season 2 premieres on Friday, October 9, followed by weekly releases every Friday until its finale on November 27. The Spanish series is perfect for fans of dark comedies with social commentary and satire, not unlike the classic HBO hit Curb Your Enthusiasm. Decider wrote of season 1, "While the structure of Rage is sometimes dizzying, the performances by the show’s cast make it compelling to watch, as are the connections they all have with each other." War War remains the best new show to watch on HBO Max this weekend, as its second of eight episodes is set to arrive this Thursday, October 8, followed by weekly episode releases every Thursday until November 19. War earned a near-perfect 88% Rotten Tomatoes score and has already been confirmed for a second season, which has already been filmed. The first season of the gripping legal thriller stars Sienna Miller and Dominic West and was created by George Kay, best known for Lupin and Hijack. War is ideal for fans of high-stakes corporate dramas like Succession and Industry, although the series serves as an anthology that centers on a new high-profile case each season. West plays tech billionaire Morgan Henderson, who files for divorce from his Hollywood actress wife, Carla Duval (Miller). Fans of celebrated legal drama series such as The Good Wife, The Night Of, and Perry Mason will likely enjoy War's first season, which focuses on a multi-billion-dollar divorce case. This is our top pick for what to watch on HBO Max this weekend. War Release Date October 1, 2026 Network HBO Cast Dominic West Morgan Henderson James McArdle Nicholas Taylor