21 Must-Watch HBO Max Sitcoms on Right Now (April 2026): ‘Hacks’ Season 5 and More

Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is perhaps more famous than ever in Hacks season 5, which would be great if people didn’t think she was dead. Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) and Deborah had to skip the country in season 4 because their late-night comedy dreams went down in flames. Now, Deborah can’t even perform comedy in public without the threat of severe legal penalties.

That’s not something Deborah or Ava will take lying down. Season 5 is going to be the end of the series, and these two funny women intend to go out with a bang that solidifies Deborah’s status as a living legend of comedy.

Hacks season 5 will premiere on HBO Max on April 9.

Almost everyone looks for a second act at some point in their lives, especially after broken relationships. Rooster gives that opportunity to Greg Russo (Steve Carell), a popular novelist who hasn’t really been happy since his wife left him.

Greg came to Ludlow College to support his adult daughter, Katie Russo (Charly Clive), during a rough patch in her career and personal life. But in saving Katie’s job, Greg’s found a chance to reinvent himself while sticking around as a guest lecturer. It’s not everything Greg thought it would be, but it might be exactly what he needs.

Rooster is streaming on HBO Max.

Schitt’s Creek is a Canadian sitcom that became wildly popular near the end of its six-season run. The show revolves around the wealthy Rose family, or rather, the formerly wealthy Rose family. Johnny (Eugene Levy) and Moira Rose (Catherine O’Hara) had everything that money could buy, and now they have nothing except a run-down small town called Schitt’s Creek that was a birthday gift to their son, David Rose (Daniel Levy).

With nowhere else to go, David and his sister, Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy), join their parents and move into the local hotel at Schitt’s Creek. The entire family is out of their element, but living among the normal people in town may prove to be a transformative experience for most of them.

Schitt’s Creek is streaming on HBO Max.

After years of being apart, a close-knit friend group finally reunites. Once together again, they find themselves navigating how they’ve changed during the time apart, with new ambitions, relationships and dynamics that they must grapple with. In I Love LA, Rachel Sennott stars as Maia, an aspiring talent manager in LA’s Los Feliz neighborhood. HBO is betting on her It-girl persona to carry an eight-episode season arc and maybe become this generation’s Girls.

Ultimately, that bet paid off big time, and critics have been raving about the irreverent existentialism of the series, which skewers Zillennial desperation. The series has been praised for being both funny and cringeworthy in the best way.

Fionna (Madeleine Martin) and Cake the Cat (Roz Ryan) were featured in Adventure Time as the gender/species-swapped alternative universe versions of Finn and Jake the Dog in the Land of Ooo. Together, Fionna and Cake are hurled through the multiverse on an adventure to restore magic to her universe, while being hunted by a powerful enemy.

Instead of exploiting fan nostalgia for Adventure Time, Fionna and Cake successfully expands upon the universe of the series by adding a new level of depth and richness to the overarching lore. Some critics felt that Fionna and Cake manages to succeed where Adventure Time started to fail in its later seasons, avoiding excessive sentimentality and leaning in on emotional maturity while still embracing Adventure Time’s signature sense of humor. 

Mild-mannered family man William “Ron” Trosper (Tim Robinson) is set to get a promotion at his job, tasked with leading the development of an exciting new shopping mall in Canton, Ohio. During the announcement meeting, Ron crashes to the floor when he tries to take a seat, embarrassing himself in front of all of his coworkers. Determined to figure out how his chair could’ve broken under him, Ron journeys down a dark rabbit hole.

The Chair Company brings the absurdist comedy stylings of Robinson and frequent collaborator Zach Kanin over from Netflix to HBO Max, where they trade in the sketch humor of I Think You Should Leave for a narrative black comedy that plays out like an extended sketch.

If you love ITYSL, you’ll love The Chair Company, and not just because it’s hilarious every time Tim Robinson simply opens his mouth.

At a small company tasked with brightening people’s lives, cheerful Pim and the more downtrodden Charlie try to help bring smiles and laughter to people in need. Smiling Friends chronicles the day-to-day lives of Pim, Charlie and their many friends and associates as they comfort troubled individuals who ring their hotline. But often times, seemingly simple requests spiral out into major ordeals.

Since Smiling Friends debuted in 2022, the series has received critical acclaim for its humor, writing, voice acting and animation, the latter of which combines numerous art styles and techniques ranging from rotoscoping to stop motion and CGI. With a strange sense of humor and surreal tone, Smiling Friends stands out as unique even amongst the eclectic offerings of Adult Swim.

Adult Swim’s first Spanish-language fare is a stop-motion animated series that has a curious fixation on… guinea pigs? The meticulously crafted Women Wearing Shoulder Pads comes courtesy of Gonzalo Cordavo, who worked on the animated Netflix series Tuca & Bertie. The series centers on a Spanish businesswoman named Marioneta Negocios (voiced by Pepa Pallarés) as she attempts to rehabilitate the image of guinea pigs in Ecuador — the critters are often bred for food in South America.

