HBO Max is getting an early start on Christmas, but November’s biggest return has a different kind of family tension. The Gilded Age begins its fourth season on November 1, bringing the Russells back for another round of ambition, social maneuvering and consequences that money cannot necessarily fix.
The HBO Max November 2026 lineup also includes A24’s Tony, which follows a young Anthony Bourdain, the second season of City of God: The Fight Rages On, and four HBO documentaries arriving in the second half of the month. For anyone already ready to put Halloween behind them, Elf, A Christmas Story and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation all arrive on the first.
Here are the highlights and the full U.S. release schedule from HBO Max’s November announcement.
The Gilded Age Season 4 Premieres November 1
Bertha Russell got what she wanted. Now her family has to live with the cost. The new season finds Agnes van Rhijn with a chance to reclaim her standing, while Marian pursues a new direction and Peggy faces the challenge of winning over her future in-laws.
The eight-episode season will release new installments weekly on Sundays. Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson and Denée Benton are among the returning cast members, with Julian Fellowes continuing as creator, writer and executive producer.
Before the premiere, revisit GVN’s coverage of the Denée Benton roundtable, where she discussed Peggy’s journey and her approach to the character.
City of God Returns, While Tony Heads to Streaming
City of God: The Fight Rages On returns November 8 for a six-episode second season, with episodes arriving weekly on Sundays. A struggle over territory follows Curió’s death, while councilwoman Berenice confronts corruption and the militia’s expanding influence. Elsewhere, lawyer Jerusa pursues revenge, and Leka looks to music and community gatherings as a way to bring residents together.
On November 20, Tony takes viewers back to Anthony Bourdain’s life at 19. Directed by Matt Johnson and starring Dominic Sessa, the A24 film follows Bourdain to Provincetown, where a summer in a restaurant kitchen helps set his future in motion. Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall and Antonio Banderas are also among the cast.
The Roses joins the service that same day, while The Magic Faraway Tree arrives November 27.
Four HBO Documentaries Arrive in the Second Half of November
Dawn Porter’s When a Witness Recants premieres November 17. It examines the wrongful convictions of three teenagers following a 1983 killing at a Baltimore junior high school, along with the lasting damage to the accused, the witnesses and their community. The film considers what happened when witnesses later withdrew testimony they said they had been pressured to give.
The Hotline follows on November 18. Directed by Ricki Stern and Jesse Sweet, it focuses on Never Use Alone, an overdose prevention helpline whose volunteer operators stay on the phone with callers and can contact emergency services if someone becomes unresponsive.
On November 24, Ben Proudfoot’s The Buffalo Miracle tells the story of strangers who took shelter inside a McDonald’s during a devastating Buffalo blizzard. The following day brings The Slightest Touch, Rachel Fleit’s documentary about Emma Fogarty and her friendship with Colin Farrell as they prepare to complete the Dublin Marathon together.
Christmas Favorites and a Planet of the Apes Marathon
The November 1 movie additions make it easy to start the holiday rotation early. Alongside Elf, there is The Polar Express, Four Christmases, The Shop Around the Corner and the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol. Holiday food programming follows, including Holiday Baking Championship Season 13 on November 3 and Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking Season 3 on November 4.
November 2 is the date for Planet of the Apes fans. Rise, Dawn, War and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes all join the lineup. That gives subscribers the chance to watch the four films in release order, or catch up with the latest chapter. Read GVN’s review of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes for more on that entry.
Everything Announced for HBO Max in November 2026
The following dates come from HBO Max’s supplied U.S. schedule. Availability is subject to change, and the list may not include every addition.
November 1
- 3 Days to Kill
- America America
- Calcifer Yule Log (Studio Ghibli)
- A Christmas Carol (1938)
- A Christmas Story
- Christmas with The Kranks
- The Desert Song (1944)
- Destination Tokyo
- Dune (1984)
- Elf
- Enemy (A24)
- Far From The Madding Crowd (1967)
- The First Purge
- Flipper (1963)
- Four Christmases
- Gay Purr-ee
- The Gilded Age Podcast, Season 4 (HBO)
- The Gilded Age, Season 4 (HBO Original)
- The Glass Bottom Boat
- Hands of a Stranger
- Happy Feet
- Hoot
- House of Women
- The Hypnotic Eye
- Jerry Maguire
- Jodorowsky’s Dune
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
- The Kitchen: World on a Plate, Season 41 (Food Network)
- The Man Who Invented Christmas
- Meet Me in St. Louis
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Nobody Lives Forever (1946)
- The Polar Express
- Prancer: A Christmas Tale (2022)
- The Predator (2018)
- Project X (2012)
- Red Sparrow
- Rise of the Guardians
- Scream (1996)
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
- The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
- Skyscraper (2018)
- They Were Expendable
- This is Not a War Story (HBO)
- A Very Merry Rickmas Yule Log (Adult Swim)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- You’re a Big Boy Now
November 2
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
November 3
- Holiday Baking Championship, Season 13 (Food Network)
November 4
- Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, Season 3 (Food Network)
- Smallfoot
November 6
- Batwheels, Season 3G (Cartoon Network)
- House Hunters International: Volume 10, Season 218 (HGTV)
- Melania Rea, Season 1 (HBO Original)
November 7
- Tadej Pogačar: Anatomy of a G.O.A.T. (Eurosport Documentary)
November 8
- City Of God: The Fight Rages On, Season 2 (HBO Original)
November 9
- Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas, Season 2 (Food Network)
November 11
- Big Bargain Holiday Showdown, Season 1 (HGTV)
- My Big Fat Fabulous Life, Season 14 (TLC)
November 13
- Clangold, Season 1 (HBO Original)
- Crown of Deceit: Inside the Miss Universe Scandal, Season 1 (TLC)
- House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 264 (HGTV)
- Maniacs of the Truth, Season 1 (HBO Original)
- Silent Night (HBO Original)
November 14
- Cooking With Choi, Season 1 (Food Network)
- Gift, Season 1
- Madame Web
November 16
- The Detour with David Chang, Season 1 (CNN)
November 17
- Sweet Deceit, Season 2 (Food Network)
- When a Witness Recants (HBO Original)
November 18
- Beat Bobby Flay, Season 45 (Food Network)
- Renovation Resort Showdown, Season 3 (HGTV)
- The Hotline (HBO Original)
November 19
- A Body in the Basement, Season 3 (ID)
- Save My Skin, Season 7 (TLC)
November 20
- Maine Cabin Masters: All Inn, Season 1 (Magnolia Network)
- The Roses (2025)
- Tony (A24)
November 22
- Holmes On Homes: Building A Legacy, Season 2 (HGTV)
November 24
- The Buffalo Miracle (HBO Original)
November 25
- Secret Life of a Vegas Casino, Season 1 (Discovery)
- The Slightest Touch (HBO Original)
November 27
- Batwheels, Season 4 (Cartoon Network)
- Krypto Saves the Day, Season 2C (DC)
- The Art of Deception (HBO Original)
- The Cursed Zoo (HBO Original)
- The Linares Files (HBO Original)
- The Magic Faraway Tree (2026)
November 29
- OWN Holiday Movie: The Christmas Showdown 2 (OWN)
Source: HBO Max November programming release. Official announcement.
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