Top 10 TV Shows From The ‘90s On HBO Max To Watch, According To IMDb

HBO Max has been heavily focused on deepening its catalog of both movies and television shows since it originally launched. That’s how it has gone about growing into one of the better streaming services in such a short time. The recent deal with Warner Bros. is going to play a huge part in their future.

While that is a big piece of their expansion, another key move was adding to the shows it features from the past. Along with the content that originally aired on HBO, the streaming service has added a variety of sitcoms, animation, and more. Some of the best come from the ’90s.

10 Dexter’s Laboratory (7.9)

Cartoon Network had an impressive run during the ’90s, especially with the “What a Cartoon!” group of shows. That included stuff like The Powerpuff Girls and Johnny Bravo. Another among those was Dexter’s Laboratory, which ran from 1996 until 2003.

The animated show focuses on the exploits of a child genius named Dexter. He is an inventor who hides a massive lab for experiments under his bedroom but is constantly foiled by his annoying sister Dee Dee. All 79 episodes are currently available to stream on HBO Max.

9 The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (7.9)

One of the most exciting things announced for HBO Max was the reunion special featuring the cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Will Smith was able to get the original gang back together in a well-received look back at the show. It’s only fitting that HBO also has the series available to stream.

Airing from 1990 until 1996, there weren’t many shows more synonymous with the decade than it. The plot sees a streetwise teen sent to live with his wealthy aunt, uncle, and cousins in their California mansion. It helped launch the career of Smith. A reboot is lined up for Peacock.

8 Tenacious D (8.1)

It’s hard to imagine that a band would be named after a simple phrase said by NBA announcer Marv Albert but that’s the case here. Tenacious D, a comedy rock duo featuring Jack Black and Kyle Gass, has their name derived from Albert’s “tenacious defender” saying.

They’ve had appearances in various movies, including their own, Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny from 2006. However, lesser-known is their HBO series following the fictional careers of the band members. There are six episodes, though more were planned but Black and Gass backed out to make the movie instead and keep the rights to the characters.

7 Todd McFarlane’s Spawn (8.1)

Speaking of things that feel like they are certainly a big part of the ’90s, there’s the character of Spawn. The anti-hero was seemingly everywhere in the decade. He jumped from the pages of comic books to the big screen in 1997, portrayed by Michael Jai White.

Around that same time, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn premiered on HBO. This animated series lasted three seasons, consisting of 18 total episodes. It was positively received to the point where it actually took home an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animation Program.

6 Rurouni Kenshin (8.5)

Also known as Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai, this anime series ran from 1996 until 1998. Consisting of 95 episodes, it originally aired on Fuji TV before coming to the United States on Cartoon Network as part of the Toonami programming block.

Based on a manga and also eventually spawning a film, those who watched the show were very impressed. It follows a young swordsman who wanders into a struggling martial arts school. The show was quite popular and well-received, with some fans hoping for a revival or a reboot.

5 I’m Alan Partridge (8.5)

It’s always great to see shows from around the world available on a streaming service like HBO Max. That’s the case with this series, which spanned two seasons for a grand total of 12 episodes. The first season aired in 1997, with the second coming five years later.

I’m Alan Partridge stars comedian Steve Coogan as the titular character, who is a failed television presenter with no tact. After being left by his wife and dropped by his station, he makes desperate attempts to revive his career. The first season took home many awards, including two for Coogan’s performance.

4 Oz (8.7)

This is another one of those series that was always part of the HBO family from the day it premiered. That was back in 1997 and it kept going until ending in 2003 after 56 total episodes. Oz and its subject matter were ideal for the premium cable network as it was pretty violent.

Oz has a simple premise behind it. The series tells the story of the daily events at a maximum-security state prison, including those of the employees and the inmates. Still, it managed to secure a Satellite Award for Best Drama Television Series.

3 South Park (8.7)

Everyone talks about The Simpsons when they mention the longest-running series in history, especially from an animation perspective. However, South Park isn’t too far behind it. The raunchy yet consistently topical Comedy Central show has been on the air since 1997.

There have been over 300 episodes to date. The series centers on the wacky things that go on in the small Colorado town, putting the focus on a quartet of foul-mouthed elementary school kids. Despite the nature of some of the stories, South Park has scored a handful of Emmys.

2 Pride and Prejudice (8.8)

The story of Pride and Prejudice has been told over and over again throughout history, going as far back as most people can remember. The iconic Jane Austen novel has been made into many films (including one with zombies), has several TV adaptations, and even a very successful YouTube version.

This take is from 1995 and aired on BBC. The miniseries has six episodes and stars the very talented Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. It won many awards, including a Peabody.

1 Friends (8.9)

One of the biggest gets for HBO Max in the early days of launching was the acquisition of Friends. As part of the deal, the streaming service is set to air a reunion of the cast at some point down the line. While fans wait, they can stream the legendary sitcom in its entirety.

Friends ran from 1994 until 2004, consisting of 10 seasons and over 230 episodes. The setup was basic, following the lives of a group of friends living in Manhattan but the ensemble cast had remarkable chemistry and helped make it a massive success. It was nominated for over 60 Emmys in its history and is often considered one of the greatest TV shows ever.

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