30 Best Movies On Max Right Now (June 2024)

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Warner Bros’ Max (formerly HBO Max) offers one of the most extensive and high-quality film catalogues of any streamer, housing a variety of movies from all genres, including Hollywood classics and recent releases, guaranteeing that subscribers will always find something to watch. In 2020, Warner Bros. joined the streaming wars with HBO Max, offering a wide catalog of movies and TV shows from the libraries of Warner Bros, HBO, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and more of the studio’s related brands, along with original content.

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In May 2023, HBO Max was rebranded as Max, but it retained the same type of content with the addition of titles from Discovery. Max continues to be one of the most popular streaming services thanks to its variety and for being the assigned home of Warner Bros.’ theatrical releases, but there are also some hidden gems in the platform’s long list of movies that can be easily missed or overlooked. Here are the 30 best movies on Max right now, from a variety of genres for both mature audiences and for the whole family to enjoy.

A collage of the best shows to stream on Max in May 2024 - created by Tom Russell
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Best Horror Movies On Max

The Strangers (2008)

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The Strangers

Director Bryan Bertino Release Date May 30, 2008 Cast Scott Speedman , Laura Margolis , Gemma Ward , Kip Weeks , Liv Tyler , Glenn Howerton Runtime 86 minutes

The Strangers was received to mixed reviews when it released in 2008, flying relatively under-the-radar among all but the most dedicated horror movie fans. However, in the decades since, director Bryan Bertino’s intimate and claustrophobic psychological horror film has become a cult classic, spawning a sequel and a reboot trilogy that kicked off in May 2024 with The Strangers: Chapter 1. The original The Strangers is available on Max, so subscribers can find out exactly why the terrifying movie and its masked killers are discussed more and more with each year that passes.

The cast of The Strangers is relatively small, with Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, and Glenn Howerton being the only characters who don’t appear in masks. However, the most memorable appearances are, of course, the titular masked strangers. Both their appearance and the violence they inflict on Liv Tyler’s Kristen, Scott Speedman’s Jay, and Glenn Howerton’s Mike are absolutely harrowing, and Max subscribers hoping for a chill they’ll be thinking about for weeks afterward need look no further than this cult horror movie.

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Black Swan (2010)

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Black Swan

Director Darren Aronofsky Release Date December 3, 2010 Cast Natalie Portman , Mila Kunis , Vincent Cassel , Barbara Hershey , Winona Ryder , Benjamin Millepied Runtime 108 minutes

Not only is Black Swan one of the best horror movies currently available to stream on Max, it’s also one of the most acclaimed movies of the 2010s, considered one of the highlights of the filmographies of both leading actress Natalie Portman and director Darren Aronofsky. Portman stars as Nina, a dancer with the New York City Ballet. After securing the lead role as both Odette, the White Swan, in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Nina finds various pressures cause her to slowly unravel.

The tense psychological horror is truly gripping, and while it doesn’t rely on jump-scares or gore as much as many other horror movies (and at times veers more into thriller territory), it’s nevertheless harrowing. Portman delivered a career-defining performance as Nina, but she’s far from alone in the cast. Mila Kunis also performed incredibly well as Lily, Nina’s rival, with Winona Ryder also appearing as Beth MacIntyre to add to the lineup.

Black Swan won an incredible 61 awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress for Natalie Portman.

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Scream (1996)

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Scream
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Director Wes Craven Release Date December 20, 1996 Cast Drew Barrymore , Kevin Patrick Walls , David Booth , Carla Hatley , Neve Campbell , Skeet Ulrich Runtime 111 minutes

1996’s Scream may have originally been intended as a pseudo-satirization of the slasher genre, but it ended up writing the blueprint for it for decades to come. By now, Ghostface is one of the most iconic slasher killers in recent cinema history, and Scream is the movie that introduced him to the world long before he was parodied in Scary Movie, or caught the attention of modern audiences in the 2022 reboot starring Jenna Ortega.

Alongside the 1996 original, 1997’s Scream 2 and 2000’s Scream 3 are also available on Max, making for an incredibly intense horror trilogy for subscribers to binge. Scream stars the likes of Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, and Drew Barrymore, and is helmed by legendary horror director Wes Craven.

