Thanks to the glorious merger with Discovery+, Max now has so much media that you could spend hours scrolling through all the options. But by the time you do that, you’ll probably give up and resign yourself to re-watching Sex and the City again. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with that, but you’d be missing out on several great cinematic experiences, including some of the finest films ever made. Seriously!
While Max is known for having some amazing limited series, especially as of late — The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Mare of Easttown, The Undoing, to name just a few — it’s also a prime destination for movies. (It originated as Home Box Office, after all.) So let us be your guide to the best movies on Max this month, in no particular order. And if you don’t have a Max account already, you’ll be convinced it’s worth the investment after reading this.
The 10 Best Movies on Max Right Now
Friday
Here’s a comedy classic that will take you straight back to the mid-’90s. It’s Friday, and Craig Jones (Ice Cube) has just gotten fired from his job right before rent is due. Plus, he hates his overbearing girlfriend, Joi (Paula Jai Parker), and his best friend, Smokey (Chris Tucker), and he owes the local drug dealer money. Can he turn this abysmal situation around? You’ll have to watch (or rewatch!) to find out.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
This historical drama is absolutely going to steal your heart. Set in France in the 1770s, painter Marianne must do a wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young aristocratic woman who is also a reluctant bride to be. Marianne must paint Héloïse without her knowing, so Marianne observes her by day, to paint her secretly.
Aftersun
In the mood for a quiet and meditative film that deeply plumbs the depths of parent-child relationships? Twenty years after their last holiday at a fading vacation resort in Turkey, Sophie reflects on the rare time spent with her loving and idealistic father Calum. Throughout the holiday, it becomes apparent to 11-year-old Sophie that Calum is struggling. Sophie’s recollections become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.
Logan
Sometimes we need a break from the quieter stuff. If you’re craving superheroes, here’s a gritty and highly-rated X-Men flick. In the near future, a jaded Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) at a remote outpost on the Mexican border. Logan’s plan to hide from the outside world gets upended when he meets a young mutant (Dafne Keen) who reminds him of himself. Logan must now battle the dark forces that want to capture her.
Mr. Nobody
In 2092, the last mortal human (Jared Leto) on Earth reflects on his long past and thinks about the lives he might have led. You can expect a sense of yearning and loss from this sci-fi drama.
The Terminator
Craving a flashback to the 1980s? Disguised as a (very imposing) human, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) travels from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Sent to protect Sarah is Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), who divulges the coming of Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that will spark a nuclear holocaust.
The Tree of Life
In this profoundly philosophical film by director Terrence Malick, young Jack (Hunter McCracken) is one of three brothers growing up as part of the O’Brien family in small-town Texas. Jack has a hostile relationship with his father (Brad Pitt) but gets along well with his lovely mother (Jessica Chastain). As an adult, Jack (Sean Penn) struggles with this past and tries to make sense of his childhood, while also grappling with the meaning of life.
Y2K
On New Year’s Eve 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Year’s Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives when the terror of Y2K becomes a reality and all machines rise up against humanity.
Life of the Party (coming April 24)
Sometimes, the best films are the funniest. When her husband suddenly dumps her, longtime and dedicated housewife Deanna (Melissa McCarthy) makes a decision to go back to college to finish her degree. Unfortunately, Deanna winds up at the same school as her less-than-thrilled young adult daughter.
Babygirl (coming April 25)
This movie debuted in 2024 to much acclaim — and now you can watch it from the comfort of your couch. A successful but unfulfilled CEO (Nicole Kidman) puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with a much younger intern.
Not finding what you’re craving? Sign up for Max for even more options.
