Let’s not beat around the bush here—HBO Max knows exactly how it can flaunt its brilliance when it comes to the selection of movies that it has on offer. Whether it’s the most mind-blowing adventures in the realm of science fiction, the most emotional dramas, or even something so weird that it has vampire Irish step dancers, rest assured that the streaming service has plenty on offer when it comes to taking over your weekend. So, here are the top 15 movies available on HBO Max, and trust us when we tell you that the list only gets better from here.
15. The Color Purple
This new take on The Color Purple, from the hit show and known novel of the same name by Alice Walker, has more than enough heart and passion to go around. Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Taraji P. Henson perform The Color Purple with passion and zest as they struggle for the things they want: love, respect, and freedom.
14. Barbie
Greta Gerwig has miraculously succeeded in making something positive out of the plastic doll at the box office and even produced something deeply meaningful in the movie. Barbie is a movie that accomplishes all its goals for comedy and fun. It is definitely the time to experience for yourself all the commotion that has been created over the movie Barbie, in case you have been missing it during its release.
13. The Substance
Demi Moore goes all out in a movie that is just downright creepy. With the fading movie star turning to the miracle anti-aging pill that promotes eternal youth, Moore is excellent in a flick that is just darn strange. The movie was an Oscar nominee for five awards, winning the prize for best makeup effects, which they surely deserved.
12. Bring Her Back
Talk to Me brings us, yet again, into the stable of minds another scary experience. Orphaned siblings, a grief-stricken, obsessive woman, doesn’t that sound scary? Sally Hawkins delivers a performance that is both painful to watch and terrifying. This is what scary movie experiences are all about.
11. Freaky Tales
The setting for this movie is in Oakland during the 1980s. This is a very quick-paced action-comedy show, featuring punk rock music, rap music, sports stars, and mayhem. It is definitely a love story for Oakland itself, because it is loud and it has attitude, with a cast like Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, and Normani.
10. Final Destination: Bloodlines
Death does not celebrate holidays, nor does it happen in this revival either. This reboot series certainly changes the entire series dynamic in terms of the curse inherited from a previous generation of the family, in which they managed to outwit death many years before. Just remember to be ready for some ridiculous death situations in this series. This series contains terror and laughter in equal proportions, trust me. This series will certainly be right at home for AHS series fans.
9. Sinners
Ryan Coogler goes for broke here with this genre-defying action horror film, which takes place in Depression-era Mississippi in 1932. It features blues music, racist tension, supernatural mayhem, and, of course, Irish step dancing vampires. Michael B. Jordan does double duty, acting in this film, while Hailee Steinfeld also brings a lot of fire.
8. A Minecraft Movie
It sounds like a joke, but it absolutely worked. This video game adaptation pulled in massive box office numbers and delivers colorful, chaotic fun. Jason Momoa, Jack Black, and a young cast dive headfirst into the blocky world of Minecraft, making it surprisingly charming and family-friendly chaos.
7. Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1
Kevin Costner’s passion project may not have dominated at the box office, but it’s a solid, sweeping Western that rewards patience. Beautiful to look at and sporting an ensemble cast, it paints in broad strokes a classic portrait of frontier life. Fans of old-school epics should definitely find this one worth settling into.
6. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Anya Taylor-Joy steps into the iconic role of Charlize Theron and owns it. This Furiosa standalone prequel expands the Mad Max universe with gut-wrenchingly brutal action setpieces, drop-dead visuals, and a gleefully unhinged villain in Chris Hemsworth. It may not outdo Fury Road, but few films ever could.
5. The Brutalist
And, naturally, it spans over three hours, because this film happens to be an epic that deals with a Hungarian Jewish architect, post World War II, and his pursuit of the American Dream. This was an Oscar-winning performance by Adrien Brody, which happens to be colossal, very intimate, and reflective.
4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
A fresh start is being presented after all these years, having the last movie wrap up the last chapter. The graphics are very powerful, and the most impressive thing about it would be the way the storytelling is taken into consideration, along with the acting presented by Freya Allan and Owen Teague.
3. Superman
Expectations for the reboot from director James Gunn were enormous, and he effortlessly surpassed them all. David Corenswet infuses the character of the Man of Steel with warmth and optimism that make this particular series feel right for the very first time.
2. Dune: Part Two
Denis Villeneuve doubles down on scale, spectacle, and intensity as Paul Atreides embraces his destiny. With breathtaking visuals, thunderous sound design, and standout performances from Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Austin Butler, this is blockbuster filmmaking firing on all cylinders.
1. American Civil War
Alex Garland’s unnerving war drama follows journalists through the collapse of a fictional United States. It’s tense, brutal, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way. More than spectacle, the Civil War really forces you to confront what conflict truly looks like on the ground. It is haunting, powerful, and impossible to forget.
That’s your excuse to cancel plans, stock up on snacks, and let HBO Max do the heavy lifting. Just don’t be surprised if long after the screen goes dark, you’ll still be thinking about sandworms, superheroes, or step-dancing vampires.