Max, formerly known as HBO Max, is one of the best streaming services out there and has a ton of great movies, which can make the process of deciding on one a difficult task. There are so many films you can see with a Max subscription, and as of February 20252025, so many have been added, like Taxi Driver, The Notebook and more. Here is what you can check out.
Intense Dramas
For the times you want to be on the edge of your seat:
The Zone Of Interest (2023)
The Director: Jonathan Glazer
The Cast: Christian Friedel, Sandra Huller
What It's About: This movie focuses on the life of an Auschwitz commandant, and how he and his family live in the “Zone of Interest,” an area around the concentration camp.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The film won Best International Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards and was praised for its story and sound.
Civil War (2024)
The Director: Alex Garland
The Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Jesse Plemons, Stephen McKinley Henderson
What It's About: Civil War is a dystopian thriller film that follows the story of photojournalists, both professionals and a rookie, who travel across a United States that has been torn apart by a civil war, and the horrors they face, all to interview one person – the president.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Civil War is hands down one of the best films of 2024, and it’s by A24, which rarely ever misses in the films they distribute.
The Iron Claw (2023)
The Director: Sean Durkin
The Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson
What It's About: The Iron Claw is based on the real-life wrestling family known as the Von Erichs, and how they suffered tragedy after tragedy while in the professional sport.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This is a film that will emotionally gut you by the end, but you’ll thank yourself for it. It’s beautifully acted and well-shot.
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
The Director: F. Gary Gray
The Cast: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Michell, Paul Giamatti
What It's About: Straight Outta Compton is a biographical drama about the rise of one of the most famous and influential hip-hip groups ever, N.W.A., and their fall.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: There are music groups that change the world, and then there’s N.W.A., a hip-hip group so influential in today’s modern scene of music that it would be a crime not to watch a movie about who they are. Give it a shot if you haven’t.
Prisoners (2013)
The Director: Denis Villeneuve
The Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano
What It's About: After two girls are abducted in Pennsylvania, a suspect is released back to the public, and one of the fathers decides to take matters into his own hands and hunt him down.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I personally think Prisoners is one of Hugh Jackman’s best performances, and you will be riveted by the end of it. The movie is thrilling from beginning to end.
Malcolm X (1992)
The Director: Spike Lee
The Cast: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr.
What It's About: Malcolm X tells the story of the African-American activist Malcolm X and his role in the civil rights movement, documenting his life.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Arguably, Malcolm X is one of Spike Lee’s best movies, and was nominated for two Academy Awards.
A Different Man (2024)
The Director: Aaron Schimberg
The Cast: Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson
What It's About: A man with Neurofibromatosis undergoes a surgery to change his face forever only for the procedure to bring up past insecurities.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: A24 rarely misses when it comes to many of their dramatic films, and A Different Man is right up there with its compelling story and incredible lead performance from Sebastian Stan. It even won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor - Musical or Comedy in 2025.
Powerful, Emotional Dramas
For the dramas that make you laugh, cry, and more…
Taxi Driver (1976)
The Director: Martin Scorsese
The Cast: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, Cybill Shepherd
What It's About: Travis Bickle is a former Marine who takes a job as a taxi driver in New York City, and as the world around him continues to crumble, so does his mental state.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, I think if you think of Martin Scorsese, there are a few films that instantly come to mind for the brilliant director, and Taxi Driver is one of them. It’s an iconic movie with even better performances and if for some reason you haven’t seen it, you need to check it out now.
The Imitation Game (2014)
The Director: Morten Tyldum
The Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance, Mark Strong
What It's About: Based on the autobiography, Alan Turing: The Enigma, this film follows the story of the real-life game cryptanalyst Alan Turing and how he and a team decrypted German intelligence messages and essentially created one of the world’s first modern computers.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Nominated for several awards in many different ceremonies, The Imitation Game is one of those films that really captures your interest the moment you watch it, and by the end, you’ve not only learned something new but want to learn more after.
