Your Ultimate Guide to the Best New Shows and Movies Hitting Max This Weekend and Beyond

As May comes to an end and June begins, there are always plenty of great things to watch on our favorite streaming services. And honestly, Max is bringing some serious heat this weekend with a mix of returning favorites and brand-new Movies you will want to check out. Whether you like your dramas with a side of city chaos or prefer a dark satire about rich people, there is something for you.

Leading the way on the TV side is the return of And Just Like That season 3. Carrie and her friends are diving even deeper into life, love, and what it is like to be in New York City. For something a bit darker, you might want to look into the new detective series Dept. Q on Netflix or The Better Sister on Prime Video. Both of those shows bring murder and family drama to your screen. But this article is all about Max, and they are really delivering.

On the movie side, Mountainhead is coming to Max. It comes from Jesse Armstrong, the brilliant mind behind Succession. If you enjoyed that show’s sharp and darkly funny take on terrible rich people, then get ready for an even more current look at tech billionaire absurdity. I am excited to see what Armstrong does with a film this time around.

All the Latest Adventures from Carrie and Her Friends in And Just Like That Season 3

Unpacking Carrie's Baffling Aidan Deal and Miranda's Surprising New Connection

If you are anything like me, you probably had moments since the last season of And Just Like That where you suddenly remembered Carrie and Aidan's five-year agreement. FIVE YEARS. That memory is enough to ruin your day. The season three premiere just dropped, and we learned this deal is even worse than we thought. Not only is Carrie waiting five years for Aidan so he can deal with his teenage son Wyatt, and not only are they not supposed to visit each other for that entire time, but they cannot even call or text each other! I am sorry but sending blank postcards is not a relationship. This feels like a hostage situation. Can Carrie Bradshaw, the woman who famously said "some women aren’t meant to be tamed," really be okay with this setup? I find it impossible.

At one point, Anthony calls Carrie Rapunzel, just waiting in her tower for the guy. Honestly, this whole thing already has a Miss Havisham feel to it. Instead of a wedding dress, Carrie will probably end up wearing even wilder hats. And this is just the beginning. While Carrie seems to refuse to admit how impossible this situation is—surely they could have talked about other options besides staying together but not talking for five years—the show quickly points out how silly it all is. First, Anthony, who learns about the new arrangement at a ballet preview, immediately asks all the follow-up questions any good friend should. Miranda and Charlotte are taking an "as long as you’re happy" approach which is nice but Carrie looks more resigned than happy.

Anthony’s questions about how this can be a relationship if she has no idea when Aidan will come back are pretty basic "concerned friend" questions. Yet Carrie completely ignores him and seems angry about it. Giuseppe, a truly good person who I hope this show does not ruin, tells Anthony to calm down a little. By the end of the episode Anthony is apologizing to Carrie for being too judging. I guess it is a small win for reality that Carrie at least says she knows others have opinions about her situation. Anthony is the only one to say anything out loud. Still, she wants to act like this whole thing is normal. It is not normal. Not at all.

Carrie can pretend with her friends all she wants but we see firsthand, through her own hand actually, that this will not work as it is. Aidan, who declared he and the girlfriend he loves should not speak for five years, is the first to break his own rule. He calls Carrie in the middle of the night. He is three beers deep and hiding from his children in his truck. There is no way three beers make country-boy Aidan drunk so I find this hilarious. Not only does he break his own rules but he almost immediately tells Carrie he aches for her and wants phone sex. As Carrie starts to touch herself like he would touch her an ill-timed car horn and a stare from her cat Shoe totally turn her off. While Aidan finishes Carrie fakes it. She then feels guilty about lying to him. "Our sex life is the most honest thing about us," she tells Miranda and Charlotte. But wait, it gets even worse.

Wanting to fix her apparent mistake Carrie kicks Shoe out of her room. She calls Aidan for a confession and a redo. But as she starts and asks Aidan to do his part, he tells her he is in bed with Wyatt. Wyatt had a really bad day. Aidan says he cannot do this right now. Could he not just get out of bed? Couldn't he at least help Carrie out? He gets to break rules and call her for phone sex whenever he wants, but he cannot help her? Carrie hanging up in embarrassment instead of breaking up with this man is a call for help. Carrie’s new alarm system at her fancy Gramercy Park house repeatedly going off is a very loud sign. We can only hope Carrie herself picks up on it. It is clear she is faking more than just orgasms.

No one else in Carrie’s circle seems very happy either right now, except for Harry. He is still the best on the show. He was truly joyful watching Herbert perform with his college a cappella group at a fundraiser for his political campaign. Few people will ever know that much happiness. I am glad that And Just Like That finally let Christopher Jackson use his amazing singing voice. Seema, who decided at the end of season two to wait for her man just like Carrie, does not even last five months. She breaks things off with Ravi, who I call the walking scarf. And she has good reason to do this.

