Excellent HBO Max Limited Series You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
HBO Max has quietly built a strong lineup of limited series that spans prestige dramas, international co-productions, and eye-opening docuseries. Many of these titles deliver complete stories in a compact run, making them ideal for viewers who want a beginning-to-end narrative without committing to multiple seasons.
Below are fifteen HBO Max originals—scripted and documentary—that finish their story within a single series. Each entry includes concrete details on creators, cast, scope, and subject matter so you can quickly decide what fits your watchlist.
‘Station Eleven’ (2021–2022)
This post-pandemic drama is developed by Patrick Somerville from Emily St. John Mandel’s novel and follows a troupe of actors and musicians rebuilding culture after a global catastrophe. The limited series maps overlapping timelines and characters across multiple regions, with performances from Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel anchoring an ensemble that includes Matilda Lawler and Danielle Deadwyler.
Across 10 episodes, the show tracks a comic book’s passage between survivors, the rise of a charismatic prophet, and the routes of a traveling Shakespeare company called the Traveling Symphony. Directors such as Hiro Murai and Jeremy Podeswa guide chapters that explore art, community, and the logistics of survival, with production by Paramount Television Studios and Piece of Work.
‘Love & Death’ (2023)
Created by David E. Kelley and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter, this true-crime limited series dramatizes the case of Candy Montgomery, adapting reporting from Texas Monthly and the book “Evidence of Love.” Elizabeth Olsen portrays Montgomery, with Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, and Patrick Fugit among the principal cast, and Lionsgate Television producing.
Across 7 episodes, the series reconstructs events around a small-town church community, legal strategy, and forensic testimony. It focuses on the relationships at the case’s center, court proceedings, and the documents that shaped the narrative, using period-accurate design and music supervision to situate the investigation and trial.
‘Full Circle’ (2023)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and created by Ed Solomon, this crime limited series examines the fallout from a botched kidnapping that exposes decades-old secrets connecting Guyana and New York. The cast includes Zazie Beetz, Claire Danes, Timothy Olyphant, Dennis Quaid, and CCH Pounder across intersecting storylines.
Told over 6 episodes, the investigation moves through insurance fraud, family businesses, and law-enforcement procedure while tracing how a ring’s internal dynamics collide with federal agents. The production uses Soderbergh’s trademark handheld camerawork and a lean shooting schedule, with the narrative structured to reveal character histories through recorded calls, immigration files, and case notes.
‘DMZ’ (2022)
Based on the Vertigo comic by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli, this four-part limited series is developed by Roberto Patino, with Ava DuVernay directing the pilot. Rosario Dawson stars as medic Alma Ortega, who returns to a demilitarized Manhattan to search for her son, while Benjamin Bratt plays a faction leader vying for control.
Set within a fractured city run by rival groups, the series details ad-hoc governance, black-market logistics, and the mechanics of community services amid conflict. Production design rebuilds familiar New York landmarks as contested zones, and the adaptation streamlines comic arcs into a focused search narrative, emphasizing negotiations, ceasefires, and supply routes.
‘The Staircase’ (2022)
This limited drama from Antonio Campos and Maggie Cohn dramatizes the Michael Peterson case while folding in the making of the original French documentary ‘The Staircase’. Colin Firth portrays Peterson, and Toni Collette portrays Kathleen Peterson, with supporting turns from Juliette Binoche, Sophie Turner, Dane DeHaan, and Parker Posey.
Across 8 episodes, the series stages forensic demonstrations, editorial choices by the documentarians of ‘The Staircase’, and the legal strategies presented in court. It intercuts family archives, media interviews, and reenactments to chart how narrative framing, expert testimony, and plea negotiations shaped public understanding of the case.
‘It’s a Sin’ (2021)
Created by Russell T Davies and produced by Red Production Company, this five-part limited series follows a group of friends in London during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The ensemble includes Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, and Keeley Hawes, portraying intersecting stories of work, love, and chosen family.
The production recreates club culture, medical settings, and community activism, incorporating period television clips and public-health materials. Episodes follow hospital protocols, media coverage, and the evolution of grassroots support networks, with scenes tracking how policy, stigma, and caregiving shaped day-to-day life.
‘Kamikaze’ (2021)
An HBO Max original from Denmark, ‘Kamikaze’ is created by Johanne Algren from Erlend Loe’s novel “Muleum,” with Kaspar Munk directing. Marie Reuther stars as Julie, whose life upends after a sudden loss, setting her on a globe-spanning journey that tests limits and identity.
