The shareholders want their big payout as the Paramount/Skydance buyout moves forward. Despite what is said, I’m not hopeful that HBO will be as prominent a brand as it deserves to be in the end. All we can do is go on for now, and so we do with a look at what is on the slate at HBO for May 2026.
A few quick points:
- Movies from Lionsgate and Mubi play
- Jason Momoa Returns
- Plus, the latest WUTHERING HEIGHTS arrives
- Also, a new HBO Films presentation with Allison Janney
- And the US Soccer Team gets airtime
- And SONG OF THE SAMURAI Comes from Japan
HBO Original Series: We have a number of series continuing in May. We lead off with EUPHORIA. It resumes SUNDAY, MAY 03 (9:00 – 10:00 ET/PT) on HBO. The show made its much-anticipated season 3 return to amass 8.5 million U.S. viewers in its first three days of availability. The first episode of season 3 outperformed the previous season premiere by 44%. The season opener led social chatter with #Euphoria trending on X for 12 consecutive hours in the US, including 6 hours at #1, dominating trending topics alongside popular Coachella performers. On TikTok, #Euphoria was the #2 most viewed hashtag (63 million) across Movies & TV in the United States. The series has been the #1 title on the platform globally since the season 3 debut night. So, even though EUPHORIA took a time jump, viewers seemed to follow it where it went. Are you watching?
– S3 Ep. 04 – “Kitty Likes To Dance” 
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 03 (9:00-10:05 pm ET/PT)
– S3 Ep. 05 – “This Little Piggy”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 10 (9:00-10:05 pm ET/PT)
– S3 Ep. 06 – “Stand Still and See”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 17 (9:00-10:05 pm ET/PT)
– S3 Ep. 07 – “Rain Or Shine”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 24 (9:00-10:05 pm ET/PT)
– S3. Ep. 08 – “In God We Trust”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 31 (9:00-10:05 pm ET/PT)
Having just gotten on its way, next is HALF MAN. It is the original six-episode limited series from Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Richard Gadd. Note that it has a rare Thursday slot on HBO. Find it in May beginning THURSDAY, MAY 07 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT). Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood, but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other… But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. Here is how a few of the latest episodes break down:
–S1 Ep. 02 – “Episode 2”
Debut Date: THURSDAY, APRIL 30 (9:00-10:05 pm ET/PT)
After arriving in Glasgow for his first year of college, an adrift and isolated Niall leans on Ruben to help him fit in. Later, Ruben’s presence leads to devastating consequences.
–S1 Ep. 03 – “Episode 3”
Debut Date THURSDAY, MAY 07 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT)
Having graduated at the top of his class, Niall hopes to go to England and get away from Ruben. But when Lori and Maura pressure him to lie for Ruben in court, Niall faces a weighty decision.
–S1 Ep. 04 – “Episode 4”
Debut Date THURSDAY, MAY 14 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT)
–S1 Ep. 05 – “Episode 5”
Debut Date THURSDAY, MAY 21 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT)
–S1 Ep. 06 – “Episode 6”
Debut Date THURSDAY, MAY 28 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT)
The final two episodes of the premiere season of ROOSTER begin on SUNDAY, MAY 03 (10:00-10:30 pm ET/PT). This has been another well-received show, and HBO has been proud to offer the statistics to prove it. The series became the most-watched comedy premiere on HBO in the U.S. in over a decade. Rooster drew 2.4 million viewers in the U.S. across platforms in its first three days of availability. Rotten Tomatoes critic consensus sums it up: “Rooster nestles in with humor and heart thanks to Steve Carell’s soothing performance and Danielle Deadwyler’s exuberant support, leading Bill Lawrence’s kind-spirited, good-time new series to lovely heights.” Don’t forget it has been locked in a second season for 2027.
–S1 Ep. 09 – “Ludlow’s Fourth Hottest Professor”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 03 (10:00-10:33 pm ET/PT)
Thriving in and out of the classroom, Greg empowers the hockey team before a key game. Meanwhile, Archie receives feedback on his book and Katie focuses on getting tenure – which reveals the extent of her parents’ involvement in her life.