The Color Purple (2024)
The Director: Blitz Bazawule
The Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins
What It's About: Based on the stage musical of the same name, which is based on the 1982 novel, The Color Purple is a movie musical about the life of Celie, an African American woman in the early 1900s trying to make a life for herself over time and dealing with domestic abuse at home.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The movie earned several Academy Award nominations, and features some of the best performances of 2023. You have to check it out if you love musicals.
King Richard (2021)
The Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green
The Cast: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, Jon Bernthal
What It's About: King Richard tells the story of Richard Williams (Smith), the father of famous tennis duo, Serena and Venus Williams, and the struggles he went through to see his daughters become the best tennis players in the world.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Starring Academy Award-winner Will Smith, King Richard features the actor in his best role, and is the story that shows the beautiful kind of resilience that we all need.
Priscilla (2023)
The Director: Sofia Coppola
The Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi
What It's About: Priscilla is a biographical drama that tells the story of Priscilla Presley, the legendary wife of Elvis Presley, following the tale of how they met, fell in love, and navigated their complicated relationship until their divorce.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The movie received critical praise for its acting performances and Spaeny shines as Priscilla.
I, Tonya (2017)
The Director: Craig Gillespie
The Cast: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney
What It's About: I, Tonya tells the real story of Tonya Hardin, a former figure skater and her journey to want to be the best in the world until it all came crashing down in 1994 when she is connected to an assault on her rival.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I love this film. I’m not even a huge fan of figure skating but this movie is compelling and the story will have you on the edge of your seat so quickly. Robbie gives the performance of her life – a role she really should have won an Oscar for.
Sully (2016)
The Director: Clint Eastwood
The Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney
What It's About: Based on the inspiring true story, Sully tells the story of real-life pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and how he saved all the passengers of his flight when he had to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: When I first saw Sully back in 2016, it was one of those films that really opened my eyes to a story that I didn’t fully know, and it’s a quick movie that flies by while also delivering compelling performances from its cast.
Romantic Rendezvous
From dramatic romances to funny ones, these are the romance movies for you:
Eat Pray Love (2010)
The Director: Ryan Murphy
The Cast: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, Javier Bardem
What It's About: Based on the memoir of the same name, Eat Pray Love follows a woman who looks for fulfillment in life after ending her marriage, and decides to travel the world.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I think if you’re ever looking for something that’s romantic but also has a touch of self-love as well, this is the movie for you. You can’t get much better than Julia Roberts in a romantic drama.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
The Director: Rose Glass
The Cast: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian
What It's About: Love Lies Bleeding follows a young woman who owns a gym but is secretly part of a huge crime family. She gets tangled up in a romantic relationship with a female bodybuilder, and drama ensues once the bodybuilder finds out what is going on.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Love Lies Bleeding features an amazing LGBTQ+ storyline that somehow breaks barriers and also keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Plus, Stewart and O’Brian’s acting is top tier.
Casablanca (1942)
The Director: Michael Curtiz
The Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingred Bergman
What It's About: An American expatriate who runs a successful nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco, is given a second shot at redemption and love when his old flame waltzes back into his life and asks him to help her fugitive husband escape the Nazis once and for all.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: One of the greatest films to ever win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Casablanca has it all: drama, romance, action, and one of the most quotable lines ever. I mean, do you need me to go on?
The Notebook (2004)
The Director: Nick Cassavetes
The Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, Gena Rowlands, James Marsden, Kevin Connolly, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen
What It's About: Based on the novel of the same name, The Notebook follows the story of a couple from two different worlds who fall in love in the 1940s and how their love brings them back together each time.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, it’s The Notebook. Do I have to go into detail about why you should watch this film? I’m quite sure that it’s one of the most iconic romantic dramas of all time. Check it out.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
The Director: Jon M. Chu
The Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Michelle Yeoh
What It's About: A Chinese-American professor travels to Singapore with her boyfriend only to find out that his family over there isn’t normal – they are incredibly rich.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I think Crazy Rich Asians is one of those films that everyone has to watch at least once. The romance in it is top-tier, with some expert-level chemistry and acting, but the comedy aspect is really what makes it so great. Plus, the cast is outstanding.
