If there’s a shocker this month on HBO and Max, it’s that the highly touted original series The Sympathizer is only in the ninth slot on the list of the most popular shows on Max. Considering that series has Robert Downey Jr. in multiple roles, we expected it to do a lot better. Instead, the new No. 1 title on this list is Conan O’Brien Must Go, a comedy travel series featuring one of the quirkiest late-night talk show hosts from the last 25 years.
HBO’s comedy and political talk shows, Real Time with Bill Maher and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, both returned to the list this month. And unsurprisingly, The Jinx is once again a true crime hit nine years after its previous season premiered on HBO. Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV and the anime series Ninja Kamui also had strong showings this month. But with only one episode left in the first season of Ninja Kamui, there may be a new show in its place on this list next month.
Keep reading for our complete countdown of the 10 most popular shows on Max as of April 30.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the 10 most popular movies on Max, the best movies on Max, the best shows on Max, the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+. For Netflix fans, check out the 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now and the 10 most popular shows on Netflix right now.
10. Vegas: The Story of Sin City (2024)
How did Las Vegas go from a mob-controlled gambling stronghold to one of the entertainment capitals of the world? It didn’t happen overnight. CNN’s docuseries, Vegas: The Story of Sin City, tells the story of Las Vegas from its incorporation in the early 20th century to the rise of gambling as an attraction for tourists across the country.
The miniseries also charts the steps that were taken to transform Las Vegas’ image and turn it into a more family-friendly destination in the present. New and archival interviews share the story of the people who saw the city change with their own eyes, and it’s a history that isn’t always squeaky clean.
9. The Sympathizer (2024)
The primary gimmick of The Sympathizer is that Robert Downey Jr. is playing multiple characters, even in the same scene. Downey’s various personas embody different aspects of America to the Captain (Hoa Xuande), a North Vietnamese spy who was so deeply embedded in South Vietnam that he was evacuated to the U.S.
Despite feeling some conflicted loyalties to both North and South Vietnam, life in America is just as messy and occasionally murderous as the one that he left behind. And even the Captain isn’t fully sure of which side that he’s on anymore.
8. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)
April 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Comedy Central is probably still kicking itself that Oliver wasn’t signed to take over The Daily Show from Jon Stewart. Oliver has had staying power in the realm of late-night comedy and politics, and his series continues to be among the most popular shows on HBO and Max.
Presidential election years tend to bring out the best of Oliver, and 2024’s election cycle is already poised to be strange. It’s hard to come up with great comedy when reality is so absurd, but Oliver and his collaborators have been keeping us laughing for years.
7. Ninja Kamui (2024)
There’s a new anime sensation on Adult Swim, and it’s heating up the charts on Max as well. Ninja Kamui follows Joe Logan, a man who left behind his past as a ninja in order to start a family with his wife, Sara. But when it comes to the life of a shinobi, there is no retirement. Joe’s former ninja clan descends upon them and murders his wife and child before leaving Joe for dead.
Somehow, Joe survives and reclaims his old identity as Joe Higan, an assassin who is so lethal that even John Wick might think twice about fighting him. Now, it’s Joe’s turn to cut a bloody path through his enemies to avenge his fallen family.
6. Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (2024)
Few shows have seized the cultural moment quite like Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. It’s quite possible that’s because the kids who grew up watching Nickelodeon shows are now adults, and they didn’t realize just how terrible things were behind the scenes for the young actors and actresses who lived through the experience.
A lot of the harsh light of day falls on producer Dan Schneider and his relationships with the young performers as well as his creative team. In a standout episode, Drake Bell recounts in chilling detail his abuse at the hands of his dialogue coach, Brian Peck. And as much as Quiet on Set brings these secrets to light, there are still more stories to tell from this era.
5. Velma (2023)
Velma is extremely disliked by Scooby-Doo fans, largely because it features an incredibly mean-spirited take on the entire cast. And yet the second season is among the most popular shows on Max, so somebody’s watching it. Velma Dinkley (Mindy Kaling) is back, and she’s once again losing friends and alienating people including Fred Jones (Glenn Howerton), Norville Rogers (Sam Richardson), and Daphne Blake (Constance Wu).
This season’s storyline revolves around a female serial killer, and there are plenty of suspects to go through. But Velma needs to make things right with her friends before she or anyone she cares for becomes the killer’s next target.
4. The Jinx Part Two (2015)
3. Caught! (2023)
2. Real Time with Bill Maher (2003)
1. Conan O'Brien Must Go (2024)
What do Bergen, Norway; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bangkok, Thailand; and Ireland have in common? Former late-night comedy host Conan O’Brien filmed episodes in each of those locations for his travel comedy series Conan O’Brien Must Go.
While there are some jokes about the local cultures, most of the humor is at the expense of O’Brien himself as he thrusts himself into some ridiculous situations. He’s also the perfect fish-out-of-water for this series, which seemingly captures his genuine responses to the situations he finds himself in. It’s no substitute for the bizarre comedy of O’Brien’s late-night shows, but it’s the next best thing.
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