HBO unlocks 500 hours of must-see films and TV series to stream for free

The Sopranos Hbo Hero
The Sopranos Hbo Hero (Image credit: HBO)

Netflix and Hulu and all the other recent streaming platforms may have their own shows you can't watch anywhere else, but HBO has been home to the best exclusive shows for decades now. With iconic series like The Wire, The Sopranos, and True Blood, the premium channel made a name for itself not just by showing popular and classic films, but also by premiering shows that are truly unlike any others that have come before them.

Today, with social distancing on the rise and everyone stuck inside their homes, HBO is giving back to the public by unlocking 500 hours of its premium content, from television series to movies and documentaries. Beginning April 3, all of the content below can be streamed for free via HBO Now or HBO Go in the United States without an account. Simply head to the website you wish to use and start watching.

You won't find all of HBO's content for free, and notably, recent series like Westworld, Game of Thrones, Euphoria, and The Leftovers are not included in the offer. You can watch them and keep track of your progress through the series you view by starting an HBO Now account. Alternatively, HBO Max is set to arrive in May and offer all of the content you'll find on HBO Now and more for the same monthly price of $14.99.

According to HBO, the content listed below will also be available to stream for free on participating U.S. distribution partners' platforms within the next several days.

HBO not streaming in your area?

Most will probably be at home right now, though if you happen to be out of the country and still want to stream HBO's free content, consider signing up for ExpressVPN. It makes it appear as if you're back at home in the U.S. and gets you around the location restrictions with just a few simple steps.

Right now, ExpressVPN is offering three months for free when you purchase an annual subscription. Other options start at just $9.99 per month.

Express VPN Logo

ExpressVPN

Want to stream HBO Now or HBO Go but not at home in the US right now? ExpressVPN makes it easy, affordable, and secure to change your IP address and access that content.

Complete Series

  • Ballers: 5 seasons
  • Barry: 2 seasons
  • Silicon Valley: 6 seasons
  • Six Feet Under: 5 seasons
  • The Sopranos: 7 seasons
  • Succession: 2 seasons
  • True Blood: 7 seasons
  • Veep: 7 seasons
  • The Wire: 5 seasons

Warner Bros. Films

  • Arthur
  • Arthur 2: On the Rocks
  • Blinded By the Light
  • The Bridges of Madison County
  • Crazy, Stupid, Love
  • Empire of the Sun
  • Forget Paris
  • Happy Feet Two
  • Isn't It Romantic?
  • The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
  • Midnight Special
  • My Dog Skip
  • Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase
  • Pan
  • Pokémon Detective Pikachu
  • Red Riding Hood
  • Smallfoot
  • Storks
  • Sucker Punch
  • Unknown

Docuseries and Documentaries

  • The Apollo
  • The Case Against Adnan Syed
  • Elvis Presley: The Searcher
  • I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter
  • The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
  • Jane Fonda in Five Acts
  • McMillion$
  • True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality
  • United Skates
  • We Are the Dream: The Kids of the MLK Oakland Oratorical Fest
Alex Smith
Alex is a graduate from the University of North Florida with a background in sales and merchandising. When he’s not hunting down the next great deals to post on Thrifter, he can be found making music and working on his eBay business.