HBO Max Quietly Slashes Prices, Offers Major Discount

After about a two-year wait between seasons, the third season of HBO's hit series House of the Dragon is nearly here, with the first episode set to begin streaming on Sunday, June 21. Ahead of that highly anticipated debut, HBO Max is slashing prices.

Just days before the premiere of the hit show's third series, which already has critics raving with a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, HBO Max has announced a massive discount on its annual subscription prices, allowing customers to subscribe at a much lower rate than usual so they can watch the show.

'House of the Dragon' Returns

Adapted from George R. R. Martin's beloved A Song of Ice and Fire book series, HBO's Game of Thrones stands as one of the most celebrated television series ever made, airing from its 2011 premiere through its 2019 finale.

But the end of Game of Thrones didn't mean the end of its universe. After eight seasons, HBO expanded the universe with a prequel series called House of the Dragon, which has become the next hit series for HBO

Taking place approximately 200 years prior to the events of Game of Thrones, the show centers on the Targaryen dynasty's power struggle and succession conflict known as the "Dance of the Dragons," a civil war that ultimately sets the great house on a path toward ruin.

While it might not be quite as popular and culturally relevant as Game of Thrones was, House of the Dragon is still among HBO's most-watched series ever and has been the hottest show on television, and the upcoming season is already getting rave reviews.

HBO Max Slashes Prices

With the third season of House of the Dragon set to premiere on Sunday night, HBO Max announced a massive discount on its annual subscriptions, slashing prices by 40 percent.

The sale applies to all three of HBO Max's streaming tiers - basic with ads, standard, or premium. For basic with ads, the price is now $78.99 per year, down from $109.99. For standard, the price is now $132.99 per year, down from $184.99. For premium, the price is now $164.99 per year, down from $229.99.

The only thing worth noting is that the sale does not apply to the month-to-month plans; it only applies to an annual subscription. So, to take advantage of the 40% off sale, customers will have to purchase 12 months at a time.

However, with Harry Potter coming to the platform in December, customers might want to remain subscribed anyway.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 11:15 AM.