HBO Max has been keeping the folks at Kleenex in business over the past weeks, with everyone bawling over the series finale of Hacks and divided over that controversial ending to Euphoria. A great way to recover from all those emotions is with something real and fascinating, like a good documentary, and luckily HBO Max has a library full of them.
Whether this weekend or next week, three new docs have landed on HBO Max, including Questlove’s joyful, two-hour love letter to a band that turned funk into a wild, cosmic trip, a true-crime deep dive into murders dragged from the bottoms of America’s lakes and rivers, and a new season of a series that peeks at Hollywood’s darker side.
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Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World)
Questlove’s has done it again with this cosmic tribute to a funk dynasty
Legendary Roots member Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson continues making a name for himself as the premier music documentary filmmaker around with his third feature-length film, Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World). Premiering Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on HBO Max, the two-hour doc focuses all of Questlove’s cosmic power the tell the story of the legendary funk, R&B, and soul band, from the rise of its groundbreaking founder Maurice White, through the band’s meteoric rise and its lasting influence on music from the ’70s to today.
While White is the central focus, his presence delivered through the incredible and rare archival material and interview footage as the singer passed away in 2016 from Parkinson’s disease. The film details White’s vision, and how he wove the spiritual, metaphysical, and astrological into hits like September, Let’s Groove, and Boogie Wonderland, and into the band’s whole aesthetic.
Loaded with never-before-seen-or-heard visuals, footage, and audio from the band’s archives, Questlove builds the story, weaving in live performance footage and interviews with current and former members, including Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson. But it’s also a fan film, so why not hear from some notables who were also inspired by the band, such as Barack and Michelle Obama, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, H.E.R., and Flea. Questlove may be looking to add a second Oscar to his mantle with this one.
Earth, Wind & Fire: To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World
- Release Date
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June 7, 2026
- Runtime
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119 minutes
- Director
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Questlove
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Bodies in the Water
Murder investigations that go deep
I’ve recently discovered all the great Investigation Discovery true-crime documentaries available on HBO Max, and Bodies in the Water is another one I’ve just started watching that I can truly say has a unique and grim premise: it covers murder investigations where killers have tried to hide their victims in lakes, rivers, swamps, and coastal waters to get away with their crimes.
While the show’s make-up is pretty standard—each episode traces a crime from beginning to end, as investigators and family members talk us through the events, emotions, clues, suspects, motives, forensics, interrogations, and more—what makes the series so fascinating is how the locations and challenges of the water elements can factor into and wreak havoc on the investigation. Narrated by Riley Neldam, Bodies in the Water also uses well-produced re-enactments when necessary, and delves into the psychology of why criminals often choose water as a hiding place.
The current run of the show is rolling episodes out weekly, and as of this writing, only the premiere episode is up—a case in Pontiac, Michigan, where a young man gets into a car with the wrong person. For procedural-minded true-crime fans, it’s catnip
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QuizThe most iconic HBO shows of all time
Trivia challenge
From Westeros to the wire — how well do you really know HBO’s greatest television masterpieces?
DramaCharactersCreatorsPremieresClassics
Which HBO series, often credited with launching the era of prestige television, premiered in 1999 and followed a New Jersey mob boss in therapy?
Correct! The Sopranos premiered on January 10, 1999 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series ever made. Created by David Chase, it redefined what TV drama could be and paved the way for the golden age of prestige television.
Not quite — the answer is The Sopranos. Created by David Chase and premiering in 1999, the show followed Tony Soprano as he balanced family life with running a criminal empire, all while attending therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi. It’s frequently cited as the catalyst for prestige TV.
In Game of Thrones, which character famously declared ‘When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die’?
Correct! Cersei Lannister delivered this chilling line to Ned Stark in Season 1, and it became one of the most quoted lines in the entire series. It perfectly encapsulated the ruthless political world of Westeros and foreshadowed much of the bloodshed to come.
Not quite — it was Cersei Lannister who spoke those iconic words. She said it directly to Ned Stark in Season 1 as a warning, and it turned out to be a prophecy of sorts. The line became one of the defining quotes of the entire Game of Thrones saga.
The Wire, HBO’s critically acclaimed crime drama set in Baltimore, was created by which former journalist and police reporter?
