As expected, HBO dominated the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. Succession, The White Lotus, Hacks and Euphoria brought home the biggest awards, leaving other networks in the dust. As subscribers wind down from the mayhem of the Emmys, check out what HBO Max has to offer this weekend.
Along with Emmy winners are new shows to settle down to and movies that everyone should watch once in their lifetime. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is taking over Prime Video right now, and if viewers can't get enough of the mythical world, HBO Max has the Lord of the Rings trilogy to fill their high-fantasy needs. With all this and more, here are the best movies and television shows to binge-watch on HBO Max this weekend.
Good Behavior Makes Crime and Passion Complicated
Coming to HBO Max this week is Good Behavior Seasons 1 and 2. The TNT series was unfortunately canceled after just two seasons, but the suspense and dynamic characters are every reason to watch the short-lived series from start to finish. With actors Michelle Dockery and Juan Diego Botto taking the lead, the show is a force to be reckoned with.
Good Behavior follows Dockery as Letty Raines, a petty thief and con artist who got released from prison on good behavior. While trying to do right by her son, she also can't escape her bad habits. In the middle of robbing a hotel room, Letty overhears a contract killing, but instead of trying to stop it, she ends up getting involved with the killer (Botto). The dynamic between the two characters is intoxicating to watch on-screen, and their complications only make the relationship more enticing.
Los Espookys Is Finally Back for a Second Season
Los Espookys is a rare gem on HBO Max, but its return for a second season proves that people want more. Season 1 of the primarily Spanish-language horror comedy series featured a mix of humor and horror that represents the show's story. The series follows a group of friends who want to make their mark in the horror business. To run a successful business, they fabricate horror film-like situations, tricking people into thinking they're real. As Season 2 rolls around after three years after the Season 1 finale, fans are anticipating more drama and mysterious horror to come their way, so hopefully, the show can deliver on that front.
Zendaya's Performance Is Reason Enough to Watch Euphoria
With the Emmy Awards come and gone this year, it's time to look back on the performances that stole the Television Academy's hearts. One particular performance is Zendaya as Rue Bennett in Euphoria, a vibrant HBO show that is always worthy of a rewatch. The young actress won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the second time. Zendaya captures the heart and difficulties of being a drug-addicted teenager, which can be both heartbreaking and frustrating to watch.
The second season of Euphoria is one of the wildest seasons on television yet. It made the show the second most watched series in HBO history, just behind Game of Thrones -- but it might soon get dethroned by House of the Dragon's high viewership numbers. Everyone couldn't get enough of Euphoria in Season 2 as the drama gets juicier and the memes get even more popular. The show became such a hit on social media thanks to dramatic scenes such as Cassie and Maddy's fight and Lexi's sexually-charged and revealing play. Add on Rue's own struggles that provide a performance of the lifetime, and Euphoria is a hard show to beat in 2022.
Check Out The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Before Rings of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is the biggest show on Prime Video right now, so HBO Max subscribers might be wondering if watching the original Lord of the Rings trilogy is necessary to see The Rings of Power. The short answer is no. It's not required viewing because The Rings of Power is a prequel series that takes place a millennium before the events of The Lord of the Rings. But like the connection between Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, watching the original film series first can open viewers' eyes to Easter eggs and references that might otherwise go over their heads.
The Lord of the Rings film series comprises three fantasy films: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The third film, in particular, is highly regarded as one of the best fantasy films of all time, having won all 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture. The film series is set in the fictional world of Middle-earth and follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins on a quest to destroy the One Ring. Again, it's not necessary to watch the three films ahead of The Rings of Power, but understanding the world of Middle-earth can enhance one's experience of watching the series.
Watch The Quarry Before It Leaves HBO Max
Leaving HBO Max on September 24 is The Quarry. No, it's not the 2022 video game of the same name, but in fact a movie starring Shea Whigham, Michael Shannon and Catalina Sandino Moreno. The film is based on the 1995 novel of the same name and features a talented cast in a slow-burn plot that keeps suspense alive. Viewers watch as David Martin, a preacher, arrives in a small West Texas town and gets his secrets uncovered by the town's people. Police chief Moore (Shannon) suspects something odd about the preacher when his van is broken into on his first day in the town. The somber drama takes time to settle plot points, which can sometimes lead to the story fizzling out, but a fine cast gives meaning and emotion to the film.