HBO Max to launch in New Zealand on June 16

Exclusive home of HBO’s biggest shows, including season three of HBO Original series House of the Dragon 

2026 Academy Award® Best Picture winner One Battle After Another available from launch, making its SVOD debut in New Zealand 

More brand-new content to come in 2026, including the highly-anticipated HBO Original Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) today announced that HBO Max, its premium direct-to-consumer streaming service, will officially launch in Aotearoa New Zealand on 16 June, with the service also becoming available in the Cook Islands and Tokelau. 

HBO Max will be the only place New Zealanders can catch iconic HBO Originals, including the third season of House of the Dragon, landing on the service in June at the same time as its U.S. premiere. Additional new HBO and Max Originals launching in the second half of 2026 include Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (from Larry David, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground), Lanterns (from DC Studios), Stuart Fails to Save the Universe (from The Big Bang Theory universe), the fourth season of the hit period drama The Gilded Age, as well as  the  hugely anticipated eight-episode first season of the upcoming  HBO Original  “Harry Potter” series, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the trailer of which recorded almost 300 million organic views within 48 hours of being released.  

HBO Max subscribers enjoy exclusive access to HBO Originals such as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Euphoria, The Last of Us, The Wire, The White Lotus, Succession, The Penguin, Game of Thrones, DTF St. Louis, The Sopranos, Rooster, Girls, Sex and The City, Flight of the Conchords, Industry, Chernobyl and True Detective, as well as Max Originals including And Just Like That... and the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning The Pitt. 

Subscribers can also catch Warner Bros.' deep library of  movies,  including recent blockbusters, Academy Award®  recipients such as 2026 winners One Battle After Another, Sinners and Weapons, and expansive global hit franchises like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the DC Universe.   

HBO Max is home to perennial fan favourites  like  Friends, Rick and Morty and The Big Bang Theory.  

Thought-provoking documentaries like 2026 Academy Award® nominee The Alabama Solution also sit alongside popular factual and lifestyle content from Discovery and TLC such as  Outback Opal Hunters,  Deadliest  Catch  and  90-Day  Fiancé. 

Michael Brooks, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand at Warner Bros. Discovery said: “New Zealanders have a well-earned reputation for creativity and originality, which we believe is one of the reasons our premium content slate has always resonated so strongly with audiences here.  When we launch HBO Max on 16 June, it will be coming off the back of an incredible awards season, and there is still so much more to come in 2026, starting with House of the Dragon in June, right through to the biggest TV event of the year with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone at Christmas.” 

Further details about subscription tiers, pricing and partnerships will be announced closer to the 16 June launch date. Audiences in New Zealand can sign up for updates at  www.hbomax.com.  

Michael: Movie Review

Cast: Jafaar Jackson, Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Laura Harrier
Director: Antoine Fuqua

After much anticipation and amid rumours of substantial reshoots and accusations of fairytale storytelling, the drama of Michael Jackson's life is finally here.

Played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, the film focuses on Michael's time in the Jackson 5, his relationship with his father (Domingo) and his attempts to break out to become a solo star.

It's perhaps befitting the film starts by blasting out 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' given the controversy and extensive third act reshoots, before racing breakneck speed through Jackson's life from humble beginnings and belt-whuppings from his dad in Gary, Indiana to his own emancipation from the yokel of the tyranny of his father.

In between it all are a plethora of favourite songs from the Jackson oeuvre, performed with gusto by Jafaar and which will no doubt leave fans in ecstasy at their faithfulness.

But here's the rub of the film - not once does it stop to give anything close to depth throughout. It's hagiography, with a splash of biography.

Unless it's to Jackson himself. 

Witness his full-frame close ups as he pines for freedom; take in his Princess Diana-like visiting to other burns victims after the Pepsi commercial leaves him on fire. The list of propaganda-led moments for the little lost boy is endless and yet never quite engaging enough to those looking for depth.

It's perhaps no real surprise that there's puddle-level depth here. At a time when a jukebox musical of his life has gone great guns on Broadway, there's obviously a desire to cash in on the nostalgia and that's what this film does.

