20 Best Movies to Watch on Max, Ranked
On May 23, the HBO Max streaming service was renamed Max, creating a single platform offering content from multiple entertainment companies under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Discover (WBD). By removing “HBO” from the name, WBD hopes to emphasize that the new Max service is more than just movies, with thousands of hours of programming from networks including HGTV, TLC, Food Network and The Travel Channel. With 18 curated content “hubs”, there’s truly something for everyone on the expansive streaming platform.
The Max’s main draw, however, is still HBO’s and Turner’s libraries of Classic Movies. According to JustWatch, just over 2,200 movies are offered on the Max, less than half of what Netflix offers. What Max lacks in volume, however, he makes up for with classic movie quality. We found that Max has 30 of the American Film Institute’s 100 greatest movies of all time, more than any other streaming service.
We’ve ranked the top 25 movies that can be streamed on Max below. Instead of selecting 25 movies from the AFI list, we selected a wide variety of films from different genres and film eras, including those that were crowd-pleasing but not necessarily critically acclaimed. . As movies come and go from streaming services, some titles on this list may not be available, so please refer to Max for current availability.
Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
Rebel Without a Cause features James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo as troubled teenagers in Nicholas Ray’s tale of angst and rebellion that resonated with the not-so-idyllic America of the 1950s. It seems a bit meloadramatic now, but the film’s leads all provide fantastic performances. Wood and Mineo earned Oscar nominations, and even Jim Backus (who would go on to star as Mr. Howell in Gilligan’s Island), gives a heartbreaking performance as Dean’s spineless father, who can’t connect with his son.
SupermanL The Movie (1978)
Out of all the DC comic books featured on the Max, Superman: The Movie tops the rest. Some may consider Tim Burton’s Batman more influential and Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed The Dark Knight Rises, but Christopher Reeve’s Superman is the pioneer, setting the standard by which all films Other superheroes still yearn. Richard Donner’s direction is right and the cast, especially Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, is iconic. Max offers the original theatrical footage for viewing, in 4K UHD.
Giant
An epic tale of life in rural Texas, Giants stars James Dean in his last film before his death. He plays Jett Rink, a rancher of “Bick” Benedict (Rock Hudson) who finds oil on his little plot of land, sparking a rivalry (and a love triangle involving Elizabeth Taylor) ) spanning decades. Director George Stevens made the desolate plains of Texas look like paradise, and he won the only Oscar out of ten nominations for the film, for Best Director. Dean earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination posthumously.
The Terminator (1984)
The sci-fi classic Terminator is James Cameron’s breakout film, a triumph of vision and ingenuity on a low budget. Arnold Schwarzenegger was already a movie star for playing Conan, but his role as a killer cyborg from the future made him an A-list star. Cameron would manage to top himself with 1991’s T2: Judgment Day, but this 1984 thrill ride remains a classic in the genre.
Goodfellas (1990)
Ray Liotta’s departure offers a grim opportunity to revisit the best performance of the real bandit Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Set in the 1960s and 1970s, the film follows Hill’s rise in the gang world, as he seeks to earn enough money to provide his wife (Lorraine Bracco) an easy life. His fellow gangsters (Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci) make this almost impossible, thanks to their reckless ways. The film is considered by many to be one of the best in the crime genre and seems to get better with time.
Unforgiven (1992)
Unforgiven, director and star Clint Eastwood’s Western masterpiece, explores the thin line between justice and revenge in the Wild West. He and Morgan Freeman have incredible on-screen chemistry as older gunmen seek to make money by killing those responsible for the brutal disfigurement of a prostitute. Little is said about their history together, but their performance speaks volumes about a shared past they don’t want to revisit. Gene Hackman won an Oscar for his portrayal of Bill Daggett “Little,” and the film won a total of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Out of all the DC comic books featured on the Max, Superman: The Movie tops the rest. Some may consider Tim Burton’s Batman more influential and Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed The Dark Knight Rises, but Christopher Reeve’s Superman is the pioneer, setting the standard by which all films Other superheroes still yearn. Richard Donner’s direction is right and the cast, especially Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, is iconic. Max offers the original theatrical footage for viewing, in 4K UHD.
Spirited Away (2001)
Studio Ghibli has its own hub for Max, with over 20 titles to enjoy. The Japanese animation studio founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata has brought to the world timeless classics, but if you’re looking for a movie that showcases Miyazaki’s best work, Spirited Away is A film not to be missed. The film tells the story of a young Japanese girl who stumbles into a fantasy world filled with strange supernatural beings and witches who turn humans into creatures. It’s a captivating fantasy movie with stunning angles and animations.
