20 Best History TV Shows on Max 2026
Find 20 standout historical series on Max, from Band of Brothers and Chernobyl to Deadwood, Prens, and more across drama, war, and comedy.
If you’re hunting for the best history TV shows on Max, this list gives you a strong mix of war epics, political drama, dark comedy, and true-story tension. You’ll find landmark series like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Chernobyl, and John Adams, each bringing a different era to life with serious craft. There’s also room for sharper, more unusual picks such as Deadwood, The Sympathizer, Prens, and Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America. With 20 titles on the page, the lineup covers action, drama, history, war, and comedy, so you can choose between prestige storytelling and something a little offbeat. Whether you want battlefield grit or character-driven period pieces, this guide helps you find a great next watch fast.
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01
Band of Brothers
action · drama · history · war
Drawn from interviews with survivors of Easy Company, as well as their journals and letters, Band of Brothers chronicles the experiences of these men from paratrooper training in Georgia through the end of the war. As an elite rifle company parachuting into Normandy early on D-Day morning, participants in the Battle of the Bulge, and witness to the horrors of war, the men of Easy knew extraordinary bravery and extraordinary fear - and became the stuff of legend. Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's acclaimed book of the same name.
Directed by David Frankel, Mikael Salomon, Tom Hanks, David Leland, Richard LoncraineCast Scott Grimes, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Shane Taylor, Donnie WahlbergMax -
02
Prens
history · comedy
Following the suspicious death of the Bongomian king, his disregarded prince assumes the throne, initiating an intricate tale.
Directed by Bülent Isbilen, Gökdeniz UsluCast Giray Altinok, Canberk Gültekin, Çagdas Onur Öztürk, Onur Özaydin, Bahadir VatanogluMax -
03
Chernobyl
drama · history · thriller
The true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history: the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
Directed by Johan RenckCast Jessie Buckley, Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Adam Nagaitis, Emily WatsonMax -
04
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America
comedy · history
Comedy sketches exploring various historical moments, with four different sketches per episode.
Directed by Jeff SchafferCast Larry David, Samuel L. Jackson, Kaley Cuoco, Bill Hader, Katie AseltonMax -
05
The Pacific
action · adventure · drama · history · war
Track the intertwined real-life stories of three U.S. Marines – Robert Leckie, John Basilone, and Eugene Sledge – across the vast canvas of the Pacific Theater during World War II. A companion piece to the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers.
Directed by Jeremy Podeswa, Timothy Van Patten, David Nutter, Carl Franklin, Tony ToCast James Badge Dale, Joseph Mazzello, Jon Seda, Ashton Holmes, Josh HelmanMax -
06
Deadwood
crime · drama · history · western
The story of the early days of Deadwood, South Dakota; woven around actual historic events with most of the main characters based on real people. Deadwood starts as a gold mining camp and gradually turns from a lawless wild-west community into an organized wild-west civilized town. The story focuses on the real-life characters Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen.
Directed by Ed Bianchi, Daniel Minahan, Davis Guggenheim, Gregg Fienberg, Mark TinkerCast Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Brad Dourif, W. Earl BrownMax -
07
The Sympathizer
comedy · drama · history · thriller · war
Near the end of the Vietnam War, a spy who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community, where he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong.
Directed by Park Chan-wook, Marc Munden, Fernando MeirellesCast Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Fred Nguyen Khan, Vy Le, Phan Gia Nhat LinhMax -
08
John Adams
biography · drama · history
Adapted from David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, this lavish seven-part miniseries chronicles the life of Founding Father John Adams, starting with the Boston Massacre of 1770 through his years as an ambassador in Europe, then his terms as vice president and president of the United States, up to his death on July 4, 1826.
Directed by Tom HooperCast Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, John Dossett, Stephen Dillane, Sarah PolleyMax -
09
The Knick
drama · history
Set in downtown New York in 1900, 'The Knick' is centered on the Knickerbocker Hospital and its staff, notably Dr. John Thackery, the hospital's brilliant chief surgeon who pushes medicine's boundaries, pioneering new procedures despite a severe drug addiction.
