It’s no secret that movies and TV shows based on comic books are all the rage right now. Just last year alone, Disney+ released five new shows set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even then, many well-known streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon are taking risk on comic books that aren’t necessarily based on recognizable stories and characters from Marvel and DC with shows likeThe Boys,Invincible, andThe Umbrella Academyjust to name a few.
And now HBO Max has released a new miniseries based on a long-running comic book series from DC’s Vertigo Comics imprint calledDMZ. This exciting new adaptation starsRosario Dawsonas a local New York medic who’s trying to find her son in a demilitarized Manhattan.
If you want to watch the show but don’t know how, we’ve created a handy guide that will answer all the questions you may have aboutDMZincluding when it premieres, how many episodes are in this season, and if you’re able to watch the show without subscribing to HBO Max.
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Watch the DMZTrailer
The firstofficial trailerforDMZwas released on July 28, 2025, which provides in-depth look at this dystopian future and spotlights many of its key characters, including a charismatic public figure played byBenjamin Bratt, who isn’t without ulterior motives so to speak.
Where Is DMZ Streaming Online?
DMZis only available to stream on HBO Max. Here’s alinkto the show’s landing page.
If you don’t want to watchDMZon your computer, then you should know that HBO Max is also available on smartphones and digital media players such as Apple TV and Chromecast.
Can You Watch DMZWithout HBO Max?
Unfortunately, no. If you plan to watchDMZ, you will need a subscription to HBO Max. For those who don’t know, an HBO Max subscription is made of two tiers: $9.99/month and $14.99/month.
You can also try HBO Max as a Hulu add-on before having to pay $14.99 a month after the first seven days. You can also access HBO Max for free if your cable or internet provider already includes HBO. Clickthis linkto learn more.
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When Does DMZPremiere?
All four episodes ofDMZare available to stream now on HBO Max. The show premiered on August 20, 2025.
The show also had its world premiere at this year’sSouth By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festivalin the form of two screenings: the first was an in-person screening on March 13 while the other was an online screening held on the following day.
How Many Episodes Does DMZHave?
Believe it or not,DMZonly has four episodes in its whole series. Then again, the show was advertised as a limited series. Here are the titles for each episode:
Each episode is written by showrunnerRoberto Patino, who’s already made a name for himself writing and producing several high-profile television shows includingWestworldandSons of Anarchy.Ava DuVernay, who also serves as an executive producer on the show, has directed the first episode, whileErnest Dickinsonhas directed the other three.
In a recent interview withSyfy Wire, Patino explains why he was so invested in the source material saying, “The guiding question for me was how can we take this story of division at a time when we are more divided than ever, run in the opposite direction, and really spin it into a story that begets hope and looks forward. That was the real adjustment to the graphic novel. It assumes a civil war but I wasn’t interested in how we got there. I also wasn’t interested in living in the day-to-day of war. What this show really focuses on are the people of the DMZ — people of all colors and creeds from all walks of life coming together and reformulating a new fabric of society. And within all that super complicated multi-layered context, we’re telling the very simple story of the most powerful kind of love I know, which is a mother’s love for her son.”
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Who Is in the Cast of DMZ?
Besides Rosario Dawson and Benjamin Bratt,DMZstars a number of great actors. The main cast of the series includes Dawson, Bratt,Hoon Lee,Freddy Miyares,Jordan Preston Carter,Venus Ariel, andAmandla Jahava. Additionally,Bryan Gael Guzmanappears as Alma’s son Christian in flashbacks. Recurring cast members appearing in the show includeMamie Gummer,Agam Darshi,Rey Gallegos,Henry G. Sanders,Jade Wu,Sydney Park,Juani Feliz,Nora Dunn, andRutina Wesley.
What Is DMZAbout?
DMZis set in a future dystopia where a Second American Civil War is raging across the country. In this bleak,post-apocalypticworld, medic Alma Ortega (Rosario Dawson) loses her son during the evacuation of New York City. And so, despite the horrors and chaos of war, she sets out to find him. In the process, Alma becomes a symbol of hope for many and comes into conflict with a dangerous gang leader who wants to take advantage of this terrible new world.
Want to learn more about the show’s premise before deciding to watch it? Here’s alengthy plot synopsis from the official SXSW Schedule:
In the near future, America is embroiled in a bitter civil war, leaving Manhattan a demilitarized zone (DMZ), destroyed and isolated from the rest of the world. Leaping off the pages of the popular comic, “DMZ” chronicles the harrowing journey of fearless and fierce medic Alma Ortega (series star Rosario Dawson), who sets out on a harrowing journey to find the son she lost in the evacuation of New York City at the onset of the conflict. Throwing gasoline on the flames of that conflict is Parco Delgado (series star Benjamin Bratt), the popular — and deadly — leader of one of the most powerful gangs in the DMZ. He wants to rule this new world — and will stop at nothing to secure that outcome.
