Our best movies on HBO Max list has been updated for the month of December, and it features 50 titles that include everything from Martin Scorsese classics, Steven Spielberg blockbusters, classic comedies, to cinematic gems from the early days of Hollywood. There’s even a few superheroes and anime titles in the mix, so basically, something for everyone. Along with each listing, you’ll find a handy link to each title on the streaming service, so you can start watching right away or save some for later. Your call. No pressure.
So let’s get into it. Here are the 50 best HBO Max movies right now:
Last updated on March 5, 2023.
1. The Shawshank Redemption
Year: 1994
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 142 minutes
Director: Frank Darabont
Trailer: Watch here
After being sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) forms a bond with fellow inmate Red (Morgan Freeman) as the two navigate a world of brutality, despair, and corruption in this gripping 1940s period drama based on a novella by Stephen King. Using his wits, Andy enters a dangerous game with the morally scrupulous and dictatorial Shawshank prison warden that will either end in Andy’s freedom or crushed beneath the systemic gears of the penal system. Part powerful human drama, part compelling crime mystery, there’s a reason The Shawshank Redemption routinely pops up on “Best Of” lists. It’s just damn good from top to the bottom. The story, the acting, the direction. It’s peak ’90s cinema firing on all cylinders.
2. No Country For Old Men
Year: 2007
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem
Genre: Drama, Suspense, Crime
Rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Trailer: Watch here
Based on the Cormac McCarthy novel, No Country For Old Men follows Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a Vietnam vet and struggling welder, who comes across the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. Desperate to make off with the horde of cash found at the scene, Llewelyn finds himself hunted by a ruthless hitman (Javier Bardem), who relentlessly pursues his prey across Texas and into Mexico. Also on their trail is a grizzled old sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones), who struggles to come to terms with the trail of destruction and his own dark past. Clocking in at just under two hours, No Country For Old Men is a tight thriller from the Coen Brothers that’s perfectly anchored by its three leads. The film also sparked a career renaissance for Brolin who brought a hunger and intensity to the role.
3. Goodfellas
Year: 1990
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Genre: Drama, Crime
Rating: R
Runtime: 145 minutes
Director: Martin Scorsese
Trailer: Watch here
Considered one of the greatest gangster movies of all time, Goodfellas follows the life of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) as he reflects on his 25 years in the mafia. Derailed by a drug addiction, Henry comes to grip with the horrors he’s caused while rising through the ranks of the neighborhood gang. Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas also includes command performances from Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci and racked up a slew of Academy Award nominations. Almost a decade later, The Sopranos would deliver a sprawling mafia epic unlike any other, but it’s nearly impossible to imagine that show’s success without Goodfellas paving the way. It’s the OG.
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Year: 1968
Starring: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Rating: G
Runtime: 145 minutes
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Trailer: Watch here
Before Star Wars exploded the sci-fi genre on the big screen, there was Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey. The 1968 film, based on the Arthur C. Clarke novel, tells the tale of a monolith found buried on the moon and its mysterious connections to humanity’s past, present, and future. After unlocking a secret message from the monolith, astronauts David Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood) set off on a mission guided by the powerful and ominous computer system known as HAL-9000. As HAL begins to malfunction, the mission goes dangerously awry and the search for answers to humanity’s greatest questions becomes entangled in a battle with a seemingly rogue intelligence.
5. The Matrix
Year: 1999
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Rating: R
Runtime: 136 minutes
Director: Lily Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Bruce Hunt
Trailer: Watch here
With its mind-bending plot and gravity-defying martial arts, The Matrix redefined action films for years to come. The film follows computer hacker Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) as he learns the truth about “reality” and joins forces with the enigmatic Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) in a technological war for humanity’s freedom. The Matrix sparked three more sequels, but nothing can compare to the groundbreaking visuals and storytelling of the original that left audiences reaching for the back of their heads and questioning their own existence. It was a head trip for the ages that still holds up to this day.
6. Terminator 2
Year: 1991
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Eddie Furlong
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Rating: R
Runtime: 137 minutes
Director: James Cameron
Trailer: Watch here
Hailed as one of the greatest sequels of all time, Terminator 2 melted audience’s faces with its unparalleled action as it put a twist on the original film by making Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 the protector of young John Connor (Eddie Furlong) and his mom Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). This time around, the liquid metal T-1000 (Robert Patrick) has traveled to the past to execute the boy putting him on a collision course with Arnold’s classic Terminator. Directed by James Cameron, Terminator 2 is easily the best film in the series, which has yet to be topped despite several lackluster attempts. It holds up so well, that you don’t even need to watch the original Terminator to enjoy it. The bad robot is good now. Time to smash sh*t.