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Cabin Fever (2003)

A woman's face is bloody with her skin eaten off by a flesh-eating virus.

Cabin Fever

Release Date September 12, 2003 Director Eli Roth Cast Joey Kern , Cerina Vincent , Jordan Ladd , James DeBello , Rider Strong Runtime 93 minutes

2002’s Cabin Fever is a masterclass in stomach-turning body horror driven by practical effects. The relatively simple premise of Cabin Fever sees a group of teens takes a trip out to a remote cabin in the woods for a vacation. However, their trip turns deadly not because of a rural serial killer or supernatural monster, but because of an incredibly virulent infectious disease in the local water supply. Within hours, the teens begin to physically decompose, leading to memorable moments, such as when the simple act of shaving leads to one of the most wince-inducing scenes in any horror movie.

The 2009 sequel Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever is also available to stream on Max.

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Friday The 13th (1980)

A decomposed body attacks a woman on a boat in Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th
Horror
Mystery
Thriller

Release Date May 9, 1980 Director Sean S. Cunningham Cast Peter Brouwer , Adrienne King , Betsy Palmer , Jeannine Taylor , Kevin Bacon , Robbi Morgan , Harry Crosby Runtime 95 minutes

One of the films responsible for the slasher movie craze of the 1980s, Friday the 13th centers on a group of teenage camp counselors who are hunted down and murdered by a mysterious killer, who turns out to be Mrs. Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer), a mother seeking revenge after her son Jason (Ari Lehman) drowned at the camp.

While the image of the hockey mask-wearing, machete-wielding Jason Voorhees is most commonly associated with the series, few remember that Jason himself didn’t play a huge role in the first Friday the 13th movie. This is a testament to Palmer’s terrifying performance that Friday the 13th became the huge franchise it was, with sequels releasing into the 2000s, many of which are also available to stream on Max.

The only Friday the 13th movies that aren’t available on Max are Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, Freddy vs. Jason, and 2001’s Jason X.

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Carrie (1976 & 2013)

Sissy Spacek as Carrie, covered in blood, looks at the prom night crowd in the film Carrie.

Carrie

Release Date October 18, 2013 Director Kimberly Peirce Cast Judy Greer , Chloe Grace Moretz , Julianne Moore Runtime 1h 40m

Based on Stephen King’s first published novel, Carrie is also the first film adaptation of his work. Dozens of King movie and TV adaptations have followed, but this 1976 movie is one of the best. Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) is a shy teenager with telekinetic powers who is brutally bullied and victimized by her high school classmates and her religious fanatic mother Margaret (Piper Laurie). When a cruel prank humiliates Carrie, she enacts rage-fueled revenge on her tormentors.

An iconic tale of vengeance, Carrie has received a sequel and two remakes, but none live up to the original. Spacek is note-perfect as the put-upon protagonist, and she and Laurie both received Oscar nominations for their performances. The 2013 remake, which wasn’t as successful but still holds up thanks to telling the same chilling Stephen King story, is also available on Max.

Sissy Spacek received multiple award nominations for her role in the 1976 version of Carrie, including an Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won Best Actress on the year of Carrie‘s release at the National Society of Film Critics awards.

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Parasite (2019)

The family folding pizza boxes in Parasite

Parasite
Comedy
Thriller
Drama

Release Date November 8, 2019 Director Bong Joon Ho Cast Yeo-Jeong Jo , Myeong-hoon Park , Jeong-eun Lee , Sun-kyun Lee , Ji-so Jung , So-dam Park , Keun-rok Park , Kang-ho Song , Ji-hye Lee , Woo-sik Choi , Seo-joon Park , Hye-jin Jang Runtime 132 minutes

Parasite is a South Korean black comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho. Parasite follows the struggling Kim family, who come up with an elaborate plan to become employed by the wealthy Park family after their son starts working for them. Soon, the Kim family begins to work within the same household (without the Parks knowing they are related).

Things get complicated when they start living a parasitic life and make a disturbing discovery inside the luxurious Park home. Parasite is one of the most critically acclaimed films of the decade, and won a slew of awards including an Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director for Bong Joon-ho.

