New on HBO Max in August 2026: All the new shows and movies to watch this month

(Image credit: HBO Max; Shutterstock) We're coming into the back half of summer, folks, but that doesn't mean things are cooling down where streaming is concerned. HBO Max, in particular, is keeping the temperature up with a hot crop of new films and TV shows joining its already extensive library this August.Subscribers of the HBO streaming service will have plenty to choose from in the weeks ahead, from high-profile series — including the new DC Studios drama "Lanterns" starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, and another fun-loving season of the travel show "Conan O'Brien Must Go" — to buzzy movie releases, like the Anne Hathaway-led "Mother Mary" and the Bob Odenkirk-starring neo-Western "Normal."Below, we give our top recommendations for HBO Max this August, followed by a comprehensive list of every title arriving on the service throughout the month. Happy streaming!New on HBO Max in August 2026: Top picks‘Monsters of God' Monsters of God | Official Trailer | HBO Max - YouTube Watch On For this five-part documentary series, filmmaker Eric Goode slithers his way into the underground yet billion-dollar world of exotic animal smuggling, populated by outlaw traffickers (including industry legends Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield), unhinged collectors and the law enforcement agents on their metaphorical tails.Goode's gonzo doc took home the Audience Award at SXSW 2026, and if you're into so-weird-it-must-be-true crime tales like "Tiger King" and "Chimp Crazy," this should be right up your alley. Episodes will roll out weekly.Stream on HBO Max from August 6'Normal' NORMAL Official Trailer (2026) Bob Odenkirk - YouTube Watch On A team-up between Bob Odenkirk, "John Wick" creator Derek Kolstad and "Free Fire" filmmaker Ben Wheatley, this neo-Western sees the "Better Call Saul" great as an unassuming small-town sheriff with a troubled past. In fictitious Normal, Minnesota, Odenkirk's Sheriff Ulysses inadvertently gets sucked into a dark, town-wide conspiracy after a botched bank robbery interrupts the peace of his provisional posting. Soon enough, Normal isn't seeming so "normal" after all.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.The lively action comedy features a crowd-pleasing cast including Henry Winkler, Lena Heady, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Reena Jolly and Peter Shinkoda.Stream on HBO Max from August 14‘Lanterns’ Lanterns | Official Teaser | HBO Max - YouTube Watch On Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre play Green Lanterns of different generations in this eight-episode DC Comics drama, a demographical difference that allows for some enjoyable tension between their respective characters, Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Old Lantern legend Jordan is tasked with mentoring rookie recruit Stewart as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. However, that earthly case soon takes on an extraterrestrial edge, leading the duo to darker mysteries and reckonings.The superhero series also stars Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Laura Linney, Jason Ritter, Ulrich Thomsen, Nathan Fillion, J. Alphonse Nicholson and Jasmine Cephas Jones.Stream on HBO Max from August 16'Conan O'Brien Must Go' season 3 Conan O'Brien Must Go | Official Trailer | Max - YouTube Watch On Sure, there seems to be a proliferation of celebrity-focused travel shows of late, but if there's anyone we'd want to go flailing around the world with, it's Conan O'Brien.The third installment of his hilarious, Emmy-winning travelogue series will feature four episodes of the famous funnyman connecting with fans he first met on his "Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan" podcast and experiencing local cultures in India, the Philippines, the Netherlands and Morocco. Ridiculous shenanigans unsurprisingly ensue, with episodes released weekly.Stream on HBO Max from August 21‘Mother Mary' Mother Mary | Official Trailer HD | A24 - YouTube Watch On Somehow, in between filming 2026 titles "The Odyssey," "Devil Wears Prada 2," "The End of Oak Street" and "Verity," Anne Hathaway managed to fit in this David Lowery-directed psychological drama. The Oscar winner plays the titular Mother Mary, a world-famous pop icon who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel) on the eve of a big comeback performance. As the two women collaborate, they are forced to confront the pain of their past partnership and personal traumas. Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, Isaura Barbé-Brown with Sian Clifford and FKA twigs also appear.Stream on HBO Max from August 21Everything new on HBO Max in August 2026August 1AmyBarbarianBells Are RingingBilly BuddBlockersEpicFlipper's New AdventureGreat White Highway (Discovery)Hall PassHall Pass: Enlarged EditionHappy Feet TwoIt Comes At NightMacaoMiss SloaneMojaveMurder on the Orient Express (2017)OrphanPractical MagicPut A Ring On It: Cheat Hab (OWN)Quo VadisRoad House (1989)SicarioSmart MoneyStand by MeStrike Up the BandTaxi!The Band WagonThe Crimson PirateThe Fighting 69thThe Kennel Murder CaseThe Rain PeopleThe Sea ChaseThe Wonderful World of the Brothers GrimmThe Wrong ManThe YearlingThresher Shark: Stun to Kill (Discovery)TuskWho's That Knocking at My Door?You Can't Get Away with Murder August 3Naked And Afraid: Shipwrecked, Season 1 (Discovery) August 4Chopped: Volume 4, Season 64 (Food Network)Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks (HBO Original) August 6Monsters of God (HBO Original) August 7Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Season 1House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 215 (HGTV)House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 260 (HGTV)The Invisible GuestThe Strangers: Chapter 2 (Lionsgate) August 8Belle Collective, Season 8 (OWN) August 9Heart & Hustle: Houston, Season 2 (OWN) August 10Double Lives of Suburban Wives, Season 1 (TLC) August 11The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door (CNN Films) August 12Signs of a Psychopath, Season 11 (ID) August 13Building Giants, Season 5 (Science)Faster With Newbern and Cotten, Season 3Isadora Moon, Season 1D (Max Original)Most Extreme Humans, Season 1 (TLC) August 14Normal (Magnolia Pictures)Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes (HBO Original) August 16Lanterns, Season 1 (DC Studios Drama Series) August 17Thanksgiving (2023) August 20ER: Caught On Camera, Season 1 (TLC)Expedition X, Season 12 (Discovery) August 21Conan O’Brien Must Go, Season 3 (HBO Original)Mother Mary (A24) August 22Abbott Elementary, Season 5 August 24Margarita: Make Your Story Count, Season 3 (Max Original) August 25“Ben Sasse is Coming Home: Lessons in Life and Death” with Jake Tapper, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (CNN Originals) August 261000-lb Roomies, Season 2 (TLC)Bobby's Triple Threat, Season 5 (Food Network)Homestead Rescue: Intervention, Season 1 (Discovery) August 27Totally '90s House, Season 1 (HGTV) August 28House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 261 (HGTV)The Producer, Season 1 (HBO Original) August 30Enter NowhereHollaKnock KnockThe Cabin in the WoodsThe Strangers: Chapter 1The Strangers: Prey at Night August 31Big Burger Battle, Season 1 (Food Network)The Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special (Adult Swim)Live sports**Live Sports available only on select plans. Plan availability varies by subscription provider. Check with your subscription provider for details. Select games available and blackouts may apply.Please note this list may not be comprehensive and is subject to change. All times are in ET.MLBAugust 4LA Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs, 8 p.m.August 11Seattle vs NY Yankees, 7 p.m.August 18Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 8 p.m.August 25LA Dodgers vs Atlanta, 7 p.m. Savannah Banana'sAugust 14Clowns vs Bananas, 9 p.m.August 21Clowns vs Tailgaters, 8 p.m.August 28Bananas vs Coconuts, 7 p.m. NASCARAugust 8Newton, IA P&Q 2 p.m.August 14Richmond, VA P&Q 3:30 p.m.August 22Loudon, NH, 10:30 a.m.August 28Daytona Qualifying, 5 p.m. DUNKMANAugust 4Qualifiers, 8 p.m.August 11Qualifiers, 8 p.m.August 25Championship, 8 p.m.These lists are provided by HBO and may not be comprehensive. These lists are subject to change at any point. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow Tom's Guide Entertainment on TikTok and Instagram. Finally, you can visit our dedicated Tom's Guide Savings Squad hub for expert help on getting the best products for less. More from Tom's Guide3 best feel-good HBO Max shows to add to your watchlistThis legendary HBO Sunday night drama is 25 years old and still has TV's best finaleHBO Max just added Glen Powell’s box-office flop thriller Christina Izzo is a writer-editor covering culture, food and drink, travel and general lifestyle in New York City. She was previously the Deputy Editor at My Imperfect Life, the Features Editor at Rachael Ray In Season and Reveal, as well as the Food & Drink Editor and chief restaurant critic at Time Out New York.