Genndy Tartakovsky‘s Cartoon Network classic quietly vanished from HBO Max’s streaming library in May 2026. Samurai Jack was Tartakovsky’s landmark series on the channel before moving to its Adult Swim section. HBO Max removed it from its catalog on May 26.
The streamer has been home for the show for years now, with its exit being the latest casualty of HBO’s cleanup of Cartoon Network titles. Fans aren’t happy with the decision, with many reigniting the debate of choosing DVDs and Blu-Rays over streaming services for this exact reason.
The bigger frustration is that no new streaming home has been announced for the series yet. But here’s the good news. Fans can still watch the show, just not on any streamers. All five seasons of Samurai Jack are currently available on Adult Swim’s official website and mobile app. You’ve got to have a little more patience, as this free viewing option comes with commercial breaks.
If you would rather skip the commercials entirely, you can still watch it the old-fashioned way. You can buy digital and physical copies of the series from Amazon or Apple TV.
Here is a breakdown of where you can access Samurai Jack following its removal from HBO Max globally:
RegionFree Streaming (Ad-Supported)Subscription Streaming (SVOD)Digital Purchase / VODUnited StatesAdult Swim App/Website (rotating marathons); Sling TV FreeNoneAmazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home (Vudu)AustraliaNoneNoneApple TV, Microsoft StoreIndiaNoneJioHotstar NoneEuropeChannel 4 / All 4 (UK & Ireland only)None (Check local live TV providers like Warner TV Next in France)Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video (Varies slightly by country)Middle EastNoneNoneNone (Physical media / Region-Free Blu-ray recommended)JapanNoneNoneNone (Physical media / Region-Free Blu-ray recommended)ChinaNoneNoneNone (Physical media / Region-Free Blu-ray recommended)SingaporeNoneNoneNone (Physical media / Region-Free Blu-ray recommended)
Samurai Jack Isn’t the Only Cartoon Network Show Removed from HBO Max
Credits: Genndy Tartakovsky/Instagram
Losing Samurai Jack stings, but it’s part of a much larger pattern. Warner Bros. Discovery has been trimming HBO Max’s animation shelf for years now, and Cartoon Network titles have taken some of the hardest hits. Fan-favorite series like Infinity Train, Close Enough, The Powerpuff Girls, and even classic Looney Tunes content have been pulled from the platform over time (via ComicBook).
Some of these shows managed to find new streaming homes elsewhere. Others, like Infinity Train, were effectively wiped from the digital landscape altogether, leaving fans with no legal way to stream them. The quirky anime-styled Tom and Jerry Gokko was also removed from HBO Max not long before Samurai Jack got the axe.
It’s a strange situation for a platform that houses the Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network libraries, arguably two of the richest animation catalogs in existence. For now, at least, Samurai Jack fans are luckier than most because of the availability on the Adult Swim website.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Samurai Jack Remains a Classic Animated Show
A still from Samurai Jack | Credits: Adult Swim/Cartoon Network
Samurai Jack is probably one of Tartakovsky’s best works and even one of the best animated features ever made. However, its original run ended in 2004 after four seasons without concluding the overarching story. Tartakovsky attributed this to multiple changes at the network. He also shared that he didn’t want to rush and finish the whole story (via Red Carpet Report).
Tartakovsky and his team later got busy with Star Wars: Clone Wars. Fans wanted to see a conclusion to the series and continued to pursue it. Twelve years after the fourth season aired, Samurai Jack returned for a dark and mature fifth season on Adult Swim. It concluded the storyline and received praise from the fanbase.
What makes the show timeless is its craft. The episodes wonderfully mix minimalist backgrounds, bold cinematic framing, and near-wordless storytelling with stunning action. It shifts effortlessly between comedy, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy without ever losing its identity. Tartakovsky has since gone on to Primal, Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, and even attached to an upcoming animated Conan the Barbarian series. But this one remains his masterpiece.
Samurai JackDetailsCreated byGenndy TartakovskyVoice CastPhil LaMarr, Mako, Greg Baldwin, Tara StrongNo. of Seasons & Episodes5 seasons & 62 episodesNetworkCartoon Network / Adult SwimRT Score (As of July 3, 2026)93% | 95%IMDb Score (As of July 3, 2026)8.5/10
Are you going to catch Samurai Jack on the Adult Swim website? Let us know in the comments below!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