Combining absurdity, surreal humor, unique visual flair and Latin American influence, Women Wearing Shoulder Pads has been compared to the work of Julio Torres. Though each episode is a mere 11 minutes, the series does an excellent job at weaving more than enough into each installment — there are even musical numbers.

From the creators of Eastbound and Down and The Righteous Gemstones comes this underrated workplace comedy about two of the most horrible high school administrators you’ve ever met. When their principal announces his retirement, neither co-vice principals Neal Gamby (Danny McBride) and Lee Russell (Walton Goggins) receives the promotion they seek, instead forced to play second fiddle to a new hire. Together, the scorned men attempt to scheme and cheat their way to the top.

Running for a scant (but planned) two seasons, Vice Principals is the more underrated of the triptych of Danny McBride-centered series, but it’s quite possibly the most hilarious. In their first collaboration pre-Gemstones, Goggins and McBride prove to be a comedy duo for the ages, while boundary-pushing jokes and subject matter set the series apart from the herd.

Mindy Kaling and her frequent collaborator Justin Noble proved themselves masters of YA storytelling with Never Have I Ever, and their HBO Max sitcom The Sex Lives of College Girls has the same delightful charm in a slightly different setting. Set at the fictional Essex College in Vermont, the show follows four college roommates who are finding themselves — one frat party and sexual partner at a time. 

The first two seasons of the series are particularly strong, focusing on Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet); a work-study student navigating financial constraints; Bela (Amrit Kaur), an aspiring comedy writer with an outrageous sexual to-do list; Leighton (Reneé Rapp), a rich prep school girl coming to terms with her sexuality and Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott), a student athlete dealing with relationship challenges and a famous politician for a mother. You’ll feel like a fifth roommate as you watch these college girls grow up.

This critically acclaimed comedy was co-created by Mike Judge, who wrote and directed Office Space, and it offers a similarly hilarious satire of corporate culture — this time with a focus on the tech startup industry. 

Silicon Valley follows the trials and tribulations of a group of software developers trying to launch a startup, including awkward but brilliant Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch) and excessive but cunning entrepreneur Erlich Bachman (T.J. Miller). Savagely sharp writing, witty dialogue and the absurdity of the tech industry make this a relentlessly entertaining show. Other standout cast members include Martin Starr as sarcastic systems architect Bertram Gilfoyle, Kumail Nanjiani as fast-talking programmer Dinesh Chugtai, Zach Woods as idiosyncratic but kind-hearted Jared Dunn and Amanda Crew as business-savvy Monica Hall. 

This hilarious musical comedy stars Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie as fictionalized versions of themselves — two New Zealanders trying to make it as a folk-comedy duo in New York City. Flight of the Conchords cleverly integrates the band’s original songs into the plot, often playing against the deadpan delivery of Clement and McKenzie.

Many episodes were directed by Taika Waititi, who would later create sitcom gems like What We Do in the Shadows and Our Flag Means Death. Rhys Darby, who stars in Our Flag Means Death, is hilariously ineffectual here as the band’s well-meaning manager. You’ll also spot plenty of other familiar faces from the comedy world throughout Flight of the Conchords’ all-too-short run.

School may be out for summer, but the first three seasons of Abbott Elementary are open to all HBO Max subscribers! This beloved mockumentary sitcom follows the intrepid and quirky teachers at an underfunded Philadelphia public school. 

Quinta Brunson created the show and stars as tiny, determined second-grade teacher Janine Teagues alongside a stellar cast of comedic performers. There’s Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), a tightly wound substitute teacher who instantly shares chemistry with Janine. Ava Coleman (Janelle James), the hilariously inept school principal, never fails to add chaos to the teachers’ lives, while seasoned teacher Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) tries to manage Janine’s almost obsessive admiration.

Other key cast members include Lisa Ann Walter as the no-nonsense teacher Melissa Schemmenti, and Chris Perfetti as the awkward but well-meaning history teacher Jacob Hill. Together, the teachers solve problems for their kids, usually creating more problems for themselves along the way. It’s a warm-hearted, empathetic show that shines a light on the unsung heroes of the public school system.

Bazinga! The epically successful sitcom The Big Bang Theory is available on HBO Max! Nerdy roommates Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) have their lives turned upside down when the beautiful Penny (Kaley Cuoco) moves across the hall from them.

The 12-season series spawned the hit spinoff Young Sheldon, and another sequel, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, is in development as well. Fans love its unique blend of scientific humor and heartfelt moments, leading to a legacy as one of television’s most beloved comedies.

When their younger brother Chase becomes a Justin Bieber-esque overnight YouTube sensation, dysfunctional older siblings Brooke (Heléne York) and Carey (Drew Tarver) take it upon themselves to watch out for their little bro, newly christened “ChaseDreamz” (Case Walker). If they manage to snag some fame and fortune while riding his coattails, so be it. So begins The Other Two, a gloriously goofy sitcom that balances outlandish comedy with symbolic satire directed at celebrity culture.