7. The Silence of the Lambs
Year: 1991
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins
Genre: Suspense, Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 118 minutes
Director: Jonathan Demme
Trailer: Watch here
In this Oscar-nominated adaptation of the Thomas Harris book, Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a young FBI agent doing her best to navigate the male-dominated world of law enforcement. When she’s tasked with finding “Buffalo Bill,” a gruesome serial killer who made the mistake of kidnapping a senator’s daughter, Clarice turns to the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) for help. A brilliant therapist who’s now locked in an insane asylum for murdering and devouring his patients, Lecter uses his superior intellect to ensnare Clarice in a dangerous psychological game that make her question whether his valuable insights are worth the price he’s extracting.
8. The Menu
Year: 2022
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Rating: R
Runtime: 107 minutes
Director: Mark Mylod
Trailer: Watch here
In this scathing satire from director Mark Mylod, a young couple visits an exclusive island resort for a culinary adventure from a world renowned chef (Ralph Fiennes), they find themselves indulging in an exquisite tasting menu with some… unusual ingredients. (We’re not about to give away the twist.) Since its premiere, The Menu has been racking up rave reviews for its ruthless skewering of foodie culture that may have even caused an actual restaurant to shut down. Our own Vince Mancini writes, “Every once in a while, you see a movie so fully realized and so complete, that manages to come on strong and end on a high note, that when the credits roll it feels like all that’s left to do is applaud.”
9. Spirited Away
Year: 2001
Starring: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden
Genre: Anime, Fantasy, Mystery
Rating: PG
Runtime: 122 minutes
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Trailer: Watch here
In this delightful Academy Award-winning masterpiece from Studio Ghibli and beloved Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki, young Chihiro (Daveigh Chase) is separated from her parents by the powerful sorceress Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette). Trapped inside a seemingly abandoned amusement park in the secret world of Kami, Chihiro must slave away for Yubaba alongside an assortment of supernatural beings. Using her wits and cunning, Chihiro concocts a plan to rescue her parents from the spell that’s turned them into pigs and return to the human world. Released in 2001, Spirited Away helped spark a worldwide obsession with Miyazaki’s films thanks to its captivating story, unforgettable characters, and signature animation style.
10. Casino Royale
Year: 2006
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen
Genre: Action, Suspense
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 144 minutes
Director: Martin Campbell
Trailer: Watch here
After Pierce Brosnan wrapped up his turn as 007, Daniel Craig slipped into James Bond’s tux for Casino Royale, a quasi-reboot of the iconic spy series that kicked off Craig’s five-film run. In this gritty update, a younger (and blonder) Bond relies less on gadgets and more on brute force as he carries out missions for Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Starring Mads Mikkelsen as the villainous and cunning Le Chiffre, Casino Royale once again proves that director Martin Campbell has a knack for introducing a new Bond to modern audiences just like he did for Brosnan in 1995’s Goldeneye.
11. Gone Girl
Year: 2014
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry
Genre: Drama/Suspense
Rating: R
Runtime: 144 minutes
Director: David Fincher
Trailer: Watch here
Gillian Flynn’s most page-turning novel comes to life with Rosamund Pike bringing us as chilling of a version of Amazing Amy as the one who appeared in print form. Ben Affleck plays her (admittedly awful) husband with a fittingly punchable face, and get ready for a twisting, turning, decadent ride through suburbia and the backwaters of the Ozarks by way of New York City. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross did the honors for this score that follows Amy’s disappearance and reemergence like the most ominous phoenix that you’ll ever behold. Oh, and the “Cool Girl” monologue pulled off a *chef’s kiss* before it was even a cinematic thing.
