It’s not TV; Its HBO – The famous slogan was true even before the advent of online streaming platforms came in to existence and became a daily part of our lives.
The Home Box Office or simply more popularly identified as HBO, is known for its blockbuster TV content like The Sopranos, The Games of Thrones and The Band of Brothers that have been immensely popular in the past. The production house continues to bring to us big budget and larger than life shows like Succession, The Other Two and the Friends Reunion.
HBO Max has been the go to streaming platform in the recent years for some of the best original content which includes the best of movies and TV series. Even before Netflix and Amazon, HBO has been in the content game for more than 40 years and has produced numerous films and TV series that people are willing to pay an extra dollar for. The platform boasts of some fantastic recently released movies, as well as some excellent classics, will are all available on HBO Max.
From iconic shows like “The Sopranos” and “Game of Thrones” to an extensive catalog of films, there is also plenty of older entertainment to enjoy. But we’re here to talk about the new stuff.
Here are some of HBO Max’s best gifts—from King Richard to the the Friends reunion special.
King Richard (2021)
A highly anticipated film biopic drama film, King Richard is about Richard Williams, the father and coach of Venus and Serena Williams. It stars Will Smith in the lead with the two legendary tennis siblings played by Aunjanue Ellis and Saniyya Sidney. It focuses on the family’s journey as they navigate the world of tennis and try to reach the heights of the sport. Will Smith has been greatly appreciated in his role and performance as Richard Williams. The film brings to life the true and inspiring story of the William sisters and about their undeterred father. A driven man who was instrumental in taking his talented and gifted daughter from the streets of Compton, California to the global recognition of multiple grand slam winners.
Land (2021)
A drama about a bereaved woman seeking out a new life. The film is directed by and starring Robin Wright in her feature film directorial debut. The film is about a lawyer who attempts to find solace living in a cabin out in the in the wilderness. A decision taken after a horrible tragedy occurs. Robin who has earlier proved her acting credentials in films like Forrest Gump and Message in a Bottle, has been widely appreciated for her directorial work on this film.
Dune
Dune is available to watch if you are still unsure of going back to a movie theater. This adaptation of the sci-fi classic stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac and Josh Brolin. It centers on two powerful families fighting over the planet Arrakis. A gifted young man must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over a precious resource, only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
The Many Saints of Newark
A prequel to the HBO show which ran from 1999 to 2007 as a six season series. The TV show followed family man Tony Soprano struggling to juggle being a good father and a mob boss in the waning Mafia era. The many Saints of Newark is about the making of Tony Soprano – the struggles that he faced and the influence that his family had over him which drove him to becoming the most iconic mob boss of all time. It stars Alessandro Nivola and Michael Gandolfini as Tony, the character originally played by his father James Gandolfini, in the series
Tenet
Even though this Christopher Nolan film was released last year, it does not mean that it does not make for a fantastic movie night on HBO Max. Most Nolan films are not easily comprehendible watching it just once. So it might be good idea to watch it in the comfort of your home with the luxury and possibility of rewind and pause so that you can better understand the storyline of a Nolan film, which can be a challenge at first. The film is about saving the world armed with only one word – Tenet. The protagonist attempts to save the world, while journeying through a world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. The film stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh. Being a Chrisotpher Nolan film should be a good enough reason, but the film is one of HBO Max’s best movies.
Shiva Baby
Shiva Baby is a 2020 comedy film written and directed by Emma Seligman. Her film debut is a notable achievement and is heady mix of comedy and horror. The story follows the life of young slacker and her sojourn navigating a tricky afternoon with friends, family, and ex-lovers. While attending a Jewish funeral service with her parents, Danielle played by Rachel Sennot, has an awkward encounter with her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend. Shiva Baby transcends its sitcom setup with strong performances and satisfying insights. The film narrates the story of tightly knit families and communities, and the comfort and anguish they are often subjected to. Seligman structures the film expertly and is one of the good movies to watch on HBO Max.
Bad Education
There are those films that should be watched without having done any research about them. For the less you know about Bad Education before you watch it, the better it will be to enjoy the film. We do not want to give away any spoilers but be prepared to get shocked by the corruption that a simple high school journalism story can reveal. The film also exposes the hilarious extent to which people can go to avoid accountability. The story is about a beloved superintendent of New York’s Roslyn school district and his staff, friends and relatives and how they become the prime suspects in the discovery of the single largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history. Directed by Corin Finley, the film’s cast includes Hugh Jackman, Ray Romano and Welker White. It is a highly interesting and entertaining film, based on a true story and one of the best movies on HBO.
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
To have a reasonably balanced mix of movies which includes both new and old, the list would not be complete if it didn’t have one of the greatest Westerns ever made. This masterpiece by Serigo Leone gets you hooked to the intense story from the opening scene itself. The brilliant opening with the wordless introduction of the three protagonists – Blondie, Angel Eyes, and Tuco. The three men in a search for buried treasure and their escapades. It is an epic film which remains fresh even today. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly not only establishes the mastery of Leon’s cinematography, it also boasts of an all-time great musical score from Ennio Morricone. The lead cast of Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef is brilliant with the three lead performers commanding the screen equally. This 1966 classic is one of the most loved Spaghetti Westerns of all time and contains all the style and violence that the genre has become known for. A definitive classic film that made Clint Eastwood’s name synonymous with a gun slinging cowboy and definitely one of the best movies on HBO Max.
Harry Potter Series
An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Harry Potter films – eight in all, were released between 2001 and 2011 and based on the eponymous novels by J.K. Rowling. The eight film series brought to life the beloved books on the silver screen very authentically and was appreciated by millions of Harry Potter readers and fans which cut across generations. The Harry Potter films are considered to have helped redefine the Hollywood blockbuster in the 21st century by initiating a shift toward franchises forming the basis of successful films. The films are also credited with signaling the popularity of films based on children’s literature. If you have missed out on the Harry Potter mania, perhaps you may want to do a movie marathon with the complete series which are amongst the top HBO Max movies.
Wonder Woman
We cannot leave out a superhero film from the DC universe and what better way than to have one of the most successful movies that tells the story of heroism of its female superhero. Patty Jenkins crafted a terrific origin story for Diana’s first lead outing on the big screen. The story puts the Amazonian (Gal Gadot) into World War I where she goes hunting for Ares, the God of War, to try and bring peace to mankind. However, her journey has her confronting the world in all its beauty and terror while also falling for pilot Steve Trevor. The cast of the film includes Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, and Elena Anaya. The film had the difficult task of establishing a feminist icon, but Jenkins pulls it off with style. Wonder Woman has many virtues which include Gal Gadot’s brilliant performance, pieces of mythology, good humor and loads of action, which makes it one of the best movies on HBO Max from the recent times.
FAQs:
If you suffer from the problem of plenty and are looking for help then here is a list of the top movies on HBO Max. Instead of wasting time surfing the platform, your best bet is to refer to the list in the article to find the movies that interests you most.
If you are daunted by the over 600 movies available to stream on HBO Max, we can help you in this somewhat impossible task. In the article here we have put together a curated list of the absolute best movies on HBO Max.
In the list given above, there will be some films that you may have heard of but haven’t watched and there may also be some that you may have already seen countless times. Whatever may be the case, this list would be a good guide for all movie lovers.
Ranging from cult classics to the most recent superhero film, this list gives you a balanced mix of films that should appeal to young and old alike. Take a pick from the best of the films available on HBO Max.
The platform boasts of one of the best streaming libraries of films in the world. It certainly has the largest catalog of films that not only includes HBO original content but also an extensive Warner Bros. library of classic films. With such a huge selection of films at your disposal, it will be criminal to choose just one film.