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Ex Machina (2014)

Alicia Vikander as a robot touching another robot's face in Ex Machina.

Ex Machina
Sci-Fi
Drama

Release Date April 10, 2015 Director Alex Garland Cast Alicia Vikander , Domhnall Gleeson , Oscar Isaac , Sonoya Mizuno , Gana Bayarsaikhan , Corey Johnson Runtime 108 minutes

Ex Machina is a sci-fi psychological thriller written and directed by Alex Garland in his directorial debut. The movie on Max follows Caleb Smith, a programmer at the search engine company Blue Book, who wins an office contest for a one-week visit to the luxurious but isolated home of the company’s CEO, Nathan Bateman. There, Nathan shares his latest invention with Caleb: a humanoid robot with artificial intelligence named Ava.

Nathan asks Caleb to judge whether Ava is capable of thought and consciousness and whether he can relate to her despite knowing she’s artificial, but it all takes a dark turn as Caleb learns more about Ava and Nathan. What follows is a tense and cerebral sci-fi thriller that poses plenty of philosophical quandaries for the viewer about the nature of sentience and consciousness.

Ex Machina was nominated for 125 awards and won 42, including an Academy Award in 2016 for Best Visual Effects.

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Collage of The Lego Movie, Amsterdam and Elvis
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Best Action Movies On Max

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Director Peter Jackson Release Date December 19, 2001 Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis Runtime 178 Minutes

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Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy doesn’t just consist of three of the best movies on Max, but three of the best movies ever made, period. Starting with 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring, the three Lord of the Rings movies adapt the trilogy of epic fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien into a cinematic saga whose scope still remains unmatched. Everything from the cast to the script to the set-pieces and battle scenes have received near-universal acclaim.

It’s difficult to overstate just how influential the Lord of the Rings movies were, so it’s no surprise that they’re among the best and most popular movies available to stream on Max. The Lord of the Rings movies hold 17 Academy Awards between them, with The Return of the King landing Best Picture. The cast is exceptional too, though Andy Serkis as Gollum, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn stand out as notable highlights.

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Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

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Mad Max: Fury Road

Director George Miller Release Date May 14, 2015 Cast Tom Hardy , Charlize Theron , Nicholas Hoult , Zoe Kravitz , Hugh Keays-Byrne , Riley Keough , Courtney Eaton , Abbey Lee , Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Runtime 120 Minutes

2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road presented audiences with what is perhaps the most high-speed vision of the world after the apocalypse ever seen. The fourth Mad Max movie arrived three decades after 1985’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, with franchise director George Miller returning with an all-new cast that included Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky, Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa, Nicholas Hoult as Nux, and Hugh Keays-Byrne as the imposing antagonist Immortan Joe.

Immensely quotable and shot across the deserts of Namibia and South-Africa to ensure the sense of emptyness and isolation were unmatched, Mad Max: Fury Road is easily the most visually stunning Mad Max movie to date and has some near-unmatched visuals and action sequences throughout. The plot intriguingly sees Max himself take a backseat, with the hero of the story being Theron’s Furiosa, who is getting her own Furiosa movie (though this time played by Anya Taylor-Joy).

Mad Max: Fury Road won a vast number of awards — 102 in total out of 222 nominations — including six Academy Awards, mainly for design and editing.

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War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017)

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War for the Planet of the Apes

Director Matt Reeves Release Date July 14, 2017 Cast Judy Greer , Steve Zahn , Mercedes de la Zerda , Max Lloyd-Jones , Woody Harrelson , Alessandro Juliani , Amiah Miller , Terry Notary , Andy Serkis , Aleks Paunovic , Ty Olsson , Devyn Dalton , Gabriel Chavarria Runtime 140 Minutes

2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes is the third movie in the rebooted Planet of the Apes movies which started with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes and 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (both of which are available to stream on Max). War for the Planet of the Apes takes place several decades after two key events in the franchise — apes gaining intelligence and being led to selfhood and liberation by Caesar (Andy Serkis), and the emergence of the Simian Flu that decimated the human population.

