Why is Westworld leaving HBO Max, why was the hit dystopian drama canceled and how can you watch it now? All we know

We reveal what we know about Westworld leaving HBO Max as reports emerge just a month after the epic Western show was canceled…

Is Westworld leaving HBO Max? We reveal all we know. Seen here is Evan Rachel Wood in Westworld season 4
(Image credit: HBO Copyright ©2022 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Westworld leaving HBO Max has been a topic of discussion in recent days and many fans might well be wondering how they can watch the show now and why it was cancelled. 

In recent years Western shows have definitely had a resurgence with more modern takes in the form of hit shows like The English TV series and, of course, Yellowstone. Alongside them, Westworld is the perfect blend of the Western genre and dystopian themes that fans of The Handmaid’s Tale would likely love. Starring the likes of Evan Rachel Wood, Tess Thompson and James Marsden, Westworld has amassed fans across the world over the years. So the news of its cancellation after Westworld season 4 likely shocked many. 

Now it’s been suggested that Westwood won’t be available to re-watch on HBO Max in the future. Here we reveal all we know about Westworld leaving HBO Max, how to watch the unmissable futuristic Western drama and why it was canceled after season 4…

*Warning: Spoilers ahead!*

Westworld season 4 characters in episode 8

(Image credit: HBO Copyright ©2022 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Why is Westworld leaving HBO Max and when will it be removed? 

Long-time Westworld fans might not yet have recovered yet from the news that the dystopian drama has been canceled after four spellbinding seasons but now they’re facing the prospect of Westworld possibly leaving HBO Max too. It’s recently been reported that fans will no longer be able to catch up on all their favorite episodes, with Deadline claiming that Westworld is just one of the HBO series which will supposedly be removed from HBO Max. 

When this reported departure will happen isn’t currently known and when it comes to a possible reason that Westworld might leave HBO Max, the publication have alleged that HBO Max has been undergoing an end-of-year financial review. 

They suggest that as a result cuts have been made, leaving it open to speculation that this could inspire a difficult decision to remove Westworld seasons 1-4 from the streaming service. Deadline has also reported that Warner Bros. 

Discovery CEO David Zaslav has apparently discussed a potential plan to enter the third-party FAST channel space. The publication then put forward the idea that if Westworld does leave HBO Max in the future, it could end up appearing on another platform for fans to continue enjoying

Tessa Thompson in Westworld season 4

(Image credit: HBO Copyright ©2022 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved.)

However, until the reports of Westworld leaving HBO Max are confirmed by the streaming service, fans still have some hope that whilst they might have to say farewell to their favorite characters at the end of season 4, they can still enjoy every moment all over again on HBO Max.

How to watch Westworld in the US? 

If you’ve yet to dive into the ambitious storylines, brilliant acting and unusual premise that make Westworld so distinctive and worth watching then HBO Max is currently still the place to head.  Seasons 1-4 of the dystopian Western show are available to watch via the streaming platform now for US-based viewers. 

If you have a HBO Max subscription already then this just got a whole lot easier and anyone who isn’t sure whether to take the plunge the price depends on whether you want your viewing experience to be completely ad-free or not! 

Ed Harris as William in Westworld

(Image credit: HBO Copyright ©2022 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved.)

With-Ads subscriptions cost $9.99 per month and $99.99 per year and for Ads-Free it’s $14.99 per month and $149.99 per year. And with both these plans you’re not just giving yourself the opportunity to watch Westworld, but also gaining access to ten entertainment hubs as well as HBO Max’s original programmes.  

How to watch Westworld in the UK and around the world? 

As with plenty of other popular HBO shows from The White Lotus to House of the Dragon, UK viewers used to be able enjoy all four installments of Westworld via a Sky TV subscription though it seems as though the show is no longer available on demand. If you would like to have more permanent access to your favorite Westworld episodes then they’re available to purchase episode by episode or by season on Amazon Prime Video

If you’re abroad when you want to watch Westworld unfortunately you won’t be able to via the usual platforms due to regional restrictions that might be in place. 

Evan Rachel Wood in Westworld

(Image credit: HBO Copyright ©2022 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Luckily there’s an easy solution and you can use a VPN to continue watching this hit drama. This is a handy bit of software that changes your IP address so that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.  

Our sister site, TechRadar, has tested all of the major VPN services and they rate ExpressVPN as the absolute best. They say, “It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Express.” 

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Ranked among one of the fastest VPN providers, this risk-free service is also compatible with all of your devices. Enjoy access to almost any streaming service, and if you don't like it there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:

  1. Download and install the VPN following ExpressVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
  2. Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the US.
  3. With your VPN installed and server location set to US, you can now watch Westworld online. 

VPN disclaimer

(Image credit: Future)

Why was Westworld canceled?

For many people Westworld was the epitome of must-watch entertainment for HBO. So it came as a huge surprise - and a very unwelcome one - when it was announced back in November 2022 that Westworld season 4 would be the last we saw of the likes of Dolores Abernathy and Maeve Millay. However when it comes to the reason why Westworld was canceled, it’s still not entirely clear, especially given its enormous success and dedicated following. 

In a statement released at the time HBO explained, as per EW, that they were “grateful” for all the hard work that went into Westworld, but didn’t directly address the reason for its cancellation. 

The statement declared, "Over the past four seasons, Lisa [Joy] and Jonah [Nolan] have taken viewers on a mind-bending odyssey, raising the bar at every step. We are tremendously grateful to them, along with their immensely talented cast, producers and crew, and all of our partners at Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. It's been a thrill to join them on this journey."

Westworld season 4 episode 8

(Image credit: HBO Copyright ©2022 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Though speculation continues over exactly why Westworld was ultimately canceled and fans likely have their own theories on the matter, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the Emmy-winning show’s viewership had dropped. They added that the show was very expensive to make and suggested that given the loss of viewers it became harder to justify the cost, perhaps leading to the decision being made to cancel it. 

As fans await any announcements about Westworld leaving HBO Max and if that's actually happening, plenty will no doubt be settling down to re-watch its most iconic moments via the streaming service whilst they can. 

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!