3 Emmy-nominated shows on HBO Max you must watch this weekend (July 17–19)

Published Jul 17, 2026, 4:42 PM EDT Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 2800 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. HBO Max has the most nominations of all streaming platforms at the 2026 Emmy Awards, and these three nominated original series are among the very best. Earning a massive 122 total nominations, which is notably down some 20 nods from last year's whopping 142, HBO Max has several top contenders in every major category, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series. Meanwhile, Netflix's 111 nominations and Apple TV's 89 nominations also add some competition in what should be a fierce Emmys race. These three Emmy-nominated HBO Max series are all top-rated by critics and audiences and were each streaming hits earlier this year. Two of them are the most acclaimed HBO Max series of all time, sporting Rotten Tomatoes scores of 96% and 98%. The third series was somewhat of a surprise hit considering just how many great shows HBO Max produced in the last year, including but not limited to The Chair Company, I Love LA, and Euphoria. It is the third-most nominated HBO Max series at the 2026 Emmys and has a star-studded cast. DTF ST. Louis DTF St. Louis earned 13 nominations at this year's Emmys, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor (Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Richard Jenkins), Outstanding Supporting Actress (Linda Cardellini and Joy Sunday), and Outstanding Writing & Directing. This is the sixth different series that Bateman has been nominated for, including Netflix's Black Rabbit, for which he received two nominations this year. This also marks the 4th Emmy nomination for Harbour, Jenkins, and Cardellini. DTF St. Louis is a dark comedy/thriller series following three middle-aged people in an average American suburb who are stuck in a love triangle. Best friends Clark (Bateman) and Floyd (Harbour) realize simultaneously that their marriages have plateaued and lost their spark, leading them to explore a new dating app called DTF St. Louis that's specifically designed for extramarital affairs. As desperation and temptations rise, Clark makes a risky move that leads to dire consequences. At 7 episodes., DTF St. Louis is an easy binge on HBO Max. Hacks Hacks has been a critical darling and awards season magnet for years now, but unfortunately, this will be the final chance it has at scoring any more Emmy Awards to add to its total of 12. Hacks just broke the all-time record for Emmy nominations for a comedy series with its 24 nominations for 2026, surpassing The Bear and The Studio (23). It is considered a heavy favorite for Outstanding Comedy Series, which it won in 2024, and Lead Actress for Jean Smart, who has remarkably won the award for all four previous seasons of Hacks. Hacks follows the hilarious and unlikely friendship between veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and her ghostwriter protégé Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder). Ava originally began working for Deborah after getting softly canceled for a series of old tweets, which brings her to Las Vegas to revamp Deborah's tired stand-up routine. What emerges is a lifelong friendship that takes them across the country, even around the world, sharing laughs, ideas, and passion. Hacks is an absolute must-watch Emmy contender on HBO Max. The Pitt The Pitt stole the show at the 2025 Emmys, earning five awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and Lead Actor in a Drama Series for ER veteran Noah Wyle. After a stellar second season that was rated even higher than the first and earned a near-perfect 99% Rotten Tomatoes score, The Pitt is once again a heavy favorite at the 2026 Emmys after earning 25 nominations, the most of any series on any platform. Of its 25 nominations, 13 of them are in acting categories, and The Pitt is once again nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. The Pitt is a gripping and highly realistic medical drama that is told over the course of one 15-hour shift. It brings the realities of a modern-day emergency room to homes and devices around the world with unparalleled intensity, authenticity, and tragedy. The Pitt is beloved for its nonstop action and incredible attention to detail, but the performances and characters are the true heart and soul of the show. Even if you don't want medical dramas too often, The Pitt is just that good and is the very best Emmy-nominated show to watch on HBO Max.