Another streaming service means another vast library of titles to sift through to find what you want to watch. Max is 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 behind The Dark Knight and Man of Steel has 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 the best shows on Max, best drama movies on Max, and best horror movies on Max.

Editor's note: This article was updated May 2024 to include Dune: Part Two and War for the Planet of the Apes.

'Dune: Part Two' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.7/10

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is the second act of the filmmaker’s adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel Dune, an epic story of science fiction. The film boasts an ensemble cast led by Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, who unites with Arrakis’ Fremen people against House Harkonnen. Zendaya, Josh Brolin, and more reprise their roles from the first film, 2021’s Dune: Part One, with the movie also introducing Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, and Souheila Yacoub to its sprawling ensemble. Villeneuve directed and produced the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts. Dune: Part Two has received great praise from critics and fans — even more so than the first film — and is one of the highest-grossing films of 2024. A visual spectacle in every frame, the movie is a stunning piece of cinematic storytelling that’s everything a sci-fi fan could ask for. The film also improves on its predecessor in terms of character development and emotional depth, and with a sequel already in development, based on 1969’s Dune Messiah, this burgeoning franchise shows no signs of slowing down.

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'War for the Planet of the Apes' (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.4/10

The third installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise, War for the Planet of the Apes was directed by Matt Reeves, who also co-wrote the script alongside Mark Bomback. A sequel to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the film presents the final act in the epic story of intelligent ape Caesar (played by the talented Andy Serkis), picking up two years after the events of the previous film with the war between apes and humans at its peak. War for the Planet of the Apes has garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning praise for its compelling narrative, outstanding performances, impressive visual effects, cinematography, and evocative music by Michael Giacchino. The film has achieved massive box office success and received numerous accolades, including Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects and Best Special Visual Effects. Exploring themes of grief, loss, and what truly makes us human through the unique lens of its interspecies conflict, War for the Planet of the Apes is a well-crafted, emotionally rich piece of cinematic storytelling.

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'Turtles All the Way Down' (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Adapted from the 2017 John Green novel of the same name, Turtles All the Way Down is a romantic drama that follows a teenager with obsessive-compulsive disorder who struggles with anxiety and intrusive thoughts while navigating romance and investigating the mysterious disappearance of a billionaire. Directed by Hannah Marks and written by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, the movie stars Isabela Merced in the lead role, appearing alongside Cree, Felix Mallard, Maliq Johnson, Poorna Jagannathan, and more. Turtles All the Way Down has received largely positive reviews from critics, with praise for Merced’s performance and the film’s depiction of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The source material is a very popular book with legions of fans, who have also been quite happy with the adaptation. While primarily targeted towards teen and tween audiences, Turtles All the Way Down is an engaging film with great performances and a well-written protagonist that’s sure to strike a chord with audiences of all ages.

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'Black Swan' (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan is a psychological horror film starring Natalie Portman as a ballerina who finds herself spiraling into madness as she competes for the coveted lead in a production of Swan Lake. The film’s screenplay was written by Andres Heinz, Mark Heyman, and John McLaughlin. Besides Portman in the lead role, the movie also stars Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder. Black Swan premiered at the 2010 Venice International Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim for its direction and performances. Shortly after, the film arrived in theaters and became a major global success as well, bringing in over $300 million on a budget of just $13 million. Natalie Portman delivers an Oscar-winning performance as a troubled artist on the brink of insanity — arguably one of the best of her career. Aronofsky’s masterful direction blends reality and illusion into a heady, surreal mix, which further highlights Portman’s performance and takes the viewer on a troubling, enthralling journey to the darkest corners of the human mind.

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'The Zone of Interest' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Read Our ReviewJonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest is a much-acclaimed historical drama that focuses on the family of an Auschwitz commandant who lives next to the concentration camp. While inspired by Martin Amis’s 2014 novel of the same name, the film actually looks at the real-life people who inspired the book instead of being a direct book-to-screen adaptation. The movie stars Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller and premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, winning the Grand Prix and receiving praise for its direction, script, cinematography, sound design, and atmosphere. The movie won Oscars for Best International Feature and Best Sound and was nominated in three other categories. Hailed as one of the best films of 2023, The Zone of Interest presents a dispassionate look at the ordinary people who were part of extraordinary cruelty. With this brilliant movie, Glazer juxtaposes the mundane life of a family with the heinousness of the Holocaust, creating a film that is devastatingly real.

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'Priscilla' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% IMDb: 6.5/10

Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla stars Cailee Spaeny in the title role alongside Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley. Coppola wrote and directed the film, which presents the untold story of the Presleys’ marriage and relationship through the eyes of Priscilla. A critical success, Priscilla is an intimate film about female youth and the toxicity of fame. Rather than be just another Elvis story, the movie focuses instead on Priscilla’s life and her growth as a person over the course of their many years together. The heartfelt narrative is further elevated by stellar performances by the two leads, who capture a tenderness and humanity that audiences don’t generally associate with such larger-than-life celebrities. Spaeny’s performance, in particular, is fascinating and earned the actor a Best Actress nomination at the Golden Globe Awards. It’s not much of a crowd-pleaser, but Priscilla has an emotional depth that looks beyond the rock-and-roll glamor of stardom.

