Because the birthplace of status TV exhibits like The Sopranos and The Wire, HBO—and, by extension, Max (aka the streamer formerly known as HBO Max)—is finest recognized for its spectacular lineup of unique sequence. The community has additionally been upping the ante with feature-length content material that’s the stuff of Oscar desires.
Beneath is an inventory of a few of our favourite movies streaming on Max—Oscar-winning international movies to dystopian sci-fi classics. Should you resolve you’re in additional of a TV temper, head over to our picks for the best shows on Max. Should you’re in search of much more suggestions, take a look at our lists of the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+.
Additionally, for a really restricted time (via Monday, December 2), you may acquire entry to all of Max’s content material for simply $2.99 monthly for the following six months (study extra here).
Watchmen: Chapter I
Brandon Vietti (Batman: Below the Purple Hood) directs this modern animated adaption of Alan Moore’s Hugo Award-winning graphic novel about an investigation into the homicide of Edward Blake—higher generally known as a superhero named the Comic. When the police come up empty by way of suspects, the costumed vigilante Rorschach (Titus Welliver) decides to take the case into his personal palms, and ultimately involves imagine that somebody is making an attempt to knock off superheroes. So he enlists the assistance of a bunch of them with a purpose to put a cease to the killing spree.
Jurassic Park
Greater than 30 years after its unique launch, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel about dinosaurs gone awry nonetheless ranks among the many prime 50 highest-grossing films of all time. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) is a CEO decided to go away his mark on the world and decides one of the simplest ways to try this is with Jurassic Park: a secluded theme park the place cloned dinosaurs roam, and might be noticed by anybody who will pay the charge to go to. However earlier than the park opens, Hammond brings in a staff of scientists to point out them what he has created—just for them to comprehend the various quick cuts Hammond took with a purpose to transfer the park ahead rapidly. Homicide and mayhem ensue, a lot to audiences’ continued delight.
Goodfellas
“No finer movie has ever been made about organized crime, not even The Godfather.” That’s what Roger Ebert needed to say about Martin Scorsese’s Mafia masterpiece in 1990. It was a daring assertion, however one which’s simple to get behind. Scorsese labored with novelist Nicholas Pileggi to adapt his 1985 e-book Wiseguy into this Oscar-winning crime-drama that follows the lifetime of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), a wannabe gangster turned real-life mafioso whose hubris (coupled with a drug drawback) will get the very best of him and switch his life right into a worst-case situation. Even with a working time of practically 2.5 hours, Goodfellas stays immensely watchable and rewatchable—to not point out quotable.
Elf
Jon Favreau created the uncommon up to date Christmas basic with Elf, the story of a really tall human named Buddy (Will Ferrell) who’s raised among the many elves in Santa’s workshop within the North Pole and believes he’s one in every of them. When his adoptive father (Bob Newhart) ultimately tells him the reality, Buddy heads off to New York Metropolis to reunite with the organic father (James Caan), who doesn’t even know he exists. Whereas Buddy’s countless enthusiasm and real kindness initially make these he encounters suspicious of him, it’s laborious to not ultimately fall for his syrup-covered charms.
MaXXXine
MaXXXine is the third movie in writer-director Ti West’s X trilogy, which started with X and Pearl. It’s set instantly after the occasions of Pearl: Mia Goth’s Maxine Minx is determined to flee her upbringing as a preacher’s daughter and make the transfer from porn to extra mainstream films. She will get her likelihood when she lands the lead in a horror film, The Puritan II. Then her mates begin getting murdered. In the end, Maxine is compelled to confront the sins of her previous and discover a solution to obtain the celebrity she so desperately desires of.
Civil Struggle
Within the not-too-distant future, the US has reworked into an all-out battlefield between an authoritarian authorities, headed by a third-term president (Nick Offerman), and a stream of secessionist actions that threaten to destroy the nation as we all know it. However a bunch of journalists (led by Kirsten Dunst) is decided to doc the downfall of America at any price, so that they set about heading to the White Home with a purpose to interview the embattled president. Which is way simpler mentioned than achieved. Oscar nominee Alex Garland (Ex-Machina) writes and directs this dystopian drama that usually hits uncomfortably close to home.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa might been dubbed the summer’s first box office “bomb” when it arrived in theaters in Could, however don’t let these dollar-focused headlines deter you from this one. Anya Taylor-Pleasure, who’s undoubtedly probably the most versatile actors working at present, shines within the function of Imperator Furiosa, a badass emancipator who dares to problem gender conventions in a harmful, postapocalyptic world the place (no shock in any respect) males make the principles. Taylor-Pleasure does an admirable job embracing the function that Charlize Theron memorably originated in Mad Max: Fury Highway (which can also be streaming on Max).
