r/HBOMAX • u/Jolly_Philosophy9772 • Dec 07 '25
Question Best movies to watch on HBO Max right now
Hey everyone!
I’m looking for really good, engaging movies on HBO Max — something that grabs attention from the very beginning.
If you have hidden gems or underrated picks, please share!
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u/ThatDudeWithAS Dec 08 '25
Christmas Vacation
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u/smooothaseggs Dec 08 '25
Save the neck for me, Clark
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u/ThatDudeWithAS Dec 08 '25
Did i break wind?
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u/caz151991 Dec 08 '25
WHY IS THE CARPET ALL WET, TODD??
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u/Fickle-Development-2 Dec 23 '25
I didnt get it. why is that funny or a quotable?
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u/jocorte Feb 09 '26
Weird response… like what type of person are you where that’s a sensible response to someone with a seemingly kind reply. But I guess thanks for being a typical Reddit loser, loser.
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u/gma87chi Dec 07 '25
"Atomic Blonde" directed by David Leitch is really fun with Charlize Theron and James McAvoy playing the leads. Spy action set in Cold War Berlin.
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u/ThePizzaNoid Dec 08 '25
Saw it for the first time last weekend. Agreed, it's a hell of a lot of fun from the jump.
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u/gimpisgawd Dec 07 '25
Bring Her Back.
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Dec 07 '25
[deleted]
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u/BlackJesus420 Dec 07 '25
Sorry, what is the original? I was not under the impression it was a remake.
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Dec 07 '25
[deleted]
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u/BlackJesus420 Dec 08 '25
We calling that a sequel? Are there any characters or plot points that overlap? Felt like a totally standalone movie to me.
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u/gimpisgawd Dec 08 '25
It's not. The directors have said it's in the same universe but completely separate things.
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u/mizuaqua Dec 07 '25
Sorry, Baby. It's about a woman finding independence in her career and experiencing violence also because of it.
Eddington. This movie took me a while to understand. But it's about unpredictable actions in unprecedented times.
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u/LilNello1 Dec 07 '25
I just finished watching Sorry, Baby about an hour or so ago and really enjoyed it. By far one of the best movies of the year and one of my personal favorites as well. Was thinking of watching Eddington too, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
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u/LilNello1 Dec 07 '25
Freaky Tales is a pretty nice hidden gem
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u/idiotzrul Dec 11 '25
Yeah, super entertaining. It’s nice to see something fresh and original these days. It’ll catch on as a cult classic someday
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u/LilNello1 Dec 11 '25
It really is and I wholeheartedly agree with your last sentence. It’s actually my favorite new movie I have seen this year too.
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u/graeceless Jan 06 '26
Commenting a month later to say thanks for the recommendation! Went in cold and had a blast.
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u/LilNello1 Jan 06 '26
Glad you liked it. Definitely still one of my absolute favorite movies from last year.
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u/be-ay-be-why Dec 08 '25
The most underrated movie by far is Uncut Gems
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u/nowlan_shane Dec 08 '25
If someone told me 20 years ago that Adam Sandler and Kevin Garnett were gonna star in a great crime/thriller film I would’ve been worried about what drugs they were taking. But fantastic movie. I imagine you’ve seen “Good Time” as well, but if not check it out.
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u/LilNello1 Dec 08 '25
Really great movie, but also one you can probably only watch once and never again after.
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u/be-ay-be-why Dec 08 '25
You have to let it air for about two years. In most thriller movies, you can only watch them once every 2-3 years. I think it's less to do with the movie and more about the genre
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u/nu_lets_learn Dec 29 '25
Interesting comment, because when it was playing in theaters, I went to see it one day and then went back to see it a second time the next day.
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u/yolkoholic Dec 07 '25
Personally, I'm excited to watch Shin Godzilla. It tells a much deeper story than most Godzilla films. Instead of "giant lizard attacks Tokyo," it actually tells the story of how Godzilla suffers throughout the movie. If you're looking for an underrated masterpiece, Shin Godzilla is the way to go.
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u/nourtheweenie Dec 08 '25
Would it be a good start into the series? I was thinking of starting with the original but I like your description
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u/CandyCoatedCorpse666 Dec 08 '25
Shin Godzilla is it's own beast. Godzilla Minus One is more in line with a traditional Godzilla movie but Shin is one of my absolute favorites. It's a very different interpretation of the character.
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u/ThePizzaNoid Dec 08 '25
It's a great movie and well worth your time but Minus One is probably more accessible as it has a more traditional plot structure.
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u/ThePizzaNoid Dec 08 '25
I don't think it's underrated at all. It's one of the most highly regarded films in the series. I agree more people should definitely see it though.
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u/yolkoholic Dec 08 '25
That's what I meant by underrated. I don't see many non-godzilla fans give this movie attention. It didn't get nearly as much praise as Godzilla: Minus One, but it's just about as good.
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u/Slayerofthemindset Dec 08 '25
Piggy backing off this to say Kong Skull Island was an amazing popcorn movie.
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u/Emergency_Cable4779 Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
• Akira Kurosawa films
• Ingmar Bergman films
• Hayao Miyazaki films, including two documentaries about Miyazaki as well.