Saturday Night Live writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider capture both the absurdity and the emotional turmoil that unfolds in this unconventional family dynamic. The series manages to sneak in some genuine, heartfelt moments along the way as Brooke and Carey navigate their careers and family drama. The Other Two also stars the excellent Molly Shannon as their loving and often exuberant mother, Pat, and Ken Marino as Chase’s overzealous manager, Streeter Peters. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus became a sitcom icon in Seinfeld, so it’s no surprise that she slays in Veep, a no-holds-barred political satire from HBO. Louis-Dreyfus gained several Emmys for her performance as Selina Meyer, the Vice President to a POTUS we never see on camera. Selina’s ambition knows no bounds, and neither does her vocabulary for creative insults. 

Selina’s staff consists of Chief of Staff Amy Brookheimer (Anna Chlumsky), director of communications Mike McLintock (Matt Walsh), deputy director of communications Dan Egan (Reid Scott), personal aide Gary Walsh (Tony Hale), and personal secretary Sue Wilson (Sufe Bradshaw). This chaotic team rolls around in the political muck with hilarious results as they try to ensure Selina’s legacy without causing an international incident. They craft policy and maneuver for power, all while providing viewers with laugh-out-loud moments that capture the absurdity of political life.

There’s a reason women have been categorizing themselves as either Carries, Mirandas, Samanthas or Charlottes for decades now. Sex and the City examined archetypes of real, complicated single women as we’d never seen them before, setting the tone for sitcoms about dating like Girls, The Mindy Project, Emily in Paris and more. 

As these four women (Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis) navigate their careers, relationships, families and life’s other ups and downs, their friendship is what helps them keep it together. The scenarios they encounter are intensely relatable, even when you’re watching more than 20 years after the show’s debut. Even more relatable? The way they help each other through those problems. Men may come and go, but your best girlfriends are forever. 

If it feels like you’re always stuck in second gear, and it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year, we recommend you watch a season or two of Friends to cheer yourself up. The chemistry and comedic timing among this cast of characters is like lightning in a bottle, with a magic that just can’t be replicated. Ross (David Schwimmer), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Chandler (Matthew Perry), and Monica (Courteney Cox) are such well-drawn characters that they really do feel like you know them by the end of the first episode. Their dynamic interactions and relatable struggles kept audiences hooked, turning the show into a cultural touchstone.

So grab a latte and pull up a chair at Central Perk for a show that masterfully balances humor and heart, riding high on clever writing and the charismatic performances of its cast. Friends not only reinvigorated the sitcom format but also left a lasting legacy in popular culture, influencing countless shows that followed. 

This comic book-inspired sitcom puts a hilarious and heartfelt spin on the Joker’s partner-in-crime turned independent woman. Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) finally ditches the abusive Clown Prince of Crime (Alan Tudyk) with the help of her best friend Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) and forms her own villainous gang, which includes overdramatic actor Clayface (one of the many characters also voiced by the multi-talented Tudyk), cancelled evil genius Doctor Psycho (Tony Hale), a surprisingly mild-mannered humanoid shark (Ron Funches) and a cranky cyborg named — wait for it — Sy Borgman (Jason Alexander). 

As Harley navigates her evil career, her love life and her complicated past, she encounters some of DC’s best heroes and villains, from Batman (Diedrich Bader) to the less-than-intimidating Kiteman (Matt Oberg). Beneath the show’s outlandishly gory antics and dark humor, it delves into genuine friendships and personal growth. Harley and Ivy’s slice-of-life moments and everyday interactions — whether they’re debating about ordering Thai food or reflecting on the distinction between being a “bad guy” and a “bad person” — are where Harley Quinn really shines. The series blends action with heartfelt storytelling, making it a standout entry in the world of superhero animation.

Being in your 30s is awkward, painful and infuriating, especially when you’re single. Luckily, Issa (Issa Rae) has her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) to help her get through relationship drama and career hurdles in this hilarious, raunchy, surprisingly moving HBO show.

Though Issa cycles through plenty of love interests, notably Lawrence (Jay Ellis), Daniel (Y’lan Noel) and Nathan (Kendrick Samson), her friendship with Molly is really the core of the series, and it’s a love story worth watching.

Insecure has been praised for its sharp writing, relatable characters, and honest portrayal of life as an African American woman, earning critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base throughout its five-season run.

Created by and starring Larry David, who is best known as the co-creator of Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm has become a cultural phenomenon of its own throughout its 12 seasons. The show offers a fictionalized, hysterically cynical portrayal of David’s life as a semi-retired television writer and producer navigating the social and cultural intricacies of Los Angeles. 

Curb combines scripted and improvisational comedy, so every absurd scene is spontaneous. Each episode presents Larry grappling with trivial yet relatable social faux pas, highlighting the absurdity of everyday situations with a blend of dry wit and keen observational humor. Whether it’s the quick-witted banter or the hilariously uncomfortable situations Larry finds himself in, Curb always delivers big laughs.