Even as we squeeze every last drop out of the summer, HBO Max still doesn't do things in moderation when it comes to documentaries and docuseries, even if they do start blurring the line into reality-TV territory.With this weekend's recommendations, for example, you can easily meet a Filipino dad whose hands are 20 times the size of a regular man's, jump over to Tennessee for a look at an insane weight-loss cult, then delve into true crime territory where your best friend could be your worst nightmare—the latter is my top pick this weekend.3 Most Extreme Humans People with extraordinarily rare conditions and their uplifting stories TLC is no stranger to creating subgenre series that explore some of the world's most extraordinary humans—physically, mentally, and beyond.
is a new 10-episode entry that aired weekly on the network from June to mid-August, but recently arrived on HBO Max as a complete set for you to binge—and believe me, you will.Each hour-long episode delves into the lives of people living with conditions so rare that some affect fewer than one in 100,000.Led only by narration, provided by British actor Alex Lanipekun (), the stories are theirs to tell as cameras follow them through their everyday lives—to consultations with their doctors and time with their families, as they make tough decisions while navigating a world that isn't made for them.
Some of the remarkable stories include 19-year-old Lalit, an Indian man with congenital hypertrichosis, a.k.a."werewolf syndrome," which causes nearly all of his body to be covered in hair; Ecuadorian conjoined twins José Armando and José Luis; and Filipino man Mark Davidson Jacildo, whose condition, macrodactyly, enlarges his hands—one of which weighs more than 15 pounds.The stories are incredible and incredibly uplifting.
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Brand Apple Operating System tvOS $127 at Amazon See at bestbuy See at Target Expand Collapse 2 The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin A Christian diet scheme, wild hair, and a plane crash If you have a fascination with stories about religious cults and manipulative power brokers—think documentaries like that premiered a few of months ago—then this HBO Max series from 2021 will fascinate you, too.is a weird and creepy five-part investigative series that traces the life of Gwen Shamblin Lara, a registered dietitian in Memphis who, in 1986, founded the wildly popular Weigh Down Workshop, a Christian diet program that sold thinness as a path to god.But the story goes off the rails when Shamblin Lara breaks from the mainstream church to start her own, the Remnant Fellowship, where former members claim she imposed cult-like obedience and preached damnation if members gained weight.
Through five 45-minute episodes, Emmy-winning director Marina Zenovich uses some of the church’s own bizarre promotional videos, a plethora of news archive footage and long sit-down interviews with former church members and families of those it affected.Not surprisingly, Shamblin Lara and members of the church declined to participate in the series.The series first three episodes aired in 2021, but episodes four and five came in April 2022, to update things after the May 2021 plane crash that killed the Laras.
Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge Emmy- and Oscar-winning HBO documentariesTrivia challenge Think you know HBO's most acclaimed docs? Name the film or series from the clues alone. DocumentariesTrue CrimeMusicCultureHBO Begin 01 / 8 True Crime This Emmy-winning HBO docuseries followed a real estate heir suspected in multiple deaths.Director Andrew Jarecki captured a bombshell on a hot mic when the subject muttered to himself in a bathroom, apparently unaware he was still being recorded.Which documentary is this? AEvil GeniusBThe Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert DurstCI'll Be Gone in the DarkDCapturing the Friedmans Correct! The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst became a true-crime sensation when Robert Durst was caught on a hot mic appearing to say 'I killed them all, of course.' The series won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series in 2015. Not quite — the answer is The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Director Andrew Jarecki's bombshell final episode captured Robert Durst in an unguarded bathroom moment that riveted the nation and led to his arrest.
The series won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series in 2015. Continue 02 / 8 Religion This Emmy-winning HBO documentary, based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, exposed the inner workings of a secretive religion through interviews with high-profile former members, including a famous director who walked away after decades of involvement.What is this film? AHoly HellBLeap of Faith: William Friedkin on The ExorcistCGoing Clear: Scientology and the Prison of BeliefDThe Vow Correct! Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief was directed by Alex Gibney and based on Lawrence Wright's book of the same name.It won multiple Emmy Awards and featured interviews with former members including director Paul Haggis, offering a deeply critical look at the Church of Scientology. Not quite — the answer is Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.
Directed by Alex Gibney and based on Lawrence Wright's Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting, the film featured former high-ranking members speaking out.It swept the Emmys and remains one of HBO's most-watched documentaries ever. Continue 03 / 8 Sports This Emmy-winning HBO documentary series followed a fearless big-wave surfer's obsessive quest to conquer a legendary wave off the coast of Portugal, exploring both the thrill of the sport and the physical and emotional toll it takes.What is this series? AMomentum GenerationBThe Crash ReelCMcConkeyD100 Foot Wave Correct! 100 Foot Wave follows big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara and his quest to ride record-breaking waves at Nazaré, Portugal.
The HBO docuseries won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and captivated audiences with its stunning cinematography and emotional depth. Not quite — the answer is 100 Foot Wave.The series chronicles big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara's near-obsessive pursuit of the massive swells at Nazaré, Portugal.It won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and was praised for its breathtaking footage and personal storytelling. Continue 04 / 8 Music This Emmy-winning HBO documentary examined a massive 1999 music festival that descended into chaos, violence, and fire, asking how an event meant to celebrate peace and community turned into something so destructive.