As the title suggests, War for the Planet of the Apes brings these events to a head with the all-out conflict between the apes and the remaining humans. As with every entry in the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy, the CGI is astounding, and sights like sentient primates riding horses and shooting rifles make for some truly unique battle scenes. With the fourth movie, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, imminently due in theaters, May 2024 is the perfect time for Max subscribers to get on board with the hit sci-fi franchise.

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Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)

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Despite being produced by the Disney-owned studio 20th Century Pictures, James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water is also currently available to stream on Max. A long-gestating sequel to 2009’s Avatar, 2022 blockbuster The Way of Water takes viewers back to Pandora, the Na’vi, and Jake Sully, who now has a family with Neytiri. Of course, the fragile peace Jake has found with his new people isn’t long-last, as a rejuvenated Quaritch is back in a Na’Vi body of his own.

With outstanding performances from Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, and many more, Avatar: The Way of Water was a cinematic event when it arrived in 2022 after over a decade in development. A vast improvement on the first movie, Max subscribers seeking an epic, vibrant adventure that showcases the very latest in CGI technology need look no further.

Avatar 3 is currently in development, and James Cameron has multiple Avatar sequels planned.

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The Dark Knight (2008)

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The Dark Knight

Release Date July 18, 2008 Director Christopher Nolan Cast Nestor Carbonell , Morgan Freeman , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Christian Bale , David Dastmalchian , Michael Caine , Anthony Michael Hall , Heath Ledger Runtime 152 Minutes

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More of a gritty crime thriller than a comic book movie, The Dark Knight dominated the pop culture landscape upon release, and continues to do so over 15 years later. In the sequel to 2005’s Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) teams up with Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Gotham’s district attorney, and his ally Commissioner James Gordon (Gary Oldman) to face off against the Joker (Heath Ledger), an unhinged villain who worships chaos and seeks to cause destruction wherever he goes.

While the storytelling is taut and thrilling, and the entire cast brings their A-game, what really makes the movie special is Ledger. The villain has been portrayed to death on both the big and small screen, but everything from the Joker’s mannerisms to his trademark quotes — “Wanna know how I get these scars?“, “Why so serious?” — became iconic. Ledger famously and tragically passed away before the release of The Dark Knight, but his legacy lives on, and he won a post-humous Oscar for his performance. The Dark Knight will also be remembered as one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies.

The Dark Knight is the second part of Christopher Nolans Batman trilogy. The first installment, Batman Begins, and the last, The Dark Knight Rises, are also available on Max.

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Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Director Edgar Wright Release Date August 12, 2010 Cast Michael Cera , Alison Pill , Mark Webber , Johnny Simmons , Ellen Wong , Kieran Culkin Runtime 113 minutes

The 2010 action-comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, and over the years has gone from being a somewhat underappreciated cult gem to a global phenomenon, buoyed by its appearance on streaming platforms like Max. The story focuses on the titular Scott Pilgrim (played by Michael Cera) who, after falling for new girl in town Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) finds himself locked in various fights to the death with her 7 evil ex’s — a process headed up by Ramona’s most significant former partner Gideon “G-Man” Graves (Jason Schwartzman).

The heavy video game influences, slick soundtrack, and razor-sharp script are all selling points of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. However, it’s the well-rounded cast that truly helped put the movie on the map, especially in recent years. Cera, Winstead, and Schwartzman are joined by many now-A-list names such as Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick, Kieran Culkin, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, and Mae Whitman. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a truly unique film, and there are few that are as entertaining — in any genre — currently available to stream on Max.

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Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021)

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Godzilla Vs Kong
PG-13

Director Adam Wingard Release Date March 31, 2021 Cast Rebecca Hall , Tasneem Roc , Kyle Chandler , Ziyi Zhang , Lance Reddick , Hakeem Kae-Kazim , Jessica Henwick , Eiza Gonzalez , Alexander Skarsgard , Daniel Nelson , Millie Bobby Brown , Brian Tyree Henry , Danai Gurira , Demián Bichir , Julian Dennison

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When it comes to giant monsters in movies, two names stand above all the rest — Godzilla and King Kong. In 2021 Legendary’s Monsterverse brought them both together in the epic blockbuster cinematic event Godzilla vs. Kong, which is now one of the best action movies on Max thanks to its larger-than-life scenes of destruction and mayhem.Godzilla vs. Kong is the fourth movie in the Monsterverse franchise and has a surprisingly intricate plot despite the main attraction being, of course, watching Godzilla and King Kong duke it out.