Correct! David Simon worked as a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun for years before creating The Wire, which drew heavily on his real-world experiences. His journalistic background gave the show an unmatched authenticity in depicting systemic failures in American cities.
The correct answer is David Simon. A former crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Simon used his deep knowledge of Baltimore’s streets, institutions, and politics to craft one of the most realistic and layered portrayals of urban America ever put on screen.
Which HBO anthology series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, captivated audiences with its philosophical first season set in Louisiana in 2014?
Correct! True Detective Season 1, created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered in January 2014 and became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight. McConaughey’s portrayal of the nihilistic Detective Rust Cohle sparked countless philosophical debates and think-pieces.
The answer is True Detective. Its debut season in 2014 starred Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart, two detectives investigating a series of ritualistic murders over seventeen years. The show’s dark atmosphere and philosophical monologues made it an instant classic.
In The Sopranos, what is the name of the psychiatrist Tony Soprano regularly visits throughout the series?
Correct! Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco, is one of the most important characters in The Sopranos. Her therapy sessions with Tony formed the emotional and philosophical backbone of the entire series, exploring themes of identity, violence, and self-deception.
The correct answer is Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played masterfully by Lorraine Bracco. Her fraught therapeutic relationship with Tony Soprano was central to the show’s psychological depth. The other names listed are also characters from the series, which is why this one can be tricky!
Succession, the Emmy-winning HBO drama, centers on the Roy family’s media empire. What is the name of the fictional company they control?
Correct! Waystar Royco is the sprawling media and entertainment conglomerate at the heart of Succession. Created by Jesse Armstrong, the show drew clear parallels to real-world media dynasties like the Murdochs, making the fictional empire feel disturbingly plausible.
The answer is Waystar Royco. This fictional media giant, loosely inspired by real conglomerates like News Corp, serves as the prize the Roy children are all desperately fighting over. Pierce Global Media and ATN are also referenced in the show but are separate entities.
Which HBO miniseries, based on a true story, dramatized the 1986 nuclear disaster in Soviet Ukraine and won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series in 2019?
Correct! Chernobyl, written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, was a critical sensation that earned widespread praise for its harrowing accuracy and gripping storytelling. It held a near-perfect score on review aggregator sites and sparked renewed global interest in the disaster.
The correct answer is Chernobyl. The five-part miniseries aired in 2019 and depicted the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the subsequent Soviet cover-up. Band of Brothers and The Pacific are also acclaimed HBO miniseries, but they cover World War II rather than Chernobyl.
In Six Feet Under, the Fisher family runs a funeral home in which American city?
Correct! Six Feet Under, created by Alan Ball, is set in Los Angeles, California, where the Fisher family operates Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. The show ran from 2001 to 2005 and is celebrated for its unflinching exploration of death, grief, and dysfunctional family dynamics.
The answer is Los Angeles. Six Feet Under ran from 2001 to 2005 and used its LA funeral home setting to explore mortality and family in a deeply unconventional way. Its series finale is still widely considered one of the greatest and most emotionally resonant final episodes in television history.
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Hollywood Demons (Season 2)
The dark underbelly of Hollywood fame
Like I said, Investigation Discovery is a treasure trove of dark and wonderful docuseries, and Hollywood Demons is definitely one of them. With its latest second season now all available to stream on HBO Max, the series turns the lights on in the night club of Hollywood fame for a voyeuristiclook at the roaches as they scatter. OK, maybe that’s a bit mellow dramatic, but Hollywood Demons is definitely for those who like a good, dramatic celebrity gossip story, so buckle up.
Season two’s new batch of five episodes, each a self-contained story, dive into some familiar territory, and include an examination of the 2023 death of Friends star Matthew Perry, the chaos and sensationalism of the Jerry Springer show (that includes an interview with Springer himself), a look at child stars who’ve since made the jump to adult film, and the scandals behind beloved TV series Saved by the Bell.
The docuseries definitely leans into a gossipy, sensationalized feel, but it uses exclusive interviews with experts, Hollywood insiders, and those close to the subjects, as well as archival and news footage to tell the stories. Check your brain at the door and enjoy.
Cosmic funk and true-crime
Funk, forensics, and famous people behaving badly make for a strange and entertaining weekend. Whatever mood you land on, How-To Geek has more streaming guides lined up to fill the next free evening.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $10.99/month
- Simultaneous streams
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2 or 4
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.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