Drive My Automotive
Regardless of incomes 4 Oscar nominations in 2022—and profitable one for Finest Worldwide Function Movie—it nonetheless feels totally correct to state that Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Automotive stays woefully underseen. Right here’s your likelihood to do your half to repair that. Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima) ia a famend theater director nonetheless reeling from the dying of his spouse. Finally, he makes the choice to start working once more and agrees to a two-month residency to direct a play in Hiroshima, an hour from his dwelling. So every day, a younger lady (Toko Miura) drives him to and from the theater. All that point spent in a confined house collectively ultimately results in a friendship—one the place Kafuku feels comfy sharing the challenges he’s dealing with along with his new challenge and, ultimately, the reality about the way in which during which his spouse betrayed him. Highway films have by no means felt so intimate—or leisurely.
Beetlejuice
Almost three months after its launch, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton’s long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel, continues to be delivering on the field workplace (and can arrive on Max on December 6). So why not take a journey again to 1988, the place the story of the havoc-wreaking “bio-exorcist” (aka Betelgeuse) started. Michael Keaton is at his zany finest because the troublesome spirit employed to assist a lately deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) use their ghostly powers to scare away the obnoxious household that has moved into their dream home.
Love Lies Bleeding
English writer-director Rose Glass follows up her BAFTA-nominated Saint Maud with this twisty, hyper-violent love story. It’s 1989 in a rural New Mexico city the place health club supervisor Lou (Kristen Stewart) is doing her finest to remain beneath the radar and control her sister Beth (Jena Malone), who’s in an abusive relationship along with her husband JJ (Dave Franco). However Lou’s life is turned the wrong way up when Jackie (Katy O’Brian), a stunning younger bodybuilder, begins coming to Lou’s health club to coach for an upcoming competitors in Las Vegas. The 2 fall in love—after which Lou’s hidden household secrets and techniques come tumbling out of the closet and threaten her life, and the lives of these she cares about.
Faye
“I’m Faye Dunaway. That’s who I’m.” That’s the way in which the star introduces herself within the trailer for Laurent Bouzereau’s feature-length documentary. However what the movie reveals is that there’s much more to Faye Dunaway than the glamorous picture related to the Oscar-winning star of Community. Dunaway opens up in a approach that has hardly ever been seen earlier than, discussing her childhood and household, her struggles with bipolar dysfunction, and the way the characters she has performed proceed to impression her. It’s an enchanting portrait of a real Hollywood icon.
Quad Gods
Jess Jacklin’s characteristic documentary follows the fascinating journey of Blake, Prentice, and Richard—three people with quadriplegia who meet in a neuro-rehabilitation lab at Mount Sinai Hospital and launch a plan to create the world’s first all-quadriplegic esports staff. It’s a noble pursuit, however one fraught with challenges as they break down the doorways of ableism. At its coronary heart, Quad Gods is a narrative of friendship, perseverance, and survival.
Babe
Speaking animals. Does one want any extra convincing? Babe is the heartwarming story of an lovable piglet who aspires to be a sheepdog—a lot to the delight of Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell, who acquired an Oscar nod for the function), a farmer and Babe’s caretaker. However Babe is greater than only a cute household film; it’s cowritten and produced by George Miller (sure, the identical George Miller of Mad Max fame), who brings an grownup sensibility to the story. The movie received an Oscar for Finest Visible Results and bought six different nominations—together with a nod for Finest Image.
Am I OK?
Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a thirtysomething residing in Los Angeles, always failing at relationships and questioning why she doesn’t have every little thing discovered but. After drunkenly sharing the story of the time she kissed a feminine good friend as a teen, she begins to comprehend that the issue in her love life may not be the boys she’s selecting, however that she’s selecting males in any respect. Former Saturday Evening Reside author Lauren Pomerantz penned the script for the movie primarily based on her personal expertise of popping out in her thirties. Tig Notaro and her spouse Stephanie Allynne do an admirable job as codirectors, treating Lucy’s journey of self-discovery with the respect it deserves—and loads of humor.
MoviePass, MovieCrash
For higher or worse, tens of millions of movie followers will bear in mind 2012 because the 12 months of MoviePass. For $25 monthly, you can principally reside in a movie show—which was nice for audiences, not so nice for film theaters (which have been already struggling), and ultimately disastrous for the corporate itself. For anybody who nonetheless has their MoviePass, this revealing documentary tells the actual story of all that went fallacious behind the scenes, and shares the story of the unsung heroes who actually did simply need to create a product that film lovers may embrace. By the way in which: Should you do certainly nonetheless have your unique MoviePass, this doc has made it a worthwhile piece of memorabilia—with some selling for north of $1,000.
