HBO Makes a Chunk of Its Programming Free to Watch

The coronavirus pandemic is inspiring Hollywood's altruistic side.

The Sopranos Prequel Movie David Chase
HBO is lending its content to self-isolation viewing for free. HBO

On Friday morning, WarnerMedia‘s HBO made its boldest move yet to provide some entertainment relief for those enacting social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. HBO is making nearly 500 hours of programming available to stream for free for a limited time on HBO NOW and HBO GO–without a subscription. That’s right, the premium cable network that typically runs you $15 per month is opening its vault, but only to a degree.

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Nine full series, 10 docuseries and documentaries, and 20 theatrical Warner Bros. movies are now available to stream without a subscription at HBO Now and HBO Go. The content will also be made available for free via participating distribution partners’ platforms in the coming days. This is the first time HBO has made this volume of programming available outside of the paywall on HBO NOW & HBO GO. It’s all apart of the network’s effort to support social distancing (#StayHomeBoxOffice) and take advantage of the massive surge in streaming that has resulted from COVID-19.

HBO Free Streaming Guide
HBO HBO

Notably, Game of Thrones is not available to stream for free (capitalism does still exist, folks). But here is the full lineup of content you can immediately view at no cost.

Series

  1. Ballers (5 Seasons)

  2. Barry (2 Seasons)

  3. Silicon Valley (6 Seasons)

  4. Six Feet Under (5 Seasons)

  5. The Sopranos (7 Seasons)

  6. Succession (2 Seasons)

  7. True Blood (7 Seasons

  8. Veep (7 Seasons)

  9. The Wire (5 Seasons)

If you’re asking us for our opinion (and since online publications are an entirely one-way conversation we’re going to assume you are), we recommend BarrySix Feet UnderSuccession and The Wire. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll contemplate a life in crime. Y’know, typical HBO stuff.

Docuseries and Documentaries

  1. The Apollo

  2. The Case Against Adnan Syed

  3. Elvis Presley: The Searcher

  4. I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter

  5. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley

  6. Jane Fonda in Five Acts

  7. McMillion$

  8. True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality

  9. United Skates

  10. We Are the Dream: The Kids of the MLK Oakland Oratorical Fest

McMillion$ is so good that you’ll suddenly find yourself wondering what Special Agent Doug Matthews is up to during this coronavirus lockdown even though he’s a complete stranger you’ve never met in real life. It’ll also make you crave McDonald’s. Honestly, the world is ending so you might as well treat yourself.

Warner Bros. Movies

  1. Arthur

  2. Arthur 2: On the Rocks

  3. Blinded By the Light

  4. The Bridges of Madison County

  5. Crazy, Stupid, Love

  6. Empire of the Sun

  7. Forget Paris

  8. Happy Feet Two

  9. Isn’t It Romantic?

  10. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

  11. Midnight Special

  12. My Dog Skip

  13. Nancy Drew And The Hidden Staircase

  14. Pan

  15. Pokémon Detective Pikachu

  16. Red Riding Hood

  17. Smallfoot

  18. Storks

  19. Sucker Punch

  20. Unknown

A lot of these movies are bad! But some of them are quite good! In particular, we recommend Blinded by the LightEmpire of the Sun, and Midnight Special.

Happy streaming!

HBO Makes a Chunk of Its Programming Free to Watch