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Year: 2001
Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 178 minutes
Director: Peter Jackson
Trailer: Watch here
This is where it all started. Before The Fellowship of the Ring stormed into theaters, The Lord of the Rings were just some musty old books for nerds. That perception quickly changed when director Peter Jackson delivered the mother of all fantasy epics and turned LOTR into the blockbuster franchise it is today. Often considered the best film of the series, The Fellowship of the Ring welcomed audiences into the world of Middle-Earth as stunning visuals and a captivating cast set the stage for an all-consuming war between good and evil. In the midst of the conflict, a quest unfolds that will test the strength and friendship of two tiny unlikely heroes.
Also, Viggo Mortensen owns in this movie. Just rules from start to finish.
13. Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Year: 2014
Starring: Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, Edward Norton
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Rating: R
Runtime: 114 minutes
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Trailer: Watch here
Michael Keaton begins this movie in his underwear and goes nowhere but down from there, but somehow, he also soars in this film that runs deliciously close to (imagined) life. The former (and current) Batman plays a former comic-book movie leading man, Riggan Thomas, who aims to relaunch his career as a serious artist on Broadway. However, everything that can go wrong will do so, and that not only includes a smooth ride to the stage but also his personal life. His chaotic daughter, played by Emma Stone, won’t make matters easy, nor will his ex-wife or girlfriend. Only Edward Norton’s notorious shaker of an actor can rescue this thing, and in other words, Riggan’s screwed, but oh, what a set of performances.
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14. Eraserhead
Year: 1977
Starring: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Judith Anna Roberts
Genre: Horror
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 89 minutes
Director: David Lynch
Before Twin Peaks, David Lynch took a stab at his first feature-length film, Eraserhead. Like all things Lynch, it’s weird as hell. The surrealist horror follows Henry (Jack Nance), a man living alone in a bleak apartment surrounded by industrial gloom. Although, he’s not entirely alone because he does manage to secure a fling with a woman down the hall (Judith Anna Roberts). When she winds up pregnant, Henry does the right thing and marries her, which is when things go very south. And we’re not talking about the two of them not getting along. We’re talking, holy crap, why is their baby a lizard? This is pure David Lynch, folks. Strap in.
15. Se7en
Year: 1995
Starring: Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Morgan Freeman
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 126 minutes
Director: David Fincher
Trailer: Watch here
“What’s in the boooooxxxx?” A question for the ages. As it turns out, we didn’t have to wait long to find out the answer this question. David Fincher is in fine form here while helming the dynamic of a soon-to-be-retired and weary cop (Morgan Freeman) who’s steering his replacement (Brad Pitt) through sheer hell as they trace the methodical steps of a biblically-obsessed serial killer. Gwyneth Paltrow picks up a small but pivotal role here, and you’d better not eat before rewatching this flick that you’ve surely seen already.
16. Shazam!
Year: 2019
Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong
Genre: Action, Superhero
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 131 minutes
Director: David Sandberg
Trailer: Watch here
As the DC Extended Universe lost a step with the theatrical release of Justice League, Shazam! joined Wonder Woman and Aquaman for a surprising string of hits from the wayward franchise. Mining the classic formula that made Shazam a beloved comic book character for almost a century, the film focuses on a young Billy Batson (Asher Angel), who’s granted the power to transform into the titular hero embodied by a muscle-suited Zachary Levi. Blending superhero action, family drama, and coming-of-age comedy, Shazam! delivered a much-needed jolt of fun to the ultra-dark DC films. It also paved the way for a sequel, which looks to be another wild ride that captures the magic of the comics.
17. Dune (2021)
Year: 2021
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Zendaya
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 155 minutes
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Trailer: Watch here
After delivering stunning sci-fi films like Arrival and Blade Runner: 2049, visionary director Denis Villeneuve took an ambitious stab at the mother of all sci-fi series, Dune. Starring Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, the first Dune tackles the opening salvo of the sprawling epic by capturing the early beginnings of Paul’s messianic journey on the desert planet Arrakis. Featuring a fully stacked cast as the members of House Atreides, Dune delivers a jarringly beautiful and photorealistic experience as Villeneuve brings his signature visual style to a story that George Lucas would heavily mine for his own little sci-fi adventure. With a sequel already en route, Dune sets the stage for a wild intergalactic clash featuring massive sand worms, levitating space emperors, and Zendaya. Gotta have Zendaya.