Which film is this? AFyre FraudBWoodstock 99: Peace, Love, and RageCGimme ShelterDFestival Express Correct! Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage is an HBO documentary directed by Garret Price that dissects the catastrophic 1999 Woodstock festival.It won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and explored themes of toxic masculinity, corporate greed, and the cultural mood of the late '90s. Not quite — the answer is Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage.Directed by Garret Price, the film won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and dug into why the festival — meant to recreate the spirit of the original 1969 Woodstock — ended in fires, assaults, and widespread destruction. Continue 05 / 8 Health This Emmy-winning two-part HBO documentary, directed by Alex Gibney, investigated how pharmaceutical companies and regulators allegedly fueled an addiction crisis affecting millions of Americans, scrutinizing both corporate malfeasance and government failure.
What is it called? AThe Crime of the CenturyBDopesickCThe PharmacistDPainkiller Correct! The Crime of the Century is a two-part HBO documentary directed by Alex Gibney that examines the opioid epidemic in the United States.It focuses on how pharmaceutical companies, particularly those producing OxyContin, allegedly misled doctors and regulators, contributing to hundreds of thousands of deaths.It won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. Not quite — the answer is The Crime of the Century.
Directed by Alex Gibney, this two-part HBO film investigates the opioid crisis by examining the roles of Big Pharma and the DEA.It won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and remains one of the most damning indictments of the pharmaceutical industry ever put to film. Continue 06 / 8 Comedy This Emmy-winning HBO documentary was a deeply personal two-part tribute to a beloved comedian and television creator, weaving together interviews, archival footage, and journal entries to explore his philosophy, creative process, and spiritual life.Who is the subject of this film? AGeorge CarlinBGarry ShandlingCRichard PryorDAlbert Brooks Correct! The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling is a two-part documentary directed by Judd Apatow, who was a close friend of Shandling's.
It won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and offers an intimate look at the creator of The Larry Sanders Show through his journals, home movies, and heartfelt interviews. Not quite — the answer is Garry Shandling, subject of The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling.Directed by his friend Judd Apatow, the Emmy-winning two-parter used Shandling's personal journals to explore the inner life of one of comedy's most introspective and influential figures, creator of The Larry Sanders Show. Continue 07 / 8 Music This Emmy-winning HBO documentary sparked enormous controversy upon its release, with two men sharing detailed accounts of alleged abuse by one of the most famous entertainers in history.The subject's estate strongly disputed the claims.
What is this documentary? AFraming Britney SpearsBSurviving R.KellyCLeaving NeverlandDDan Reed: Finding Neverland Correct! Leaving Neverland focuses on Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who alleged that Michael Jackson sexually abused them as children.Directed by Dan Reed, the four-hour HBO documentary won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and ignited a fierce global debate about belief, celebrity, and abuse. Not quite — the answer is Leaving Neverland.
Directed by Dan Reed, the documentary gave Wade Robson and James Safechuck a platform to detail their allegations against Michael Jackson.It won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and remains one of the most debated documentaries of the past decade. Continue 08 / 8 History This acclaimed HBO documentary, directed by Spike Lee, is a four-part, four-hour examination of a catastrophic 2005 natural disaster and its devastating aftermath, giving voice to the residents of a major American city who felt abandoned by their government.What is this film? ATrouble the WaterBThe Big UneasyCWhen the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four ActsDIf God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise Correct! When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts was directed by Spike Lee and chronicled the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath in New Orleans.
It won the Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Special and is widely regarded as one of the greatest American documentaries ever made, honoring the resilience of the city's residents. Not quite — the answer is When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts. Spike Lee's monumental four-part HBO film documented the human toll of Hurricane Katrina and the systemic failures that compounded the tragedy.It won the Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Special and stands as a powerful testament to the people of New Orleans. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again 1 A Killer Among Friends (Season 2) You think you know someone I’ve been a fan of scream queen Jennifer Love-Hewitt since she shrieked her way into my heart in 1997’s slasher delight, (OK, maybe before that, with ).So, who better to hand a documentary series about friends getting caught up in some deadly deeds to? Investigation Discovery’s true-crime documentary series, , debuted on ID in 2025 and just wrapped its second six-episode run on August 24, and both seasons are now fully available to stream on HBO Max.
Narrated and executive produced by Love-Hewitt, the show’s 42-minute episodes each cover a different case of real friends and friendships gone horribly wrong.It looks at how group fractures like jealousy, obsession, and greed can be hiding in plain sight, and that you might not know the dark secrets your closest friends might be keeping.She show is built from news footage, personal and home videos, interviews with investigators and those involved, and reenactments.
Season two standouts include "Strike to Kill", about an Alabama woman who vanished in 2006, and whose killer, a friend, wasn’t convicted until 2022; and the finale, "Rivalry Fueled Murder" that reopens the 1992 killing of a California teen who was beaten and robbed by local teens.With friends like these… Roku Ultra $91 $99 Save $8 Operating System RkuOS Connectivity luetooth, Ethernet, HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi $91 at Amazon Expand Collapse The best docs are bold and bizarre All three of this weekend's picks offer what I think are the best docs—ones that share fascinating and sometimes shocking slices of life you'd otherwise never have heard about.Any one of them will stick with you and spark conversation.
Head to How-To Geek's streaming section for the latest movies and shows streaming now.HBO Max Subscription with ads Yes, $10.99/month Simultaneous streams 2 or 4 Live TV Live sports available in Standard and Premium plans Price Starting at $10.99/month or $109.99/year HBO Max is a subscription-based streaming service offering content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, and more.In 2025, the service re-branded itself as HBO Max after having previously cut "HBO" from its name.
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