Dune & Dune: Half Two
Since breaking via with the Oscar-nominated Incendies (2010), Denis Villeneuve has continued to show that he’s probably the most proficient filmmakers working at present. As if making a Blade Runner sequel that didn’t suck wasn’t sufficient, Villeneuve then went on to crack the cinematic code on Frank Herbert’s Dune sequence—one thing that true visionaries like David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky had tried earlier than him, albeit largely unsuccessfully. Each the 2021 unique movie and its sequel are streaming on Max—as is Lynch’s 1984 adaptation (which has turn into a little bit of a cult basic over time). The movie follows the destiny of the planet Arrakis—and its provide of melange, a singular spice and probably the most priceless substance within the universe—which rests within the palms of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), the untested son of a robust duke. Searching for extra Dune motion? The prequel sequence Dune: Prophecy, starring Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, and Mark Sturdy, premiered on Max on November 17.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Should you’re a fan of the absurdly darkish work of Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, Poor Issues, Sorts of Kindness) or are simply discovering the uncomfortable brilliance of Barry Keoghan, The Killing of a Sacred Deer has bought your title written throughout it. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell) is a extremely esteemed surgeon with a loving spouse (Nicole Kidman) and youngsters whose life is turned the wrong way up after he befriends Martin (Keoghan), a clumsy teen who Steven learns misplaced his father a couple of years earlier. What begins as a seeming act of kindness on Steven’s half quickly turns into a really demented model of Sophie’s Selection. As at all times, Lanthimos’ means to combine humor with pathos stays unmatched—maybe by no means extra so than right here.
The Zone of Curiosity
In 1943, Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) was the commandant of Auschwitz who spent his days enjoying god with the lives of the focus camp’s harmless prisoners. However what occurred when Höss went dwelling? That’s the fact Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar-winning movie examines, and the reply is: Not a lot. Höss lives proper subsequent door to the camp, within the so-called Zone of Curiosity, along with his spouse Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) and their 5 kids. Inside these 4 partitions, they try to construct a dream life for his or her household—whereas the sound of gunshots, incoming trains, and furnaces being lit are simply part of each day life. Sure, it’s each bit as brutal—and crucial—because it sounds.
Black Swan
Natalie Portman gave what may very properly find yourself being the defining efficiency of her profession on this darkish dance drama from Darren Aronofsky. Nina Sayers (Portman) is a dancer with the New York Metropolis Ballet whose whole life has been devoted to her artwork, largely on account of her overprotective mom (Barbara Hershey), who was additionally a ballerina and pushes her daughter to have the profession she needed for herself. Nina’s life is turned the wrong way up when she lands the lead in a brand new manufacturing of Swan Lake, solely to comprehend that she’ll be splitting the half with the free-spirited Lily (Mila Kunis) who rapidly turns into each the one good friend Nina has ever actually had and her most bitter rival. Quickly, she descends right into a dizzying insanity that’s mirrored in Aronofsky’s directorial selections, which make the viewers really feel each little bit of her feelings.
Good Time
Again in 2020, we named Good Time as one of many most underrated movies of the past 20 years, and completely nonetheless stand by that declare. Happily, as Robert Pattinson and the Safdie Brothers have continued to determine themselves as among the most attention-grabbing actors (Pattinson and Benny Safdie) and administrators (Benny once more and his brother Josh) working at present, extra folks have found the movie, and much more will, now that it’s on Max. Connie Nikas (Pattinson) is a small-time felony who’s at all times in search of his subsequent large rating, and sometimes employs his developmentally disabled brother Nick (Safdie) as his accomplice. When a financial institution theft goes fallacious and Nick is nabbed by the police, Connie should combat for his or her survival. Very like Uncut Gems, which might later come to outline the Safdies’ type (and can also be now streaming on Max), Good Time is a fast-moving, visceral crime thriller that can have you ever on the sting of your seat as Connie works to reunite along with his brother, no matter the fee.
Wonka
Timothée Chalamet stars as Willy Wonka on this completely entertaining origin story of Roald Dahl’s quirky chocolatier, directed by Paddington’s Paul King. Whereas it doesn’t hit the identical as Mel Stuart’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Manufacturing unit—actually, who may match Gene Wilder’s somersaulting sweet maker?—it additionally far surpasses Tim Burton’s pretty useless 2005 remake.
Dream Situation
Like Forrest Gump’s famed field of goodies, you by no means know what you’re going to get from a Nicolas Cage efficiency. However he’s a one-of-a-kind actor whose roles are inclined to fall into one in every of two classes: completely transcendent, or scenery-chewing at its most voracious. Dream Scenario may be very a lot the previous, and has been heralded as one of many Oscar-winning actor’s finest performances by some critics. Rightfully so. Cage stars as Paul Matthews, an unassuming biology professor who abruptly begins showing in strangers’ desires and achieves viral fame because of it. Like several good Cage efficiency, this one is multifaceted and examines the draw back of sudden fame and what it actually prices.