18. Raging Bull
Year: 1980
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci
Genre: Drama, Sports
Rating: R
Runtime: 129 minutes
Director: Martin Scorsese
Trailer: Watch here
Starring Robert De Niro in one of his most transformative roles under the direction of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, Raging Bull tells the story of 1940s Italian-American boxer Jake La Motta. Based on his memoir of the same name, the film follows La Motta’s life and career as he flirts with boxing greatness before descending into a self-destructive pattern of spousal abuse, arrests, and violent altercations outside of the ring. Along the way is his brother Joey La Motta played by a then-unknown Joe Pesci. After the critical success of Raging Bull, the two would become frequent collaborators with Scorsese, who thought his career was over before the boxing picture became one of the most celebrated films in history.
19. Night of the Living Dead
Year: 1968
Starring: Judith O’Dea, Duane Jones, Karl Hardman
Genre: Horror
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 96 minutes
Director: George Romero
Before The Walking Dead became a massive franchise for AMC, there was Night of the Living Dead. The 1968 classic defined the zombie genre with its violent and gruesome tale of strangers trapped inside a barn in Western Pennsylvania. Granted, the creatures in the film are called “ghouls,” but the trappings of the zombie genre are on full display in the George Romero film. Night of the Living Dead is where it all began, right down to the fight for survival, the overwhelming feeling of pending dread, and that bleak ending you’ll never forget. Interestingly enough, the film was also inspired by the book, I Am Legend, but Romero added his own spin on the horror of human beings who just won’t die.
20. Drive My Car
Year: 2021
Starring: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Masaki Okada
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 179 minutes
Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Trailer: Watch here
Nominated for Best Picture, Drive My Car tells the story of Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima) who’s asked to direct a theater festival two years after the death of his playwright wife. Adding to the tension is a young woman Misaki Watari (Toko Miura) assigned to chauffeur Yusuke around as he clashes with the cast, crew, and this new woman in life. A handsome TV star in the mix doesn’t help the situation either. Drive My Car is hailed as one of the best reviewed movies of 2021, which paved the way for its well-earned Oscar nomination.
21. Citizen Kane
Year: 1941
Starring: Orson Welles
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Runtime: 119 minutes
Director: Orson Welles
Welcome to the godfather of cinema. Written, produced, directed, and starring Orson Welles, Citizen Kane tells the tale of media tycoon Charles Foster Kane in a scathing, thinly-veiled examination of newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst. However, it is also pulled from Welles’ own life, making the film a cinematic smorgasbord of egomania and the double-edged sword of creative indulgence. Renown for its groundbreaking cinematography and enigmatic storytelling, there’s a reason Citizen Kane is often heralded as the greatest film of all time. The seeds for countless productions can be found in this opulent vanity project by one of the last great Hollywood legends.
22. Elvis
Year: 2022
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge
Genre: Drama, Musical
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 159 minutes
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Trailer: Watch here
In this all-out fever dream of a musical that only Baz Luhrmann can deliver, Elvis stars Austin Butler as the iconic “Hunk of Burning Love” singer and follows his meteoric rise to fame while under the thumb of Tom Hanks’ duplicitous Colonel Tom Parker. Butler delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as The King, and he went so deep into the transformation that he literally might talk like Elvis forever. For real, his accent totally changed, and his speaking coach said it might not switch back. That’s how hardcore he went. Enjoy.
23. My Cousin Vinny
Year: 1992
Starring: Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Trailer: Watch here
Joe Pesci keeps popping up a lot on this list, huh? My Cousin Vinny is a comedy classic that put Marisa Tomei on the map. The film focuses on Pesci’s character, Vinny Gambini, a personal injury lawyer who’s never won a case. When his young cousin and his friend are snatched up for murder charges in Alabama, Vinny has to pull out the stops even though he’s never argued a criminal case before. Thanks to a standout performance by Tomei, who locked down an Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress, My Cousin Vinny almost feels like it’s from a bygone era when R-Rated adult comedies were fertile grounds for actors to cut loose. They don’t make them like this anymore.
24. Edge of Tomorrow
Year: 2014
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-FI
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 113 minutes
Director: Doug Liman
Trailer: Watch here
In this science fiction two-hander, Tom Cruise plays Lt. Col Bill Cage a cowardly and smart-mouthed PR officer who gets shipped off to the front lines of an alien invasion in Europe where he has absolutely zero chance of survival. When the battle goes deadly wrong, Cage finds himself repeating the day over and over again, a problem he shares with the fierce warrior, Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). Together, they become a battle-honed fighting force and set off on a time-breaking quest to save Earth even if they have to die over and over again to unravel the secrets of the alien invaders.
