These are Screen Rant’s top picks for the greatest TV shows and limited series to watch only on HBO Max for this weekend, September 26-28, 2025.
Screen Rant has got you covered with some of the most critically acclaimed series and trending new releases to watch on HBO Max right now.
This week’s selection includes an overlooked psychological drama, a trending new animated series, and one of the best miniseries on HBO.
Be sure to check out our top TV choices to stream this week on Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix, and catch up on some lengthier HBO Max shows to binge-watch this Fall.
I May Destroy You
I May Destroy You has been one of the most celebrated yet overlooked series on HBO since it was released in 2020. Starring and created by 2-time Emmy winner Michaela Coel, the limited series runs for 12 episodes, each roughly half an hour long.
I May Destroy You follows Coel’s Arabella, a famous millennial social media influencer and novelist whose entire world shifts after being sexually assaulted. Coel won one of her 2 Emmys for writing this miniseries and chose to conclude the show after one season.
I May Destroy You features a great ensemble cast of mostly black British actors, including Weruche Opia and Paapa Essiedu. In addition to writing and starring in the series, Coel directed nine of the 12 episodes, making it a true feat of a passion project that timely tapped into the cultural landscape.
Critics raved over I May Destroy You, which earned a near-perfect 98% Rotten Tomatoes score. Collider’s review noted, “This show is fearless in its attitude towards the modern world in which it exists, with Coel’s creative voice bursting through to make some necessary commentary.”
I May Destroy You’s commentary may have been sharpest when it was released five years ago, but its message and greater themes are universally timeless. If you’re looking for a captivating binge-watch this weekend that speaks to larger societal issues, then I May Destroy You is a great option on HBO Max.
Smiling Friends
Smiling Friends is a hilarious animated series on HBO Max with an upcoming new season releasing on October 5, 2025. The series is created by Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel.
Smiling Friends is part of HBO’s Adult Swim label, so expect the series to be unconventional. All of the episodes are either 11 or 12 minutes long, making it incredibly easy to binge-watch the first two available seasons in a few sittings. The series has already been renewed for seasons 4 and 5 ahead of its season 3 premiere.
Smiling Friends is highly rated by viewers, earning an 8.5 IMDb score and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers love the unpredictable and bizarre nature of the series, which makes for great entertainment if you’re into that sort of thing.
The New York Times gave Smiling Friends a strong review, calling it a “deranged blast.” They also noted, “Part of the appeal here is the show’s wide curiosity and unpredictable rhythm; its grab-bagginess recreates the lure of a blind-box toy.” Vulture equated watching the series to “smiling with a friend.”
The animation in Smiling Friends is one of the best qualities. The show moves along at a rapid-fire pace and masterfully blends genres. If you approach the series with an open mind, it could end up being one of your new favorite shows on HBO Max.
Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects is one of the most captivating HBO miniseries ever made. Directed by the late Jean-Marc Vallée, best known for Big Little Lies, Sharp Objects was co-created by Gillian Flynn, the author of Gone Girl, based on her own novel of the same name.
Featuring a fantastic lead performance by Amy Adams, Sharp Objects follows Camille Preaker, a crime reporter who returns to her hometown to solve the murder of two young girls. If you loved Mare of Easttown on HBO, consider Sharp Objects required viewing.
Sharp Objects was critically acclaimed when it was released back in 2018, earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92% and an audience score of 83%. The series was also nominated for 8 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series – an award that ultimately went to another little HBO miniseries called Chernobyl.
Sharp Objects consists of eight episodes, all roughly an hour long, making it perfect to dive into this weekend. Adams is spectacular as always and is supported by great performances, including Patrica Clarkson, Chris Messina, Henry Czerny, and more.