Max, previously known as HBO Max, has plenty of movies. There are so many movies that it’s almost impossible to keep up with the constant changes that are happening. But, today, we are not going to focus on the best movies to stream on the platform, or the best TV shows that you can watch – no, today we are focusing specifically on the best original movies on Max.
That’s right, I’m talking about the movies that are only on Max – or were made exclusively for Max before they ended up being available to rent somewhere else. No, I am not referring to those movies like King Richard or even Dune, but ones that were exclusively available to Max for a time and made as “Max Originals.”
Turtles All The Way Down (2024)
Director: Hannah Marks
Cast: Isabela Merced, Cree, Felic Mallard
Plot: A teenager who suffers with OCD takes it upon herself, with the help of her friend, to figure out what happened to a billionaire who just vanished out of thin air.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: I could go on for hours about why Turtles All The Way Down is a great pick for one of the best Max original movies. It perfectly captures my anxiety in high school, and teaches a lot of bold lessons about mental health that many people don’t know. Truly worth the watch.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller
Plot: Zack Snyder’s Justice League is exactly what you think it is – it is the director’s vision that he had for Justice League before he had to leave the project. Now, fans get to see the story of the famed Justice League, featuring superheroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and more, all teaming together to fight off an extraterrestrial enemy.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: Is this film ridiculously long? Yes, yes it is. You will need to carve out so much time to watch all of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Is it worth it? In my eyes, totally. I’m not as huge of a fan of DC, but I gave this a shot and loved the heck out of it.
Caddo Lake (2024)
Director: Celine Held, Logan George
Cast: Dylan O’Brien, Eliza Scanlen, Diana Hopper, Caroline Falk, Sam Hennings, Eric Lange, Lauren Ambrose
Plot: The disappearance of a little girl changes everything for one family when they start to connect past disappearances to the ones now.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: When I tell you this movie is not what you expect, I mean it with my whole heart. You will have no idea what you are getting into the moment you watch this film, and that’s what makes it one of the best to watch – it’s a total, thrilling surprise. And the Caddo Lake ending is one to remember.
Santa Camp (2022)
Director: Nick Sweeney
Plot: Santa Camp is a documentary that focuses on a training camp where people learn how to play Santa, Mrs. Claus, his elves, and everything else, run by an actual company called the New England Santa Society, and their push to try and have more diversity for these portrayals.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: There’s just something about seeing a bunch of people train to be Santa Claus that genuinely fills me with a joy I never knew. Not only that, but it really does show how they’re trying to get everyone to feel better represented by the famous character – it’s a great look into the behind the scenes world of Santa portrayals.
Am I Ok? (2024)
Director: Tig Notaro, Stephanie Allyne
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon
Plot: When one best friend reveals to the other that she is moving, the other tells a secret that she has been keeping for a long time, which throws their friendship all over the place in this comedy-drama.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: I’m usually the biggest supporter of comedy-dramas but I have to say the main thing that I love the most about this is Johnson and Mizuno’s chemistry. You believe these girls are best friends, and it makes the movie that much more enjoyable. Will recommend 100/10.
Let Them All Talk (2022)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, Gemma Chan, Lucas Hedges, Dianne Wiest
Plot: An author, who is in declining health, decides to take a voyage across the sea in order to receive an award, and along the way, she goes on an incredible journey with her family and friends.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: Aside from the film starring the impeccably talented Meryl Streep, this film is a testament to all of these actor’s talents, because a lot of the dialogue is actually improvised – and somehow, this movie still flows impressively well and tells a really good story.
A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
Director: Clay Kaytis
Cast: Peter Billingsley, Erin Hayes, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, Zack Ward, Julie Hagerty
Plot: Ralphie is all grown up and with his own family, but when tragedy strikes, he returns to his hometown and attempts to make it the best Christmas ever for his family, just like his father would have done.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: Legacy sequels rarely good – but this movie is so unbelievably heartwarming that I was blown away by how much fun I was having watching it. If you have any attachment to the first film, then definitely check out A Christmas Story Christmas.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts (2022)
Director: Casey Patterson, Joe Pearlman, Giorgio Testi, Eran Creevy
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, others from the Harry Potter cast
Plot: The cast of Harry Potter comes back twenty years after the first film premiered to celebrate the legacy of the films they left behind.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: Okay, so as a Potterhead, I feel inclined to say that while this isn’t a sequel to the Harry Potter films, as it’s a reunion of actors, I love this TV movie so much. I think it perfectly captures what it’s like to love Harry Potter, and it’s the perfect way to bring the cast back together for something as special as this.
Father Of The Bride (2022)
Director: Gaz Alazraki
Cast: Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, Isabela Merced, Diego Boneta, Chloe Fineman
Plot: This film is exactly what you would expect – another version of the classic, Father of the Bride, it follows a father who is struggling to deal with his little girl growing up and marrying someone, as well as her hectic wedding, while having to deal with everyone else around him.
Why It’s One Of The Best Max Originals: While I personally don’t think anything can beat the version of Father of the Bride starring Steve Martin, I actually really love this one. The chemistry with the whole family is great, the story is heartwarming, and you’ll find yourself smiling the whole time.
There are plenty of movies to enjoy on the platform, but I do think these are some that are worthy of being checked out, and who knows what other films are going to end up making this list soon enough.