25. Godzilla (1954)
Year: 1954
Starring: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata
Genre: Action, Monster Movie
Rating: PG
Runtime: 96 minutes
Director: Ishiro Honda
Released in 1954, the original Godzilla kicked off one of the longest running film franchises of all time. While its “suitmation” visual effects might be derided as cheesy today, the film surprisingly grapples with some serious political issues. Most notably, nuclear weaponry. Godzilla is awakened by underwater hydrogen bomb tests, which sends him on his deadly rampage across coastal Japan. However, when it comes time to stop the gigantic creature, a lone scientist is hesitant to employ a powerful weapon that could be used by other nations. Godzilla is clearly a reckoning with the Hiroshima bombing towards the end of World War II. It’s both film history and world history plus giant monster movie action. See? Learning can be fun.
26. Cabin In The Woods
Year: 2012
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams
Genre: Horror
Rating: R
Runtime: 91 minutes
Director: Drew Goddard
Trailer: Watch here
This film arrived right when horror needed a shot in the heart, and oh boy, did it deliver. Chris Hemsworth leads a cast of unsuspecting vacationers who find that their cabin holds more than mere spooks. In fact, it’s a literal laboratory of horrors. In the end, this movie goes off the technological rails in a fresh and inventive way while still churning out the old-school scares. You’ll never stare into a mirror the same way again while rending an Airbnb, and that’s probably a good thing.
27. Wayne’s World
Year: 1992
Starring: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Tia Carrere, Rob Lowe
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 94 minutes
Director: Penelope Spheeris
Trailer: Watch here
Before he was Shrek, or even Austin Powers, Mike Myers was Wayne Campbell, a metal head hosting a public access TV show from his parent’s basement with his trusty sidekick Garth (Dana Carvey). When a duplicitous TV exec (Rob Lowe) offers Wayne and Garth a chance at a wider audience, the two are forced to hilariously choose between the pleasures of success or saving their show from becoming a milquetoast showcase for a rich arcade owner. Based on the Saturday Night Live sketch created by Myers and Carvey, Wayne’s World is one of the definitive comedies of the ’90s and laid the groundwork for turning SNL cast members into comedy stars.
28. The Witch
Year: 2016
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Genre: Horror
Rating: R
Runtime: 88 minutes
Director: Robert Eggers
Trailer: Watch here
Before he trapped Robert Pattinson and William DaFoe in a lighthouse or sent Alexander Skarsgärd on a badass viking quest, director Robert Eggers introduced audiences to up-and-coming star Anya Taylor-Joy in the painstakingly detailed horror film, The Witch. Set in 1630s New England, the film follows a young girl, Thomasin, as she watches her family fall apart following the abduction of her infant brother, who has a pretty grisly demise. Facing starvation from the approaching winter, the family does its best to survive as a supernatural force conspires against them in the bleak surroundings. At a tight 88 minutes, The Witch excels at ratcheting up the tension as Taylor-Joy’s acting debut is clearly the sign on a major talent. Without giving anything away, you will not see the ending coming.
29. Joker
Year: 2019
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro
Genre: Drama, Crime
Rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes
Director: Todd Phillips
Trailer: Watch here
The Hangover director Todd Phillips delivered a surprising home run with an intense character study on an infamous Batman villain. While the Dark Knight is nowhere to be found in this movie, the film tracks Arthur Fleck, a disturbed comedian, as he descends into madness and becomes the Joker. More Taxi Driver than Batman Begins, the gritty crime drama takes several cues from Martin Scorsese as Joaquin Phoenix delivers a brutal and unrelenting Oscar-winning performance. Robert De Niro also makes an appearance to really lock in those Scorsese vibes and set Joker apart from the comic book genre.
30. Princess Mononoke
Year: 1997
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver
Genre: Anime, Action, Drama
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 133 minutes
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Trailer: Watch here
Before Spirited Away made audiences fall in love with Studio Ghibli, there was Princess Mononoke, the stirring action epic from famed Japanese animation director Hiyao Miyasaki. Boasting an all-star voice cast for the English translation, the anime film follows a cursed warrior as he stumbles across a girl raised by wolves. Struggling to defended her forest home from the people of Iron Town, Princess Mononoke unveils an epic clash of nature versus mankind with all the artistic splendor that Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have to offer.