The 8-episode story uses diary-style narration, location-hopping set pieces, and practical stunt work to chart impulsive decisions and their consequences. Production partners include HBO Max EMEA, and the series uses a mix of Danish and English dialogue while emphasizing aviation sequences, minimalist interiors, and on-the-move cinematography.
‘Patria’ (2020)
Created by Aitor Gabilondo from Fernando Aramburu’s bestselling novel, this limited series examines the long-term impact of Basque separatist violence on two families in a small community. Elena Irureta and Ane Gabarain lead an ensemble that moves between private grief, public pressure, and the search for accountability.
Spanning 8 episodes, the series stages demonstrations, clandestine meetings, and legal processes to show how personal relationships strain under intimidation and memory. It was produced by HBO Europe with extensive location shooting across the Basque Country, and the adaptation keeps the novel’s dual-household structure while streamlining certain subplots for television.
‘The Girl Before’ (2021)
Adapted by JP Delaney from his own novel and co-produced with BBC, this four-part psychological limited series centers on a minimalist house with strict rules set by its architect. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Oyelowo, Jessica Plummer, and Ben Hardy headline a cast that connects two tenants through a meticulous application process and a shared address.
The series uses the home’s smart-tech systems, surveillance features, and controlled materials palette to frame the investigation into consent, data access, and design ethics. Filming relied on a purpose-built set to reflect the architect’s specifications, and the script structures revelations through parallel timelines and property records.
‘Equal’ (2020)
‘Equal’ is a four-episode docudrama that chronicles pivotal moments and figures in LGBTQ+ history, narrated by Billy Porter. The series employs dramatized vignettes featuring actors as organizers, writers, and community leaders alongside archival footage and photographs.
Each episode focuses on a distinct chapter, including early homophile organizations, trans pioneers, and the rise of national advocacy. The production integrates period publications, police reports, and court filings into the storytelling, with a writers’ room and historical consultants aligning dates, terminology, and visuals to primary sources.
‘Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults’ (2020)
This limited docuseries examines the Heaven’s Gate religious group from its origins through its final act, using extensive archival video recorded by members. Directed by Clay Tweel, it features interviews with former adherents, journalists, and relatives to trace recruitment methods, doctrine, and group structure.
Across 4 episodes, the series analyzes how terminology, leadership claims, and technology shaped the group’s identity and outreach. It catalogs materials such as lesson tapes, public access appearances, and printed manuals, presenting timelines of relocations, finances, and exit preparations through primary documents.
‘The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin’ (2021–2022)
Directed by Marina Zenovich, this five-part docuseries investigates the Remnant Fellowship Church and the influence of its founder, Gwen Shamblin Lara. The series compiles interviews with former congregants, legal experts, and journalists and incorporates sermons and church-produced media.
Structured in two installments, the production adds follow-up reporting that addresses leadership changes and legal developments. It details organizational governance, business entities, and child-discipline controversies, placing sourced documents and broadcast clips in context with on-camera testimony.
‘Not So Pretty’ (2022)
Created by filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering and narrated by Keke Palmer, this four-episode docuseries investigates safety and regulation in the beauty industry. Each chapter centers on a product category—makeup, skincare, hair, and nails—through scientists, regulators, workers, and consumers.
The series lays out testing protocols, ingredient lists, and manufacturing practices, including lab analysis of contaminants and interviews about labeling standards. It examines how advocacy groups and litigators pursue change, presenting case studies drawn from public filings and research literature in plain language.
‘What Happened, Brittany Murphy?’ (2021)
Directed by Cynthia Hill, this two-part docuseries explores the career and death of actor Brittany Murphy using archival footage, interviews, and previously published materials. The production features collaborators, journalists, and acquaintances who discuss roles, press narratives, and industry context.
The series reviews medical examiner reports, tabloid coverage, and legal documents related to the case while noting how rumors and misinformation shaped public perception. It also covers the stewardship of Murphy’s estate and concurrent inquiries, documenting verifiable sources and timelines for clarity.
‘The Last Movie Stars’ (2022)
Directed by Ethan Hawke, this six-episode docuseries traces the partnership and careers of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Using transcripts from a long-form interview project Newman commissioned, the series features contemporary actors voicing those materials, including George Clooney and Laura Linney.
Beyond the personal archive, the production incorporates film clips, stage recordings, and interviews with colleagues and family. It organizes the couple’s collaborations, philanthropic work, and creative milestones into a chronological format, with detailed attention to rehearsal methods, studio systems, and independent production choices.
Share your picks in the comments—what other under-the-radar HBO Max limited series should fellow readers check out next?
