This weekend I'm forgetting Netflix and chill and spending my time on HBO Max, which has taken the top spot as the best streaming service in my book. This Warner Media streaming service has become the first app I launch when I sit on the couch with popcorn.

This development is surprising. When HBO Max launched last spring, I was blown away by the service. Our HBO Max review summed it up nicely by calling it "half-baked."

But over the past six months, the service has quietly filled in many content holes. And the Warner Bros. film, which debuts simultaneously with its theatrical release on HBO Max, is on top of the icing.

HBO Max still has some technical issues (more on this later) and cannot compete with Amazon Prime Video or Netflix in terms of quantity of content. However, the quality of its content is extremely high.

Indeed, on Netflix, you can scroll endlessly through many micro-genre collections and try to find worthwhile titles. But open up HBO Max and you'll quickly find gems of all types. And unlike Disney Plus, it's for adults like me.

HBO Max's library may be smaller than that of other streamers, but its base collection includes award-winning series Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and the City, Veep, Watchmen Nothing beats the premium HBO catalog, including.

HBO programming is reserved viewing for me (and many others). It is a ritual to watch HBO's latest production on Sunday evenings. Last year alone, HBO gave us new seasons of I May Destroy You, Perry Mason, Lovecraft Country, and Insecure.

HBO Max's library also includes shows produced by other WarnerMedia brands such as TBS, TNT, Crunchyroll, and Cartoon Network. In addition, HBO Max also licenses third-party content, such as Studio Ghibli's library. There's nothing better than watching Hayao Miyazaki's gorgeous film on a snowy weekend.

And of course, we can't forget that all 10 seasons of "Friends" are available to streamers, unless HBO Max will let us. Friends is an extremely popular title on Netflix, and HBO Max was eager to get it as soon as possible. The sitcom is now a selling point for new subscribers, much like The Office was for Peacock. Unlike the latter, however, "Friends" can be viewed without advertising.

The HBO Max umbrella also includes Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, where you can see everything from the latest DC movies to the "Lord of the Rings" series. And in 2021, all Warner Bros. theatrical films will be streamed on HBO Max (see details below).

Aside from "Ted Lasso" on Apple TV Plus, my favorite new series for 2020 was the HBO Max original "The Flight Attendant." Starring Kaley Cuoco, this dark comedy/thriller was a sudden but sensational surprise that I watched in a day.

Even more surprising was the fact that it was being broadcast on HBO Max. This service launched in late May and had only a handful of original productions. In my review of "In Love with Anna Kendrick," I noted that while the show was great, it also highlighted the long road ahead for HBO Max.

Since then, however, HBO Max has ramped up its original and exclusive programming offerings. From the canine room-sharing reality series Haute Dog, to reruns of The West Wing and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, to excellent existing series such as Search Party, Doom Patrol, and Adventure Time There is a wide variety, even sequels to such excellent existing series as "Search Party," "Doom Patrol," and "Adventure Time.

The biggest exclusive coupon, however, is the right to stream this year's new Warner Bros. movies as they hit theaters. The lineup is stunning. Oscar contenders "Judas and the Black Messiah" and "Little Things" are already available. Upcoming films include "Godzilla vs. Kong," "Dune," "Suicide Squad," and "The Matrix.

And then there's the high-profile "Justice League: The Snyder Cut."

The Coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing, and movie theaters remain closed in many parts of the country, including where I live. While I'm very sad that I won't be able to go to the movies, it's a wonderful comfort to be able to watch some of this year's biggest films from the safety (and comfort) of my own home.

The quality of HBO Max's movies and programming can't be beat. I would add the caveat, however, that the crux of the actual service still needs a lot of work. The app and website are buggy and sometimes crash. Also, HBO Max does not offer many titles in 4K, which is not much different from other streaming services; Netflix has 4K, but you have to pay more.

The interface is so-so, but HBO Max's navigation stands out in a way. No other streamer has such a feature, and all display titles within thematic collections or by recommendation; HBO does, too, but it is very convenient to be able to view all of HBO Max's movies in alphabetical order.

And yes, HBO Max is more expensive than some competitors. However, $14.99 per month is only $1 more than Netflix's standard plan. And unlike the less expensive Hulu and Peacock, it does not show any ads.

With so many of the best streaming services competing for our money, many of us have to choose which deal is worth it. And if we could only choose one, it would be HBO Max.