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'Dune' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Adapted from Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel, Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune is a sci-fi adventure drama that focuses on the conflict between two influential families on an alien planet. The movie features an ensemble cast that features Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac. Highly successful at the box office and generally well-received by critics, Dune is an expansive work of worldbuilding, the likes of which are few and far between. It’s well-acted and well-written, but the visual spectacle of the film is what truly blows you away. The movie is truly cinematic in scale and ambition, presenting a beautiful and absorptive world that’s both strange and familiar. The film received a sequel in 2024, Dune: Part Two, which may be even better, but Dune remains a colossal work of science fiction cinema that should be required viewing for all lovers of cinema.

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'Barbie' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a surprisingly existential adaptation of Mattel’s eponymous fashion doll line. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling star as Barbie and Ken, who leave Barbieland and journey to the real world on a quest for self-discovery. The movie also features a stacked supporting cast that includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, and Michael Cera. With her Barbie movie, Gerwig takes the ultra-commercial entity and gives it a deeply thoughtful indie-movie-esque adaptation. That incongruity is precisely what has made Barbie such a celebrated film. Credit is also due to the stellar cast that balances comedy and real emotion to create relatable, three-dimensional characters. Witty and insightful, this Barbie broke records and wormed her way into hearts around the world, and we could all stand to learn from what she has to say.

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'The Player' (1992)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Written by Michael Tolkin and directed by Robert Altman, The Player is a hilarious satire about Hollywood. Starring incredible talents like Tim Robbins and Whoopi Goldberg, The Player also features a whopping 65 A-list cameos. That's right — there are 65 celebrity cameos in this movie. A film about filmmaking, The Player cleverly pokes fun at the industry with an outlandish plot about a movie exec who receives death threats from a screenwriter whose script was overlooked. Highlighted by biting humor and self-deprecation, The Player charms dark comedy lovers, earning several Oscar nominations and, ironically, even winning Best Adapted Screenplay. - Yael Tygiel

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'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' (1964)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Written and directed by Jacques Demy, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is a gorgeous musical romance where the entire film’s dialogue is sung. Even casual conversations are shared through music by Michel Legrand. Starring Catherine Deneuve, Anne Vernon, Nino Castelnuovo, and Marc Michel, Umbrellas of Cherbourg follows a young couple (Deneuve and Castelnuovo) attempting to find their way back to each other after being separated by circumstance.

Aside from award nominations and being an obvious influence on the 2016 musical La La Land and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg itself is a stunning musical masterpiece expressed through a clever format and unforgettable French songs.

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'La Strada' (1954)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.0/10

La Strada stars the dazzling Giulietta Masina as a young woman sent to live with a brutish street performer (Anthony Quinn), joining his traveling act as a clown, as well as his wife. The often uncomfortable yet absolutely unforgettable parable from director Federico Fellini explores themes of identity, strength, and compassion through fantastic acting and harsh scenes, co-written by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, and Ennio Flaiano.

La Strada’s initial release on the festival circuit garnered immense criticism and controversial reactions, setting a foundation for Fellini's creative flair in his subsequent films. Highlighted by Quinn’s charisma and Masina’s wide-eyed naivety, La Strada devastatingly captures the audience's attention. - Yael Tygiel

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'Judas and the Black Messiah' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.4/10

Directed by Shaka King, Judas and the Black Messiah is a powerful film. Inspired by a true story, it shines a light on an important part of American history. This biographical crime drama co-stars Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and LaKeith Stanfield as William O'Neal, a reluctant FBI informant tasked with infiltrating the party in late-1960s Chicago. Judas and the Black Messiah also features Jesse Plemons and Dominique Fishback.

Judas and the Black Messiah not only earned a handful of Oscar nominations for the film, but Kaluuya won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, competing against co-star Stanfield. While the acting, soundtrack, and production are truly stellar, the harsh realities of revolution exposed in the film are triumphant and moving. - Yael Tygiel

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'8 1/2' (1963)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Directed by Federico Fellini, who co-wrote the film with Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, and Brunello Rondi, 8 1/2 delightfully blends comedy, drama, and avant-garde surrealism. An Italian film about movie making, 8 1/2 focuses on a frustrated filmmaker attempting to direct his epic sci-fi movie. Starring Marcello Mastroianni as the harried director who finds himself withdrawing into his own mind, electing to live in memories and fantasies rather than reality, 8 1/2 imaginatively explores the creative mind in honest and dream-like ways.