Pretty Woman (1990)
The Director: Garry Marshall
The Cast: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts
What It's About: Pretty Woman is a rom-com that follows the story of a rich man hiring a sex worker for a week in order to pretend to be his date for several upcoming social events, and the relationship that grows from there.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Pretty Woman is hands down one of Julia Roberts’ best romantic comedies, and features one of the best romances on the big screen, mixed in with some steamy chemistry.
Fun Comedies
Get ready for your tummy to hurt from laughing so much:
Modern Times (1936)
The Director: Charlie Chaplin
The Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman
What It's About: Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 silent movie classic, Modern Times, follows the Tramp (Chaplin) as he attempts to make sense of the technologically-advanced world around him and stay out of trouble, failing at both.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, it’s Charlie Chaplin. How can I not recommend him? There are some of his other films on the platform but I’ll always stand by Modern Times as the best.
The Hangover (2009)
The Director: Todd Phillips
The Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor
What It's About: When a bachelor party goes wrong and the groom winds up missing, it’s up to three groomsmen teaming up together to look for him across Las Vegas before the wedding.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: It’s The Hangover. It’s pretty much considered one of the best comedy movies of the 2000s. I would be a fool not to recommend it to you. It’s hilarious and great to watch with friends.
Teen Wolf (1985)
The Director: Rod Daniel
The Cast: Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Scott Paulin, Susan Ursitti, Jerry Levine, Jay Tarses
What It's About: A teenager suddenly finds his ordinary world turned upside down when he turns into a werewolf.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, I think when we remember the most iconic films of the 1980s, Teen Wolf is probably up there for it being one of Michael J. Fox’s biggest movies. It’s funny, a great coming-of-age story, and honestly one that plenty of people can enjoy – and it’s not even scary.
The Birdcage (1996)
The Director: Mike Nichols
The Cast: Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dianne Wiest
What It's About: The Birdcage follows a couple who are set to get married, but the son has a pair of gay parents, and the daughter has a pair of conservative parents (one of whom is a senator). Now, the two sets must meet – and it causes a whirlwind of drama and hilarity.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Robin Williams again takes the cake in this hilarious film, and will surely keep you laughing for hours on end by the time it’s over.
Keanu (2016)
The Director: Peter Atencio
The Cast: Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Method Man, Luis Guzman, Nia Long, Will Forte
What It's About: Two cousins go on the ultimate adventure when a kitten is stolen and they do anything to get him back – including getting tangled up with criminals.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This movie is so. Freaking. Funny. I stand by it every time I watch it because I think Peele and Key just have the best chemistry out there. Anyone who hasn’t seen it needs to.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
The Director: Nicholas Stoller
The Cast: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand
What It's About: Forgetting Sarah Marshall follows a young man who attempts to get away to Hawaii when his girlfriend suddenly breaks up with him – only for him to run into her on vacation, with her new boyfriend.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The film is hands down one Segel’s best movies, and features some hilarious gags that are famous to this day.
Beetlejuice (1988)
The Director: Tim Burton
The Cast: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones
What It's About: Beetlejuice follows the story of a married couple who become trapped in their home as ghosts after they suddenly pass away. When a new family moves in, they want to scare them out, so they turn to a ‘bio-exorcist’ known as Betelgeuse in order to get the humans to leave – but it turns upside down once they find out how messed up this paranormal entity is.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: With a new sequel out, now is the time to watch the first and laugh your butt off at Keaton’s hysterical comedic delivery.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
The Director: Edgar Wright
The Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman
What It's About: Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the titular character, Scott Pilgrim, must face off against the seven evil exes in order to be with his new girlfriend, Ramona Flowers.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This film is an absolute classic, especially now fifteen years later. The action is fun, the comedy is great, and it’s an all-around entertaining time.