Directed by Steven SoderberghCast Clive Owen, André Holland, Jeremy Bobb, Juliet Rylance, Eve HewsonMax -
10
Our Flag Means Death
action · adventure · biography · comedy · history · romance
After trading in the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede Bonnet becomes captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes change after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard. Stede and crew attempt to get their ship together and survive life on the high seas.
Directed by Fernando Frias, Andrew DeYoung, Nacho Vigalondo, Bertie Ellwood, Amber TemplemoreCast Rhys Darby, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Matthew Maher, Nathan FoadMax -
11
Portobello
biography · crime · drama · history
Tells the story of Enzo Tortora, the famous host of the television program "Portobello", accused by some collaborators of justice of being part of a Camorra organization dedicated to drug trafficking.
Directed by Marco BellocchioCast Fabrizio Gifuni, Barbora Bobulova, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Lino Musella, Claudio BureiMax -
12
Warrior
action · crime · drama · history
A gritty, action-packed crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the second half of the 19th century. The series follows Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who immigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances, and becomes a hatchet man for one of Chinatown’s most powerful tongs.
Directed by Loni Peristere, David Petrarca, Dennie Gordon, Dustin Nguyen, Lin OedingCast Andrew Koji, Olivia Cheng, Jason Tobin, Dianne Doan, Kieran BewMax -
13
Expedition Files
documentary · adventure · history · mystery
Josh Gates travels through history on a search to uncover new evidence and answers to the world's most captivating unexplained mysteries, and true stories that defy explanation, offering stunning revelations and surprising new insights.
Directed by David Klassen, Daniel ZagayerCast Marc Polymeropoulos, Robert Anderson, Costa Nicholas, Jake Laney, Kevin ClarkeHuluMax -
14
Conspiracy
biography · drama · history · war
At the Wannsee Conference on January 20, 1942, senior Nazi officials meet to determine the manner in which the so-called "Final Solution to the Jewish Question" can be best implemented.
Directed by Frank PiersonCast Clare Bullus, Stanley Tucci, Simon Markey, David Glover, David WilloughbyMax -
15
White House Plumbers
biography · drama · history
The true story of how Nixon’s own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds accidentally toppled the Presidency they were zealously trying to protect.
Directed by David MandelCast Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, Lena Headey, Domhnall Gleeson, Kim CoatesMax -
16
Gang War: Bandidos
documentary · crime · history
This high-octane docuseries traces the evolution of Denmark's notorious biker club the Bandidos -- and the effort to permanently ban them.
Max -
17
Strangest Things
documentary · history
From a piece of meteorite found in Tutankhamun's tomb to the Crown of Thorns, explore some of the most perplexing and unusual objects lying hidden away in museums, laboratories and storage rooms.
Directed by Billie PinkCast Corey Johnson, Ruth Goodman, Kevin Macdonald, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Keon WestHuluDisney PlusMax -
18
From the Earth to the Moon
action · drama · history · thriller
The story of the United States' space program, from its beginnings in 1961 to the final moon mission in 1972.
Directed by David Frankel, David Carson, Sally Field, Gary Fleder, Tom HanksCast Nick Searcy, Lane Smith, David Andrews, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Stephen RootMax -
19
McMillions
documentary · crime · history
A detailed account of the McDonald's Monopoly game scam during the 1990s as told by the participants in the case, including the prizewinners and the FBI agents who caught the security officer who orchestrated the entire scheme.
Directed by James Lee Hernandez, Brian LazarteCast Nelson Hayne, Tim Misuradze, Trevor Dames, Trent Tackbary, Michael A. PinaMax -
20
Billionaire Boys Club
documentary · history
Looks at the 1980s rise and fall of Joe Hunt.
Directed by Amy Entelis, Star PriceCast Shane Dorriz, Jake Ambrose, Samuel Adelmann, Brent Picha, Luke SawyerMax
Wrapping Up
From Emmy-winning mini-series to inventive historical comedies, this collection is built to help you match your mood with the right show. The mix of Band of Brothers, Chernobyl, Deadwood, and the other picks gives you a broad view of what Max does best with history-based storytelling. Keep this page bookmarked if you want a quick way to revisit standout titles or discover a new favorite later. We update it regularly, so it stays useful as the catalog changes and new releases arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Max subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Max. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these history shows ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the history titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026