If you are searching for how to watch Half Man, you are in exactly the right place. Richard Gadd, the Emmy Award-winning creator and star of Baby Reindeer, is back with his most anticipated follow-up yet, and it is already generating serious Emmy buzz before the season is even halfway through. Here is everything you need to know about where to stream Half Man, when new episodes drop, and how to watch for free depending on where you are in the world.

How to Watch Half Man: Quick Reference Guide

Here is the fastest answer by country:

All six episodes release weekly, so the full run runs from April 23 through May 28, 2026.

How to Watch Half Man in the United States

_{Source: HBO Logo Composite by Clip Cinema Hub. Brand identity and original assets courtesy of HBO & Warner Bros. Discovery.}

US viewers have two ways to watch Half Man. The series airs linearly on HBO every Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET, and streams simultaneously on Max, so you can watch live or on demand the same night.

Max subscription plans start at $10.99 per month with ads, $18.49 per month ad-free, or $22.99 per month for the Premium tier with four simultaneous streams. A Disney, Hulu, and Max bundle is also available starting at $19.99 per month with ads.

One important point for Baby Reindeer fans: Half Man is not on Netflix. Gadd’s new show is exclusively on HBO and Max in the United States, so you will need a Max subscription to stream it.

Traveling outside the US? A VPN will give you full access to your existing Max subscription from anywhere in the world.

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How to Watch Half Man in the UK

UK viewers get one of the best deals of anyone watching this show globally. Half Man is completely free to stream on BBC iPlayer from April 24, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. BST, with all episodes releasing on a weekly schedule. No subscription, no payment required.

For those who prefer linear television, the show also airs on BBC One and BBC Scotland on April 28, 2026. BBC iPlayer gives you the flexibility to watch on your schedule, making it the recommended option for most UK viewers.

Traveling abroad? A VPN will reconnect you to BBC iPlayer from wherever you are in the world, so you will not miss a single weekly episode.

How to Watch Half Man in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

How to Watch Half Man in Canada

Canadian viewers can stream Half Man exclusively on Crave from Friday, April 24, 2026. New episodes will follow the same weekly schedule as the US release. If you are traveling to Canada from the US or UK, a VPN will give you seamless access to your home platform.

How to Watch Half Man in Australia

Half Man premieres on Stan in Australia on Friday, April 24, 2026. Existing Stan subscribers get immediate access at no additional cost. New subscribers can sign up directly through Stan’s website.

How to Watch Half Man in New Zealand

New Zealand viewers have arguably the best deal outside the UK: Half Man streams completely free on TVNZ+ from Friday, April 24, 2026. This makes TVNZ+ one of the most generous free streaming options for this show anywhere in the world. Travelers to New Zealand from the US or UK can use a VPN to access their home platform if preferred.

What Is Half Man About and Why You Need to Watch It

_{Source: Includes original production photography of Richard Gadd in Half Man courtesy of HBO and BBC.}

Half Man is a six-part drama created by, written by, and starring Richard Gadd, co-produced by the BBC and HBO. The series also stars BAFTA Award winner Jamie Bell in the co-lead role.

The show centers on Ruben and Niall, two men who are as close as brothers without being related by blood. The story opens on Niall’s wedding day when Ruben arrives behaving strangely, on edge and not himself, before an explosion of violence catapults the narrative back nearly 40 years through their shared history. From their first meeting as teenagers in the 1980s to the present day, viewers witness everything that made these men who they are and everything that tore them apart.

Gadd has said he actually conceived of Half Man before Baby Reindeer, telling a Q&A audience that the idea “stayed with me all the way through Baby Reindeer.” The series explores how male behavior is shaped by childhood trauma and societal repression, themes Gadd described as impossible to shake.

Critical reception has been divided but passionate, which is a sign the show is doing something right. New York Post critic Lauren Sarner called it “riveting, provocative, and filled with searing performances,” predicting it “should sweep the Emmys.” The Independent was more skeptical, awarding two out of five stars. Caryn James of the BBC gave it four out of five, praising Gadd’s power as a writer even when the characters are difficult to root for. The show holds a 72 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 36 critic reviews.

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Half Man Full US Episode Schedule

Half Man releases one episode per week on HBO and Max. Here is the complete schedule:

The weekly format means the cultural conversation builds gradually over six weeks. Joining from episode one is the way to be part of it in real time.

Half Man Trailer

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Watch Half Man

How to Watch Half Man for Free?

UK viewers can stream the full series completely free on BBC iPlayer from April 24, 2026. New Zealand viewers can also stream for free on TVNZ+, also from April 24.

Is Half Man on Netflix?

No. Half Man is not on Netflix. In the US it streams exclusively on Max and airs on HBO. Baby Reindeer was on Netflix, but Half Man is an HBO and BBC co-production.

How Many Episodes Does Half Man Have?

Half Man has six episodes, releasing weekly every Thursday from April 23 through May 28, 2026.

Who Stars in Half Man?

Richard Gadd stars as Ruben and Jamie Bell stars as Niall. The supporting cast includes Stuart Campbell, Mitchell Robertson, Neve McIntosh, Marianne McIvor, Charlie De Melo, and Bilal Hasna.

What Time Does Half Man Air?

In the US, Half Man airs at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO every Thursday. In the UK, it drops on BBC iPlayer at 6:00 a.m. BST on Fridays, with linear BBC One broadcast the following Tuesday.

Where Was Half Man Filmed?

Half Man was filmed primarily in Glasgow, Scotland, with additional locations across Scotland. Principal photography began in February 2025 and wrapped in July 2025.

Now You Know How to Watch Half Man: Do Not Wait

Whether you are in the US on Max, the UK on BBC iPlayer for free, Canada on Crave, Australia on Stan, or New Zealand on TVNZ+ for free, there is no excuse to miss what is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most talked-about dramas.

Richard Gadd proved with Baby Reindeer that he delivers emotionally devastating, award-winning television. Half Man has been waiting inside him since before Baby Reindeer existed. That alone makes it unmissable.

New episodes drop every Thursday in the US and every Friday internationally. Start from episode one and stay ahead of the conversation.

Sources:

Media Credits: Featured Image Composite by Clip Cinema Hub. Production still of Richard Gadd in Half Man. Image courtesy of HBO and BBC.

Editorial Usage: This visual asset is used for editorial commentary, news reporting, and critical analysis regarding the 2026 limited series co-production.

Official Streaming Partners: Max (Official US Home of HBO Original Series), Crave (Official Canadian Home of HBO & BBC Content), Stan (Leading Australian Streaming Partner for Global Prestige TV).

Production Partners: HBO (US Production & Network), BBC (UK Production & Network)