Is the place of birth of prestigious TV shows such as Sopranos And WireHBO—and by extension, HBO Max—best known for its impressive original series. However, the network has also stepped up its foot with long-running content, as evidenced by the early arrival of some of the major Oscar contenders by the end of 2022. However, since HBO Max is not (yet) one A production powerhouse like Netflix, for example, hundreds of great movies come and go from the streaming service every month. So if you see something you want to see, you might not want to let it linger in your queue. also long.
Here’s a list of some of our favorite movies streaming on HBO Max—from brand new award-winning films to director-directed classics you’ll see on HBO Max. near the top of any list of Greatest Movies of All Time. If you decide you’d rather watch TV, check out our picks for Best TV series on HBO Max. If you’re looking for more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Netflixthe Best movies on Amazon Primeand the best movies on Disney+.
Inisherin’s Banshees
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson—reuniting after playwright turned filmmaker Martin McDonagh In Bruges (2008)—playing longtime best friends who are caught off guard when Gleeson’s Colm suddenly decides to remove Farrell’s Pádraic from his life. As Padraic searched for an explanation for why, Colm began cutting out more. McDonagh is a master absurdist comedian, and Inisherin’s Banshees possibly his masterpiece. Despite going home empty-handed at the Oscars, the film was well-nominated for a total of nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and nominations for Farrell, Gleeson, Barry Keoghan, and Kerry Condon. . (Farrell’s day will come.)
Elvis
“This is not a nostalgia show,” Austin Butler, as King, said in Elvis. “We’re going to do something different.” Butler could also have been talking about the movie itself, which is definitely not your typical Presley biopic. Then again at the hands of director Baz Luhrmann, would one expect anything different? Told from the bedside perspective of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s (shady) longtime manager, Luhrmann discards the usual musical god angle to paint a more vulnerable Presley picture. much. Of course, he does it all with the same frenetic energy, wild pacing and dominant style that have become hallmarks of Luhrmann’s work.
Light Empire
At its summary level, Light Empire is a historical romance set in the 1980s about a stressed-out movie theater manager (Olivia Colman) who has a crush on a new employee (Micheal Ward) and tries to find a happiness in times of political turmoil in Britain. But the film, directed by Sam Mendes, is also a work of love and partly autobiographical. At its core, it’s really an appreciation of cinema and of the connections we can find with those in the shadows—both literally and figuratively. While far from a perfect movie, Colman’s superb performance alone is worth the admission, and proves once again why she’s one of the sought-after actors. most nowadays.
Menu
A small group of over-the-top gourmets (including Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travel to an island in the middle of nowhere to be placed under the culinary favor of world-renowned master chefs Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), and pays many dollars for the privilege. But in the dinner service in there Menu happening, Slowik has plans to go beyond the eight-course tasting menu. It’s probably best to know as little as possible about the evolution of this weird black comedy-thriller, but be aware that it’s not all that good.
Barbarian
Whether anyone realizes it or not, cooperative consumption has forced so many people to repeatedly place our trust in complete strangers (think: Uber drivers) without thinking twice. Writer-director Zach Cregger’s Barbarian may cause you to reconsider. When Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb, she discovers that the place is already rented. The good thing is that the guy (Bill Skarsgård) there seems to be very sweet, soft spoken and accommodating.
Nobody
One day, the fast-talking lawyer who turns to be everyone’s favorite Cinnabon manager could replace Liam Neeson as Hollywood’s most humble action star. Bob Odenkirk plays Hutch Mansell, a soft-spoken family man with a beast inside — and a buried past — who is forced to take action after his home is burgled. Watching Saul Goodman literally kick the ass wasn’t something many viewers had on their bingo cards in 2021, but it was a resounding success. The sequel is expected to begin production later this year.
Ingrid goes West
If season 2 of White Lotus you are looking for more content Aubrey Plaza, Ingrid goes West scratch that itch. Despite a huge hit at Sundance in 2017 and winning the Independent Spirit Award the following year for Best Debut, the film has largely been on the radar since. Ingrid Thorburn (Plaza) is a lifelong outsider whose only real connection to the world is through Instagram, which is where she discovered Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen), a social media influencer. living a seemingly #perfect life in Los Angeles. After her mother’s death, and with nothing left to lose, Ingrid gets up and moves to LA with an unexpected plan to befriend Taylor in real life. The film’s blend of dark comedy, brutal honesty, and sometimes unsettling behavior is the perfect match for Plaza’s unique talent.
Michael Clayton
George Clooney plays a former prosecutor turned “fixer” for a high-powered Manhattan law firm who spends his days cleaning up after the dirty deeds of his colleagues — and their clients. All while fighting his own demons. But when close friend/colleague Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) goes through a class action lawsuit that seems far removed from reality, Clayton must try to clean up the mess. And find out exactly what caused Arthur’s odd behavior in the first place, including his slightly overzealous behavior love of bread.
All the President’s Men
Political paranoia and general disillusionment with the world are the two main themes of almost every film born of the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s, and writer-director Alan J. Pakula (flute, Parallax view) is a true master of the craft. Not yet All the President’s Men almost offensive to many viewers at the time, as it recounts Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford)’s investigation into the Watergate scandal in precise and compelling detail. The fact that the film was written, shot, edited, and released nearly 20 months to the date of Richard Nixon’s resignation is impressive even by today’s standards.
dark Knight
First things first: All three of Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies are currently on HBO Max, and binge-watching them all in quick succession is definitely a way to spend the evening. But if you only choose to watch one movie, the second in the series is the one to beat. Although Christian Bale’s Caped Crusader was the highest paying, it was Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as The Joker that made dark Knight the most watched Batman movie (even beyond Nolan’s entries). Although Ledger tragically passed away six months before the film’s release, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his villainous role, in which he found the perfect balance between dark humor and utter madness.
best friend
In his 1990 review of best friend, Roger Ebert declared “There has never been a better movie about organized crime—not even Godfather, although the two works are not really comparable.” It’s a bold statement, to be sure, but pre-existing. More than 30 years later, it’s safe to say that no gangster movie can match Martin Scorsese’s retelling of the life of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). Yes, you may have seen it before and can retell many scenes verbatim. It’s even a reason to revisit what could very well be Scorsese’s best movie.
hereditary
Ari Aster made a splash—and a memorable one—with his directorial debut, which took the psychological horror genre to the next level. Annie Graham (Toni Collette) is a miniature artist who lives a seemingly contented life with her psychiatrist husband (Gabriel Byrne) and their two teenagers, Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro). . But any sense of normalcy disappeared almost immediately after the death of Annie’s mother, with whom she had a challenging relationship. Is Annie crazy? Is her husband a terrible atrophy? Is Peter a bad person? Why did Charlie make that click? What’s in the back seat of the car? These are all valid questions answered by Aster, whose slick directing style made him an instant Hollywood icon.
Citizen Kane
You can Actually Call yourself a “movie fan” if you haven’t seen it Citizen Kane? Sure is not. So it’s good that HBO Max gives viewers that opportunity, even if you already know who (or what) Rosebud is. Orson Welles was only 23 years old when he fictionaled the life of media mogul William Randolph Hearst and wrote, directed, produced, and starred in what almost immediately became one of the greats. most ever performed.
