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Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant who also covers Movies and Music. He's published over 2500 articles at SR, including weekly binge 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's top 5 shows to binge-watch this week, January 5–9, 2026, highlight several season premieres and finales as well as modern classics, reality series, and laugh-out-loud comedies. This week, HBO Max offers not one but two major series returns that viewers don't want to miss.
Screen Rant's weekly binge-watching roundup also features major streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Paramount+. After you're done watching the surprise #1 viral hit Heated Rivalry, dive into these five immersive and top-notch shows to binge-watch right now.
It's Florida, Man
The season 2 finale of the HBO Max original comedy series It's Florida, Man just dropped last week, making now the perfect time to binge the entire series if you haven't yet. From the producers that brought you The Righteous Gemstones, It's Florida, Man is a sketch comedy series that recreates stranger-than-fiction true tales from the Sunshine State.
It's Florida, Man now consists of 12 total episodes, all roughly 25 minutes or less, making it one of the easiest shows to binge-watch on HBO Max right now. Featuring guest appearances from Haley Joel Osment, Simon Rex, Sam Richardson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Johnny Knoxville, and more, It's Florida, Man is one of the wackiest offbeat comedy series streaming now on HBO Max.
Hard Knocks: In Season
New episodes of Hard Knocks: In Season are released every Tuesday on HBO Max, with only two episodes remaining now that the NFL regular season is officially over. Of the four NFL teams chronicled in this year's Hard Knocks: In Season, only the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are still in the playoff picture and will continue playing in the NFL postseason as the 3 seed in the NFC.
Hard Knocks has always been a flagship HBO series since it premiered back in 2001. In recent years, it has offered in-season productions for the very first time, highlighting various NFL teams and divisions. If you're a big football fan, consider Hard Knocks: In Season essential viewing as the 2026 postseason kicks off next weekend.
The Righteous Gemstones
For an immersive week-long binge with non-stop laughs, The Righteous Gemstones is about as good as it gets on HBO Max, especially as a follow-up to It's Florida, Man. Starring Adam Devine, John Goodman, Edi Patterson, and creator Danny McBride, this 4-season religious-themed comedy follows a world-famous televangelist and his three spoiled adult children.
You could argue that The Righteous Gemstones is a bit like Succession with its dysfunctional family dynamic, led by a difficult yet hugely successful patriarch and his "nepo baby" adult children. Succession and The Righteous Gemstones, however, are funny in very different ways, with the former being more satirical and the latter being more slapstick and full of one-liners, set-ups, and punchlines.
Industry
There's no better time to binge-watch Industry than this week ahead of its season 4 premiere this Sunday, January 11. Also in a similar vein to Succession, Industry is a corporate workplace drama, but has somewhat flown under the radar during its first three seasons. The story follows a group of young and ambitious financial workers striving for success and fortune after the 2008 economic collapse.
Industry is full of egotistical workaholic characters that are easy to hate but hard to stop watching. The series moves at a whip-fast pace once things pick up after the first few episodes, making it an addictive and immersive binge. If you're on the fence about catching up in time for the promising season 4 premiere this Sunday, consider this your sign to dive into the world of Industry while there's still time.
The Pitt
The wait for The Pitt season 2 premiere will finally be over this Thursday, January 8, on HBO Max. After winning 5 Emmys last year, including Outstanding Drama Series, The Pitt had another big night at the Critics' Choice Awards last weekend, winning prizes for Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series, and Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
The Pitt is already a top trending series heading into its season 2 premiere this week, and is positioned to be another massive streaming hit for HBO Max throughout the winter months. This will undoubtedly be the top HBO Max show that everyone will be talking about this week, so we recommend bingeing season 1 this week if you haven't already.
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