Intense Horrors
These are the kinds of horrors that you might want to leave the light on for:
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
The Director: Lee Cronin
The Cast: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, Nell Fisher
What It's About: Evil Dead Rise is the latest installment in the Evil Dead franchise, this time following the story of a mother who is possessed by the Deadites in that famed demonic book, and causing chaos for her sister and children on the same night.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The film was a critical success – and even if you haven’t seen an Evil Dead movie before, this one is good for a solo watch for any horror fan.
MaXXXine (2024)
The Director: Ti West
The Cast: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan
What It's About: The final part of the X trilogy, MaXXXine follows Maxine as she makes her way to Hollywood and finds herself in the middle of someone else’s killing spree – someone who is looking to kill her next.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: You could check out X or Pearl prior, but MaXXXine takes the gore to another level and is fun as heck.
The Conjuring (2013)
The Director: James Wan
The Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingsgon, Lili Taylor
What It's About: Based on the real-life haunts, The Conjuring tells the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, two paranormal investigators, and their experience in a house on Rhode Island that is overcome with disturbing events.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I remember when The Conjuring first released back in 2013, it was all everyone could talk about, and now, The Conjuring universe is still going strong, twelve years later, with a final film releasing in 2025, The Conjuring: Last Rites. You should certainly check it out if you haven’t yet for the frights.
Sinister (2012)
The Director: Scott Derrickson
The Cast: Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson, James Ransone
What It's About: Sinister is a horror film that follows the story of a true-crime writer who begins to experience supernatural events after moving his family into a new home, only to find out that there’s more to this house than he thought, including plenty of murder.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Sinister is certainly one of Ethan Hawke’s best movies, but truthfully you should just watch it for how utterly horrifying this film is and how quickly it gets under your skin.
Not So Intense Horrors
For the ones who need a light horror day:
The Lighthouse (2019)
The Director: Robert Eggers
The Cast: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe
What It's About: The Lighthouse follows the story of two lighthouse keepers in the nineteenth century, and how a storm one night changes their lives forever.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Look, this is a Robert Eggers film. That means you know it’ll be visually stunning but also trippy as heck and will certainly make you say “huh?” a couple times while watching. But let me tell you that this is the kind of horror that is not aimed to scare, but make you uncomfortable and freaked out. And I eat it up each time I watch it.
I Saw The TV Glow (2024)
The Director: Jane Schoenbrun
The Cast: Justice Smith, Bridgette Lundy-Paine, Helena Howard
What It's About: I Saw The TV Glow follows two high school students who bond over their connection to a children’s show that they love, but things in their lives begin to take a turn when the show is cancelled.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: As I said before, A24 doesn’t miss with its horror movies, so this is a great pick for those who want that scary feeling but don’t want to be completely horrified by the end of it.
The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (2017)
The Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
The Cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan
What It's About: The Killing of a Sacred Deer follows how the lives of a teenage boy and a cardiac surgeon begin to twist in unexpected ways, but things take a turn when the family of the surgeon begins to fall ill, one by one.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Yorgos Lanthimos directed this film so it really does have some crazy visuals and twists throughout it. Truly one of a kind and not too scary but scary enough.
Black Swan (2010)
The Director: Darren Aronofsky
The Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
What It's About: Black Swan captures the essence of a ballerina slowly losing her mind as she becomes obsessed with perfection regarding her starring role as the Black Swan in the stage production of Swan Lake.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Natalie Portman won the Academy Award for Best Actress because of her performance in Black Swan. Truly a great performance.
Heroes And Villains Galore
It’s a bird, it’s a plane - nope, it’s some exciting superhero (or villain) movies!
