HBO Max sparks outrage with secret price hike overnight. Subscribers furious

HBO Max faces backlash after sudden price hike hits all plans overnight, angering subscribers across platforms

HBO Max has triggered a storm of criticism after raising its subscription prices without warning, leaving users across the world furious. The platform’s new pricing, effective immediately for new users, marks another steep jump in costs as streaming companies scramble to boost profits amid subscriber fatigue.

Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that its Basic With Ads plan will now cost $10.99 per month, while the Standard tier has climbed to $18.49. The Premium plan has surged to $22.99 per month, with annual options seeing up to a $20 increase. Existing monthly subscribers will begin facing the new rates from November, sparking outrage over what many see as corporate greed disguised as ‘business restructuring’.

Online reaction has been swift and unforgiving. Users accused HBO Max of exploiting its loyal customers while offering no major content upgrades to justify the hike. One viral post called the move ‘another slap in the face to anyone who still pays for streaming’. Others pointed out that this increase follows similar hikes from Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu, turning what was once an affordable entertainment option into an expensive luxury.

The controversy comes just months after Warner Bros. Discovery reverted the platform’s name back to HBO Max, abandoning the brief ‘Max’ rebrand. Many viewers mocked the decision, calling it a distraction from rising fees and declining user satisfaction.

Critics say the company is leaning on nostalgia-driven hits like Game of Thrones, Succession and The White Lotus to justify higher costs, while new original content struggles to make a cultural impact. As inflation bites and multiple platforms raise prices simultaneously, subscribers are increasingly cancelling and rotating between services to avoid long-term commitments.

HBO Max’s quiet implementation of these new prices has amplified growing distrust in the streaming industry’s direction. For many, the golden age of affordable binge-watching now feels firmly out of reach.