TV series
What is the cost of lies?
The true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history: the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Chernobyl is available to stream on HBO (Via Hulu), HBO Max, Max (Via Amazon Prime), and YouTube TV in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
The true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history: the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
April 26, 1986, Ukrainian SSR. Plant workers and firefighters put their lives on the line to control a catastrophic 1986 explosion at a Soviet nuclear power plant.
Directed by Johan RenckWritten by Craig MazinGuest stars Laura Elphinstone, Nadia Clifford, Sam Strike, Sammy Hayman, Matas Dirginčius, Caolan Byrne, Stephen Bisland, Alex Blake
Episode 2
With untold millions at risk after the Chernobyl explosion, nuclear physicist Ulana Khomyuk makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery Legasov, a leading Soviet nuclear physicist, and warn him about the threat of second explosion that could devastate the continent.
Directed by Johan RenckWritten by Craig MazinGuest stars Laura Elphinstone, Nadia Clifford, Matthew Needham, Rosie Sheehy, Tomas Žaibus, Ron Cook, Peter Guinness, Laurence Spellman
Episode 3
Lyudmilla Ignatenko, a Pripyat resident, ignores warning about her firefighter husband's contamination. Valery Legasov lays out a decontamination plan, complete with human risks.
Directed by Johan RenckWritten by Craig MazinGuest stars Caoilfhionn Dunne, Philip Barantini, Oscar Dyekjær Giese, Baltasar Breki Samper, Pandora Colin, Gerard Kearns, Povilas Jatkevičius, Rachel Atkins
Episode 4
Valery Legasov and Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina consider using lunar rovers to remove radioactive debris, while Ulana Khomyuk faces government hurdles in determining the truth about the cause of the explosion.
Directed by Johan RenckWritten by Craig MazinGuest stars June Watson, Josef Altin, Sergejus Ivanovas, Alexej Manvelov, Josef Davies, Velta Žygurė, Paulius Cizinauskas, Mark Bagnall
Episode 5
Valery Legasov, Boris Shcherbina and Ulana Khomyuk risk their lives and reputations to expose the truth about Chernobyl.
Directed by Johan RenckWritten by Craig MazinGuest stars Laura Elphinstone, Michael Socha, Jamie Sives, Douggie McMeekin, Simonas Dovidauskas, Hilton McRae, Kieran O'Brien, Karl Davies
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Jared HarrisValery Legasov
Stellan SkarsgårdBoris Shcherbina
Emily WatsonUlana Khomyuk
Paul RitterAnatoly Dyatlov
Jessie BuckleyLyudmilla Ignatenko
Adam NagaitisVasily Ignatenko
Sam TroughtonAlexandr Akimov
Robert EmmsLeonid Toptunov
HBOUnited States
SISTERUnited KingdomHBOUnited States