The Batman (2022)
The Director: Matt Reeves
The Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright
What It's About: Bruce has been fighting crime for two years in Gotham City, and now must uncover corruption as the Riddler (Paul Dano) wreaks havoc on the wealthy.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: It’s certainly one of the best live-action Batman movies out there, and there’s a sequel on the way, so you might as well check out the first.
Superman I And II (1978, 1981)
The Director: Richard Donner and Richard Lester
The Cast: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty
What It's About: The movies, considered some of the best Superman movies ever, star Christopher Reeve as the beloved DC superhero, telling the origin story of Superman, from his time as a young child on Krypton to his crime-fighting days against Lex Luthor.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: If you want a pure superhero movie with a lot of heart, not crazy CGI, and good acting, these are some of the best out there and ones you need to check out.
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Director: Christopher Nolan
The Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman
What It's About: The second movie in the Nolan Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight follows Batman as he forms an alliance with lawmakers in order to take down the Joker.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: What can I say about this film that hasn’t already been said as to why you should watch it? It’s The Dark Knight. Ledger’s performance is incomparable and the film is full of action and great lines. Give it a watch.
Blue Beetle (2023)
The Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
The Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez
What It's About: Blue Beetle follows the story of Jaime Reyes, a young man trying to help out his family in their time of need, but when he touches an ancient Scarab and it fuses with him, it gives him the powers of the Blue Beetle – a moment that will change his life forever.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Many other heroes in the upcoming DC universe formed by James Gunn haven’t made the cut, but Blue Beetle will. Now is the best time to check out the film.
Deadpool (2016)
The Director: Tim Miller
The Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano
What It's About: Deadpool is the first film in the Deadpool franchise, following a mercenary who is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes a treatment that’s supposed to cure him but ends up giving him superpowers that change his life for the worse. Now, he uses it to fight against evildoers and find the person who did this to him.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Ryan Reynolds is perfect as Deadpool and with the third film out, now is the best time to check out the original.
Joker (2019)
The Director: Todd Phillips
The Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz
What It's About: Joker tells the origin story of how Arthur Fleck donned that famous face paint and ended up becoming a symbol for all of crime in Gotham City, through his own madness.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Joker earned Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor and was one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. Truly a great one to watch. You could check out the sequel on Max as well but I prefer to stick to the original.
Action Galore
These are the picks that will get your heart racing!
Uncharted (2022)
The Director: Robert Fleischer
The Cast: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle, Antonio Banderas
What It's About: Based on the video game series of the same name, Uncharted is an action adventure film that follows the story of Natan Drake and Victor Sullivan, who are in a race against a mercenary and a billionaire in order to obtain a treasure.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: As someone who loves video game movies, I really do enjoy Uncharted. It’s not like it’s the game itself, but there’s still a lot of fun scenes in here and I actually enjoy Holland as a young Nathan Drake.
Speed (1994)
The Director: Jan de Bont
The Cast: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels
What It's About: This iconic action thriller film tells the story of a city bus that is set to explode if the speed if it drops below 50 mph, so now an LAPD officer has to figure out how to save the people on board.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I really think that Speed is one of the best action movies out there. When I think of high-paced action, I think of this film. It’s a great movie to check out on a random Saturday night.
Bad Boys (1995)
The Director: Michael Bay
The Cast: Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Tea Leoni, Tcheky Karyo
What It's About: Bad Boys is a buddy-comedy movie about two detectives who are trying to investigate a huge drug case but get entangled into protecting a woman after she sees someone murdered.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: There’s a reason why there have been so many of these films over the last two decades (five and counting). You just can’t help but enjoy Lawrence and Smith’s hilarious chemistry and performances.
The Boondock Saints (1999)
The Director: Troy Duffy
The Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Willem Dafoe
What It's About: Two Irish twin brothers become vigilantes after they kill members of the Russian mafia up in Boston.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This film is just fun. That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s a fun, action-paced film with scenes that are so packed with violence that it’ll almost make you laugh but damn, do I love watching it.