31. The Banshees of Inisherin
Year: 2022
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Director: Martin McDonagh
Trailer: Watch here
The Banshees of Inisherin is touching comedy from In Bruges director Martin McDonagh that takes place on a remote island in Ireland. When Pádraic (Colin Farrell) is unexpectedly cut off by his longtime friend Colm (Brendan Gleeson), he sets out to mend their friendship by any means necessary. However, things do not go as plan as Colm stubbornly digs in heels before delivering a shocking ultimatum with consequences for everyone that Pádraic has roped into his endeavor.
32. Malignant
Year: 2021
Starring: Annabelle Wallis
Genre: Horror
Rating: R
Runtime: 111 minutes
Director: James Wan
Trailer: Watch here
Continuing to prove director James Wan’s bonafides as a modern horror master, Malignant follows Madison Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis) as she learns that the shocking nightmares she’s been having are actually terrifying realities. After a life of trauma culminates in a gruesome murder, Madison explores her mysterious past and uncovers horrifying truths that will make her question everything she’s ever known. We’d tell you more, but we don’t want to give away Malignant‘s shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.
33. The Batman
Year: 2022
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Colin Farrell
Genre: Action, Superhero, Thriller
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 176 minutes
Director: Matt Reeves
Trailer: Watch here
With Warner Bros. looking to put a new take on the iconic character after Ben Affleck hung up his cape, director Matt Reeves stepped in with a bold new version of the Dark Knight that blends the comics with a hefty dash of Se7en for a taut thriller starring Robert Pattinson, who nailed the role of Bruce Wayne. The Batman also introduced a brand new spin on The Riddler (Paul Dano) as well as a knockout performance by Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman. Set amidst a more gothic backdrop than the Christopher Nolan films, The Batman still delivers a full-on action spectacle and easily one of the best Batmobile scenes of all time. When that thing fires up, it is on.
34. Airplane!
Year: 1980
Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Haggerty, Leslie Nielsen
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Runtime: 87 minutes
Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Trailer: Watch here
When it comes to legendary comedies, very few can hold a candle to Airplane! and its smorgasbord of classic lines. Starring Robert Hays as washed up pilot Ted Striker, the screwball comedy skewers disaster movies from the ’70s as a commercial flight finds itself without a crew thanks to the onboard food options. With Striker forced to overcome his fears and win back the love of his life, Airplane! delivers a non-stop parade of gags that are still churning out memes over 40 years later. Also, look for a standout performance from Leslie Nielsen before headlining The Naked Gun movies.
35. Rebel Without a Cause
Year: 1955
Starring: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Jim Backus
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Runtime: 110 minutes
Director: Nicholas Ray
Trailer: Watch here
If you’re in the mood for a cinema classic, you can’t go wrong with Rebel Without a Cause. The 1955 drama put James Dean on the map and cemented his status as one of the most iconic heartthrobs of all time. The film follows a group of rebellious young teens who’ve grown bored and disenfranchised with their parents’ middle-class lifestyle. They embark on a path of thuggery, partying, and dangerous drag racing as the film grapples with a theme that has never gone out of style: Parents just don’t understand. (No, Will Smith doesn’t show up. He wasn’t even born yet!)
36. David Byrne’s American Utopia
Year: 2020
Starring: David Byrne
Genre: Music, Documentary
Rating: TV-14
Runtime: 105 minutes
Director: Spike Lee
Trailer: Watch here
Directed by Spike Lee, David Byrne’s American Utopia is a filmed version of the Talking Head singer’s critically-acclaimed Broadway show. Released during the pandemic, American Utopia truly connected with audiences stuck at home as Byrne expertly took them on a musical journey that mines the very fabric of how our brains feel joy and cope with our everyday lives. It’s truly a masterwork in musicianship that showcases why Byrne’s catalog has been revered for decades.
37. (500) Days of Summer
Year: 2009
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 95 minutes
Director: Marc Webb
Trailer: Watch here
In this inventive romantic comedy, director Marc Webb unravels a romance between two office workers Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), that explores the complicated reality of perception. While Tom is convinced he’s discovered the love of his life in Summer, she has an entirely different view of their relationship. (500) Days of Summer charts a brutal, yet cathartic path that perfectly nails the grueling transition from immediate attraction to falling out of love, and having the maturity to accept that change.
