HBO and Max Dominate 77th Annual Emmy Nominations with Record 142 Nods
On Tuesday, HBO and its streaming counterpart, Max, made a significant impact in the entertainment industry by leading the nominations for the 77th annual Emmy Awards. The two platforms achieved a combined total of 142 nominations, marking the highest tally ever for HBO and Max in the history of the awards.
This impressive number surpasses HBO’s previous record of 137 nominations set in 2019, just a year before HBO Max was launched. This newfound success not only highlights HBO and Max’s resurgence but also positions Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of both platforms, at the forefront of the media landscape with a total of 170 nominations across its various channels, including Warner Bros. TV, Adult Swim, Discovery, and Food Network. This achievement places them ahead of notable competitors such as Disney, which garnered 137 nominations, and Netflix, which received 121 nominations. Apple TV+ also enjoyed a commendable year, earning 81 nominations, surpassing its previous year’s total of 72.
The remarkable increase in HBO and Max's nominations is particularly noteworthy, considering they had only 91 nominations in 2024. A significant portion of this boost can be attributed to the return of popular shows like The White Lotus and The Last of Us. The former received an impressive 23 nominations, while the latter garnered 16 nominations, both making a strong comeback after their hiatus during the 2023-24 season. Additionally, the limited series The Penguin stood out with 24 nominations, becoming the second highest-nominated program of the year.
Furthermore, several Max originals contributed to the total, including Hacks with 14 nominations and the breakout first-year series The Pitt, which earned 13 nominations. Together, these five standout shows accounted for a staggering 90 nominations, approximately 63 percent of HBO and Max’s total nominations. The remaining 52 nominations were distributed across 18 other titles, showcasing the diverse range of programming offered by the platforms.
In contrast, Netflix managed to secure double-digit nominations for only three of its shows: Adolescence with 13 nominations, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story with 11, and Black Mirror with 10. Despite this, more than 20 shows on Netflix received multiple nods, highlighting the sheer volume of original content the platform produces.
Apple TV+’s 81 nominations primarily stemmed from just two standout shows. Severance led its nominations with an impressive 27, an increase from 14 nominations in its first season in 2022, while The Studio followed closely with 23 nominations, breaking the record previously held by Ted Lasso for the most nominations by a first-year comedy series. Other noteworthy mentions include Shrinking with seven nominations and Slow Horses with five, allowing Apple to feature two contenders in both the best comedy and best drama series categories.
After a record-breaking year in 2024, where FX received 35 nominations driven by the success of Shōgun, the network saw a noticeable decline this year. The third season of The Bear led FX’s nominations with 13, a decrease from the impressive 23 it received last year. Meanwhile, ABC managed to secure 34 nominations, maintaining a competitive presence alongside FX for Disney.
Below is a summary of the leading nominees by platform for the 2025 Emmys, along with the number of unique programs that received nominations:
- HBO/Max: 142 nominations (23 programs)
- Netflix: 121 nominations (44 programs)
- Apple TV+: 81 nominations (14 programs)
- FX: 35 nominations (8 programs)
- ABC: 34 nominations (13 programs)
Additionally, a preliminary count of nominations by media conglomerate reveals the following:
- Warner Bros. Discovery: 170
- Disney: 137
- Netflix: 121
- Apple TV+: 81
