What are the best movies on Max that you can watch right now? Well, there is a lot to pick from as there’s a case to be made that Max (formerly HBO Max) is the best streaming service for films. Thanks to the Turner Classic Movies hub and a century of Warner Bros. films at its disposal, Max has plenty of iconic old movies right next to big, blockbuster releases.
It’s got great franchises like Harry Potter, the best DC movies, the MonsterVerse; and it's the streaming home of Hayao Miyazaki’s many masterpieces thanks to a deal with Studio Ghibli. Basically, Max has a little — and in many cases a lot — of everything. That makes picking just 10 of the best movies a bit of a challenge. But, if you’re getting lost in the streamer’s library, you can’t go wrong firing up any of these films below.
So, after going through multiple genres and franchises, here are 10 of the best movies on Max that you can watch right now.
10. The Martian
Year: 2015
Director: Ridley Scott
In the not-too-distant future, an accident at NASA's Mars base has left astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) stranded and presumed dead. Now, Watney will have to use all his intelligence and cunning to keep himself alive on the Red Planet and somehow find a way to contact home — and then survive long enough should a rescue mission arrive against all odds.
The Martian is simply two hours of smart, attractive people solving problems with wit and charm. The stakes are high, but the vibes are immaculate in Ridley Scott’s star-studded sci-fi drama, which is perhaps the most purely watchable movie on this list.
For more information on one of the best sci-fi movies available on streaming, read our The Martian review.
9. Barbie
Year: 2023
Director: Greta Gerwig
Despite being massively popular across generations, Barbie dolls don’t exactly have an inherent narrative that you’d think would make for a good film. And yet, Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie (who produced Barbie in addition to playing the title character) pulled off something of a miracle, as Barbie is whip-smart, funny, and tremendously relevant, exploring heavy issues with earnest deftness.
When Barbie starts having thoughts about death and other things that do not belong in the pink paradise of Barbieland, she ventures into the real world (joined by a scene-stealing Ryan Reynolds as Ken). Once there, she discovers the true complexities of being a woman, just as Ken learns about the highs and ultimate lows of the patriarchy. Barbie will make you laugh and weep in ways you might not have expected.
If you want a tour of this Dream House of a film, check out our Barbie review.
8. Singin’ in the Rain
Year: 1952
Director: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen
A candy-colored view into Hollywood history, Singin' in the Rain is a charming musical comedy about a silent film star in the '20s who must navigate the transition to talkies while also striking up a new romance. Gene Kelly, one of the most talented dancers ever to grace the silver screen, stars in addition to his directing and choreographing duties.
His Don Lockwood is one of cinema's most charming leading men. Debbie Reynolds co-stars as an aspiring actress who becomes tangled with Don following a memorable meet-cute. The story is delightful, but it’s the many song and dance numbers that have cemented Singin' in the Rain's place in cinema history, most notably the titular number, which Kelly famously filmed while suffering from a high fever as he cavorted without a care in the world amidst a torrential downpour.
7. The Social Network
Year: 2010
Director: David Fincher
The movie that defined the 2010s came out just nine months into the decade. Written by Aaron Sorkin, who delivers some of his best dialog ever, The Social Network follows Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and the creation of Facebook. It’s a gripping, hauntingly entertaining story about hubris, and it deftly foreshadows the pandora’s box Zuckerberg’s creation would unleash despite Facebook’s petty origins.
The Social Network, despite largely being a movie about people sitting in front of their computers coding or glaring at each other from across a conference room table, is effortlessly propulsive, in part thanks to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ looming score. It’s also a masterclass of acting and screenwriting, as evidenced by the opening scene between Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg and his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, played by Rooney Mara. It’s nothing but a fast-moving conversation between two people, and yet it’s one of the most action-packed scenes you’ll ever watch.
6. Parasite
Year: 2019
Director: Bong Joon-Ho
Parasite made history when it became the first non-English language film to win Best Picture at the Oscars, a stunning (and welcomed!) surprise given the Academy’s stodgy tendencies. But Parasite, a dark and somewhat twisted Korean black comedy about inequality, was just that undeniable. So, obviously, it had to make our list of the best movies on Max!