38. The Suicide Squad
Year: 2021
Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman
Genre: Action, Superhero
Rating: R
Runtime: 132 minutes
Director: James Gunn
Trailer: Watch here
In The Suicide Squad, writer/director James Gunn puts his spin on the supervillain team introduced to movie audiences in 2017’s Suicide Squad. Part sequel, part reboot, the film brings back Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn while introducing new characters like John Cena’s Peacemaker, who went on to star in a breakout spinoff series. In the madcap sequel that channels Gunn’s energy from the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Task Force X is once again hauled out of prison and forced to complete an impossible mission or have their heads exploded. Literally. There are bombs in their brains. Gunn’s take on the classic supervillain squad was so well-received that he’s now in charge of DC Studios.
39. Barbarian
Year: 2022
Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgärd, Justin Long
Genre: Horror
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes
Director: Zach Cregger
Trailer: Watch here
After Tess (Georgina Campbell) finds herself in the unenviable position of having to share her Airbnb for the night with a total stranger, Keith (Bill Skarsgård), she eventually accepts the accommodations. He doesn’t seem too bad except, no, wait, everything is a freaking nightmare. As Barbarian kicks into gear, the film delivers a series of unexpected twists and horrors that made it a sleeper hit of 2022. Audiences and critics were bowled over by Barbarian‘s wild tale that never lets up from start to finish.
40. Little Miss Sunshine
Year: 2006
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carrell, Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin
Genre: R
Rating: Comedy, Drama
Runtime: 102 minutes
Director: Jonathan Fayton, Valerie Faris
Trailer: Watch here
Dropped during the heyday of mid-2000s quirky comedies, Little Miss Sunshine is a delightful little romp featuring not just a stellar cast, but an all-time great performance from Alan Arkin, who practically steals the whole film. Steve Carrell is also along for the ride in this tale of a family making a cross-country trip so little Olive (Abigail Breslin) can live her dream of starring in a beauty pageant. Audiences will recognize Paul Dano before his villainous turn as The Riddler in The Batman and even before his role as a duplicitous preacher in There Will Be Blood. Toni Collete, as always, rocks.
41. Gia
Year: 1998
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Fay Dunaway, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mila Kunis
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: R
Runtime: 122 minutes
Director: Michael Cristofer
Trailer: Watch here
Angelina Jolie goes all out here in the story of supermodel Gia Carangi, who arrived in New York City and quickly encountered Wilhelmina Cooper (Faye Dunaway), and the rest was a tragic whirl. Gia burst onto the runway in the late 1970s as “nuclear winter” and eventually fell out of vogue for those same qualities. Sadly, her story took even more tragic turns through drug addiction and an eventual acquired virus that claimed far too many souls in the 1980s. In a way, this film’s a portrait of the excessive times, but Gia’s spirit also refuses to be contained to any particular time or place.
42. Jennifer’s Body
Year: 2009
Starring: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes
Director: Karyn Kusama
Trailer: Watch here
Although this movie was somehow (and surprisingly) dead on arrival back in the day, that may have been the work of those who’d love to take down an out-of-the-blue Oscar-winning screenwriter (Diablo Cody). In retrospect, this gonzo-type horror comedy deserved more accolades than its package would have suggested. Megan Fox saunters in as a foxy temptress-turned-she-devil, who spends a fateful evening with occult rockers and transforms into something altogether different in the aftermath. Amanda Seyfried somehow plays frumpy here, so everyone is in rare mode.
43. Beauty and the Beast
Year: 1946
Starring: Jean Marias, Josette Day
Genre: Drama, Romance
Rating: G
Runtime: 93 minutes
Director: Jean Cocteau
We know what you’re thinking: What’s a Disney movie doing on a HBO Max list? Well, that’s because this isn’t the Disney movie(s). Released in 1946, the original cinematic version of Beauty and the Beast brought the timeless classic to life in a gorgeously shot French romance from director Jean Cocteau. Praised by Roger Ebert and others for its rich visuals that pushed the boundaries of 1940s filmmaking, this take on the love story that dates all the way back to 1757 is a piece of cinema history that should entice fans of the beloved Disney version. Not to mention, if you’re tired of CGI visuals, the 1946 version of Beauty and the Beast goes in the completely opposite direction. The Beast’s costume is a marvel of practical effects.
