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Similar to how you can download Netflix shows on your phone before a flight, the same capabilities are possible on HBO Max. Before you board your next flight, head into the HBO Max app on your phone and tap the download button beside the movie or episode description. Download these shows before hopping on the plane to ensure you can watch them offline without having to worry about streaming at 30,000 feet.
As for what to watch, HBO Max has plenty of shows that are ideal for medium flights or long plane rides. I'm talking about shows that can fill anywhere from three to nine hours. Some of these shows, including comedies starring Steve Carell and Rachel Sennott, premiered in the past year. The other three shows are dramas, with one in the upper echelon of HBO miniseries.
Dune: Prophecy Frank Herbert's Dune universe returns to the small screenDenis Villeneuve's Dune movies have been a home run for Warner Bros. With Dune and Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve successfully brought Frank Herbert's "unadaptable" novel to the big screen with two riveting adaptations, and he'll hopefully close out the trilogy on a high note with Dune: Part Three. Eight months after Dune: Part Two, HBO released a Dune prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, which focuses on the origins of the Bene Gesserit.
Quiz8 Questions · Test Your KnowledgeThe most iconic HBO shows of all timeFrom Westeros to the wire — how well do you really know HBO's greatest television masterpieces?
DramaCharactersCreatorsPremieresClassics
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Which HBO series, often credited with launching the era of prestige television, premiered in 1999 and followed a New Jersey mob boss in therapy?
ABoardwalk EmpireBOzCThe SopranosDThe Wire
Correct! The Sopranos premiered on January 10, 1999 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series ever made. Created by David Chase, it redefined what TV drama could be and paved the way for the golden age of prestige television.
Not quite — the answer is The Sopranos. Created by David Chase and premiering in 1999, the show followed Tony Soprano as he balanced family life with running a criminal empire, all while attending therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi. It's frequently cited as the catalyst for prestige TV.
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In Game of Thrones, which character famously declared 'When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die'?
ADaenerys TargaryenBCersei LannisterCTyrion LannisterDPetyr Baelish
Correct! Cersei Lannister delivered this chilling line to Ned Stark in Season 1, and it became one of the most quoted lines in the entire series. It perfectly encapsulated the ruthless political world of Westeros and foreshadowed much of the bloodshed to come.
Not quite — it was Cersei Lannister who spoke those iconic words. She said it directly to Ned Stark in Season 1 as a warning, and it turned out to be a prophecy of sorts. The line became one of the defining quotes of the entire Game of Thrones saga.
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The Wire, HBO's critically acclaimed crime drama set in Baltimore, was created by which former journalist and police reporter?
ATom FontanaBTerence WinterCDavid SimonDGeorge Pelecanos
Correct! David Simon worked as a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun for years before creating The Wire, which drew heavily on his real-world experiences. His journalistic background gave the show an unmatched authenticity in depicting systemic failures in American cities.
The correct answer is David Simon. A former crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Simon used his deep knowledge of Baltimore's streets, institutions, and politics to craft one of the most realistic and layered portrayals of urban America ever put on screen.
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Which HBO anthology series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, captivated audiences with its philosophical first season set in Louisiana in 2014?
ASharp ObjectsBTrue DetectiveCBig Little LiesDThe Night Of
Correct! True Detective Season 1, created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered in January 2014 and became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight. McConaughey's portrayal of the nihilistic Detective Rust Cohle sparked countless philosophical debates and think-pieces.
The answer is True Detective. Its debut season in 2014 starred Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart, two detectives investigating a series of ritualistic murders over seventeen years. The show's dark atmosphere and philosophical monologues made it an instant classic.
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In The Sopranos, what is the name of the psychiatrist Tony Soprano regularly visits throughout the series?
ADr. KrakowerBDr. Barbara KupferbergCDr. Jennifer MelfiDDr. Elliot Kupferberg
Correct! Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco, is one of the most important characters in The Sopranos. Her therapy sessions with Tony formed the emotional and philosophical backbone of the entire series, exploring themes of identity, violence, and self-deception.
The correct answer is Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played masterfully by Lorraine Bracco. Her fraught therapeutic relationship with Tony Soprano was central to the show's psychological depth. The other names listed are also characters from the series, which is why this one can be tricky!
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Succession, the Emmy-winning HBO drama, centers on the Roy family's media empire. What is the name of the fictional company they control?
AWaystar RoycoBPierce Global MediaCATN BroadcastingDBrightstar Capital
Correct! Waystar Royco is the sprawling media and entertainment conglomerate at the heart of Succession. Created by Jesse Armstrong, the show drew clear parallels to real-world media dynasties like the Murdochs, making the fictional empire feel disturbingly plausible.
The answer is Waystar Royco. This fictional media giant, loosely inspired by real conglomerates like News Corp, serves as the prize the Roy children are all desperately fighting over. Pierce Global Media and ATN are also referenced in the show but are separate entities.
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Which HBO miniseries, based on a true story, dramatized the 1986 nuclear disaster in Soviet Ukraine and won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series in 2019?
ABand of BrothersBThe PacificCChernobylDFrom the Earth to the Moon
Correct! Chernobyl, written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, was a critical sensation that earned widespread praise for its harrowing accuracy and gripping storytelling. It held a near-perfect score on review aggregator sites and sparked renewed global interest in the disaster.
