Another streaming service means another vast library of titles to sift through to find what you want to watch.Maxis the streaming service from WarnerMedia, hosting not just titles from the pay cable channel HBO, but a bevy of films from the Warner Bros. library and other studios. There’s a great selection of classics, fairly new releases, quirky indies, and yes, superhero movies. The studio behindThe Dark KnightandMan of Steelhas a solid number of DC films available to stream. But if you’re daunted by all the good movies on Max to choose from, we’ve got your back. Below, we’ve put together a curated list of the absolute best movies on Max. Films that will be well worth your time, with our writers making the case for why each film is special.
So check out our list of the best movies on Max streaming below. And for more recommendations, check out our list of thebest shows on Max,best drama movies on Max, andbest horror movies on Max.
Editor’s note: This article was updated July 2025 to include My Mom Jayne.
‘My Mom Jayne’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.5/10
My Mom Jayne
This fascinating documentary helmed by directorMariska Hargitaysheds light on the professional and personal life of her mother, the iconicJayne Mansfield. A figure of Hollywood heritage, Mansfield was a beloved star until her untimely death at just 34 years old in a car accident. This intimate deep dive into the life of a celebrity — but more importantly, a mother — is both educational and highly entertaining. Whether you’re a Mansfield fan or not, this is well worth your time. -Jake Hodges
Watch on Max
‘Sinners’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Hailed as one of the best films of 2025 so far,Ryan Coogler’sSinnersfollows a pair of twins, both played byMichael B. Jordan, who return to their hometown to try and build a new business and life for themselves. However, on the opening night of their juke joint, all is not as it seems, as dark forces come knocking. A genius, twisting tale sure to take your breath away,Sinnersis a detailed analysis of both the power of music and the Black experience, told through the lens of one of modern Hollywood’s best directors. -Jake Hodges
‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.0/10
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Written and directed byRungano Nyoni,On Becoming a Guinea Fowlfollows Shula (Susan Chardy), whose life changes forever when, on one unassuming night, she finds her uncle’s lifeless body. As she and her cousins begin funeral preparations, a deep well of dark familial secrets is uncovered. A wonderful blend of dark comedy and affecting drama,On Becoming a Guinea Fowlis the perfect follow-up to Nyoni’s directorial debut,I Am Not a Witch,cementing her 2018 win for BAFTA’s Outstanding Debut. -Jake Hodges
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | IMDb: 5.4/10
This brand-new drama joining Max’s impressive catalog is set in the middle of a world ripped apart at the financial seams. Keen to piece together the puzzle, a group of wealthy friends reconvene. Shot over just five weeks in Park City, Utah,Mountainheadoffers a simple, effective premise told through sleek, compelling means. The directorial debut of the acclaimedJesse Armstrong, the movie boasts an eye-catching central cast that includes the likes ofSteve Carell,Jason Schwartzman,Ramy Youssef, Cory Michael Smith, and others. -Jake Hodges
‘The Brutalist’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.4/10
The Brutalist
A period drama film starringAdrien Brody,The Brutalistwas directed byBrady Corbet, who also co-wrote the screenplay withMona Fastvold. Brody stars as a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and architect who moves to the United States, where he struggles to rebuild his life, career, and marriage over the course of decades. The film’s ensemble cast also includesFelicity Jones,Guy Pearce,Joe Alwyn,Raffey Cassidy,Stacy Martin,Emma Laird,Isaach de Bankolé, andAlessandro Nivola, among others.
The Brutalistpremiered at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and earned Brady Corbet the Silver Lion for Best Direction. Subsequently released in the US by A24, the film became a critical and commercial success, grossing over $50 million and winning several accolades. A beautiful and harrowing three-and-a-half-hour epic,The Brutalistis a cinematic masterpiece with powerful performances, sharp direction, and gorgeous cinematography. The film won Adrien Brody his second Academy Award for Best Actor, and the movie was named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the American Film Institute.
‘The Shining’ (1980)
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 8.4/10
The Shining
One of the greatest horror movies of all time (and one ofStanley Kubrick’s greatest projects),The Shiningfollows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an aspiring author who takes his family to the off-season Overlook Hotel. However, in the strange walls of the foreboding Overlook, Jack becomes overwhelmed by some sinister presence, putting his wife and son’s lives in danger. Every meticulously designed piece of Kubrick’s masterpiece is specially crafted to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. A deafeningly atmospheric experience that has influenced many filmmakers after it,The Shiningmight not have received the praise it deserved upon release, but time has been just to this horror triumph that now stands as one of the true greats of cinema. -Jake Hodges
‘Babygirl’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 5.9/10
One of the most talked-about movies of late 2024,Halina Reijn’s steamyBabygirlfollows the high-powered CEO Romy (Nicole Kidman), whose professional life is put at risk when she begins a whirlwind romantic affair with her younger intern. Equal parts thrilling and risque,Babygirlpulls none of its NSFW punches in an exploration of modern sexual relationships. Definitely not one to watch with the family, Kidman’s immersive lead performance is reason enough on its own to giveBabygirla go. -Jake Hodges
‘Companion’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.0/10
At a time when movies have been struggling at the box office,Companionremains one of the biggest success stories of 2025. The movie follows the seemingly inseparable couple Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid), who, after taking a weekend vacation with the latter’s friends, will have their lives quickly changed forever. Thatcher and Quaid prove yet again they are two of the most exciting young stars working today, as this twisting, horrifying tale consistently takes you by surprise. Brooding and darkly comic,Companionis well worth a watch. -Jake Hodges
‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.1/10
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
One of the most emotionally affecting movies of the past decade,Céline Sciamma’sPortrait of a Lady on Firefollows an eighteenth-century quest for love as a young painter and her subject become entwined in a burning and passionate romance. Sciamma’s genius is on full display in this pensive masterpiece, as the intense love of the central pair is painted with the brush strokes of an expert. Touching, visually stunning, and boasting one of the finest endings to a movie ever put to film, this is simply a must-watch. -Jake Hodges
‘Aftersun’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.6/10
One of the best directorial debuts of the 21st century,Charlotte Wells’sAftersuntells the tale of a woman looking back on her past via home-recorded video footage. Through the footage, she remembers a vacation with her father (Paul Mescal) and pieces together the signs an 11-year-old girl missed. Featuring a stunning ending that will leave you staring at your screen for hours,Aftersunis a remarkable, thorough feat of filmmaking. Perfectly capturing a sense of nostalgia and loss without ever seeming obvious, this is a mature, utterly heart-wrenching film that deserves all its many accolades. -Jake Hodges