Fun For The Whole Family
These are great for the parents and the kids!
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
The Director: Chris Columbus
The Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fiernstein, Robert Prosky
What It's About: When a divorced dad wants to see his kids, he decides to disguise himself as a female nanny and housekeeper and work in his old home undercover.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: When you’re talking about Robin Williams’ best movies, Mrs. Doubtfire is always high on that list for his hilarious comedic timing and the heartwarming story that comes from it. Definitely check it out if you haven’t ever seen it.
Matilda (1996)
The Director: Danny DeVito
The Cast: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris
What It's About: Based on the novel of the same name, Matilda follows the story of a young girl with psychokinetic abilities who uses them to not only deal with her family but with the bad principal of her school.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Matilda is probably one of the most classic kids films that you could see. The magic is fun, the acting is enjoyable, and of course, Mara Wilson is adorable as Matilda.
Barbie (2023)
The Director: Greta Gerwig
The Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera
What It's About: Barbie follows everyone’s favorite doll as she enters the human world to find the girl she is connected to in order to help her. If she doesn’t, Barbie will turn more human-like by the day.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Considered one of the best movies of 2023, Barbie inspires a celebration of girlhood, love, and the beautiful life that we all take for granted most days.
Hayao Miyazaki Movies
All of the films you see below were directed by legendary anime film director, Hayao Miyazaki. All of which are great for parents and for kids. Personally, my favorites have been Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle for a long time, both featuring beautiful stories, but the 2023 Academy Award-winning The Boy and the Heron is a must-watch as well.
- Stream Howl’s Moving Castle on Max.
- Stream Spirited Away on Max.
- Stream The Boy and the Heron on Max.
Megamind (2010)
The Director: Tom McGrath
The Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad Pitt
What It's About: When a villain beats his nemesis, he decides to create a new hero to fight, but when the hero ends up becoming worse than he could ever imagine, it’s up to Megamind to stop him.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: You know, I think Megamind was ahead of its time. It was successful back then but has only become more of a cult classic now, and people love to look back on it with fond memories.
Paddington (2014)
The Director: Paul King
The Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman, Ben Whishaw
What It's About: Based on the fictional character of the same name, Paddington follows a bear who migrates to London and is adopted by a family there, while a taxidermist looks to add him to her collection and will stop at nothing to achieve it.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Paddington has always been praised as one of the best family films out there for a reason. It’s emotional, funny, and teaches good lessons, and is quite successful, with a sequel and a third movie releasing soon.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
The Director: Phyllida Lloyd
The Cast: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard
What It's About: Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical comedy that is based on the Broadway musical of the same name and uses ABBA music to tell the story of Sophie. You see, Sophie is getting married, but she’s never met her biological dad, so she has no one to walk her down the aisle.To do this, she decides to invite all three possible choices and figure out who it is for herself.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The premise itself is hysterical, but truthfully, this film is the perfect one to watch to get yourself up on your feet and dancing while also swooning at all of the romance.
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
The Director: Guy Ritchie
The Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
What It's About: Based on the iconic fictional character of the same name, Sherlock Holmes tells the story of Holmes and his partner, Watson, as they investigate the crimes of someone who was thought to be dead.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: While these films can get a little action-packed, I watched this with my entire family and it was a heck of a fun time, and who doesn’t want to see Holmes kick some butt?
How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
The Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
The Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera
What It's About: This animated DreamWorks masterpiece follows the story of Hiccup, a Viking, who is somehow able to tame – and learn to ride – the most vicious dragon after he injures it, in a world where Vikings slay dragons.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: A new live-action version of How To Train Your Dragon is releasing in 2025, so you might as well check out what made the original trilogy such a great one.
