Streaming on Max: The 24 Absolute Best Movies to Watch – CNET

di Antonello CicciùICT

Wondering what you should watch on Max?

Former HBO Max subscribers aren’t missing out on anything with Warner Bros. Discovery’s revamped streaming service. Max streams all of HBO Max, from Warner Bros. movies like Dune to HBO originals like Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off. 

Here are the titles you should check out, plus new releases for this month. And here’s more on Max, which unites the HBO Max and Discovery Plus libraries.

New releases for July

HBO Max became Max in May in the US.

July 1

  • Dunkirk (2017): War drama directed by Christopher Nolan. It’s about the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk.
  • Lethal Weapon film franchise (1987-1998): Action-comedy films Lethal Weapon and Lethal Weapon 2, 3 and 4 are hitting Max.
  • The Meg (2018): Sci-fi action film. It’s a tale about a Megalodon shark and it’s getting a sequel in August.

July 13

  • Gray Matter (2023): Sci-fi thriller. It centers on Ayla and her daughter Aurora, who both possess superhuman abilities.

July 20

  • Glitch: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia (2023): Documentary about the app HQ Trivia, which went viral, swept the nation, then crashed and burned.

July 26

  • After The Bite (2023): Documentary that follows a Cape Cod community after a series of great white shark attacks.

Read more: Best TV Shows to Watch on Max

The best movies to watch

The films below consist of notable new releases and blockbusters, HBO and Max Originals and Warner Bros. films made exclusively for HBO Max. All score around 65 or higher on Metacritic.

Comedy

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson laugh while riding a wagon in the movie The Banshees of Inisherin.
Searchlight

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Banshees is a darkly funny and heartbreaking drama that’s consistently stunning to look at. It’s about what happens after Colm (Brendan Gleeson) abruptly decides to cut off lifelong friend Pádraic. Farrell and Gleeson also starred together in director Martin McDonagh’s debut feature, In Bruges.

Father of the bride

Father of the Bride (2022)

Max’s Father of the Bride introduces a Cuban American family that includes patriarch Billy, a traditional guy who struggles to digest surprising news from his eldest daughter: She’s met a guy, and she wants to marry and move away with him. The third film adaptation of a 1949 novel of the same name by Edward Streeter, the movie is an enjoyable iteration that includes stars like Andy Garcia and singer Gloria Estefan.

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Searchlight Pictures

The French Dispatch (2021)

Settle in for another eccentric, fantastic-looking feature from director Wes Anderson. The auteur behind Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel this time sets his sights on an alluring story — or rather, three. The French Dispatch, dubbed a “love letter to journalists,” takes viewers through a triad of separate tales, straight from the pages of a fictional magazine. If you missed this highly original installment when it hit theaters, now’s the time to get in on its captivating story.

8-bit-christmas
Warner Bros.

8-Bit Christmas (2021)

A playful comedy set in the ’80s, 8-bit Christmas follows the story of a young Jake Doyle, a dedicated 10-year-old who desperately seeks a Nintendo. The film is delightfully narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, an older Jake reminiscing on his past quest to secure the gaming console. Yes, there’s a Christmas backdrop to the story, but Jake’s unyielding commitment to his mission, and what he learns along the way, make this cheery feature a must-watch even after the holiday season. 

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HBO Max

Let Them All Talk (2020)

Meryl Streep playing an eccentric author in a Steven Soderbergh comedy. What more do you need to know? If you do want to know more: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Alice Hughes (Streep) is struggling to finish her next book, chased by her literary agent (Gemma Chan). She boards a cruise ship with old friends, who inspired her best-known work. Tensions are strong. It looks great — Soderbergh uses crisp, natural light — and most of the dialogue is improvised. See how Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen, Lucas Hedges and the rest of the impeccable cast have fun with that.

Drama

Jake Sully flies over Pandora's waters on a winged creature's back in Avatar: The Way of Water
20th Century Studios

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Avatar: The Way of Water reintroduced audiences to James Cameron’s film franchise after 13 years and won an Oscar for best visual effects. The sequel centers on the Sully family — Jake, Neytiri and their kids — and is brimming with adventure and heart. It’ll be at least a couple of years until Avatar 3 arrives, but you can pass the time by rewatching this on Max.

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Warner Bros.

Elvis (2022)

Want to see Austin Butler rock out in a pink suit? How about one of the 89 other costumes the actor dons in the dazzling, jam-packed film that runs 2 hours and 40 minutes? Directed by Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby), Elvis is a grand, exhilarating biopic that’s all about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. If you didn’t catch it in theaters, now’s your chance to find a spot in the crowd.

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HBO Max

Kimi (2022)

Steven Soderbergh directs this engaging tech thriller set during the COVID-19 pandemic. Angela, a Seattle tech worker played by a neon blue-haired Zoë Kravitz, has agoraphobia, a fear that prevents her from making it past the front door of her apartment. But when she uncovers an unsettling recording while doing her job, she’s pushed to make the leap. Kimi is a stylish thriller complete with eye-catching cinematography, a solid score and a protagonist you’ll be rooting for.

the-fallout
Warner Bros.

The Fallout (2022)

After a shooting occurs at her high school, 16-year-old Vada Cavell must navigate friendships, school and her relationship with her family. The Fallout skillfully approaches serious subject matter with realistic dialogue and compassion for its characters. With strong performances from stars Jenna Ortega, as Vada, and Maddie Ziegler, as her new friend Mia Reed, the feature will keep you glued to the screen for the entirety of its 90-minute runtime.

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Janus Films

Drive My Car (2021)

What can we say about acclaimed Japanese drama Drive My Car? Well, it snagged an Oscar for best international feature film at the 2022 Academy Awards. It’s also a three-hour movie that people are sitting and watching all the way through, which, to me, speaks volumes. But seriously, Drive My Car is a powerful film that explores loss and letting go. If you missed it before the Oscars, stream it now.

Dune
Warner Bros.

Dune (2021)

Remember 2021, when Warner Bros. movies hit HBO Max on the same day they premiered in theaters? That exciting period may be over, but at least we’ll always have the memory of watching Denis Villeneuve’s stunning sci-fier Dune at home. If you’ve never seen the film or need to brush up on what “the spice” is before Part Two arrives later this year, stream Dune now.

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Chiabella James/Warner Bros. Pictures

King Richard (2021)

King Richard is a feel-good biopic about the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. The film winds back the clock to before the sisters became household names, giving us a glimpse of their upbringing in Compton and time spent practicing on run-down courts with their father, Richard Williams (Will Smith). Convinced his daughters are going to be successful, Richard works tirelessly to get their star potential noticed by professional coaches. A complicated man with a tremendous personality, Richard is fascinating to get to know, and his unwavering belief in Venus and Serena is inspiring.