4 May 2026 | Warner Bros. Discovery
The importance of documentary films and series is growing worldwide, as viewers increasingly seek out fact-based stories. HBO Max is meeting these expectations by consistently investing in the development of a high-quality documentary offering, built on bold, original projects that chronicle important local stories. Since the platform’s launch in Poland in June 2024, the service’s library has expanded to include numerous widely discussed titles, such as “The King of Zanzibar,” “The Bloody Trophy,” “The Skin Hunters,” “33 Photos from the Ghetto,” “Stolen Children,” “Killing a Miss,” and “Morderca Szyty na Tailor.” Polish documentaries achieve very high viewership figures, comparable to popular feature films, and the production portfolio is constantly expanding. This year, two more major documentary premieres await the platform’s users.
The popularity of documentaries is growing worldwide. The global documentary market is currently estimated at approximately $14.4 billion (2026), and forecasts indicate that it will grow to $23 billion within the next decade.* Nearly 16% of the content in the libraries of the largest streaming platforms is currently documentaries**, and HBO Max is among the leaders in this segment. Documentaries are the 4th most watched category on HBO Max in Poland and the 8th most watched in Europe and the United States. Polish HBO Original documentaries and series clearly stand out, their popularity rivaling that of the most watched feature films.
Unusual and intriguing Polish stories and documentary storytelling are gaining recognition and recognition not only among Polish HBO Max users but also abroad. The TOP 15 documentaries since the platform’s launch in the EMEA region (Europe, Africa, and the Middle East), based on viewership in the first 28 days after its premiere, include six Polish titles: “Skin Hunters,” “Killing a Miss,” “King of Zanzibar,” “Morderca Tailor-Made Murderer,” “Stolen Children,” and “33 Photos from the Ghetto.”
Polish HBO Original documentaries are also appreciated by American viewers. Among the most popular titles overseas are “Stolen Children,” “33 Photos from the Ghetto,” “Skin Hunters,” and “Morderca Tailor-Made Murderer.”
“For years, the HBO brand has been associated with high quality and suspense-building narrative, and this also applies to Polish HBO Original documentaries. Life writes the best scripts, but the art lies in telling them well. We are interested in stories that carry emotional weight – they move and provoke reflection, staying with the viewer for a long time. I am delighted that viewers around the world are so eager to see the work of Polish creators. The fantastic viewing figures only motivate us to undertake new projects, and we will soon offer more powerful stories,” says Magda Szczawińska, Documentary and International Production Director, TVN Warner Bros. Discovery.
The success of “The Tailor-Made Murderer”
“Morderca szyty na mojego” (A Tailor-Made Murderer) is the latest Polish HBO Original production, debuting on the service on February 20th. It tells the story of one of the most high-profile criminal cases and the multi-year investigation that began with a corset made of human skin being recovered from the Vistula River. The series has become one of the most popular documentaries since the launch of HBO Max in Poland. Just three weeks after its premiere, it ranked fourth among documentaries in the country and 11th in the EMEA region.
HBO Max documentary plans for the coming months
HBO Max shows no signs of slowing down. More high-profile projects are in the works. Later this year, the previously announced film about Anatoly Kashpirovsky, undoubtedly one of the most striking symbols of the 1990s in Poland, will debut on the platform. His television screenings left the streets empty, and many believed the famous doctor would change their lives forever. It was said that his incredible abilities could cure a wide range of ailments—from hair loss to cancer. Who is Kashpirovsky really, and how did almost an entire generation fall under his spell?
Also in development is “The Art of Deception,” a three-part documentary about one of the most spectacular scandals in the art trade world. Victims estimate losses at approximately $250 million, and the main character, Joanna Segelström, was wanted by Interpol. She is currently awaiting trial in a Białystok detention center. The scale, scope, and audacity of the fraud have led to comparisons to the notorious Anna Sorokin case.
Work is also underway on six more titles, which will debut in 2027 and 2028. One of them is a documentary directed by Eliza Kubarska – a story about women for whom sport means pushing their limits every day. Maja Włoszczowska, a two-time Olympic medalist in mountain biking, guides the story, along with competitors from Poland and around the world, through the everyday life hidden behind the podium, the results, and the moment of victory. It’s a story about the price one pays for a life in top-level sport – the sacrifices that don’t end when they cross the finish line.
HBO Original films and documentary series are produced for the HBO Max platform by the TVN production department in cooperation with local production companies and creators.