Godzilla vs. Kong follows on from the events of 2017’s Kong: Skull Island and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Besides the two titular titans, the movie stars Alexander Skarsgård, Mille Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and the late Lance Reddick. Godzilla vs. Kong is pure easy-watch blockbuster popcorn fodder, epic in scale and scope without demanding too much from the viewer, making it perfect for movie night.

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The Best Comedy Movies On Max

Lost In Translation (2003)

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Lost in Translation

Director Sofia Coppola Release Date October 3, 2003 Cast Fumihiro Hayashi , Bill Murray , Anna Faris , Giovanni Ribisi , Scarlett Johansson , Catherine Lambert Runtime 102 minutes

For max subscribers seeking a cerebral comedy that also has plenty of romance, 2003’s Lost in Translation more than fits the bill. Directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Bill Murray alongside Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation covers multiple themes including the struggle of having a midlife crisis, cultural alienation, and the sense of disconnection that comes with success. Plus, for viewerswho particularly enjoy setting, Lost in Translation is also something of a dive into the culture of early 2000s Tokyo from an outsider’s perspective.

Murray stars as Bob Harris, a once-successful movie star who’s come to realize his best years are now far behind him. Frustrated with both his career and failing marriage, he accepts a role in Tokyo to appear in advertisements for a Japanese brand of whiskey. Bob stays at a luxurious hotel and there he meets, through a series of chance encounters, a young newlywed Yale graduate, Charlotte (Johansson), and the two form an intimate yet platonic connection. Lost in Translation received a slew of accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, with Murray also nominated for best actor the same year.

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Dream Scenario (2023)

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Dream Scenario
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Director Kristoffer Borgli Release Date November 10, 2023 Writers Kristoffer Borgli Cast Nicolas Cage , Julianne Nicholson , Tim Meadows , Dylan Gelula , Michael Cera , Dylan Baker , Kate Berlant , Jessica Clement

From March 15th one of the most innovative and intriguing Nicolas Cage movies of the last decade becomes available to Max subscribers — 2023’s Dream Scenario. In the genre-defying comedy, Cage stars as unassuming biology teacher Paul Matthews. Paul’s life is turned upside-down when, for reasons unknown, he starts appearing in thousands of people’s dreams, from total strangers to his friends and family.

The premise is utterly bizarre but executed with perfection by Cage and director Kristoffer Borgli

This bizarre phenomenon thrusts Paul into a life of celebrity, which includes an advertising deal with Sprite. However, he soon finds his presence in the minds of others brings danger too, especially when a man breaks into the Matthews family home with a knife. The premise is utterly bizarre but executed with perfection by Cage and director Kristoffer Borgli, and there’s no other film quite like Dream Scenario among the best movies on Max (or anywhere else).

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Deadpool (2016)

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Deadpool
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Director Tim Miller Release Date February 9, 2016 Cast Ryan Reynolds , Morena Baccarin , T.J. Miller , Brianna Hildebrand , Karan Soni , Ed Skrein , Michael Benyaer , Stefan Kapicic

Ryan Reynolds redefined superhero movies with the arrival of Deadpool in 2016. The R-rated Marvel movie flipped the script with its fourth wall breaks, raunchy humor, and incredible levels of violence. Despite the fact it’s a comedy at heart, Deadpool also contains many surprisingly emotional moments, and a story that’s narratively sound.