–S1 Ep. 10 – “Songs for Raisa”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 10 (10:05-10:37 pm ET/PT)
After setting boundaries with her parents, Katie makes a decision about her marriage to Archie – who has his own talk with Sunny about the future. Then, as he grapples with Katie’s independence, Greg prepares to say goodbye to his semester at Ludlow.
We’re not done. We still have two episodes of Lisa Kudrow’s THE COMEBACK to mention. Kudrow and Michael Patrick King have written every episode, and King has directed every one. It was a surprise that the third season was even a thing, but it has put Kudrow back in the spotlight.
–S3 Ep. 07 “Valerie Chases The Truth”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 03 (10:38-11:10 pm ET/PT)
Valerie tries to repair the damage caused by negative AI press – and save Mark’s reality show job by making an appearance on Finance Dudes.
–S3 Ep. 08 “Valerie Cherish”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MAY 10 (10:37-11:23 pm ET/PT)
Urged by NuNet to make a public statement in defense of AI, Valerie contemplates her future…with or without How’s That?!
LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER continues in May, starting SUNDAY, MAY 03 (11:10-11:51 pm ET/PT). Note his show doesn’t always start at the 11:00 hour as show episodes before it run long. One topic he ran all over recently was the controversial use of prediction markets. We predict Oliver has more deep divesin him as he continues his 13th season. REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER hits the hot topics too and does so with such guests as Kara Swisher, Rahm Emanuel, Jake Sullivan, Gov. Wes Moore, Chris Cuomo, and Sarah Isgur. One big focus of the show has been the Iran Conflict. Check in this month beginning on FRIDAY, MAY 01 (10:00-11:00 pm ET/PT). Keep it up, Oliver & Maher, because Paramount/Skydance may not keep you around.
Original Series Exclusive to HBO Max: The Max Original Unscripted Series ON THE ROAM returns for six (6) installments, debuting weekly beginning THURSDAY, MAY 14. The docuseries follows Jason Momoa as he travels the country chasing art, adventure, and friendship through the lens of craftsmanship. Take a gander at what is ahead in Season Two.
HACKS has a new installment every Thursday in May as it wraps up its fifth and final season. Just how will Deborah Vance’s career end, or with her stubbornness, will it? To get the show to conclude when they want, there will be two installments debuting on THURSDAY, MAY 07, on HBO Max, followed by one each on the 14th, 21st, and 28th. I wish I could tell you more, but they keep it under pretty tight wraps. The following clip helps.
HBO International Titles: We are at the place where we try to scour the web to find out what the titles in this category entail. Luckily, this time around, the titles did not need to be searched for. One such title did not need to be searched for because HBO is proud to announce a joint production from Japan titled SONG OF THE SAMURAI. It is a live-action adaptation of a manga series (comic book/graphic novel) set in Kyoto at the end of the Edo period. The story depicts the intense and passionate lives of the Shinsengumi – the iconic samurai force that defended Kyoto in the final years of Japan’s shogunate – through spectacular action and a bold interpretation based on historical facts. The story follows street brawler Toshizo Hijikata (Yuki Yamada), who finds a new kind of family in Isami Kondo and Soji Okita. Hijikata and his comrades in the Shinsengumi forge a bond of loyalty – tested by betrayal, illness, and war – as they fight not only their enemies but their own ideals.
The series features an ensemble cast including Yuki Yamada, Ayano Go, and Kento Nakajima; it is written by Masaaki Sakai, directed by Kazutaka Watanabe, and produced by Akira Morii, Mamoru Inoue, and Kazuya Shimomura. There are a total of eight (8) episodes, rolling out weekly beginning SATURDAY, MAY 09.
The Palu Family case, one of Türkey’s most shocking criminal cases, is being reopened. A three-part documentary, THE PALU FAMILY: THE DARK SPIRAL, prepared after examining thousands of pages of investigation documents, court records, and official reports, and conducting over eight months of investigative journalism and more than 10,000 kilometers of fieldwork, will be available on HBO Max on FRIDAY, MAY 08. Yes, it is in Turkish; you have to use the subtitles, so I’m not showing you the trailer, but drawing your attention to its arrival.