But leaping from song to song, while scattering imagery of him reading Peter Pan, fawning over Bubbles and watching Chaplin and cartoons does not great insight provide.

And barely anyone except for Domingo's Joseph and Michael himself get any substantial time in a cursory screenplay that's more perfunctory than enlightening.

Depressingly, Michael will be massive and its penchant for avoiding the later controversies in his life smacks of woeful family intervention shaping his legacy.

The film ends with three words: His story continues. It's a James Bond-style coda (or threat) that promises more to come, but unless the full story is told (which is unlikely given legal documents and decisions), this shaping and distorting of the truth by the Jackson estate leaves a sour taste - no matter how impressive Jackson and Domingo's performances are.

Win a double pass to see Sgt. Haane in cinemas

To celebrate the release of Sgt. Haane in cinemas April 30, you can win a double pass to see the movie.

About Sgt. Haane

The story of Haane Manahi, a 28th Māori Battalion soldier who took a mountain, changed the course of WWII in North Africa – and those who choose to remember.

Starring Alex Tarrant, Vinnie Bennett, Matu Ngaropo

What's on Prime Video in May

Here's everything that's streaming on Prime Video in May 2026

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Ghost War (May 20)

In this new film, Jack Ryan is reluctantly thrust back into the world of espionage when an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, forcing him to confront a rogue black-ops unit, and the clock is ticking. Operating in real time with lives on the line and the threat escalating at every turn, Jack reunites with battle-tested CIA operative Mike November (Michael Kelly) and former CIA boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce), their combined experience the only edge they have against an enemy who knows their every move. Backed by an unlikely new partner – razor-sharp MI6 officer Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller) – Jack and the team navigate a treacherous web of betrayal, facing a past they thought was long put to rest – making this the most personal, high-stakes mission any of them have ever faced.

Starring John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Max Beesley, JJ Feild, Douglas Hodge with Betty Gabriel and Sienna Miller

Amazon launches the new Fire TV Stick HD and Fire TV Stick 4K Select in New Zealand

• Amazon’s slimmest, fastest HD streaming stick yet, the all-new Fire TV Stick HD is now available for pre-order in New Zealand for $89, with shipping from April 29.
• Amazon also introduces the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, now available in New Zealand for $99, delivering affordable 4K Ultra HD streaming to Kiwi households

Finding something good to watch at home or on a trip shouldn’t feel like work. That’s why Amazon has today launched its newest and most portable ever streaming device, the Fire TV Stick HD, that comes with a new Fire TV user interface. Whether looking to upgrade a TV at home or planning for an upcoming trip, this new device is small enough to fit in a bag and ready to deliver a full entertainment experience on any TV its connected to. 

 

The all-new Fire TV Stick HD – part the world’s most popular streaming media player family – is now available for pre-order from $89 to New Zealand customers, with shipping beginning April 29, 2026. The new Fire TV Stick HD is Amazon's slimmest streaming device, both smaller in volume and width than previous models. It’s optimised for Direct Power through a TV’s USB port, so it fits more neatly behind a TV without requiring a separate power adapter.

 

Fire TV Stick HD also delivers noticeable speed improvements compared to previous HD models, more than 30% faster on average than the last-generation HD stick, which means it turns on and opens apps more quickly. It comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support to help ensure a stronger, more reliable connection for customers.

 

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is also now available in New Zealand, bringing affordable 4K streaming to Kiwi households. It offers everything customers need to enjoy brilliant 4K Ultra HD content with High Dynamic Range 10+ (HDR10+), making any TV smarter with instant access to a wide range of content, personalised recommendations, Alexa and fast performance. 

 

Redesigned experience

The Fire TV Stick HD is an easy way to upgrade any TV with a cleaner, faster, and more intuitive experience. Featuring the latest Fire TV update and a modern design, it helps Kiwis find what they want to watch quickly with well-organised categories for movies and TV shows.

 

Users can pin more of their favourite apps directly to the home screen for quicker access, while smarter recommendations and streamlined navigation mean less time scrolling and more time enjoying entertainment. 