44. Wonder Woman
Year: 2017
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright
Genre: Action, Superhero
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 141 minutes
Director: Patty Jenkins
Trailer: Watch here
In an impressive win for DC Comics, who has been trailing behind Marvel in the superhero movie genre, the Patty Jenkins-directed Wonder Woman delivered a certified hit when it slammed into theaters during the summer of 2017. Starring Gal Gadot in the title role, the film follows Princess Diana as she leaves her all-female island home of Amazon warriors after World War I finds its way to their blissful paradise. With Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor by her side, Diana gets a first-hand look at the world of man as she fights her way through the ravages of war and comes face-to-face with her true nature. Buoyed by Gadot’s performance, Wonder Woman seamlessly melds the bright-eyed optimism of Christopher Reeve’s Superman with a modern action epic, and it works.
45. Superbad
Year: 2007
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R
Runtime: 109 minutes
Director: Greg Mottola
Trailer: Watch here
In this coming-of-age comedy from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, two high school teens hilariously played by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera get roped into a crazy night after agreeing to buy booze for a party in an effort to get laid before heading off to college. Right out of the gate, things go south as a fake ID leads to a wild encounter with two less than upstanding cops played by Rogen and Bill Hader. Jokingly described by Rogen as one of the “last great high school movies,” Superbad truly is one of the best comedies of the 2000s. Hill’s performance alone made him a breakout star who’s gone on to work with directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino.
46. Donnie Darko
Year: 2001
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Seth Rogen
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 113 minutes
Director: Richard Kelly
Trailer: Watch here
The world wasn’t ready for a talent like Jake Gyllenhaal when he emerged in this trippy story of a high-schooler who may have schizophrenia, or not. Maybe, something worse is at work, so get ready for a dive into determinism and free will, and there’s another bonus here: the always fantastic Maggie Gyllenhaal, who injects even more gravitas into this cult classic.
47. Nobody
Year: 2021
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen
Genre: Action, Suspense
Rating: R
Runtime: 91 minutes
Director: Ilya Naishuller
Trailer: Watch here
From the writer of the John Wick series, Nobody stars Bob Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell, an unassuming family man who reveals he’s anything but after his house gets broken into and his wife and kids fear for their safety. Over 90 minutes, Odenkirk unleashes brutal hell as he punches, kicks, and shoots his way through an all-out war with a ruthless drug lord. Turns out Dad’s not such a boring, quiet guy after all.
48. Don’t Worry Darling
Year: 2022
Starring: Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 122 minutes
Director: Olivia Wilde
Trailer: Watch here
If you can look past all of the drama associated with the production of this film (and that’s a difficult feat), there’s a moderately engrossing movie here, even if the end fails to deliver much insight. Alice Chambers (Florence Pugh) thought she was a satisfied and content housewife living in a splendid community maintained by the company of her gallant husband, Jack (Harry Styles). Slowly, she begins to realize that much more sinister happenings are at work. This turns out to be far from utopia, but Chris Pine’s head-of-household won’t let anyone discover the truth too easily.
49. Unbroken
Year: 2014
Starring: Jack O’Connell, Miyavi, Domhnall Gleeson, Finn Wittrock
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 137 minutes
Director: Angelina Jolie
Trailer: Watch here
Although grueling to witness, this important watch presents the story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic qualifying runner and U.S. prisoner of war of the Japanese who also spends over a month stranded at sea. As the film’s promotional imagery suggests Louis’ holding of the beam was only one of many terrible horrors that he endured, and this movie will surely make you appreciate what you’ve got at home and hold on tight.
50. Gravity
Year: 2013
Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Genre: Action, Drama
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Trailer: Watch here
After a freak meteor shower leaves Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) drifting through space, the seasoned astronaut must use every tool at her disposal to survive the ordeal and get herself back down to Earth. Featuring a standout performance from Bullock, who entirely anchors the film, Gravity is 90 minutes of white knuckle, claustrophobic, existential dread as Ryan often has little between her and the cold depths of space. Even as the odds are firmly stacked against her and hope seems entirely non-existent, she never stops fighting until the very final moments of this taut thriller.
