HBO boasts a library of original TV shows unmatched by any other streaming service in the industry. Dating back to its work in the late ’90s on The Sopranos, and also filled out by other hit shows like The Wire and True Detective, HBO has proven to be the premier home for the most prestigious series. However, just because HBO releases prestige shows every year, like Succession and The White Lotus, doesn’t mean the studio can’t blur the lines a bit with some great action shows that also border on the prestige level.

One of the most overlooked HBO shows of the last decade is Warrior, a three-season martial arts masterpiece that aired from 2019 to 2023. The show is set during the Tong Wars in the late 1800s, and it follows Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy from China who immigrates to San Francisco and becomes a hatchet man for a powerful Chinese crime boss. Warrior stars Andrew Koji, Olivia Cheng, and Jason Tobin, and it earned immaculate scores of 93% from critics and 95% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The action is on par with John Wick for some of the best ever brought to the big or small screen.

All three seasons of Warrior began streaming on Netflix in February 2024, where the show picked up an even larger audience than it had on HBO. Unfortunately, now two years after its addition, Netflix has confirmed that it will remove Warrior from its streaming library on February 15. The show will continue to stream in its entirety on HBO Max, but this is still a tragic blow for fans of the hit kung fu show.

What’s Popular on Netflix Right Now?

Image Via HBO

The most popular show on Netflix right now is Unfamiliar, the German spy thriller that aired at the start of February. The show has dethroned new seasons of The Lincoln Lawyer, Bridgerton, and even Love Is Blind to reach the pinnacle of Netflix streaming charts. Netflix also has some wildly popular movies in its streaming library right now, including Noah, the 2014 biblical epic starring Russell Crowe. Glen Powell’s Twisters also recently arrived on Netflix globally, and after previously smashing streaming charts on Peacock and Prime Video, it’s no surprise it’s doing the same on the world’s biggest streamer.

Be sure to watch all episodes of Warrior before they leave Netflix on February 15, and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates.

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Release Date

2019 – 2023-00-00

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Network

HBO Max

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Showrunner

Jonathan Tropper

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Jonathan Tropper

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Whether as a star or producer, Mark Wahlberg has found consistent success in adapting true stories. 2025 saw him back the Prime Video docuseries Cocaine Quarterback: Signal Caller for the Cartel, an account of Owen Hanson‘s journey from USC football star to imprisoned drug kingpin that earned solid reviews from critics. Before that, in 2024, Arthur the King paired the star with a stray dog as his adventuring companion in an adaptation of Mikael Lindnord‘s memoir. One of his most acclaimed films, The Fighter, similarly succeeded by placing him in the boxing gloves of Micky Ward in a feature inspired by the documentary High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell However, tapping real accounts has also resulted in real controversy for the Oscar nominee.

Directed by Michael Bay, 2013’s Pain & Gain paired Wahlberg with a DCEU alum, Dwayne Johnson, and a current member of the MCU, Anthony Mackie, to tell a story inspired by the crimes of the Sun Gym gang. The film is based on a series of Miami New Times articles from 1999 and follows Daniel Lugo (Wahlberg) and his accomplices on a quest to fulfill their American dream by extorting wealth from a prominent businessman, played by Tony Shalhoub. Bay and writers Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus leaned into the bizarre nature of the gang’s scheme and turned it into a crime comedy, earning praise from some for its boldness in flirting with bad taste for laughs, while also sparking criticism for its historical inaccuracies and how it offers a lighter portrayal of the criminals. Shalhoub’s character, who was based on the main victim of the Sun Gym gang’s plan, was also the focus of a defamation lawsuit.

For those interested in watching the film to make their own judgments, time is running out to catch it for free on Pluto TV, as it’s slated to leave the ad-supported platform at the end of the month. Overall, critics and audiences weren’t impressed, giving the film a 49% and a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively, but Pain & Gain did modestly well at the box office with an $86.2 million haul on a budget of just $26 million. Collider’s review at the time gave it a B+, with Matt Goldberg calling it “an oddly earnest personal statement about being guilty as charged for simply playing into a pre-existing entitlement. It is a loud, obvious, childish, turgid, and grandiose statement wrapped in an insane farce, but it’s somehow endearing nonetheless.”

