When I hear HBO Max, I think of critical acclaim. The streamer lived up to its reputation, as HBO Max dominated the Emmy nominations. For the 2026 Emmy Awards, HBO Max led the field with 122 total nominations. That's a testament to the streamer's commitment to making prestige dramas and comedies.

Television’s highest honors will be awarded to several shows at the 2026 Primetime Emmys. HBO led the field with 122 total nominations, including nominations at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, followed by Netflix (111) and Apple TV (89). These three services will be searching for Emmy glory in several of the major categories, including drama series, comedy series, and limited or anthology series.

What a difference a few weeks make for the state of television. During the final days of August, it was a struggle to find new and returning shows debuting on streaming services. Once the calendar hit September, it was a television overload, and this week continues that trend. HBO Max kicks off our countdown with a headline-grabbing true crime documentary.

For years, Netflix remained steadfast in its belief in putting its biggest original movies on the service and only allowing small theatrical windows for its awards-season contenders. That mindset is slowly starting to change, as Netflix will allow larger theatrical rollouts for its originals. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth will receive a two-week IMAX release this Thanksgiving, and Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will get a wide theatrical release starting in February 2027.

It's a new week, which means many of the major streaming services will be adding movies to their respective services. At HBO Max, one of the most divisive superhero movies in recent memory finally makes its streaming debut. Netflix has a pair of new releases: one comes from Tyler Perry, and the other is based on a beloved comedy series.

Last week, I recommended watching The Whisper Man, an exciting new thriller starring Robert De Niro and Adam Scott. The movie is now the No. 1 movie on Netflix in the U.S. for the past week, so hopefully you're getting in on the discussions, especially involving the polarizing ending.

How many of you still partake in streaming marathons? I'm talking about those binge-watching sessions where you wake up and crush an entire season of television in one sitting. I'm usually pressed for time, so I have to make strategic decisions about what I can watch in under 90 minutes. However, I still enjoy finishing a show in one sitting from time to time.