The Kim family lives in relative squalor in Seoul, working any odd job they can in an attempt to make enough money to get by. But, when Kim Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) snags a job under false pretences working as an English tutor for a very rich family, he soon connives to get the rest of his family employed as well. The Kims become parasites of a sort, but the socio-economic ladder stretches far lower. To reveal anything more about Parasite’s twists and turns would be a disservice. Cross the "1-inch barrier" of subtitles, as director Bong put it at the Oscars, to see the depths of this modern masterpiece.
For more information, read our five-star Parasite review on this must-watch.
5. Casablanca
Year: 1942
Director: Michael Curtiz
Sometimes old movies that are widely regarded as 'Great Film'" can feel a bit like homework to younger audiences. Rest assured, Casablanca is not that, as the World War II classic above love, loss, and resistance is a thoroughly engaging watch all these many decades later. To watch Casablanca for the first time is to understand why all those quotes (such as, "Here’s lookin' at you, kid") are so iconic.
The film follows Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine, an American expat who runs a bar in the titular Moroccan city, which is under Vichy control as the Nazis have overtaken France. Then, of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) walks into his looking for help. Rick must decide if he should follow his heart or help Ilsa’s husband, a resistance leader, escape the Germans. It’s worth remembering that World War II was ongoing when Casablanca came out in 1942, meaning the outcome of the war was uncertain, adding an extra level of poignancy to the film.
Need more classics in your life? Well, read our Casablanca review for more insights into this Max gem.
4. The Exorcist
Year: 1973
Director: William Friedkin
One of the best horror movies ever made is also one of the scariest. Director William Friedkin and screenwriter William Peter Blatty, who was adapting his own 1971 book of the same name, crafted a perfectly terrifying and stomach-churning tale of faith and evil.
A demon has possessed an innocent 12-year-old girl (Linda Blair, whose nomination for Best Supporting Actress was one of the nine Oscar nominations The Exorcist received, a rare feat for a horror movie). Her mother, played by Ellen Burstyn, is an actress living in Washington DC who understandably wants to protect her child but has no idea how to address — or even comprehend — her terrifying affliction. She turns to two Catholic priests who attempt to perform an exorcism in the movie’s iconic, head-spinning climax.
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Years: 2001-2003
Director: Peter Jackson
Yes, including the whole trilogy technically brings this list of 10 movies up to a dozen, but how can you pick just one movie when The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King collectively make up some of the greatest epic filmmaking of all time? I mean, are you actually watching Tolkien if you don't watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order during a single sitting?
A true adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy saga was once thought unfilmable, but Peter Jackson somehow pulled it off. He did this by using cutting-edge special effects, thoughtful adapting of Tolkien's books, an incredible score from Howard Shore, and a fantastic cast whose likes included Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, and many more. Depicting the Fellowship’s quest to defeat the ultimate evil of Sauron by trekking across Middle-earth is an astounding and moving cinematic achievement.
2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Year: 2000
Director: Ang Lee
Wuxia martial arts movies are a long and storied genre, but many Western audiences were likely unfamiliar with them and the heights they could reach until Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which became an international sensation when it came out in 2000. For a time, it was the highest-grossing foreign-language movie in the United States and achieved breakthrough Oscars success.
The story follows legendary warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat), who returns home and reunites with his friend (Michelle Yeoh), a great warrior in her own right. The two share feelings that they’ve never acted on, but before they get a chance, a young noblewoman steals Mu Bai’s famed sword. It’s an agonizingly beautiful tale of heartbreak featuring several of the most incredible fight scenes ever put to film. Truly, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has it all and is easily one of the best action movies on Max right now.
1. Spirited Away
Year: 2001
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
In all honesty, this list could probably just be 10 of Miyazaki’s movies, and it would still work as a list of the 10 best movies on Max. But as much as Porco Rosso is slept on and worth watching, we’d be kidding ourselves if we put anything but Spirited Away, the greatest of his many great works.
The film follows a young girl named Chihiro who gets trapped in a fantastical world of spirits. Forced to work at an ornate bathhouse run by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro must learn how to find strength within herself if she ever hopes to escape (and to rescue her parents, who have been transformed into pigs). Magical, moving, and absolutely gorgeous, Spirited Away regularly gets named as one of the greatest best anime movies of all time, and for good reason.
For more details on the best Max movie that you can watch right now, read our Spirited Away review.
For more on Max, check out our handy guide on all the deals and prices available on the streamer right now. Or, if you are after more releases, we also have a list of all the upcoming movies heading our way this year.
