You're looking for Elena and Lila. Honestly, I get it. Once you start Elena Ferrante’s world, you can’t really stop until you’ve seen every dusty corner of that 1950s Naples neighborhood. Finding exactly where to watch My Brilliant Friend isn't as simple as just hitting "play" on Netflix, because the rights are a bit tangled depending on where you're sitting. It’s a prestige drama, a co-production between HBO and the Italian network RAI, which means it lives in specific high-end corners of the internet.
The show is a masterpiece. It captures that specific, jagged edge of female friendship that feels both like a lifeline and a weapon. If you're in the US, your primary home is Max. That’s the short answer. But the long answer involves different seasons, different platforms, and even different languages, because watching this dubbed is—frankly—a mistake you don't want to make.
The HBO Connection and Max Access
Since this is an HBO Original, Max (formerly HBO Max) is the gold standard for viewers in the United States. They have every season. From the childhood years of Season 1 to the complicated adulthood of The Story of the Lost Child, it's all there.
Wait. You might be wondering about the subtitles.
The show is filmed in Italian and the specific Neapolitan dialect. On Max, you get the choice of English subtitles or an English dub. My advice? Stick to the subtitles. The dialect is such a massive part of the class struggle in the books. When Lila shifts from "proper" Italian to her raw, local dialect, it says everything about her state of mind. You lose that if you're listening to a voice actor in a booth in Los Angeles.
If you don't have a standalone Max subscription, you can often find it through add-on channels. Hulu and Amazon Prime Video both offer Max as an "extension." You pay the same price, but you don't have to download a separate app if you’re already deep in the Bezos or Disney ecosystems. It’s convenient. It’s also a bit of a trap because if you cancel the main service, you lose the add-on.
✨ Don't miss: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
Where to Watch My Brilliant Friend if You Are Outside the US
Global rights are a different beast. In Italy, the show is a national event. It airs on RAI 1. If you happen to be in Italy or have access to RaiPlay, that’s where it lives. It’s free there, supported by the Italian license fee, which is a wild contrast to the premium price tag in the States.
British viewers have a totally different path. In the UK, Sky Atlantic is the primary broadcaster. This means the show is usually available on NOW (formerly Now TV) with an Entertainment Membership. Sometimes it cycles through the "Box Sets" section, so you have to keep an eye on the expiration dates.
In Australia? BINGE is usually your best bet. They tend to mirror the HBO catalog pretty closely.
- Canada: Crave is the exclusive home. Since Crave has a long-standing deal with HBO, they usually drop episodes simultaneously with the US release.
- India: Disney+ Hotstar has been the traditional home for HBO content, though the "migration" of HBO titles to JioCinema has changed the landscape recently. You'll want to check JioCinema first for the latest seasons.
Can You Buy the Seasons Individually?
Maybe you hate subscriptions. I hear that. The "subscription fatigue" is real.
You can actually buy My Brilliant Friend on digital storefronts like Apple TV (the iTunes Store), Amazon, and Vudu. Typically, a season runs about $20 to $25. It’s a one-time cost. If you're the type of person who re-watches shows to catch every detail of the production design—and the 1960s sets in Season 2 are genuinely incredible—buying might be cheaper than paying $16 a month for a year.
🔗 Read more: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
Physical media isn't dead either. The Criterion Collection hasn't snagged this one yet, but there are standard DVD and Blu-ray releases. Just a heads up: check the "Region Code." If you buy an Italian DVD import, it might not play on a standard US player unless you have a region-free deck.
The Problem with Seasonal Availability
Here is something that trips people up. Sometimes, a streaming service will have Season 1 and 2, but Season 3 (The Story of Those Who Stay) requires a different tier or is missing because of local licensing "blackout" periods.
In the US, Max is consistent. They keep the whole library. But on international platforms, there’s often a delay between the HBO broadcast and the local streaming debut. If you are trying to find where to watch My Brilliant Friend right as a new season drops, you have to be careful about spoilers on social media. The gap can be anywhere from a few hours to a few months.
Why the Platform Matters for the Experience
This isn't The Office. You can’t just have it on in the background while you fold laundry.
The cinematography by Fabio Cianchetti is dense. It’s cinematic. Watching it on a tiny phone screen via a low-bitrate "free" streaming site (the kind with the pop-up ads for casinos) ruins the experience. The show uses a lot of low-light scenes and grain to evoke the period. You need a high-quality stream—at least 1080p—to actually see what’s happening in the shadows of the Cerullo household.
💡 You might also like: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
Common Misconceptions About Streaming This Show
A lot of people think that because it's "foreign language," it must be on Netflix. It isn't. Netflix has The Lying Life of Adults (another Ferrante adaptation), but they do not have the rights to the Neapolitan Quartet. Don't waste your time searching there.
Another weird one: people think it’s on PBS because it feels like a "Masterpiece Theater" show. Nope. HBO won the bidding war for this one early on. It has the HBO "static" intro for a reason.
Quick Access Summary for Major Regions
If you’re in a rush, here is the breakdown. No fluff.
- USA: Max is the only place for all seasons.
- UK: Sky Atlantic or NOW.
- Italy: RaiPlay (Free).
- Canada: Crave.
- Australia: BINGE or Foxtel Now.
Actionable Steps to Get Started
Don't just stare at the home screen. If you’re ready to dive into the world of Elena and Lila, here is exactly what you should do to get the best experience:
- Check your existing bills: If you have a cable package or a premium phone plan (like certain Cricket Wireless or AT&T plans), you might already have Max included. Check those "benefits" sections before you pay for a new subscription.
- Set the Audio to "Italian Original": When you find the show, go into the settings. Ensure the audio is not set to English. You want the Neapolitan sounds. It’s more visceral.
- Watch the "Invitations to the Set": Max usually includes these short 2-minute behind-the-scenes clips after each episode. Watch them. They explain the historical context of the protests and the political shifts in Italy that might be confusing to a non-Italian audience.
- Verify Season 4 status: As the final season (The Story of the Lost Child) rolls out, ensure your subscription is active for the "Live" HBO feed if you want to avoid spoilers. The final episodes are the most guarded secrets in the TV world right now.
The show is heavy. It's beautiful. It's frustrating. But now that you know exactly where to go, you can stop searching and start the journey through the neighborhood. Just be prepared—it stays with you long after the credits roll.