Deadpool 3 may be on the way to the MCU, but the original was part of Fox’s X-Men universe (a fact the threequel is guaranteed to make light of). What’s more, thanks to the hilarious script, Deadpool will appeal to Max subscribers who don’t enjoy regular superhero films.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

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The Devil Wears Prada
Comedy
Drama

Release Date June 30, 2006 Director David Frankel Cast Anne Hathaway , Stanley Tucci , Meryl Streep Runtime 109minutes

Anne Hathaway exudes everywoman charm in all of her roles, and in The Devil Wears Prada, she’s at the top of her game, going toe to toe — and holding her own — with the legendary Meryl Streep. Based on the Lauren Weisberger best-selling novel of the same name, The Devil Wears Prada sees recent college graduate Andy Sachs (Hathaway) get a coveted job at Runway magazine as a junior assistant to Miranda Priestley (Streep). The only problem is, Miranda is the boss from hell.

Comedies, particularly female-driven comedies, don’t get the respect they deserve, but even the Academy Awards, who notoriously favor drama films, had to give Streep her due and nominate her for her unforgettable performance. The Devil Wears Prada was also Emily Blunt’s breakout role, as she played the icy co-assistant, Emily Charlton. Throw in a scenery-chewing Stanely Tucci as art director Nigel Kipling, and The Devil Wears Prada is one of the best movies on Max.

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The Best Family Movies On Max

Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (2018)

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Teen Titans Go To The Movies

Director Peter Rida Michail , Aaron Horvath Release Date July 27, 2018 Cast Greg Cipes , Tara Strong , Kristen Bell , Khary Payton , Scott Menville , Will Arnett , Hynden Walch Runtime 90minutes

Perhaps one of the most underappreciated DC television spinoffs in recent years has been Teen Titans Go!, which is predominantly aimed at younger audiences (much to the chagrin of the more toxic quarters of the Teen Titans fanbase, something the show frequently lambasts). However, in 2018, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies arrived in theaters, and the film is an absolute delight both for kids who simply enjoy the slapstick antics of the Teen Titans in their Go! personas (and the musical numbers), and for adult viewers who enjoy spotting the dozens of DC Comics Easter eggs littered throughout.

Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is both a hilarious family movie and a hugely entertaining film about making films.

Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is both a hilarious family movie and a hugely entertaining film about making films. The plot is as simple as it is hilarious — fed up with always being a sidekick on the big screen, Robin sets out to get a superhero movie made all about him, without Batman. Sadly though, it turns out Hollywood isn’t interested in a Robin movie — that is until a particular villain masquerading as a director realizes a Robin movie would be the perfect ingredient in their evil scheme.

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The Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)

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Harry Potter

Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Tom Felton , Alan Rickman , Matthew Lewis , Bonnie Wright , Evanna Lynch , Maggie Smith , Michael Gambon , Richard Harris , Ralph Fiennes , Helena Bonham Carter , Alfred Enoch , Harry Melling , Gary Oldman , Robert Pattinson , Warwick Davis , Oliver Phelps , James Phelps , David Bradley , David Thewlis , Katie Leung , Jason Isaacs , Imelda Staunton , David Tennant , Jamie Campbell Bower , Timothy Spall , Robbie Coltrane , Eddie Redmayne , Jude Law , Katherine Waterston , Ezra Miller , Dan Fogler , Alison Sudol , Johnny Depp , Mads Mikkelsen Created by J.K. Rowling Character(s) Harry Potter , Hermione Granger , Ron Weasley , Dumbledore , Minerva McGonagall , Rubeus Hagrid , Dobby the House Elf , Draco Malfoy , Sirius Black , Ginny Weasley , Voldemort

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Few cinematic franchises have had as much of an impact on pop culture as the 8 Harry Potter movies, all of which are now available to stream on Max from 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone through to 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. For the uninitiated, the Harry Potter stories focus on the titular orphan Harry Potter, a young boy who discovers — much to his abusive Aunt and Uncle’s disgust — that he’s a Wizard.

Harry then promptly enrolls in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here he meets his new lifelong friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, mentor Albus Dumbledore and, more alarmingly, learns the truth about how his parents died. This final fact puts him in direct confrontation with the most dangerous dark wizard of all time — Lord Voldemort. The Harry Potter movies won a slew of awards and remain unmatched when it comes to a family-friendly film franchise, even among the extensive library of films available on Max.

