2019 Primetime Emmy Award Winner

Chernobyl

1 Season | 5 Episodes | TV-MA

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union suffered a massive explosion. This gripping five-part miniseries tells the powerful and visceral story of the worst man-made accident in history, following the tragedy from the moment of the early-morning explosion through the chaos and loss of life in the ensuing days, weeks and months.

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Stream the very first episode of Chernobyl now — no subscription required.

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Featured Characters

Valery Legasov

Jared Harris

Ulana Khomyuk

Emily Watson

Boris Shcherbina

Stellan Skarsgård

The Chernobyl Podcast

The official podcast of the miniseries Chernobyl, from HBO. Join host Peter Sagal (NPR’s “Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!”) and series creator, writer and executive producer Craig Mazin as they discuss the true stories that shaped the scenes, themes and characters behind the episodes. Named one of Apple Podcasts "Best Listens of 2019."

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Dive Deeper

1:37
BEHIND THE SCENES
What Is Chernobyl?
Writer and executive producer Craig Mazin, along with the cast and crew, discuss how the show reimagines the cause and effect of one of the worst man-made disasters in modern history.
EXTRA CONTENT
Read the Scripts
Mazin has released all five production scripts to read for free. Check them out to see how the miniseries came to fruition.
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1:36
INTERVIEW
Spotlight on Director Johan Renck
“A horror film is all a ruse anyway. What we’re doing is scaring differently because it gets to you.” The Chernobyl director and co-executive producer discusses his process filming the miniseries.
1:01
BEHIND THE SCENES
Go Behind the Curtain
Watch how the massive, demanding production — and faithful reimagining of the disaster — came to be.
EXTRA CONTENT
Remembering the Impact of Chernobyl, 33 Years Later
The cast and crew gathered among U.N. delegates, ambassadors, and guests to observe International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.
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2:29
BEHIND THE SCENES
After the Aftermath
“I grew up in Sweden and I was there in ‘86 when it happened and it was a big deal for us there.” Crew members on the miniseries share how the nuclear fallout impacted their lives in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and beyond.
0:31
EXTRA CONTENT
The Critics Weigh In
“Riveting.” “Stunning.” “Engrossing.” Critics and audiences alike are mesmerized by the miniseries.

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Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes

Thirty-six years after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded in Soviet Ukraine, newly uncovered archival footage and recorded interviews with those who were present paint an emotional and gripping portrait of the extent and gravity of the disaster and the lengths to which the Soviet government went to cover up the incident, including the soldiers sent in to “liquidate” the damage.

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Elements of Chernobyl

2:30
BEHIND THE SCENES
Elements of Chernobyl: Episode 1
Craig Mazin and the cast of the miniseries break down the premiere episode, which follows the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
2:45
BEHIND THE SCENES
Elements of Chernobyl: Episode 2
Emily Watson (aka “Ulana Khomyuk”) discusses how her character — inspired by the many scientists and engineers who investigated the accident — came to fruition, while Jared Harris shares why Valery Legasov was complicit in covering up the magnitude of the accident.
2:00
BEHIND THE SCENES
Elements of Chernobyl: Episode 3
Executive producer and writer Craig Mazin, director Johan Renck and production designer Luke Hull discuss why miners in the Soviet Union harnessed so much power — and the sacrifices they made to quell the spread of the disaster.
3:25
BEHIND THE SCENES
Elements of Chernobyl: Episode 4
“We’re talking about 700,000 people being sent to clean up this impossibly contaminated area.” Understand more about the citizens and officials who risked their lives to dredge the devastation — and keep Soviet secrets from leaking to nearby European nations.
3:29
BEHIND THE SCENES
Elements of Chernobyl: Episode 5
“Any system with too perfect an ideology… leads to exclusion of facts.” Go behind the scenes of the miniseries finale and discover why the truth about the disaster remained unsaid for decades.