 

A Fire TV stick built for portability and travel

About 30% narrower than the previous generation HD stick, the new device is designed to not only fit easily into a carry-on bag or pocket but also more easily into an HDMI outlet alongside other plugs and cords on the back of a TV. Its Direct Power feature lets customers power the device using a TV's USB port using the included cable. If a TV doesn’t have a USB port or you forgot the included power cord at home, the device can always be powered with a USB-C cable and a wall adapter.

 

Adaptive Display – coming soon

In the coming months, Amazon will introduce a new Adaptive Display setting to the Fire TV Stick HD. This accessibility feature will make text, menus, and content easier to see and navigate on screen. When turned on, the feature increases the size of smaller items like text and menus while scaling up larger items like content artwork, creating a more balanced and customisable browsing experience for all customers.

  

Pricing and availability– from NZ$89

The all-new Fire TV Stick HD is available for pre-order today at $89 and will begin shipping on April 29, 2026. The Fire TV Stick HD is available to pre-order now from Amazon.com.au and will be available in leading New Zealand retailers JB Hi-Fi, Noel Leeming and PB Tech. 

 

99% of Fire TV Stick HD's packaging is made of wood fibre-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources. 

 

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is available now to order and ship in leading New Zealand for $99 from today.

Mercy: Blu Ray Review

Cast: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Annabelle Wallis
Director: Timur Bekhmambetov

In a near-future, justice has taken a new form.

Faced with spiralling crime and an increasing need to see punishment doled out, those in charge have brought in an AI judge (Silo's Ferguson) to help.

But when officer Chris Ravens (Pratt) finds himself accused of the murder of his own wife, he's hauled up before her.

Now, with time running out, he must clear his name within 90 minutes - or be executed by the very system he created.

There's s kernel of a good idea here - a real-time story in which a man fights for his life against a system he created and with his own injustices laid bare. Unfortunately, what emerges appears to be a mixture of 24 meets reality show Cops, as a series of previous encounters via various tech from the cloud or video feeds to officers within the field reveals the reality of Pratt's character's sins.

As digital tech unfurls around the largely static Pratt, the acting limitations become clear. Whereas Ferguson is content to use subtle twitches or sly smiles to show how this case is creating a degree of humanity in her, the final act's desire to make her fully human feels like a leap too quick and too far.

And for Pratt himself, being largely confined to a chair doesn't quite help him hit the mark. Usually an a actor who's blessed with physicality for a performance, the gaps here begin to show. Even the presence of True Detective: Night Country's Kali Reis as Raven's partner doesn't elevate proceedings.

Bekhmambetov has previously been involved in the likes of static films such as Searching and Unfriended and there's much the same MO at work here - but the end results actually leave the audience pleading for Mercy, rather than feeling blessed it's only 100 minutes long.

Armageddon Expo 2026: Talking Resident Evil's Lady Dimitrescu with Maggie Robertson

Lady Dimitrescu and Baldur's Gate 3 actress Maggie Robertson is just one of the talents appearing at the Armageddon Expo in Auckland over Anzac weekend. She talked to us about the game she'd love to make, the reaction to THAT character and how gaming changed her life.

Hi Maggie, how are you? Have you ever been to New Zealand before? 

I have never been to New Zealand before, but as a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan, it has been a dream destination of mine for years! Needless to say, I am very excited to get a chance to visit and fully plan on being that guy spouting all the useless facts from the movie (did you know that Viggo really broke his toe!??!) and crying over the beautiful world of Tolkien made real in wonders of New Zealand. 

You've had an incredible run of years in the gaming world, how has that felt?

Being a part of the gaming industry changed my life. I am forever grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community of, not just the creators & actors making the games, but also the fans that love and support them. I think the gaming community is a very special place and I’m so honored to be a part of it. 

How did you get started in the industry and were there any particular titles that really inspired you?

I kinda fell into the world of gaming by accident when I booked the part of Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village. I didn’t grow up playing video games and had no intention of getting into games because I didn’t really know they existed. But Resident Evil changed my life, set me on a completely different path, and built a career for me overnight. I never expected any of this to happen— I was just happy to be working & paying the bills!