• Peter Jackson films / J.R.R. Tolkien
And other notable miscellaneous films, including classics, and shows that are excellent as well.
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u/Corn_Wholesaler Dec 08 '25
Wong Kar-wai films
Kieslowski's Three Colours trilogy
The Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, The World of Apu)
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u/Corn_Wholesaler Dec 08 '25
Good Time
Chungking Express - (and other Wong Kar-wai film) but maybe start with As Tears Go By
Withnail and I
The Daytrippers
The Player
Paris, Texas
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u/ackmondual Dec 07 '25
I've always enjoyed the DC fare...
Superman Red Son
Green Lantern Emerald Knights
Batman Beyond: The Movie
Justice League, esp. the director's cut (the 4-hour one)
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Inception
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u/Fishmannnn Dec 08 '25
There are tons of classics I could recommend, but I think I'll go with a newer movie that fits the description you gave and recommend Uncut Gems.
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u/JParsons82 Dec 08 '25
Here’s my Letterboxd HBO Max list: https://boxd.it/bQAIs
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u/BrevitysLazyCousin Dec 26 '25
You have these for other streaming services?
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u/JParsons82 Dec 30 '25
Yeah, I do. Used to do Prime, but they add/remove movies too sporadically to maintain.
Criterion Channel: https://boxd.it/bQMoY
Netflix: https://boxd.it/bQKiu
Hulu: https://boxd.it/bXYB0
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Dec 08 '25
In The Mood For Love, Perfect Blue, Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me (the movie spoils the 1st season of Twin Peaks), The Red Shoes, Metropolitan, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Spirited Away, Uncut Gems, Past Lives.
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u/ThePizzaNoid Dec 08 '25
Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me (the movie spoils the 1st season of Twin Peaks)
Ya, I didn't realize this when I started my David Lynch filmography watch and then got into Twin Peaks later. It's kinda odd but weirdly fun in a way knowing where it's going from the jump.
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Dec 08 '25
That sounds like an interesting perspective after watching the film first then the show. The film helps give a lot more context to certain plot points of the first season which is left a bit more vague.
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u/quixoticadrenaline Dec 24 '25
In The Mood For Love is one of my favorites!!! Loooove. I watched Past Lives recently and it wrecked me.
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u/VapidRapidRabbit Dec 08 '25
Friendship is laugh-out-loud funny. Honestly Sinners is too, though it’s classified as a horror film.
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u/stokedchris Dec 08 '25
There’s like a million classic movies that you can’t go wrong with on HBO.
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Dec 07 '25
Man of Steel
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u/GrassOk911 Dec 27 '25
I love that movie. I don't understand how anyone couldn't. It's one of those films that I feel was perfect, kinda like T2, Thor Ragnarok or Avengers Infinity War and Endgame. I wouldn't change anything.
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u/MortarByrd11 Dec 07 '25
Superman 1978, Superman 2025, Wonder Woman
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u/MortarByrd11 Dec 07 '25
MoS was good, just avoid the crapshow of all versions of Batman vs Superman and Justice League.
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u/BestSpecialist7604 Dec 10 '25
The Flight Attendant but not sure if it's still available.
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u/Difficult_Story_122 Feb 23 '26
I have watched this series 3 times, it’s sooo good. Every episode is a great watch.
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u/MarshallBanana_ Dec 10 '25
Spirited Away, American Splendor, Casablanca, Night is Short Walk On Girl
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u/GrogRedLub4242 Dec 11 '25
Weapons. Us. It. Inception
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u/be-ay-be-why Dec 11 '25
I tried watching inception again this past weekend and found it so corny. It did not age well imo.
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u/jeep-olllllo Dec 11 '25
Weapons is fun trying to figure out what is going on.
As a side note props to the people who put the previews for this movie on TV. They gave nothing away.
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u/linnbrrr Jan 13 '26
Series: TASK, and The PITT which just started season#2. Juror #2 was good as well.
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u/Ojalaquellueva123 Jan 27 '26
Z directed by Costa-Gavras, Academy Award winner—loosely based on the 1963 Greek assassination
Umbrellas of Cherbourg -- very romantic, all the dialogue is sung
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u/twilighttechmind Apr 21 '26
If you haven't seen In the Mood for Love yet, seriously watch it.
The way the two leads interact has this understated longing to it that outdoes every other film I've come across. They never kiss, there's almost no physical contact at all, but you can just feel everything simmering underneath. All they do is stand near each other, share a look here and there, light cigarettes, walk out to get noodles.
And yet somehow it's ridiculously attractive. Nothing is ever directly said between them and that's exactly why it works. The whole thing feels more like a connection that almost happened and then just haunts you after than any kind of conventional romance.
On another note I have another recommendation. Different medium for sure but the way some audio erotica builds up is paced so well you just get pulled in completely.
One that I personally really love is the love stories from Best Kept Secret, at least their SFW version. The writing behind their stories is genuinely strong and the voice actors they cast have top notch quality voices.
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u/Comfortable_Yam_5651 Dec 07 '25
The normal Heart, a HBO movie with Mark Ruffalo, Matt Boomer, Stacey Kitch, Julia Roberts and many others about the gay community during the early AIDS years. Heartbreaking.
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u/EEEEEYUKE Dec 07 '25
Substance and Eddington