The correct answer is Chernobyl. The five-part miniseries aired in 2019 and depicted the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the subsequent Soviet cover-up. Band of Brothers and The Pacific are also acclaimed HBO miniseries, but they cover World War II rather than Chernobyl.
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In Six Feet Under, the Fisher family runs a funeral home in which American city?
ASan FranciscoBChicagoCLos AngelesDSeattle
Correct! Six Feet Under, created by Alan Ball, is set in Los Angeles, California, where the Fisher family operates Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. The show ran from 2001 to 2005 and is celebrated for its unflinching exploration of death, grief, and dysfunctional family dynamics.
The answer is Los Angeles. Six Feet Under ran from 2001 to 2005 and used its LA funeral home setting to explore mortality and family in a deeply unconventional way. Its series finale is still widely considered one of the greatest and most emotionally resonant final episodes in television history.
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10,000 years before the events in Dune, Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) establish the Sisterhood, which would later become the Bene Gesserit, as they battle opposing houses and nefarious figures for power. Dune: Prophecy focuses more on political maneuvering than action sequences. It's like sci-fi Succession without the Roy family.
Dune: Prophecy has six episodes with runtimes between 58 and 81 minutes.
Dune: Prophecy
Release Date November 17, 2024
Showrunner Alison Schapker
Directors Anna Foerster
Rooster Bill Lawrence brings his style of hangout comedy to HBOBill Lawrence loves his hangout shows. His comedies typically focus on one main character at first, but over time, the supporting characters get their own storylines and step into the spotlight, becoming a true ensemble. Scrubs, Shrinking, and Ted Lasso are shining examples of what I'm talking about. Lawrence's latest addition to the group is Rooster, which premiered in March.
Author Greg Russo (Steve Carell) is a reserved middle-aged man best known for his literary creation of a private investigator named Rooster. Greg has a daughter, Katie (Charly Clive). She is a college professor dealing with the aftermath of her husband and fellow professor (Phil Dunster) leaving her for a student. While visiting Katie, Greg is roped into working at the college, and he slowly takes on the confident persona of Rooster. It's a feel-good comedy about second chances that should put a smile on your face while waiting for the flight attendant to serve you a snack.
Rooster has 10 episodes with runtimes between 30 and 34 minutes.
Rooster
Release Date March 8, 2026
Network HBO
Writers Bill Lawrence, Matt Tarses
True Detective: Night Country An investigation shakes up this polar townTrue Detective season 1, the episodes with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, is one of the best television seasons of the last 15 years. I can't say the same for season 2, aka the Vince Vaughn episodes. Season 3 with Mahershala Ali was an improvement, but it still failed to match the highs of the first season. In my opinion, True Detective season 4, officially billed as Night Country, is the second-best entry in the anthology series, and it's not even close.
In the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, eight scientists disappear from a research station without a trace. Left behind is a severed tongue believed to be from an unsolved murder case years ago. Police chief Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) is forced to reunite with her estranged partner, Alaska Native trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis), to find the scientists and potentially solve the cold case. Backed by a spectacular dynamic between Foster and Reis along with the polar night setting, True Detective: Night Country is a return to form for the show that made its bones on complex characters forced to reckon with their traumatic pasts.
True Detective: Night Country has six episodes with runtimes between 59 and 76 minutes.
True Detective
Release Date January 12, 2014
Network HBO Max
Showrunner Nic Pizzolatto
I Love LA The next great female creator at HBOHBO has a long history of empowering female creators to star in their own shows. Lena Dunham immediately comes to mind with Girls. Other examples include Issa Rae with Insecure, Michaela Coel with I May Destroy You, and Robin Thede with A Black Lady Sketch Show. Add Rachel Sennott and her comedy I Love LA to the list, a show that has already been renewed for a second season.
27-year-old Maia (Sennott) is searching for her big break as a talent agent in Los Angeles. Desperate for a promotion, Maia lies about her relationship with Tallulah (Odessa A'zion), a promising influencer from New York. As fate would have it, Tallulah visits L.A., and Maia takes her on as a client. The show sharply satirizes Gen-Z, influencer culture, and the City of Angels. There are a lot of "fake it until you make it" vibes, which many people in their 20s can relate to.
I Love LA has eight episodes with runtimes between 29 and 35 minutes.
I Love LA
Release Date November 2, 2025
Network HBO
Chernobyl One of the finest miniseries to ever air on HBO
While these five shows are not ranked from worst to first, I did save the best for last. Chernobyl is a harrowing examination of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, including the lead-up to the explosion, the immediate aftermath, the cleanup attempts, and the Soviet government's push to cover it all up.
It's a tough watch, especially the depiction of how the radiation exposure led to many people dying in the weeks after the incident. Craig Mazin, who went on to co-create HBO's The Last of Us, wrote all five episodes, while Johan Renck directed it. Both men won Emmys for their work, and rightfully so. The show is a crowning achievement for this prestigious network.
Chernobyl has five episodes with runtimes between 59 and 72 minutes.
Chernobyl
Release Date 2019 - 2019
Network HBO
Showrunner Craig Mazin
More HBO Max movies and shows to check outCurrently, the biggest show on HBO Max is House of the Dragon season 3. So far, the first three episodes have featured a deadly battle, dragon action, and a new queen in King's Landing. I'd say that's a good start to a season. If you're not into the Game of Thrones universe, you can check out these two entertaining miniseries: DTF St. Louis and Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.