Dicks: The Musical
A24—the studio recognized for its edgy, award-winning indies like Moonlight and Ex Machina (that are each streaming on Max)—takes a dive into the musical style with this adaptation of the off-Broadway hit Fucking Similar Twins (and also you thought Dicks: The Musical was a raunchy title). Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp cowrote and costar on this over-the-top musical as two coworkers who uncover that they’re long-lost twin brothers, and so they try to Mum or dad Entice their dad and mom (performed by Nathan Lane and Megan Mullally). Megan Thee Stallion performs their boss. Anybody offended by an f-bomb—or dozens of them—may need to give this one a skip.
Barbie
Greta Gerwig is a grasp of respiratory new life into outdated properties (see: Little Girls). With Barbie, she has ignited a revolution. Barbie (Margot Robbie) resides her finest life in Barbieland—till in the future, when her completely plastic world, and heels, abruptly start to break down. To get her fabulous life again, Barbie should journey to the actual world—properly, Los Angeles—to find out who or what’s inflicting her existential disaster. The movie grossed practically $1.5 billion worldwide, which means you have already seen it. However even in the event you did, it’s completely price a second watch—if solely to lament its many Oscar snubs.
RoboCop
From Complete Recall to Showgirls and again to Fundamental Intuition, director Paul Verhoeven has a observe document nearly unmatched in trendy cinema. RoboCop, his dystopian tackle regulation enforcement, is proof. Set in a bleak imaginative and prescient of Detroit overrun with crime, it follows a cop (Peter Weller) who will get fatally wounded and became, sure, a robotic cop, who you may assume is nice at preventing crime, however after all just isn’t. Among the visible results might look a little bit beat up now, however in 1987, they regarded like the long run. Additionally, if RoboCop leaves you wanting extra, the movie’s two sequels and 2014 reboot—none of which, sadly, have been directed by Verhoeven—are additionally obtainable on Max.
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
Albert Brooks is a comic’s comic. Although he is perhaps finest generally known as the filmmaker behind such celebrated comedies as Defending Your Life, Misplaced in America, Actual Life, and Mom, he’s additionally an excellent actor (with an Oscar nomination to show it). Brooks’ longtime pal Rob Reiner directs this charming documentary, which paperwork Brooks’ one-of-a-kind expertise, with a shocking lineup of A-listers—together with David Letterman, Steven Spielberg, Sarah Silverman, Judd Apatow, Chris Rock, Larry David, and Ben Stiller—all able to sing his praises.
Actuality
In 2017, an intelligence report about Russian interference within the 2016 US presidential election was leaked anonymously. One 12 months later, former NSA translator Actuality Winner (sure, that’s her actual title) was sentenced to greater than 5 years in jail for the crime—the longest sentence ever acquired by a authorities whistleblower. HBO’s reigning muse, Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus), shines on this gripping true story, which performs out principally in actual time because the FBI knocks on the 25-year-old’s door and spends greater than an hour questioning her.
Parasite
Even in the event you don’t care about awards, the truth that Parasite is the primary—and nonetheless solely—non-English-language film to win a Finest Image Oscar ought to inform you one thing in regards to the universality of its themes. The Kims, a household struggling to make ends meet, set their scheming sights on the Parks, a well-to-do household with loads of issues of their very own, but in addition loads of cash to muffle their dysfunction. A minimum of for a time. Simply while you assume you know the way class warfare is enjoying out on this black comedy, it modifications course to succeed in an surprising conclusion. As at all times, Bong Joon-ho is aware of simply the right way to lead his viewers down one path, solely to open a trapdoor into one other.
All of the Magnificence and the Bloodshed
Discovering success in a single’s lifetime may appear to be the dream of each artist, however Nan Goldin has greater ambitions. Although she’s a photographer by commerce, she’s an activist by calling and has lengthy used her digicam to seize painfully intimate moments of America in disaster, together with intensive work targeted on the HIV/AIDS and opioid epidemics. However All of the Magnificence and the Bloodshed reveals the artist in battle: Ought to she enable her work to be showcased in one of many distinguished museums or galleries which have acquired endowments from the Sackler household—the Massive Pharma household that many blame for America’s opioid disaster? It’s a transferring portrait of an artist keen to threat all of it for her beliefs.
The Darkish Knight
First issues first: All three of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films are at the moment on Max, and binge-watching all of them in a row is actually one solution to spend a night. However in the event you’re opting to look at only one, the second movie within the sequence is the one to beat. Although Christian Bale’s Caped Crusader will get prime billing, it’s Heath Ledger’s now-iconic efficiency because the Joker that makes The Darkish Knight probably the most compulsively watchable Batman film (even past Nolan’s entries). Although Ledger tragically handed away six months earlier than the movie’s launch, he posthumously received a Finest Supporting Actor Oscar for his villainous flip, during which he managed to seek out the right steadiness between darkish humor and outright madness.
