Every New Movie and TV Show Premiering on HBO Max This Week Including a Political Thriller

The HBO Max streaming lineup for the week of Monday, October 12 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, features a diverse array of unscripted docuseries, geopolitical thrillers, stand-up comedy, and major feature films. Subscribers can look forward to new content almost every day, starting with raw insights into emergency rooms and correctional facilities before moving into high-profile fictional releases.

This week’s highlights include an A24 cinematic retelling of a classic folk tale and an espionage action thriller led by an Academy Award winner. Whether you’re drawn to gripping real-life emergency stories or significant cinematic debuts, the platform ensures a steady stream of options throughout the week.

‘120 Hours Behind Bars’ (2026)

Kicking off on Tuesday, October 13, the docuseries ‘120 Hours Behind Bars’ takes viewers deep into some of America’s most secure correctional facilities. The series chronicles a five-day period where correctional staff and deputies manage severe overcrowding, contraband crackdowns, and unexpected outbreaks of violence. Unfiltered footage showcases the challenging daily routines of officers striving to maintain order in perilous conditions. Throughout its episodes, the reality program delves into the intricate psychological pressures faced by both detention staff and inmates.

‘High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam’ (2026)

Launching on Wednesday, October 14, ‘High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam’ dramatizes the high-stakes interrogation of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein after his capture in late 2003. Based on the memoir ‘Debriefing the President’, this eight-part political thriller stars Joel Kinnaman as the CIA analyst responsible for questioning the deposed leader. Waleed Zuaiter portrays Hussein as the two engage in intense psychological dialogues about the search for weapons of mass destruction. The limited series examines the complex geopolitical repercussions of the Iraq War alongside the personal toll on intelligence officers.

‘Untold Stories of the ER’ (2004)

The medical docudrama series ‘Untold Stories of the ER’ arrives on the platform on Thursday, October 15. This program features real emergency room physicians sharing their most perplexing, bizarre, and life-threatening patient experiences. Dramatic reenactments accompany firsthand accounts, illustrating the critical decisions medical professionals must make during time-sensitive emergencies. Each case study highlights the unconventional diagnostic techniques healthcare workers employ when standard hospital protocols fall short.

‘The Death of Robin Hood’ (2026)

Streaming on Friday, October 16, the period action drama ‘The Death of Robin Hood’ offers a gritty reimagining of the classic folklore tale. Directed and written by Michael Sarnoski, the film stars Hugh Jackman as an aging Robin Hood grappling with the repercussions of a life marked by violence and rebellion. Severely injured after a fierce battle, the outlaw finds himself in the care of a mysterious woman played by Jodie Comer. The ensemble cast also features Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, and Noah Jupe in this poignant exploration of guilt and redemption.

‘The Amateur’ (2025)

The espionage thriller ‘The Amateur’ joins the streaming lineup on Saturday, October 17. Directed by James Hawes and based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel, the film stars Rami Malek as Charlie Heller, an introverted CIA cryptographer stationed at headquarters in Langley. Following the murder of Heller’s wife during a terrorist attack abroad, the agency declines to authorize a retaliatory strike, prompting him to take matters into his own hands. This revenge narrative follows the deskbound analyst across international borders, featuring a supporting cast that includes Laurence Fishburne and Rachel Brosnahan.

Let us know which new movie or series you plan to stream first this week in the comments.