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New HBO Max Shows and Movies in May 2023

Will the sorority documentary Bama Rush be accepted into your watchlist?

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Allison Picurro

When Warner Bros. Discovery announced that HBO Max would become Max on May 23, the "launch" lineup was pretty light, unless you're really into podcasts or Gremlins. Since then, Max has announced more movies and shows that will drop that day, including the documentary film Bama Rush, which takes a look at the sorority system at the University of Alabama; How to Create a Sex Scandal, a docuseries about a scandal that rocked a Texas town in 2005; and a series all about Zooey Deschanel wondering what she's stuffing into her mouth. If those sound too heavy, we highly recommend the comedy The Other Two, which premiered its third season this month. 

Below, we pulled together our picks for the month, plus a list of what's coming to HBO and HBO Max in May. A note: The full list of what's coming post-rebrand isn't available yet, nor is the list of what's leaving, but we'll update this post once that information is released.

Last month's guide: New HBO Max Shows and Movies (April 2023)

The best new HBO and HBO Max movies and shows in May

Josh Segarra, Heléne Yorke, and Drew Tarver, The Other Two

Josh Segarra, Heléne Yorke, and Drew Tarver, The Other Two

Greg Endries/HBO Max

HBO Max streams all HBO shows and movies when they debut on HBO. But not all shows and movies on HBO Max make it to HBO. We'll designate HBO Max exclusives where appropriate.

White House Plumbers Season 4 (May 1, HBO)

Justin Theroux's big, glorious mustache should be enough to get you to watch White House Plumbers, but if you need some more information about the "plot," here you go: Theroux and Woody Harrelson star in this series that goes behind the scenes of the Watergate scandal, spotlighting the two guys who accidentally overturned Nixon's presidency while trying to protect it. [Trailer]

The Other Two Season 3 (May 4, HBO Max)

The Other Two is back — in this climate! Season 3 picks up with perennially cast-aside siblings Cary (Drew Tarver) and Brooke (Heléne Yorke) on career upswings, and nevertheless still unsatisfied. This is one of the funniest shows on TV, and we're lucky to live in a time when it gets to continue to exist. [Trailer]

SmartLess on the Road (May 23, Max)

You've heard the podcast; now hear the podcast and watch the podcast at the same time! This docuseries follows SmartLess — the popular podcast with hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, and their special A-list guests — as it tours the nation. It's one of the "launch" titles with the Max name change. [Trailer]

Bama Rush (May 23, Max)

I'll never fully understand the allure of the Greek system at our institutions of higher learning, and this documentary film from filmmaker Rachel Fleit only confirms the toxic environment of fraternities and sororities. But Bama Rush, inspired by the explosion of interest in Rush Week at the University of Alabama thanks to going viral on TikTok in 2021, follows four young women as they go after their social dream of joining the college's exclusive sororities and explain why it's so important to them. It's not always a convincing argument, but it's always fascinating as it looks at social status, social media, and the absurd pressures young women face today. –Tim Surette [Trailer]

Reality (May 29, HBO)

Sydney Sweeney plays former NSA translator and whistleblower Reality Winner, who leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 election. The film is an adaptation of Tina Satter's acclaimed play, which takes place on the day of Winner's arrest and pulls all of its dialogue from a transcript of her FBI interrogation. [Trailer]

Watch Barry, Hacks, and More $9.99 at HBO Max


More on HBO and HBO Max:

All the new shows and movies coming to HBO and HBO Max in May

May 1
Absolute Power, 1997 (HBO)
Alpha Dog, 2006 (HBO)
American Honey, 2016 (HBO)
As Tears Go By, 1988
Betrayed, 1988 (HBO)
Black Mass, 2015 (HBO)
Blue Valentine, 2010 (HBO)
Calvary, 2014 (HBO)
Coffee and Cigarettes, 2003
Daddy Day Care, 2003 (HBO)
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who!, 2008 (HBO)
Dreamer: Inspired By A True Story, 2005 (HBO)
Eat Pray Love, 2010
The Forbidden Kingdom, 2008 (HBO)
Heartbreakers, 2001 (HBO)
The Hole In The Ground, 2019 (HBO)
Hustle & Flow, 2005 (HBO)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry, 2007 (HBO)
The Karate Kid, 2010
Kingsman: The Secret Service, 2014 (HBO)
The Last Castle, 2001 (HBO)
Lord Of Illusions, 1995 (HBO) (Director's Cut)
Lucky You, 2007 (HBO)
Man Of The House, 2005 (HBO)
Mid90s, 2019 (HBO)
Midnight Sun, 2018 (HBO)
Mirror Mirror, 2012 (HBO)
Mirrors, 2008  (Extended Version) (HBO)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, 2016 (HBO)
Paper Moon, 1973 (HBO)
Paranoia, 2013 (HBO)
Parasite, 2019 (HBO)
The Rookie, 2002 (HBO)
Shark Night 3D, 2011 (HBO)
Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow, 2004 (HBO)
Soapdish, 1991 (HBO)
Some Like It Hot, 1959 (HBO)
Sorority Row, 2009 (HBO)
Step Brothers, 2008
White House Plumbers, Limited Series Premiere (HBO)
Windtalkers, 2002 (HBO)

May 2
1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Batwheels, Season 1E
RUN ALL NIGHT, (HBO)

May 3
Fifty Shades of Grey, 2015 (HBO) (Unrated Version)

May 4
The Other Two, Max Original Season 3 Premiere

May 5
Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, Season 1

May 8
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who!, 2008 (HBO)
Legion of Super-Heroes, 2023
Sky Captain and The World Of Tomorrow, 2004 (HBO)
The Conjuring, 2013 (HBO)
Two Sides of the Abyss (Die zwei Seiten des Abgrunds), Max Original Premiere 

May 11
Rick and Morty, Season 6

May 14
We Baby Bears: Little Falling Star, Season 1G

May 15
I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry, 2007 (HBO)
Land of Gold, 2022
Unbreakable, 2000 (HBO)

May 16
Angel City, Three-Part Documentary Series Premiere (HBO)
Men in Black, 1997
Men in Black II, 2002
Men in Black III, 2012

May 19
The LEGO Batman Movie, 2017
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, 2001 (HBO)
Parasite, 2019 (HBO)
Spy/Master, Max Original Premiere

May 20
Love to Love You, Donna Summer, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

May 22
Kingsman: The Secret Service, 2014 (HBO)
Mid90s, 2018 (HBO)
San Andreas, 2015

May 23
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Max Original Premiere
SmartLess: On the Road, Max Original Premiere
Bama Rush, Max Original Premiere
How to Create a Sex Scandal, Max Original Premiere
Clone High, Max Original Premiere
What Am I Eating? With Zooey Deschanel, Max Original Premiere

May 29
Reality (HBO)