Wonka (2023)

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Wonka
Family
Adventure
Comedy

Director Paul King Release Date December 15, 2023 Cast Sally Hawkins , Olivia Colman , Keegan-Michael Key , Rowan Atkinson , Timothee Chalamet , Jim Carter

Max subscribers of all ages are bound to fall in love with Wonka, as it delivers everything a family movie should, from comedy to heartfelt moments.

One of the most enjoy family movies released in 2023 is now available to watch on Max — Wonka, an original story based on the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Serving as a prequel to the 1971 movie, Dune: Part Two star Timothée Chalamet stars as the legendary chocolatier Willy Wonka, and delivers a spellbinding performance in the role. “Magical” is an adjective bandied around a lot for fantastical family films, but Wonka truly lives up to the description.

The entire movie takes place in a whimsical world inspired by reality, but that has a life and feel all its own. What’s more, Wonka harkens back to the 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder by coming complete with a host of original songs. Chalamet is joined by a cast that includes Olivia Coleman as the nefarious Mrs. Scrubbit and Hugh Grant as Lofty, the Oompa-Loompa who is also a master thief. Max subscribers of all ages are bound to fall in love with Wonka, as it delivers everything a family movie should, from comedy to heartfelt moments.

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Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.

Singin’ in the Rain

Release Date April 11, 1952 Director Stanley Donen , Gene Kelly Cast Gene Kelly , Donald O’Connor , Debbie Reynolds , Jean Hagen , Millard Mitchell , Cyd Charisse Runtime 103 Minutes

Singin’ in the Rain is a musical rom-com directed (and choreographed) by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. Set in the 1920s, Singin’ in the Rain follows Don and Lina, two popular silent film stars whose latest film is remade into a musical. The transition from silent films to “talkies” isn’t easy, and while Don has the voice for the new singing part, the same can’t be said for Lina.

Aspiring actress Kathy is hired to record over Lina’s voice, thus saving Lina’s career — but she and Don also fall in love. Singin’ in the Rain is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, and holds a well-deserved 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

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An image of Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly in Singin' In The Rain
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Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

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Howl’s Moving Castle
Animation
Action
Adventure
Family
Fantasy
Romance

Release Date November 19, 2004 Director Hayao Miyazaki Cast Chieko Baisho , Takuya Kimura , Akihiro Miwa , Tatsuya Gashûin , Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Mitsunori Isaki

Howl’s Moving Castle is a Japanese animated fantasy movie from Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyasaki, based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones. Set in a kingdom with magic and 19th-century technology, and against the backdrop of a war, Howl’s Moving Castle follows young milliner Sophie, who is cursed by a witch and turned into an elderly woman.

On her quest to find a way to break the curse, Sophie comes across Howl’s moving castle and meets Howl himself, who she soon learns is a wizard caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king. Like almost all Studio Ghibli movies, Howl’s Movie Castle is visually spellbinding, and its charming romance narrative stands out as being especially wholesome by the end.

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Best Drama Films On Max

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

A man walking in a spaceship in A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey
Adventure
Mystery
Sci-Fi

Release Date April 2, 1968 Director Stanley Kubrick Cast Keir Dullea , Gary Lockwood , William Sylvester , Daniel Richter , Leonard Rossiter , Margaret Tyzack Runtime 149 minutes

2001: A Space Odyssey is an epic sci-fi film directed by Stanley Kubrick. The discovery of a mysterious monolith on the lunar surface leads the Discovery One and its revolutionary computer, HAL 9000, on a mission to unravel its mysterious origin. When HAL begins to display increasingly strange and controlling behavior, a tense showdown between man and machine begins while traveling through time and space. 2001: A Space Odyssey is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, as well as a highly influential one thanks to its visual effects and narrative techniques.

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Pulp Fiction (1994)

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Pulp Fiction
Drama
Crime

Release Date October 14, 1994 Director Quentin Tarantino Cast John Travolta , Bruce Willis , Ving Rhames , Samuel L. Jackson , Uma Thurman , Christopher Walken , Tim Roth , Harvey Keitel , Eric Stoltz , Rosanna Arquette Runtime 154 minutes

Quentin Tarantino’s follow-up film after Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction is still considered the director’s most definitive work. The film follows four interconnected stories of two hitmen, a boxer, a gangster’s wife, and two would-be diner robbers. It’s full of what would come to be Tarantino’s most famous trademarks, from its non-linear story structure to its graphic violence to its rapid-fire dialogue about mundane topics like hamburgers.

