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1. The Big Bang Theory
(8/10 stars)A woman who moves into an apartment across the hall from two brilliant but socially awkward physicists shows them how little they know about life outside of the laboratory. more about The Big Bang Theory
Top 20 Short Runtime TV Series on HBO Max 2026
This selection focuses on the best short runtime TV series. Ideal if you want a strong show with fewer episodes or compact seasons.
How are the series charts created?
Rankings are based on real user ratings. The more votes a show receives, the more stable its chart position. When you rate shows yourself, your personal recommendations improve too.
Filter series by genre, status and streaming service:
Series Charts: Top 20
(8/10 stars)2. Two and a Half Men
(7/10 stars)Charlie is a well-to-do bachelor with a house at the beach, a Jaguar in the front, and an easy way with women. His casual Malibu lifestyle is interrupted when his tightly wound brother Alan, who's facing a divorce, and his son Jake, come to live with him. Together, these two and a half men confront ... more about Two and a Half Men
3. Friends
(7/10 stars)Genres: Comedy
Rachel Green, Ross Geller, Monica Geller, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing and Phoebe Buffay are six 20 something year-olds, living off one another in the heart of New York City. Over the course of ten years, this average group of buddies goes through massive mayhem, family trouble, past and future rom... more about Friends
4. 2 Broke Girls
(7/10 stars)Genres: Comedy
Comedy about the unlikely friendship that develops between two very different young women who meet waitressing at a diner in trendy Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and form a bond over one day owning their own successful cupcake business. Only one thing stands in their way – they’re broke. more about 2 Broke Girls
5. Sex and the City
(7/10 stars)The narrative of the show focuses on Carrie Bradshaw and her three best friends, Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York and Samantha Jones. The women discuss their sexual desires and fantasies, and their travels in life, love and lesbianism. The show often depicts frank discussions about romance and sexuali... more about Sex and the City
6. Rick and Morty
(9/10 stars)Follows the misadventures of an alcoholic scientist Rick and his overly nervous grandson Morty, who split their time between domestic family life and intergalactic travel. Often finding themselves in a heap of trouble that more often than not is created through their own actions. more about Rick and Morty
7. Entourage
(8/10 stars)Film star Vince Chase navigates the vapid terrain of Los Angeles with a close circle of friends and his trusty agent. more about Entourage
8. Girls
(7/10 stars)The assorted humiliations, disasters and rare triumphs of four very different twenty-something girls: Hannah, an aspiring writer; Marnie, an art gallery assistant and cousins Jessa and Shoshanna. more about Girls
9. Adventure Time
(6/10 stars)Adventure Time follows two best friends: Finn (a 12-year old boy) and Jake (a wise 28-year-old dog with magical powers), and the surreal adventures undertaken by the duo as they traverse the mystical Land of Ooo. A world built for adventure, Ooo is filled to the brim with various landscapes for the ... more about Adventure Time
10. Silicon Valley
(9/10 stars)In the high-tech gold rush of modern Silicon Valley, the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success. A comedy partially inspired by Mike Judge's own experiences as a Silicon Valley engineer in the late 1980s. more about Silicon Valley
11. Looking
(9/10 stars)The series revolves around three friends in San Francisco who explore the fun and sometimes overwhelming options available to a new generation of gay men. more about Looking
12. Ballers
(8/10 stars)A series centered around a group of football players and their families, friends and handlers. more about Ballers
13. Mom
(7/10 stars)A newly sober single mom tries to pull her life together in Napa Valley while dealing with her wayward mother. more about Mom
14. Veep
(8/10 stars)Genres: Comedy
A look into American politics, revolving around former Senator Selina Meyer who finds being Vice President of the United States is nothing like she expected and everything everyone ever warned her about. more about Veep
15. Steven Universe
(10/10 stars)The Crystal Gems are a team of magical beings who are the self-appointed guardians of the universe. Half-human, half-Gem hero Steven is the "little brother" of the group. The goofball is learning to save the world using the magical powers that come from his bellybutton and he goes on magical adventu... more about Steven Universe
16. Flight of the Conchords
(10/10 stars)Bret and Jemaine are Flight of the Conchords, a folk-rock band from New Zealand living in New York City in search of stardom. more about Flight of the Conchords
17. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
(9/10 stars)Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is an American late-night talk and news satire television program. LWT draws its comedy and satire from recent news stories, political figures, media organizations, pop culture, and often aspects of the show itself. more about Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
18. In Treatment
(8/10 stars)Genres: Drama
A therapist is the picture of insightful perfection when dealing with his patients, but he becomes a raging ball of issues during his own therapy sessions. more about In Treatment
19. Hello Ladies
(7/10 stars)Genres: Comedy
Stuart Pritchard is an awkward, overly-confident Englishman trying to date in Los Angeles – where he repeatedly attempts to infiltrate the world of beautiful people. more about Hello Ladies
20. Curb Your Enthusiasm
(8/10 stars)Genres: Comedy
An unscripted series that brings the off-kilter comic vision of Larry David, who plays himself in a parallel universe in which he can’t seem to do anything right, and, by his standards, neither can anyone else. more about Curb Your Enthusiasm
Why these charts are worth it
These charts help you discover strong TV shows on HBO Max faster. Combine genre, runtime and status filters to reduce the list to the series that really fit your taste and viewing habits.
Because streaming catalogs change regularly, a filtered provider page is one of the fastest ways to identify relevant recommendations without scrolling through the full charts.
Discover related charts
Looking for more? Browse the full series charts to compare titles across all genres and streaming services.
FAQ
What are short runtime TV series?
Short runtime TV series are shows with a shorter episode length or an overall more compact format. They are a strong fit if you want quality storytelling with less time commitment.
Do short runtime TV series always have only a few episodes?
No. A short runtime TV series does not automatically mean only a few episodes. The key factor is the shorter runtime and the more compact viewing experience.
Who are short runtime TV series ideal for?
They are ideal if you do not have much time but still want strong TV shows with a good story, a clear structure and a faster entry point.
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