The sophomore season of the Argentine gal Margarita continues in May. Season Two is called MARGARITA: MAKE YOUR STORY COUNT. It launches on MONDAY, MAY 04, and if it is anything like the first season, it will have a whopping forty (40) installments in the season. It is not for everyone, but the story of Margarita lit up South America as a fantasy tale to watch, and thus didn’t need searching for either. The troubled youth builds up her own world of wonder, only to be challenged by a witch. What happens in Season Two is anyone’s guess.
HBO & HBO Max Theatrical Movies: Four fresh movies in May. Consider which ones you’ll watch as we look quickly at Wuthering Heights, Greenland 2: Migration, Lurker, and The Moment.
Truer adaptations of WUTHERING HEIGHTS exist, but for those who need the latest take, here is Margo Robbie in the tale for Warner Bros. They tag it as a bold and original interpretation of one of the greatest love stories of all time, except it is not a love story. Okay, I won’t ruin it for you. Emerald Fennell’s take stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love, and madness. It comes to us right out of the gate on SATURDAY, MAY 02 (8:00-10:20 pm ET/PT) and is available the day prior on HBO Max. Next up is the Lionsgate Film GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION. In the aftermath of a comet strike that devastates most of the earth, this movie follows devoted family man John Garrity (Gerard Butler) and his wife and son (Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis) after they’re forced to leave the safety of their bunker in Greenland to search for a new home in a shattered world. John leads the family on a dangerous journey, guided by his burning hope in a rumored safe haven. It’s a journey against the odds that will test the family’s deepest sense of love, sacrifice, and instinct to survive. It hits SATURDAY, MAY 09 (8:00-9:40 pm ET/PT) and the day prior on HBO Max.
Mubi Films, yes, the British streamer and distributor, gives us the movie for SATURDAY, MAY 16 (8:00-9:40 pm ET/PT) and on HBO Max the day prior. It is LURKER. When a twenty-something retail clerk encounters a rising pop star, he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But as the line between friend 
and fan blurs beyond recognition, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. It stars Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Havanna Rose Liu, Zack Fox, Sunny Suljic, Daniel Zolghadri, and Olawale Onayemi. It is written and directed by Alex Russell. It received critical acclaim. It was featured on Variety‘s list of the top ten best films of 2025, with lead critic Owen Gleiberman saying, “Lurker has been made with the craft of early vintage Polanski crossed with an up-to-the-minute awareness of what pop culture has come to mean when the famous and their fans are now chasing each other’s tails.”A24’s THE MOMENT will make its streaming debut exclusively on HBO Max in the U.S. on FRIDAY, MAY 29. The film will debut on HBO linear on SATURDAY, MAY 30 at 8:00- 9:45 pm ET/PT. It stars Charli xcx, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Arielle Dombasle, Hailey Benton Gates, Kylie Jenner, Trew Mullen, Mel Ottenberg, Isaac Powell, Rachel Sennott, Rish Shah, Alexander Skarsgård, and Michael Workéyè. But what is it about? A rising pop star navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut. The film is directed by Aidan Zamiri. It is written by Aidan Zamiri and Bertie Brandes. Based on an Original Idea by Charli xcx.
HBO Films: A blunt, grieving widow, Diane Patterson (Allison Janney), is forced to plan her husband’s funeral with a total stranger: her estranged son’s assistant, Jamie Simms (Andrew Rannells). As they fumble through grief and their strange, darkly funny circumstances, buried secrets and long-held resentments surface, but their partnership becomes an unlikely conduit for connection, laughter, and healing for this mother and her unexpected surrogate son.
All this comes forth in the HBO Films Presentation: MISS YOU, LOVE YOU. The cast includes Academy Award and Emmy winner Allison Janney as Diane Patterson, two-time Tony nominee Andrew Rannells as Jamie Simms, Bonnie Hunt as Judith Bibbs, Suzy Nakamura as Kathy, Oscar Nuñez as Minister, and Lisa Schurga as Nance. The work is written and directed by Jim Rash. No runtime is given, but it debuts on HBO on FRIDAY, MAY 29 at 8:00 pm ET/PT.