Forever changing independent cinema as it was known, Pulp Fiction made Tarantino an A-list celebrity and breathed new life into John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman’s careers. All three actors were nominated for Oscars, and though they didn’t win, Tarantino took home the golden statuette for the screenplay.

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The Lobster (2015)

Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz running in The Lobster

The Lobster (2015)

Release Date October 15, 2015 Director Yorgos Lanthimos Cast Colin Farrell , Rachel Weisz , Olivia Colman , Lea Seydoux , Michael Smiley Runtime 119 Minutes

A movie that can only be described as “peak Yorgos Lanthimos“, The Lobster is one of the auteur director’s darkest, funniest, and overall best movies. It’s a surrealist black comedy starring Colin Farrell as David, who lives in a dystopian world in which single people are rounded up and forced to stay at a hotel where they must find a romantic mate in 45 days or be turned into an animal of their choice.

Many actors return to work with Lanthimos, including Farrell, who followed up The Lobster with The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and Rachel Weisz, who plays Short-Sighted Woman and would go on to receive an Oscar nomination for Lanthimos’ The Favourite, and it’s easy to see why, as the writer-director’s scripts are some of Hollywood’s best. The Lobster was indeed nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars, and while its bleak sentiments likely polarized the Academy, the movie stands out as one of the best on Max.

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Casablanca (1942)

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Casablanca
Drama
Documentary
Romance
War

Release Date November 26, 1942 Director Michael Curtiz Cast Humphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , Conrad Veidt , Sydney Greenstreet Runtime 102 minutes

Casablanca is a romantic drama movie directed by Michael Curtiz and based on the play Everybody Comes to Rick’s, by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. Casablanca tells the story of American expatriate and nightclub owner Rick Blaine and his former lover Ilsa Lund, who left Rick without explanation years before.

Now reunited during the war, Rick finds himself in a difficult position as he has to choose between his love for Ilsa and helping her husband, Victor Laszlo, a Czechoslovak resistance leader, continue his fight against the Germans. Casablanca is widely regarded as among the greatest movies ever made, often facing against Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane for the #1 spot.

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Both Casablanca and Citizen Kane are often called the best movies ever made, but is it possible to know which is really the better of the two?

Barbie (2023)

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Barbie
PG-13

Release Date July 21, 2023 Director Greta Gerwig Cast Margot Robbie , Ryan Gosling , Simu Liu , Ariana Greenblatt , Helen Mirren , Nicola Coughlan , John Cena , Will Ferrell , Ritu Arya , Michael Cera , America Ferrera , Alexandra Shipp , Kate McKinnon

It’s difficult to categorize Barbie as a movie — in some ways, it’s a fever dream of Barbieland, set piece action and songs. However, it’s more than just a riot of pink — it’s also an incredible examination of growing up, the pressures of expectations on women, the need to become someone outside a relationship, toxic masculinity, and the feminism that Barbie dolls were originally created for.

Margot Robbie delivers an incredible performance as Barbie, with Ryan Gosling’s Ken capturing hearts with his bumbling inability to win her affections. It’s a touching, beautiful picture of what it’s like to be a woman in the world today, but delivered through a gloriously well-thought-out fantasy world.

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Good Will Hunting (1997)

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Good Will Hunting
Romance
Drama

Release Date January 9, 1998 Director Gus Van Sant Cast Robin Williams , Ben Affleck , Minnie Driver , Matt Damon , Stellan Skarsgård Runtime 126 minutes

One of the best movies on Max, Good Will Hunting is a psychological drama directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Good Will Hunting follows Will, a mathematics genius who works as a janitor at MIT. When he solves a difficult graduate-level math problem, his talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau, who decides to guide him.

However, when Will is arrested for attacking a police officer and faces an emotional crisis, Lambeau makes a deal to get leniency for him if he gets treatment from therapist Sean Maguire, with whom Will forms a special bond. Good Will Hunting gave Affleck and Damon the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and Robin Williams took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

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