HBO Max (or MAX, to be precise) is currently one of the most popular streaming services on the market. In 2022, it recorded a whopping 73.8 million subscribers worldwide, making it one of the leading players in the field. This, of course, comes as no surprise to anyone, as the platform is known for its wide selection of original series, licensed shows, and great movies.
Today we’ll show you what kind of content you can expect when you subscribe to HBO Max, through our list of the absolute best movies available on the platform.
A Brief Introduction to MAX
MAX is a streaming service formerly known as HBO Max, which was initially launched in 2020, but recently underwent a major rebranding. It’s owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, one of the world’s largest production companies, and currently has nearly 80 million subscribers worldwide, making it one of the leading platforms of its kind.
How Much Is MAX?
Due to the frequent changes taking place on the platform, it is often difficult for users to figure out how much the services offered by MAX actually cost. Fortunately, we’re coming to the rescue.
So, access to MAX is subscription-based, and the currently available plans are as follows:
- With Ads – $9.99/month or $99.99/year
- Ad-Free – $15.99/month or $149.99/year
- Ultimate Ad-Free – $19.99/month or $199.99/year
Top 8 Best Movies on MAX
Now that we’ve gone through all the basics about MAX, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty, which is the list of the best movies available on the platform.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Wanting to start off our list with something really strong, we decided to insert a true cinematic classic – the Lord of the Rings trilogy – in the first place. When Peter Jackson took on the task of depicting one of the world’s most popular fantasy books, it was hard to predict what the result would be. Fortunately, it turned out that his reimagining of the adventures of hobbits roaming Middle-earth was worth a record number of Academy Awards and 5 more films ( if you count The Hobbit ). And even though there is no way to watch these masterpieces on big cinema screens anymore, viewing them at home is a great substitute. That’s why all loyal LOTR fans will be incredibly happy to learn that their favorite series is waiting for them on MAX.
Aftersun
Aftersun is the newest film on our list, having only come out in 2022. Directed by Charlotte Wells, this indie drama is a truly honest and touching depiction of a young father’s relationship with his daughter. It tackles topics such as depression and parental love, which will cause many to shed a few tears while watching this masterpiece. That said, we believe that everyone should see Aftersun at least once to gain a new perspective on life, and to experience Paul Mescal’s amazing acting, which earned him his first Oscar nomination ever.
The Harry Potter Series
These films need no introduction. Harry Potter is a series that everyone knows, whether they were children, adults, or teenagers (or not born at all) when it first appeared in theaters. The adventures of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and other friends are something we always like to return to, because it gives us a sense of comfort, and on top of that, it takes us to a magical wizarding world, full of mysterious puzzles and touching stories. What’s more, we can also watch there an exclusive reunion of the stellar cast, which was shot 20 years after the first film hit the big screens. It just goes to show how much everyone wants to return to the world of Harry Potter and experience its charm once again. No wonder that when MAX put these movies on its platform, the number of its subscribers skyrocketed overnight.
Don’t Worry Darling
Don’t Worry Darling is the directorial debut of actress Olivia Wilde, which had its premiere last year. The plot tells the story of a little paradise-like town, which is located in an area resembling Palm Springs, California. Its residents all work for a mysterious company and lead similar lifestyles, which on the surface might seem normal if it weren’t for the strange things that start happening. This is a truly novel story, with Florence Pugh and Harry Styles (who makes his first film debut as a lead) playing the lead roles. Don’t Worry Darling is a must-see item, which is worth watching at least to evaluate all the directorial and acting displays.
Elvis
Elvis is a well-known figure around the world, regardless of the generation he came from. No wonder, then, that when the news broke that Moulin Rouge creator Baz Luhrmann had decided to make a film adaptation of his life story, the whole world squealed with excitement. And thus Elvis, starring Austin Burler, hit the big screens last year. Needless to say, it became an instant hit and conquered the box office. In fact, the film also earned several Oscar nominations. What’s more, it was accompanied by an exciting soundtrack that conquered the charts around the world. Everyone should watch Elvis at least once, whether they are a fan or not.
Dark Knight Rises
What do you get when you add Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy and Christopher Nolan? An instant and timeless hit. That was the case with Dark Night Raises, the last film that Nolan made for DC. Faithful comic book fans know that these were simultaneously the only truly successful film adaptations of the adventures of this world-famous superhero. Since then, the DC film universe has significantly deteriorated in the quality of its releases, which is why we are always eager to return to this iconic series of movies. Fortunately, MAX provides its subscribers with constant access and a reminder that Batman’s story can actually be well portrayed on the big screen.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Continuing the controversial topic of DC movies, we want to talk about something that has caused quite a buzz among movie buffs worldwide. In 2017, Zack Snyder was the person responsible for the film Justice League, which was supposed to start a new chapter in the rather infamous history of DC superhero films. Unfortunately, when the production hit theaters, it quickly turned out to be quite a disappointment, and fans of the director were incredibly let down. However, it soon came to light that the final cut that made it to the screens was far from what Snyder wanted to create, and the version hailed as a “Snyder cut” was supposed to look very different. And so viewers around the world launched an entire petition to get Warner to release the original film and let fans enjoy the story that the director wanted to present. Years later, a nearly four-hour Zack Snyder’s Cut of Justice League appeared on HBO Max, which is worth seeing if only for the incredible history behind it.
Navalny
Navalny is the only documentary film on our list, but we can confirm that it is on it for a reason. In the movie, director Daniel Roher tells the true story of the Russian opposition leader who fought to end corruption, Alexei Anatolievich Navalny. His life was full of amazing and at the same time extremely sad events that showed how much he cared about his country, despite the dangers that came with it. In addition, the feature also covers the story of his poisoning and eventual death in a Russian prison. We guarantee that while watching Navalny, you will not be able to believe your own eyes. It is one of the best films of our time.
Conclusions
These 8 films are not only the best titles available on MAX, but the best films available in general. Collectively, they have multiple Oscar nominations (including best picture), dozens of world-class actors and a lineup of outstanding directors. So whether you already have access to the streaming service, give them a shot and give yourself the best possible movie marathon at your own home.