Miranda, too, still has bad luck in love. But at least her story gives us some laughs and plenty of cringe moments, which I mean as a compliment. I do not know how else to say this but Miranda takes the virginity of a nun named Mary. Rosie O’Donnell plays Mary which is a hilarious casting choice. This happens while Miranda is exploring herself and New York City. Yes, there are many jokes about the Virgin Mary and holy ghosting. The best joke, however, is Carrie’s conclusion that she cares less about Miranda taking a nun’s virginity and more about Miranda sleeping with a tourist. Carrie giggles each time Miranda gets a new text from Mary. Mary asks her to meet in places like Tavern on the Green, the Central Park Carousel, and outside the M&M Store in Times Square. Mary is like a young deer, experiencing the world for the first time. She makes the most typical tourist choices, as we all do sometimes. While Carrie might giggle, Miranda cannot bring herself to ignore this nun. These women are nothing if not self-centered, which I mean as a compliment again.

What Else Is New And Noteworthy To Watch On Max This Weekend?

From Jesse Armstrong's New Film To The Final Chapter Of A Dark Dystopian Tale

Max is also bringing some intriguing new movies to your screen. From Succession creator Jesse Armstrong comes Mountainhead, a darkly funny film that also considers the foolishness of billionaires. Armstrong wrote and directed this movie very quickly, which makes its satire feel incredibly current.

Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef, and Cory Michael Smith play ultra-rich tech titans hiding in a flashy mountain house. They sip whiskey while the world outside is falling apart. They ride snowmobiles and write their net worth on their bare chests. One of them even tries to sell a new "vibe-forward" super-app. It is absurd, rude, and painfully timely. It sounds like a sharp, uncomfortable laugh which is exactly what I like.

Beyond the fresh releases, Max also has the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale. After six intense seasons full of red cloaks, resistance, and revenge, the show is wrapping up. June (Elisabeth Moss) has changed a lot from a handmaid forced into service to a defiant rebel. It has been a hard journey. Now, the last part of Margaret Atwood’s dark world is unfolding. Will June get Hannah back and create a future free from Gilead’s control, or does the regime still hold too much power? Get ready for big emotions, confrontations that have been a long time coming, and more than a few surprises.

And let us not forget the third season of Hacks. Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is struggling after her dream job as a late-night host fell apart. This happened because she spoke out against the network and refused to fire her head writer, Ava (Hannah Einbinder). Both Deborah and Ava are now facing a big question: What happens next? Their creative partnership and friendship are stronger than ever, but this huge change in their careers could really test their bond. Can they manage one last reinvention together?

Exploring The Vast Library Of Masterpieces Available To Stream On Max

Beyond The Latest Drops, A Look At Why Max Continues To Be A Top Streaming Service

Max is not just about what is new this weekend. The platform has built a fantastic reputation for its collection of "prestige TV." This means shows with complex stories and high production values. It is a place where you can find truly great television that sticks with you. Here are some of the masterpieces you can stream right now on Max:

• Succession: Created by Jesse Armstrong, this show is a satirical black comedy-drama about the super-rich Roy family. They own a huge media company. The show follows their intense fight for control when the family head, Logan Roy, plans to retire. It is hailed as one of the best TV shows of the 21st century. It has sharp writing, dark humor, and great acting.
• The Sopranos: David Chase created this crime drama about Tony Soprano, a New Jersey Mafia boss. He starts seeing a psychiatrist after having panic attacks. The show looks at his struggle to balance his family life with his criminal life. It is an iconic show and one of the greatest TV shows ever made. It is often credited with renewing public interest in crime dramas.
• The Last of Us: This post-apocalyptic drama is based on the famous video game. It is set 20 years after a fungal pandemic destroyed society. The show follows a tough smuggler named Joel who has to take a teenager, Ellie, across the United States. It received a lot of praise from critics and fans when it first came out.
• I May Destroy You: This British black comedy-drama was created and starred Michaela Coel. She plays Arabella, a young writer whose world changes after she is sexually assaulted. Many people consider it one of the best TV shows of the 21st century. It is a powerful show about sexual violence with surprising humor.
• Watchmen: This superhero drama is a limited series that continues the story from the famous DC Comics series. It takes place 34 years after the comics. It follows a detective investigating a conspiracy involving a white supremacist group and a mysterious Doctor Manhattan. Many call it the greatest superhero show ever.

These are just a few examples of why Max is such a strong streaming service. It has a library of shows that are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking and well-made. Whether you are looking for something new or want to revisit an old favorite, Max probably has something for you. So grab your snacks and get ready to settle in for some serious binge-watching this weekend.