Wahlberg Is Gearing Up for a Return to Apple TV

Image via Paramount Pictures

Wahlberg has most recently been enjoying plenty of streaming success thanks primarily to the sequel to his megahit action comedy, The Family Plan, on Apple TV. That may continue soon, as he already has another film lined up for the platform — Weekend Warriors. Based on the German sports dramedy Weekend Rebels, which was itself adapting Mirco and Jason von Juterczenka‘s autobiographical book, Wir Wochenendrebellen, it casts Wahlberg as a dad helping his autistic son pick his favorite NBA team by taking him to see all of them in person. It’ll mark the latest effort from writer-director Stephen Chbosky, who is fresh off helming another heartwarming biographical comedy-drama, the Vince Vaughn-starring Nonnas. Filming was underway late last year, but a date has yet to be set for its release.

Pain & Gain is now available to watch for free through the end of the month. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the biggest films coming to and leaving streaming throughout the year.

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Release Date

April 26, 2013

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Runtime

130 minutes

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Gwyneth Paltrow‘s daughter, Apple Martin, is opening up about her one and only time getting lip filler.

“Time to come clean — I got lip filler one time,” Apple, 21, shared via her “Stressed Out College Student” beauty routine video for Vogue posted on Thursday, February 12. “I just thought it was too big, but everyone seems to think I have crazy lip filler.”

The British model continued of the ongoing speculation, “I just pout my lips a lot and I put on a lot of lip filler.”

Paltrow shares Apple with her ex-husband and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The pair welcomed Apple and son Moses Martin, 19, before announcing their “conscious uncoupling” in 2014 following 13 years of marriage. Paltrow and Chris officially divorced in 2016, always keeping their coparenting relationship top of mind as they moved forward individually.

Related: Apple Martin Is Mom Gwyneth Paltrow’s Twin During Solo Hamptons Stroll

Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter, Apple Martin, could easily be a doppelgänger for her famous mother, if you ask Us. Apple, 21, was spotted walking her dog in the Hamptons on Thursday, July 3, dressed casually in a white sweater, navy shorts and matching Mary Jane slip-ons. For glam, Apple tied her tresses in an updo and […]

“In a way, my relationship with Chris is better. So, I do think that it can be done,” Paltrow told Drew Barrymore in 2020 of life post-divorce and finding a way to amicably coparent with an ex. “I really wanted my kids to not be traumatized if it were possible. Chris and I committed to putting them first, and that’s harder than it looks.”

As the daughter of a famous actress and successful rockstar, Apple is no stranger to the limelight. In September 2025, she secured her first major fashion deal with London-based fashion house Self-Portrait.

The brand announced that Apple was their new “Miss Self-Portrait” via Instagram at the time. In the social media reel, Apple wore a white T-shirt with a black collar and the message “Self-Portrait” written across her chest.

“Can’t tell if this hairstyle is working, but it is me. Miss Apple Blythe Alison Martin coming to you from the floor in a gorg Self-Portrait baby tee,” she said.

Apple then leaned toward the camera to show her “cute ass earrings,” which featured a bow stud with a pearl dropping from the design. “I’m so excited to be the new Miss Self-Portrait and for the campaign to come out!” she gushed.

Apple also posed for fierce mirror selfies with “self-portrait” written across the screen in other photos shared to Instagram welcoming her to the brand. She donned soft makeup, including winged eyeliner, filled-in eyebrows and pink, glossy lips that showcased her plump pout. She changed into a white halter top in one snap, and rocked a white baby tee with a red graphic and matching shorts in another pic.

Paltrow, for her part, has been open about her own beauty routine over the years, saying in a November 2024 interview with Stylist that she’s “not the type to look in the mirror and study my looks.”

“I know it’s a cliche, but I really do subscribe to the ‘age gracefully’ thing,” she said at the time. “You can fight it to a degree, but I accept the beauty of being a grown woman and the wisdom that comes with it. There’s nothing fun about benign at that young age where you don’t know yourself and you’re struggling so much to accept yourself.”

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Even amidst the competitive age of streaming, Netflix still has a few properties it can rely on. The subscription-based streamer depends on newsworthy television to keep fans engaged enough to keep tuning in. Some series were critically acclaimed, but Netflix cancelled them because the completion rate didn’t impress the platform.

If there’s one series that doesn’t have this problem, it’s Bridgerton. The hot-and-heavy adaptation of Julia Quinn’s Regency romance series focuses on one member of the titular family finding love each season. Season 3 finally reveals Lady Whistledown’s identity to the ton, elevating Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) from anoverlooked spinster to Mrs. Bridgerton. The season is admittedly divisive, but that hasn’t stopped Season 4 from shining. Bridgerton has exceeded 100 million views and counting, showing that fans are ready for a new spin on the concept. Season 4 follows the second son, Benedict (Luke Thompson), in a story that is more socially conscious than previous seasons have been.

‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 is What Romance Fans Needed

The mix of historical context and pure escapism has always been the sweet spot where Bridgerton lives. The Shondaland series intentionally celebrates the era not as it was but how it should have been. Each season focuses on a different romance trope that ultimately results in yearning across the dance floor. Season 4 introduces the most yearning story of all when Benedict is compelled to find a wife.

A twist on the classic tale of Cinderella, the story follows Benedict, who finds the object of his heart’s desire at a masquerade, only to discover she is actually a lady’s maid. Sophie’s (Yerin Ha) story is a sharp dose of reality in a series that often veers close to fantasy. Previous seasons all but ignored the downstairs community of the ton. Former costume dramas like Downton Abbey elegantly tell the story of the upstairs and downstairs crowd. The servants of the ton are just as important as the Bridgerton clan, which Season 4 establishes quite clearly.

It is all fun and games when the Bridgerton brothers have a shaving cream fight, but the more privileged don’t understand the effect these antics have on their servants. This division of the classes becomes crystal clear when Benedict and Sophie fall in love. There is no reality where these two can be together in a society where social standing determines a person’s worth.

At most, Benedict could make Sophie his mistress, in which case she wouldn’t have to work, and he could support her financially. The trick is that she would be a secret forever and most likely become pregnant. Bridgerton touched on these social divisions in the past, but never so eloquently as in the current season. Sophie and Benedict’s story is the most romantic because they are risking it all to be together.

Couples like Penelope and Colin didn’t have to worry about losing everything like Sophie does. These power dynamics make the love story complicated, and in the end, it will all be worth it when the second half of the season premieres. Bridgerton has proven with this season that social commentary can still exist in a bodice-ripper that appeals to a vast majority of viewers. As it turns out, television can still be a surprise, and the numbers are proof of that.

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Release Date

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December 22, 2020

Network

Netflix

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Directors

Tom Verica, Tricia Brock, Alex Pillai, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Cheryl Dunye, Sheree Folkson, Julie Anne Robinson

Writers

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Abby McDonald, Sarah L. Thompson, Daniel Robinson, Oliver Goldstick, Leila Cohan-Miccio, Azia Squire, Sarah Dollard, Eli Wilson Pelton, Janet Lin

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• 

  Luke Thompson

  Lady Violet Bridgerton

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  Ruth Gemmell

  Benedict Bridgerton

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Rapper Tone Loc
Hospitalized in Georgia …
Suffered Medical Crisis on Way to Alabama Parade

Published
February 14, 2026
4:00 PM PST
|
Updated
February 14, 2026
5:12 PM PST

HBO has built its reputation on delivering some of the most recognizable TV of all time. The network has been home to culture-defining hits, including The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Band of Brothers, and more. What often gets overlooked is that HBO isn’t just limited to its big moneymakers that bring in millions of views.

From the beginning, the network has backed ambitious projects with strong visions, and that still hasn’t changed. Unfortunately, many of these are overshadowed by bigger releases, but that doesn’t take away from their genius. Here is a list of some great yet underrated HBO shows you probably haven’t seen but absolutely need to.

10

‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)

Image via HBO

Sharp Objects features Amy Adams in her finest role as Camille, a reporter battling alcoholism who returns to her small Missouri hometown to cover the murders of two young girls. However, to do so, she has to finally confront a past that she has been running away from her entire adult life. The show might feel like a procedural crime drama at first, but Sharp Objects, based on Gillian Flynn’s novel, is a devastating portrayal of complex mother-daughter relationships. The narrative cuts between the past and the present and takes its time to take the audience through the protagonist’s history, and the pain that she wants to keep avoiding.

This slow-burn approach, combined with fleeting flashbacks and abrupt visual cuts, might feel jarring in the beginning, but the pacing immerses its audience in the suffocation of Camille’s life. The shocking twist in the finale is the highlight of the show and brings everything full circle without a traditional clean resolution. For anyone who wants a murder mystery that goes beyond a one-note investigation, Sharp Objects is the perfect binge-watch.

9

‘The Outsider’ (2020)

Image via HBO

The Outsider is an underrated masterpiece based on Stephen King’s 2018 novel. The HBO miniseries begins as a procedural and follows detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) as he investigates the brutal murder of a young boy. Here’s where things get interesting. The early episodes of the show lean into realism with methodological timelines, witness accounts, and forensic details. There’s a sense of certainty about the narrative, which is why it feels so jarring when the rug is suddenly pulled from under the audience.

