HBO MaxArli$$ (1996)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 6.7
Overview
A behind-the-scenes look at the glitzy, big-money world of professional sports following the eternally optimistic and endlessly resourceful L.A. sports agent Arliss Michaels whose Achilles' heel is his inability to say “no” to clients and employees.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO MaxBias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Christianity: Negative
Overview
A behind-the-scenes look at the glitzy, big-money world of professional sports following the eternally optimistic and endlessly resourceful L.A. sports agent Arliss Michaels whose Achilles' heel is his inability to say “no” to clients and employees.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO MaxDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
Arli$$ offers a cynical satire of the professional sports industry, exposing greed and ethical compromises without explicitly promoting a progressive or conservative ideology as a solution. The show critiques the excesses of a capitalist system but focuses on individual maneuvering within the existing, flawed framework, leading to a neutral rating.
The series features visible diversity in its main cast, including significant roles for minority actors, without explicitly recasting traditionally white roles. Its narrative primarily offers a satirical look at the sports world, framing traditional identities neutrally or positively rather than offering a strong, explicit DEI critique.
Secondary
Arli$$ featured recurring gay characters and significant storylines, notably a gay football player coming out. While some comedic elements were stereotypical, the show generally depicted LGBTQ+ individuals with agency and dignity, framing societal prejudice as an external challenge. For its era, the net impact was largely affirming and supportive.
The show consistently portrays Christianity through the lens of satire, highlighting the hypocrisy of athletes who use their faith for public relations or personal gain. The narrative exposes the commercialization and superficiality of religious displays within the sports world, rather than affirming the faith itself.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Arli$$ is an original series featuring characters created for the show. There is no prior source material, historical record, or previous installment from which a character's gender could have been established and subsequently changed.
Arli$$ is an original series with characters created specifically for the show. There is no prior source material, historical record, or previous installment from which a character's race could have been established and subsequently changed.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
6.7
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
User Ratings
7.1
6.7
Critic Ratings
6.2
N/A
More Like This
Center
7.0
Lego Disney Princess: Villains Unite
(2025)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Progressive
8.0
Turning Red
(2022)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Progressive
8.0
Love, Simon
(2018)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
6.7
Vice
(2018)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Leans Progressive
8.4
The Holdovers
(2023)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Leans Progressive
6.6
Head
(1968)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Low
Progressive
7.6
Crazy Rich Asians
(2018)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
8.5
Lady Bird
(2017)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.2
Heavy Traffic
(1973)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Progressive
7.6
Torch Song Trilogy
(1988)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
8.0
Booksmart
(2019)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Progressive
7.6
Pleasantville
(1998)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.2
Free Guy
(2021)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Progressive
7.0
Freaky
(2020)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.6
Dope
(2015)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Progressive
7.0
Watermelon Man
(1970)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
Center
6.6
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
(2015)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Progressive
7.7
Spy
(2015)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Female Combat: Yes
Center
6.6
Minions: The Rise of Gru
(2022)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Progressive
6.7
I Love You Phillip Morris
(2010)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive