How to Stream Max Movies and Shows in 4K If You Aren’t Already
Watch The Last of Us in all its heart wrenching gore-y.
It seems like thereâs no shortage of compelling content to stream in 4K these days, and on Max, youâre spoiled for choice. TimothĂ©e Chalamet-verse essentials like Wonka and Denis Villeneuveâs Dune duology sit side by side with acerbic dramedies like The Righteous Gemstones and The White Lotus. But if youâre new to the platform you may be wondering how you can upgrade the viewing experience and ensure youâre watching all of your most anticipated movies and TV shows in the highest fidelity possible. If thatâs you, read on, as our guide will explain the ins and outs of how to stream Max movies and shows in 4K â if you arenât doing so already.
How to Stream Max in 4KWhen it comes to picking a subscription plan for Max, there are three options available: Basic with Ads, Standard, and Premium. As with most streaming platforms (like Netflix), the only plan that allows for 4K streaming is the most expensive Premium plan. Itâs also worth noting that Max also offers a bundle that includes Max, Disney+ and Hulu at a discounted price. However, while there are two bundle options â With Ads and No Ads â neither plan includes the 4K Premium Plan features at this time. This means you wonât have access to 4K streaming if you end up going with the multi-platform bundle.
Here are the current Max U.S. plans and their prices:
Basic with Ads – $9.99/month (No 4K)Standard – $16.99/month (No 4K)Premium – $20.99/month (Includes 4K)Is your streaming set-up 4K compatible?Once youâve chosen your plan, youâll need to verify that your setup can handle streaming Maxâs 4K content. This means that your display, whether it be a monitor or a Smart TV, must support 4K resolution streaming. Furthermore, any external streaming devices like an Apple TV or Roku device must support 4K. Because youâre here on IGN, itâs worth pointing out that if youâre using a console like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X to stream content, you already have an external device that supports streaming Max in 4K. Last but certainly not least, the cables and ports youâre using to link your TV and external device need to be high quality, or this could cause issues with 4K streaming. External devices will need to be plugged into a HDCP 2.2 HDMI port using a High-Speed 4K HDMI cable to make the most of 4K streaming on Max.
If youâd like to check whether your current equipment is up to the task, Max has a list of compatible devices on their website that you can refer to.
Is your internet connection strong enough?Beyond devices and cables, your internet connection also needs to be strong enough to stream content in 4K. MAX suggests a minimum of 25Mbps, but recommends 50Mbps for the best results. Itâs worth mentioning that there is no account setting to force Max to stream in 4K, and Max will just adjust its streaming quality in accordance with your ânetwork bandwidth and connection speed.â So if the requirements are met, applicable content on Max should automatically stream in 4K.
You can check whether the content youâre looking to watch is available in 4K, by selecting the film or tv show from the in-app menu and looking for the â4Kâ or â4K UHDâ tag underneath the title.
Are There Other Ways to Watch HBO Movies and Shows in 4K?HBO has a reputation for producing legendarily bingeable box sets like The Sopranos and Succession. Thanks to the popularity of said shows and their avid fan bases, many of these titles have been released physically as 4K Blu-ray box sets. George R. R. Martin acolytes can find the full Game of Thrones series in 4K, as well as the first two series of its drama-filled prequel House of the Dragon. Many of the movies available on MAX also have a physical Blu-Ray counterpart, such as 2024âs Twisters and 2021âs The Matrix Resurrections.
As weâre often reminded, we donât actually own the digital content we pay for. This means that owning the physical versions of your favourite films or TV shows is the only way to ensure the content can be rewatched forever â regardless of a faulty internet connection or future licensing issues.
Originally posted:
May 3, 2025 8:30 pm