Unlike many other Stephen King adaptations, the series forces its characters and the audience to slowly question everything they know. We eventually find out about an unseen entity that preys on grief and trauma. Some characters cling desperately to logic, while others start to accept that reality might not be what they thought. This tension keeps viewers on the edge of their seats till the very end. By the time The Outsider fully embraces its supernatural elements, the fear feels earned, and thus, way more real.

8

‘The Plot Against America’ (2020)

Image via HBO

The Plot Against America is one of the hardest-hitting miniseries of all time. The show, based on Philip Roth’s 2004 novel, imagines an alternate version of American history in which famed aviator Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 presidential election and steers the country toward isolationism, authoritarianism, and borderline fascism. Rather than telling this story through politicians or military leaders, the series grounds everything in the everyday life of a working-class Jewish family, the Levins, in Newark, New Jersey.

This makes Lindbergh’s rise feel personal, with a fictional government program like “Just Folks” promising opportunity while subtly targeting Jewish families. The series is both fascinating and eye-opening to watch in how it shows a slow normalization of intolerance. The pacing is deliberately slow to let the audience sit with discomfort and realize how corruption started taking root within American institutions in this alternate version of history. On one hand, there is this national crisis, but the Levins’ story grounds all of this in the very intimate struggles of a small family. The Plot Against America is HBO’s version of a historical thought experiment, and it’s more than worth watching.

7

‘The Other Two’ (2019–2023)

Image via HBO Max

The Other Two is a hilariously satirical portrayal of modern internet fame. The show follows siblings Brooke (Heléne Yorke) and Cary (Drew Tarver), whose lives take a turn when their 13-year-old brother Chase (Case Walker) becomes a viral pop star overnight. However, as Chase enjoys his newfound fame, Brooke and Cary struggle with their self-worth. The plot starts with a bunch of crazy situations that lead to Chase’s big break. Soon after, Brooke starts working as his assistant while Cary navigates the trials and tribulations of being a struggling actor.

Unlike many other shows, The Other Two doesn’t present internet fame and pop culture as shallow. Instead, the sitcom attempts to show what happens when one’s career rises and falls based on algorithms and relentless online scrutiny. Other than all the sharp commentary, though, the comedy is laugh-out-loud funny and features a pretty realistic portrayal of family dynamics. This is a show that isn’t scared to present its characters as messy and even unlikable at times, but that’s the whole point.

6

‘My Brilliant Friend’ (2018–2024)

Image via HBO

HBO’s heartwarming adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s celebrated Neapolitan novel doesn’t get nearly as much appreciation as it deserves. The show tells the story of a lifelong friendship between two women, Elena “Lenù” Greco (Elisa Del Genio, Margherita Mazzucco, and Alba Rohrwacher) and Raffaella “Lila” Cerullo (Ludovica Nasti, Gaia Girace, and Irene Maiorino), beginning in post–World War II Naples and unfolding across decades of social, emotional, and political change. The plot begins with a hook that you just can’t ignore after an older Lenù learns that Lila has vanished without a trace, something Lila had spoken about doing for years. That’s when Lenù begins writing their shared history that starts from their first meeting in 950s Naples in a poor, violent neighborhood shaped by poverty, patriarchy, and limited opportunity.

Over its four seasons, My Brilliant Friend traces how their relationship evolves as the women grow older, enter romantic relationships, confront class mobility, and navigate a society that consistently limits their choices. Even when they are physically apart, Lenù and Lila’s lives remain intertwined, and their friendship is obviously the heart of the show. My Brilliant Friend is one of the most realistic HBO shows and genuinely feels like a replay of someone’s lived memories. It’s immersive without feeling too indulgent, and that’s the mark of a great story.

5

‘Getting On’ (2013–2015)

Image via HBO

Getting On is one of HBO’s most daring comedies because it refuses to be an easy watch. The show is set inside the Billy Barnes Extended Care Unit of a chronically underfunded California hospital, and the series focuses on the daily grind of caring for elderly patients who are often dying slowly, painfully, and without dignity. This isn’t Grey’s Anatomy with its medical breakthroughs and heroic saves. Getting On exists in an uncomfortable space between routine paperwork and the emotional exhaustion of these caretakers. Each episode revolves around mundane crises like hospice eligibility, understating, and patients whose suffering stretches for weeks. However, all these small conflicts keep adding up into something much more impactful.