You've obviously become known for Lady Dimitrescu. Could you please just talk us through how you approached that role, and how you felt first seeing the script and the realisation of the character?

I had just come from finishing a grad program in classical acting (think Shakespeare) and doing theatre, so a lot of Lady Dimitrescu felt familiar to me. She lives in similarly heightened spaces and I was drawn to her use of language and the way she’s able to really weaponise language to exert control over everyone around her. So, it was important for her to have that outward elegance, but we also needed to be able to sense the true potential for violence and danger running underneath that polished exterior, and I think it’s those contradictions that make her so dynamic as a character. 

She obviously went viral - from erotica to memes, what's your take on the life she achieved and why do you think that it was that it happened - was it ever something you imagined would become a reality?

Lady Dimitrescu is very special to me— I often call her “my first born.” And one of the beauties of creating art is witnessing how audiences change and deepen and continue to breathe life into a character you’ve created. So, to me, Lady D really does feel like this living, breathing thing that’s ever-changing, ever evolving, and ever growing as we, the fan base, continue to grow and deepen our relationship to her. To have a character that has been able to have such a lasting impact on fans and bring new people into the franchise, has been really special. 

What's the craziest fan mail you've ever had after one of your characters were released? 

Oooh, I don't know, but I will say that I have some insanely creative and talented fans out there and I always love seeing the ways they bring their unique creativity to these IPs. 

Have you ever actually found yourself dropping spoilers for the games you've been part of? And what's been the hardest secret to keep for the titles you've been in?

Oof— I sure hope not! That would be my nightmare. Video games are notorious for their NDAs so we have to be pretty tight-lipped about everything that we work on. But it certainly was challenging to still be under NDA for Resident Evil while witnessing Lady Dimitrescu become this viral sensation taking over the internet. That one was definitely hard to keep quiet about, ha!

Obviously, there's been a lot of talk about game artists not quite getting the recognition they should - can you talk to us a little about your feelings on that?

Ultimately, we are actors and voice acting is still Acting. And with that comes craft and training and artistry. But I think we’re seeing a shift in gaming as a whole where, as our games become more story & narrative centered, it relies on better and better performances to tell those stories, so both developers and actors are starting to receive recognition for the real artistry that goes into making a game. It is truly a collaborative process, so it’s great to see everyone’s hard work get recognized. 

You've interviewed other gaming actors as well - has there been an interview you've loved doing and is there a talent you'd love to chat to?

I haven’t ever interviewed anyone officially, but David Hayter and I had a fun time interviewing each other for the Future Games Show last year. I always find it fascinating to hear how different people get into video games or even just into acting/voiceover as a whole. There are so many different pathways one can take in this industry and I always find it inspiring to hear from someone who arrived here from a different path than my own. 

What games are you playing at the moment and looking forward to?

Sadly, I’m not a gamer myself (I just run into walls, I’ve tried), but I do love watching the cutscenes of games when they come out. 

Who do you admire in the gaming industry?

So many people, so many of my amazing co-stars and cast-mates! It feels like everyone who makes games truly loves it. Ahhhh  - don’t make me choose!!

Obviously, the God of War TV series is filming at the moment, do you have any part in that at all that you can share?

Ha, no, but excited to watch once it comes out!

What game would you love to have been a part of - and conversely, what would be your ideal game pitch to make?

Ha, well I suppose, being the LOTR dork that I am, anything in relation to that franchise would be a dream for me. And as for a game pitch… I actually do have one that I’d like to make, but I’m not going to share it here!

Do you enjoy the conventions and seeing people embrace the characters you've created - and what's been your most favourite interaction and why?

I really don’t think Lady Dimitrescu would be who she is today if it weren't for the fans, nor any of my  other characters. The fans are what make the video game industry so great— there’s so much passion and love for the genre that it inspires me every day. It is my honor to steward these beloved characters like Lady Dimitrescu or Orin the Red from Baldur's Gate 3 and be able to give back to the fans for what they’ve given me. 

So bring on the cosplays! And bring me your dogs!

Armageddon Expo runs in Auckland over Anzac weekend from April 25 to April 27. For more info, head to armageddonexpo.com