How to watch “The Sympathizer” at a glance:
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Max (with ads)
Free for Cricket customers with the $60/month Unlimited plan
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The sympathizerOne of us the most anticipated shows from 2024, is now streaming. The new limited series from legendary filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Decision to leave, The servant, Old boy) brings Robert Downey Jr. to the small screen after his Oscar win for Oppenheimer. In The sympathizerDowney Jr. plays not one, not two, but four different roles. The series also stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen and the charming Sandra Oh.
HBO and A24’s version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is already receiving a flood of excellent reviews (including our own). If you want to taste it for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about how to watch The sympathizer online.
What is The sympathizer about?
Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen novel of the same name, The sympathizer follows a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy in the final days of the Vietnam War, as well as his new life as a refugee in the United States. It blends classic spy thrills with dark comedy and cross-cultural satire, creating a story that blends multiple genres.
“Our narrator, known simply as “Captain” (Hoa Xuande), struggles under duress to remember the events of his life as clearly as possible. The purpose of this memory? A confession he writes in a camp Vietnamese rehabilitation center, where any lapse in memory or particularly clear details could mean the difference between life and death,” writes Mashable’s Belen Edwards in her review of the series. “Given the context of the confession, The sympathizer is never far from a stark reminder of what’s at stake. Tragedy haunts its blend of satire and spy thriller, resulting in thought-provoking, can’t-miss television magic. “
Read our full review of The Sympathizer.
Here is the official trailer:
When does The sympathizer streaming?
The first episode of The sympathizer premiered on HBO and Max simultaneously on April 14, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET. The seven-part series will air new episodes every week on Sundays, with the season finale dropping on May 26.
Is there a Max free trial?
Unfortunately there is no active Maximum free trial through HBO directly or through third parties like Prime Video or Hulu. Keep your eyes peeled, though, as we’ve seen free trials pop up sporadically (and then disappear just as quickly). However, Max offers free episodes through its Watch the free portal. There are tons of HBO originals included on the platform, including White Lotus, Succession, The last of usAnd Euphoriaso you can test the waters with just one episode of each before signing up for a subscription.
The best Max streaming deals
Before signing up for a Max subscription, be sure to check that this is not the case. I already have access to Max through a previous subscription, a third party or a cable, Internet or wireless provider. If you still need to register to access it, check out both streaming offers below.
Best Max deal for most people: Save up to 20% on an annual plan
Rather than paying a monthly fee, you can sign up for an annual Max plan and save up to 22%. The Max with Ads monthly subscription will cost you $9.99 per month, which works out to approximately $119.88. With an annual plan, you’ll only pay $99.99 per year, a 17% savings. The Ad-Free Annual Plan costs $149.99 per year (reg. $191.88), saving you 22% (the biggest savings of the three plans), and the Ultimate Plan costs $199.99 per year (reg. $239.88), saving you about 17%.
Best Max Offer for Cricket Customers: Free Max with ads for $60/month Unlimited plan customers
Being a Cricket Wireless customer certainly has its benefits. If you’re on the $60 per month unlimited plan through Cricket, you get Max With Ads for free (as long as your account remains in good standing). Simply head to the Max app or navigate to Max on a browser, then sign in with Cricket as your provider. Your Cricket credentials will then unlock full access to Max With Ads (usually worth $99.99 per year) without you having to pay any extra money. If you are a Cricket customer with a different plan, you can upgrade or switch to complete the deal at any time. Check the terms and conditions on the Cricket website to learn more.
Mashable Offers
What are the different Max subscription levels?
Similar to the old HBO Max streaming tiers, Max offers three different subscription plans: with ads, without ads, and ultimate without ads. Here’s an overview of the differences between each level.
Max with ads — The most affordable option features two simultaneous streams, 1080p resolution, and 5.1 surround sound quality. There are no offline downloads and only light ads for $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year).
Max without advertising — As the name suggests, this option removes ads and offers two simultaneous streams, 1080p resolution, 5.1 surround sound quality, and 30 offline downloads. It costs $15.99 per month (or $149.9 per year).
Max Ultimate ad-free — The most expensive of the tiers, this option includes four simultaneous streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Atmos sound quality, and 100 offline downloads. It will cost you $19.99 per month (or $199.99 per year).