HBO Documentary Films: Here we are at documentaries. We have two new films to consider, leading off with THE A LIST: 15 STORIES FROM ASIA AND PACIFIC DISPORAS. It is directed by Eugene Yi (The Rose: Come Back to Me, Free Chol Soo Lee), executive produced by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart) with interviews by Jada Yuan (The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Magazine) debuts WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 (9:00-10:30 pm ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. It is a tapestry of personal vignettes from across the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in America. The film captures lived experiences from high-profile celebrities like Sandra Oh to unsung heroes like Madelyn Yu, a retired nurse in New Jersey. These intimate first-person accounts invite viewers to question umbrella terms like “Asian American” and “AAPI,” and instead draw focus to the individuals and the communities themselves. The film is the latest in the “The List” series of documentary films, large-format photography portraits, and books that examine the rich cultures of various underrepresented communities, created by renowned photographer and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. Past projects include HBO’s “The Black List,” “The Trans List,” “The Out List,” and “The Latino List.”
The other title is actually a new episode of a preexisting docuseries. THE YOGURT SHOP MURDERS gets a new installment – Episode 5 “The End of Wondering.” chronicles the months after the documentary series THE YOGURT SHOP MURDERS debuted in August 2025, when the Austin Police Department (APD) 
suddenly convenes a press conference to announce a break in the 34-year-old case only three weeks after the show concluded. In the conference, APD cold case detective Dan Jackson reveals the behind-the-scenes details of the painstaking work that he and other investigators used in tracking down the killer of four teenage girls in Austin, Texas, in 1991. When the murderer’s identity is uncovered and verified through new DNA technology, it reveals the unexpected connection to a serial killer whose crimes stretched across numerous states in the ‘90s. The resolution offers some relief to the family members while at the same time allowing the falsely accused men from the original investigation an opportunity to finally seek exoneration. This new episode gets added to the series beginning FRIDAY, MAY 22.
HBO Original Specials: Debuting FRIDAY, MAY 22 is a new comedy stand-up gig. It is JOSH 
JOHNSON: SYMPHONY. Johnson debuts original material about our shared experiences as humans – tackling topics like family, religion, and relationships through his unique point of view and signature creativity. Viewers can expect a truly original and unforgettable experience. The special was filmed at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles.
Josh Johnson quote: “I’m excited to have my breakout piece be with a company that nurtures vision like HBO does. I’m grateful to them, and you, for watching.”
HBO Max Kids & Family: We got BATWHEELS Season 3C coming the kiddies’ way on FRIDAY, MAY 22, and more WE BABY BEARS on SUNDAY, MAY 31.
HBO Sports: The HBO Original five-part sports documentary series U.S. AGAINST THE WORLD: FOUR YEARS WITH THE MEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM, produced by Park Stories, debuts TUESDAY, MAY 12 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Subsequent episodes will debut on Tuesdays at the same time. The series is an unprecedented look inside the United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America this June. Filmed over the course of four years, the series follows Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and an array of U.S. players on their personal and collective journeys toward their sport’s biggest stage.
Other Shows On HBO or HBO Max: In order to make HBO Max’s immersive worlds, iconic characters, and nuanced storylines accessible to all fans, the platform offers in-app accommodations. One such accommodation is sign language. HBO wants us to note that May 21 is GLOBAL ACCESSIBILITY AWARENESS DAY. In the Discover Our Collections section of HBO Max is a list of works that use special access programming. For example, titles available with Sign Language include: Wuthering Heights, The Pitt, DTF St. Louis, IT: Welcome to Derry, The Last of Us, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Superman, Barbie, A Minecraft Movie, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, and Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire.
Next Month’s Tease: You might guess what show they’re from because of their names, but who are the characters of Vhagar, Syrax, Caraxes, and Vermithor?
Last Month’s Tease: We asked you who had a show entitled SYMPHONY. Now you know it is the stand-up special Josh Johnson presents in May.
Final Clip: We bumped out LURKER above. Here is the trailer.
Enjoy HBO and HBO Watch