A classic film that utilizes clever practical effects to explore dreamscapes, 8 1/2 gorgeously touches sensuality, the plight of artists, and both internal and external pressure when pursuing greatness. 8 1/2 has earned awards and critical praise, but the film’s respect from modern visionaries like Guillermo del Toro is an endorsement on its own. - Yael Tygiel

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'Bicycle Thieves' (1948)

Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.3/10

Vittorio De Sica directs Bicycle Thieves, an Italian neorealist film starring Lamberto Maggiorani as a desperate father in post-World War II Rome. Bicycle Thieves co-stars Enzo Staiola as the man’s plucky son, who joins him on his journey to recover his stolen bicycle, a necessity for employment and to keep his family afloat. Writer Cesare Zavattini adapted Luigi Bartolini’s novel for the screen, allowing for grounded performances and torrid emotional turmoil to be showcased above all else.

With a depressing setting and heavy plot, Bicycle Thieves is, at its core, a powerful film about desperation and resilience, expressed through a heart-wrenching story. Although set in a particular time and place, it is devastatingly relatable regardless of history and location. - Yael Tygiel

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'The 400 Blows' (1959)

Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Serving as the directorial debut of François Truffaut, who co-wrote the film with Marcel Moussy, The 400 Blows is a French coming-of-age drama about a rebellious pre-teen boy in Paris who turns to petty crime and delinquency when neglected. Starring Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, and Claire Maurier, The 400 Blows is considered a defining film of French New Wave filmmaking.

While many films explore adolescence and coming-of-age stories are a dime a dozen, The 400 Blows beautifully and sympathetically offers a raw perspective at a transitional time period with an honest reflection on the sometimes heartbreaking realities of growing up. - Yael Tygiel

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'Stalker' (1979)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.1/10

A mesmerizing sci-fi masterpiece from director Andrei Tarkovsky, Stalker was written by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky and based on their trippy 1972 novel Roadside Picnic. The film stars Aleksandr Kajdanovsky as the illegal guide journeying across a postapocalyptic landscape where the laws of physics seem irrelevant, bringing a writer (Anatoliy Solonitsyn) and scientist (Nikolay Grinko) to a mythical place believed to grant wishes.

Stalker explores a variety of existential themes through haunting scenes and stunning shots, which slowly draw in audiences to dive into complex philosophical conundrums. With a unique approach to narrative, sound design, and humanity, Stalker’s influence expands beyond cinema by inspiring the evolution of the annual festival known as Burning Man. - Yael Tygiel

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'Wages of Fear' (1953)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.2/10

Wages of Fear is an intense existential thriller from director Henri-Georges Clouzot. Adapted from Georges Arnaud’s 1950 novel and starring Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Peter van Eyck, and Véra Clouzot, Wages of Fear follows four European men in a South American jungle who are hired by an American oil company to transport nitroglycerine. Through gritty shots and spine-tingling extended suspense sequences, Wages of Fear includes countless scenes that will leave viewers holding their breath.

Wages of Fear continues to captivate audiences, particularly with its balance of biting satire and heart-pumping intensity. It comes as no surprise that Netflix is currently in the process of remaking the French movie. - Yael Tygiel

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'Stagecoach' (1939)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Considered John Wayne’s legendary breakout role, Stagecoach is an exciting Western that follows a group of strangers traveling via stagecoach through Apache territory. Based on Ernest Haycox’s short story The Stage to Lordsburg, Stagecoach was directed by John Ford (The Grapes of Wrath) and features an ensemble cast alongside Wayne, including Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, and John Carradine (The Ten Commandments).

Earning two Academy Awards as well as a slew more nominations, Stagecoach has been adapted for radio, as well as remade quite a few times. Although a fun ride, the historical inaccuracies and blatant prejudices portrayed in the movie, particularly pertaining to indigenous cultures, are undeniable and should not be overlooked. - Yael Tygiel

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'Tokyo Story' (1972)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Yasujirō Ozu’s Tokyo Story is a gorgeous drama that follows a retired couple on their journey to visit their grown children in the Japanese capital. Starring Chishū Ryū and Chieko Higashiyama, Tokyo Story is a slow burn as it cleverly weaves a story through dialogue, with many key scenes not being shown on screen. Highlighted by a unique use of camera angles, Tokyo Story leans into the generational tale with a rich emotional complexity.

While the technical aspect of Tokyo Story is captivating, the true draw is the generational story, focusing on themes of Westernization. While this film is specifically about a traditional Japanese family as they recover from World War II, these types of shifts within societies are relatable to a multitude of cultures around globe. - Yael Tygiel

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'Battleship Potemkin' (1925)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.9/10

Battleship Potemkin is a truly unique film from writer-director Sergei Eisenstein. A silent film that unfolds over five separately titled acts, Battleship Potemkin focuses on the 1905 naval mutiny of an Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet’s battleship. Battleship Potemkin features a collection of non-actors, including Aleksandr Antonov, Vladimir Barksy, and Grigori Aleksandrov, as Eisenstein opted for specific looks and vibes over identifiable movie stars.

Bringing history to the screen, Battleship Potemkin cleverly shares the gruesome realities of revolution, resulting in just over an hour of cinematic brilliance. Over the years, Battleship Potemkin has been praised for its clever montage editing techniques, which earned the film a place within the top ranks of many "best films" lists. - Yael Tygiel

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