Thrilling, Twisty, And Exciting Sci-Fi
Sci-fi that will truly make you question everything and anything:
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
The Director: Adam Wingard
The Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Keylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen
What It's About: In this sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong, King Kong must unite with Godzilla in order to prevent even bigger monsters, the Skar King and Shimo, from invading Earth.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, it’s Godzilla and King Kong. You can’t really get more sci-fi than these two. Is it a big CGI monster fun-fest? Of course it is – but that’s what you sign up for with these epic films, and it’s fun as heck.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
The Director: Daniel Kwan, Daneil Scheinert
The Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis
What It's About: The movie, starring Michelle Yeoh, follows the story of a Chinese-American immigrant who goes on a wild ride when parallel universe versions of herself say that she is the answer to stopping a powerful being from taking over – and destroying – the multiverse.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The premise is silly, but the film swept at the Academy Awards and won Best Picture, and personally, it’s one of my favorites.
The Martian (2015)
The Director: Ridley Scott
The Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels
What It's About: The Martian, based on the novel of the same name and directed by Ridley Scott, follows the story of an astronaut who is left behind on Mars, while also simultaneously following the people whose task is to get him back safely.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The Martian cast is insanely talented, but Matt Damon knocks it out of the park with this one. Truly a great space movie.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The Director: Stanley Kubrick
The Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood
What It's About: 2001: A Space Odyssey is probably one of the most iconic movies of all time. The film follows a group of space explorers consisting of astronauts and scientists in order to look into an alien monolith, but the adventure isn’t as seamless as you would expect.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: While the film itself can be a little confusing, it’s considered one of the best movies of all time, so I’d highly suggest checking it out.
Fantasy Spectaculars
When you just want to escape to a magic world:
Dune And Dune: Part 2 (2021, 2024)
The Director: Denis Villeneuve
The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista
What It's About: In this 2021 adaptation of the famous science-fiction novel, Dune stars an amazing ensemble cast and tells the story of Paul Atreidas (Timothée Chalamet), who sets out on a dangerous journey in order to find a way to save his family and his people, with Part 2 continuing the epic saga and taking the audience members on a journey unlike any other.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The new Dune movies truly took over the world when they came out and introduced plenty of people to this fantasy world. Such fun films.
The Harry Potter Films (2001 – 2011)
The Director: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, David Yates
The Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
What It's About: For those who don’t know (which would be pretty shocking but either way), the Harry Potter film franchise is based on the novels of the same name and follows a boy wizard named Harry Potter and his adventures at a magical school named Hogwarts, where he trains to use magic and, eventually, take on the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Harry Potter is a franchise that is still going to this day, but the original eight films raised an entire generation of Potterheads and make us all feel like going home when we hear the word ‘Hogwarts.’
The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)
The Director: Peter Jackson
The Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett
What It's About: An unsuspecting Hobbit embarks upon a perilous journey to hell on earth to destroy the One Ring, an incredibly dangerous instrument that grants its bearer great power while also corrupting their mind and body.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy remains a landmark cinematic experience even 24 years after it first took audiences to Middle Earth at the turn of the 21st century.
- Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on Max.
- Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on Max.
- Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on Max.
Wonka (2023)
The Director: Paul King
The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas
What It's About: Based on the fictional character of the same name, Wonka is the origin story of Willy Wonka, the famous chocolatier, and how he struggles to get his passion project up and running in the face of the Chocolate Mafia.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Yes, I know that premise sounds wacky but this film is honestly a fun time. Chalamet gives a hilarious but sweet performance, the music mixes well with the fantasy, and it has a lot of heart – and yes, you will be craving chocolate after.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Director: Victor Fleming
The Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley
What It's About: A young girl is transported from a dusty farm in Kansas to the technicolor dreamland of Oz where she must defeat a wicked witch if she wants to ever see home again.
Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: To this day, The Wizard of Oz remains one of the most fantastical cinematic experiences and continues to enchant audiences of all ages.
All of these movies and more are available to anyone with a Max subscription. This list will change as the months go by so make sure to bookmark this page and check back for all future updates.
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