HBO Max Launch Date Confirmed, Will Feature Friends, Doom Patrol, And Studio Ghibli Movies

Despite the ongoing disruption to the entertainment industry, 2002 continues to be the year that the streaming war really heats up. The mobile-only platform Quibi and NBCUniversal's Peacock both launched this month, and they will soon be joined by the long-awaited HBO Max, which now has a confirmed launch date.

HBO Max will be available from May 27, and will cost $15 per month. While this is more expensive than most of its streaming rivals, it is the same as a current HBO subscription and does include a wide variety of library content from other WarnerMedia-owned brands. These include DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, and Looney Tunes.

Direct-billed subscribers to HBO Now will get access to HBO Max at launch for no extra cost, as will customers who subscribe to select AT&T premium wireless video or internet services or get HBO through AT&T.

WarnerMedia has announced some of the original content that will be available on launch day. There's the comedy Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick, the ballroom dance competition Legendary, the acclaimed documentary On the Record, and all-new Looney Tunes cartoons. In addition, Season 2 the DC show Doom Patrol will be available later in the year, as will Season 3 of the acclaimed thriller Search Party.

Older movies and shows that will be available on HBO Max include popular comedies Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and South Park, plus all of Studio Ghibli's classic anime films. Movies fans will be able to watch DC superhero hits such as Joker, Wonder Woman, and Suicide Squad, plus The Matrix movies and Warner classics like The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca.

In a statement, chairman of Warner Media Entertainment Bob Greenblatt said, "Our No. 1 goal is having extraordinary content for everyone in the family, and the HBO Max programming mix we are so excited to unveil on May 27th will bear that out. Even in the midst of this unprecedented pandemic, the all-star teams behind every aspect of HBO Max will deliver a platform and a robust slate of content that is varied, of the highest quality, and second to none."