Blazing Saddles (1974)
The Western parody Blazing Saddles is about writer/director Mel Brooks shooting at all of his subversive pillars. Cleavon Little plays the sheriff and Gene Wilder plays his friend The Waco Kid, who together set out to save a town from a corrupt governor (Brooks) and a greedy land baron named Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman). Never mind the plot – it gets ditched anyway for an over-the-top, fourth wall-breaking musical finale. Madeline Kahn was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as singer Lili Von Shtüpp.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs by Jonathan Demme is a murder mystery, psychological thriller, FBI procedural and thriller, all combined into one. It also features two iconic Oscar-winning performances, with Best Actress Jodie Foster as rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling, who is on the trail of a serial killer, with insight into imprisoned psychopath Hannibal Lecter (best actor winner Anthony Hopkins). Demme won Best Director, and the film won Best Picture and Best Screenplay, becoming only the third film in Hollywood history to win all five Academy Awards. It happened one night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was the other two.
The Shining (1980)
Combining the story of Stephen King with the storytelling abilities of Stanley Kubrick created The Shining, one of the most macabre and unsettling films ever made. Jack Nicholson plays a frustrated writer hired as the custodian of an isolated hotel in Colorado, who slowly descends into a state of insanity in the face of his helpless family. Filled with disturbing visuals, The Shining is psychological and supernatural thriller at its best. Surprisingly, King reportedly hated Kubrick’s reception of his novel, although everyone seemed to disagree.
Blade Runner (1982)
Based on Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, director Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner flopped at the box office when it was first released in 1982. It took years to judge. its greatness, and the film currently ranks among the best sci-fi movies ever made. While at least five different versions of the film have been released over the years, Max is currently streaming the “definitive” version of Scott’s film, Blade Runner: The Final Cut. Max also wears a sequel, Blade Runner 2049, which also stars Ford alongside Ryan Gosling, and he is truly phenomenal in himself.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Arthur Penn’s brutality and violence against the legendary crime duo was a shocking cinematic experience upon release, but it resonated with viewers in an America facing inequality. stability and social and political upheaval Bonnie and Clyde starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway in Oscar-nominated performances, and the film brutally plays out their cold, psychopathic crime spree that left many innocent people dead.
The Searchers (1956)
John Wayne and director John Ford have made classic films together during a decades-long partnership, but The Searchers stands out above all else. Wayne plays Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards, who embarks on a mission to rescue his young niece after she is kidnapped by Comanche warriors. Instead of being a regular shot, the film is more of a “dark heart”, as Edwards’s obsession with revenge and hatred for indigenous tribes forces him to think about an action. unimaginable at the end of the movie. Wayne delivered an incredible performance in one of the greatest westerns ever made.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Yes, this is technically three movies, and yes, there are technically better-reviewed films offered on Max than Peter Jackson’s epic adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic books. The Lord of the Rings is a must-see, landmark film series, however, perfect for anyone looking for a supremely entertaining weekend movie marathon. Max offers The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003) in both its theatrical versions and extended versions, which dive deeper into the lore of Middle Earth.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Maltese Falcon is one of the best entertaining noir films ever made. Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett, Humphrey Bogart plays private detective Sam Slade, who encounters colorful criminals – and a charming woman – while searching for a valuable figurine. . The Best Picture nominated film is fast-paced, a story with satisfying twists and some memorable lines.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey is sure to take its time to unfold the epic story of man’s first encounter with extraterrestrial life. Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood play astronauts on their way to Jupiter to discover the origin of an alien artifact.Along for the ride is the spacecraft’s computer, HAL-9000, which Kubrick used to warn us over half a century ago of the dangers of relying on technology. If you want to jump down a philosophical rabbit hole, search online for discussions of the film’s symbolism and meaning, particularly the infamous ending.
Seven Samurai (1954)
Akira Kurosawa’s influential masterpiece, Seven Samurai, is the story of a diverse group of warriors banding together to save a village of poor farmers from bandits who loot their crops. Toshiro Mifune, who often collaborates with Kurosawa, plays the brilliant Kikuchiyo, a reckless outsider who is initially shunned by the other samurai but turns out to be the most devoted of the bunch. The film’s themes and plot may have been duplicated by countless other films, but few came close to matching this film’s greatness.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Musicals are perhaps the only genre of film where the quality degrades over time. Even the best musical films of modern times pale in comparison to the musical films of the 1940s and 1950s, and Singin’ in the Rain is perhaps the best of them all. The movie is filled with great songs and dances, but it’s also a clever satire of the old Hollywood movie industry. Jean Hagen’s outstanding performance earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.