Where to Watch The Penguin: How to Catch Every Episode of the Gotham Underworld Saga

You probably saw the trailers or heard the buzz about Colin Farrell’s unrecognizable transformation and wondered where to watch The Penguin without jumping through a dozen hoops. It’s a valid question. The streaming landscape is a mess right now. One day a show is on one platform, and the next, it’s licensed out to someone else because of corporate tax write-offs. Luckily, this one is pretty straightforward if you know which "Max" you’re looking for.

Honestly, the show is a masterclass in grit. It picks up right after Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022). Gotham is flooded, the Riddler is in Arkham, and Carmine Falcone is dead. This leaves a massive power vacuum. Oz Cobb—don't call him the Penguin to his face—is ready to fill it. If you're looking for a colorful superhero romp, keep walking. This is a mob drama that feels more like The Sopranos than Justice League.

The Primary Home for The Penguin

The short answer? Max. That’s the official home for everything under the Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella. If you’re in the United States, this is where you’ll find the entire eight-episode limited series. It’s an HBO Original, which carries a certain weight. It means they spent a fortune on the prosthetics that make Colin Farrell look like a grizzled Italian-American mobster instead of a Hollywood heartthrob.

You can stream it in 4K UHD if you have the "Ultimate Ad-Free" tier. It’s worth the extra few bucks. The cinematography by Darran Tiernan is incredibly dark—literally. Gotham is a world of shadows, and if your screen isn't calibrated or your streaming quality is low-res, you’re basically just staring at a black rectangle for an hour.

If you aren't in the US, things get a bit more regional. In the UK, Sky Atlantic and the NOW streaming service have the rights. This has been the standard deal for HBO content in Britain for years. In Australia, BINGE is the place to go. Canada? You're looking at Crave. It’s a bit of a patchwork, but it’s better than the show being unavailable entirely.

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Can You Watch The Penguin on Netflix or Hulu?

Nope. Don't waste your time searching there.

While Disney and Warner Bros. have started bundling their services together in certain packages, the actual content remains siloed. You might see an ad for a bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max, but you’ll still be clicking into the Max app to actually play the show. It’s unlikely The Penguin will move to Netflix anytime soon. HBO is very protective of its prestige "crown jewels," and this series is a massive pillar for their DC Elseworlds brand.

The Schedule and Binge Potential

The show premiered in late 2024, specifically on September 19th. It followed a weekly release cadence.

1. "After Hours"
2. "Inside Man"
3. "Bliss"
4. "Cent'Anni"
5. "Indiscretion"
6. "Gold Summit"
7. "Top Hat"
8. "A Great or Little Thing"

The fourth episode, "Cent'Anni," is generally regarded by critics and fans as the peak of the series. It’s a flashback-heavy episode focusing on Sofia Falcone, played by Cristin Milioti. If you haven't started the show yet, you’re in luck because the full season is now available for binging. You don't have to wait seven days between cliffhangers. You can just sit there and watch Oz lie, cheat, and murder his way to the top of the iceberg in one weekend.

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The Physical Release and Digital Purchase

Some people still prefer owning their media. I get it. Digital licenses can vanish. While the show is a "streaming first" title, Warner Bros. typically releases their prestige series on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray about six to eight months after the finale airs.

If you don’t want a monthly subscription, you can usually buy the full season on platforms like:

• Apple TV (formerly iTunes)
• Amazon Prime Video (to buy, not to stream via Prime)
• Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu)
• Google TV

Buying it digitally usually costs around $24.99 for the full season in HD or 4K. It’s a one-time fee, and you don't have to worry about whether your Max subscription is active.

Why the Location Matters for the Experience

Knowing where to watch The Penguin is only half the battle; how you watch it actually changes the show. This isn't background noise. It’s a slow-burn character study. The performances by Farrell and Milioti are incredibly nuanced. Milioti, in particular, brings a terrifying, wide-eyed intensity to Sofia Falcone that rivals any villain in the theatrical films.

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The show dives deep into the "Bliss" drug trade—a new narcotic introduced in this universe. It explores the class divide between the "Point" (where the wealthy live) and the flooded ruins of the Eastside. It’s heavy stuff. If you try to watch this on a phone on a noisy bus, you’re going to miss the sound design and the subtle shifts in Farrell’s vocal performance. He uses a very specific rasp that he reportedly kept up even when the cameras weren't rolling.

International Streaming Quick-List

If you're traveling or living abroad, here is the breakdown of where to watch The Penguin by territory:

• United States: Max
• United Kingdom: Sky Atlantic / NOW
• Australia: BINGE / Foxtel Now
• Canada: Crave
• India: JioCinema (They have a major deal with HBO/Warner)
• Germany/Italy: Sky
• Latin America: Max (formerly HBO Max)

Setting Up Your Viewing Experience

Before you hit play, check your settings. Because The Penguin is so visually dark, you’ll want to turn off any "Motion Smoothing" on your TV. It makes the cinematic grain look like a cheap soap opera.

If you’re using Max, ensure your internet speed is at least 25 Mbps if you're trying to hit that 4K stream. Anything lower and the dark scenes will look "blocky" or pixelated—a phenomenon called macroblocking that ruins the immersion in dark dramas like this.

Actionable Steps for New Viewers

If you are ready to dive into the Gotham underworld, follow these steps to get the best experience:

• Audit your subscriptions: Check if you already have Max through a cable provider or a mobile phone plan (like AT&T). Many people pay for it twice without realizing it.
• Watch the 2022 Film first: While you can watch the show standalone, it makes way more sense if you’ve seen The Batman. The opening of the first episode happens just days after the movie ends.
• Look for deals: If you’re a new subscriber, Max often runs promos around the holidays or through Hulu add-ons that can shave five dollars off the monthly price.
• Check the "Extras": Max usually includes "Inside the Episode" featurettes. Watch the one for Episode 4. The practical effects work on the Falcone estate is actually pretty fascinating and adds a layer of appreciation for the craft.

The Penguin is more than just a bridge to The Batman Part II. It’s a standalone epic that redefines what a "comic book show" can look like by stripping away the capes and focusing on the dirt under the fingernails of the city's most ambitious criminals.