The humor here is dry and almost always uncomfortable. However, the show understands that in real life, you can’t separate tragedy from the naturally human instinct of coping with laughter, even in the darkest of times. That’s not to say that the sitcom treats its patients as the punchlines. The medical comedy TV show actually comes from understanding the bureaucratic systems they have to exist in, along with the contradictions and moral compromises surrounding their care. The show is brutally honest about how good intentions can erode over time, so it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. For anyone who appreciates the absurdity of life, this is the perfect watch.

4

‘We Are Who We Are’ (2020)

Image via HBO

Luca Guadagnino just hits different. His work has always been about creating the right mood, and We Are Who We Are is the perfect example of that. The show is set on a fictional U.S. military base in Chioggia, Italy, and follows two American teenagers, Fraser Wilson (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Caitlin “Harper” Poythress (Jordan Kristine Seamón), as they navigate friendship, desire, and self-discovery in the summer and fall of 2016. The contrast between Fraser, who arrives on the base with his two mothers, and Caitlin, who has lived on the base for years, is the highlight of the show for me.

Their bond feels organic and is given a lot of time to breathe. In fact, many episodes of the series linger on conversations that go absolutely nowhere, and that might be frustrating for some. However, Guadagnino’s We Are Who We Are actually argues that everything doesn’t need a motive, because confusion is a defining part of adolescence. Guadagnino turns this military compound into its own world with a soundtrack that mirrors the show’s dream-like quality. We Are Who We Are is one of the most realistic portrayals of teenagers because it doesn’t try to fit them into boxes. Instead, it embraces the messiness of these years.

3

‘Station Eleven’ (2021–2022)

Image via HBO Max

Apocalyptic dramas are often flashy with no real substance, but not Station Eleven. The series is set in the aftermath of a devastating flu pandemic that wipes out most of the world’s population. The story doesn’t explore the mechanics of this tragedy, but focuses on what happens to the ones who survive. Station Eleven begins on the night civilization starts to collapse when famous actor Arthur Leander (Gael García Bernal) suddenly dies onstage during a Chicago production of King Lear. That leads to Jeevan Chaudhary (Himesh Patel), a man in the audience who ends up taking responsibility for Kirsten Raymonde (Matilda Lawler), a young child actor left alone as chaos ensues. The two barricade themselves in an apartment and become each other’s family during this dark time.

The story then jumps forward twenty years. Kirsten is now an adult (Mackenzie Davis) and a key member of the Traveling Symphony, a nomadic group of actors and musicians who travel between small settlements performing Shakespeare. However, they have to deal with threats from violent groups that see culture and memory as dangerous. Station Eleven is more of a character study than an action-driven survival story. It grounds something as major as the apocalypse in plausible human choices rather than some grand disaster. The show is a slow-burning one that demands patience from its audience, but the payoffs always land.

2

‘I May Destroy You’ (2022)

Image via HBO

I May Destroy You is not an easy show to watch, but that shouldn’t discourage anyone from experiencing it. The series, created, written, and co-directed by Michaela Coel, stars her as Arabella Essiedu, a young London writer riding the wave of sudden literary success when her life is derailed by an assault. The story doesn’t focus on the shock value of an incident like this. Instead, its brilliance lies in how perfectly it captures the aftermath. Arabella doesn’t become a victim or some symbol of strength. In fact, the writing insists on her remaining a full person who is funny, impulsive, and even selfish at times.

Her healing arc isn’t perfect, but that’s the point. Recovery from something like this is never a linear process, and closure isn’t always guaranteed. Coel trusts her audience to accept that discomfort as part of life. The show features dark humor as a reflection of how people cope by oversharing, spiraling, and pretending to be fine through the worst moments of their lives. The audience doesn’t get catharsis in the traditional sense, but the honesty of the story is what keeps you wanting more.

1

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

The Leftovers is another supernatural drama that deserves way more recognition than it has gotten. The series, created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta and adapted from Perrotta’s novel, begins with a hook that can reel anyone in. This is a world where 2% of the world’s population has suddenly vanished in an instant without any warning or explanation. The story is set in the town of Mapleton, three years after what has been termed the Sudden Departure, and centers on police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) and Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), a woman who lost her entire family in the event.

However, around them, the world is seeing the formation of cult-like belief systems as people try to cling to rituals, science, faith, or even madness to explain this strange global event. The Leftovers abandons the typical mystery beats and focuses more on what people might do when meaning itself collapses. Each season deepens the scope of the show without ever losing its emotional grounding. The Leftovers fully commits to ambiguity, but the kind that is bound to fascinate anyone.

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The Leftovers

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Release Date

2014 – 2017-00-00

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Showrunner

Damon Lindelof

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Writers

Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

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