Wondering what you should watch on the Max streaming service?
Max replaced HBO Max last year and streams a variety of titles, including Warner Bros. movies like Dune and HBO originals like Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off. Below, you’ll find a batch of can’t-miss films on the streamer, plus a look at new releases for this month. (If you’re still trying to figure out if Max is for you, skim our review of the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service).
New releases for April
Note: These descriptions are taken from official websites for the films and lightly edited for style.
April 1
- The Harry Potter franchise (2001-2011): Fantasy. The first entry, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, tells the story of a boy who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime when he’s invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
- Lost in Translation (2003): Comedy-drama. It centers on two Americans in Tokyo — a movie star in town to shoot a whiskey commercial and a young woman tagging along with her workaholic photographer husband.
- The Social Network (2010): Drama. It’s a story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook.
April 5
- The Zone of Interest (2023): Drama. The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.
April 22
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One (2024): Superhero. Reality needs saving from an unstoppable antimatter armageddon, and the combined might of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern and hundreds of Super Heroes from multiple Earths might be able to save it.
Read more: Best TV Shows to Watch on Max
The best movies to watch
The films below consist of notable new releases and blockbusters, HBO and Max originals and Warner Bros. films made exclusively for Max. All score around 65 or higher on Metacritic.
Comedy
Father of the Bride (2022)
Max’s Father of the Bride introduces a Cuban American family that includes patriarch Billy, a traditional guy who struggles to digest surprising news from his eldest daughter: She’s met a guy, and she wants to marry and move away with him. The third film adaptation of a 1949 novel of the same name by Edward Streeter, the movie is an enjoyable iteration that includes stars like Andy Garcia and singer Gloria Estefan.
8-Bit Christmas (2021)
A playful comedy set in the ’80s, 8-Bit Christmas follows the story of a young Jake Doyle, a dedicated 10-year-old who desperately seeks a Nintendo. The film is delightfully narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, an older Jake reminiscing on his past quest to secure the gaming console. Yes, there’s a Christmas backdrop to the story, but Jake’s unyielding commitment to his mission, and what he learns along the way, make this cheery feature a must-watch even after the holiday season.
Let Them All Talk (2020)
Meryl Streep playing an eccentric author in a Steven Soderbergh comedy. What more do you need to know? If you do want to know more: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Alice Hughes (Streep) is struggling to finish her next book, chased by her literary agent (Gemma Chan). She boards a cruise ship with old friends, who inspired her best-known work. Tensions are strong. It looks great — Soderbergh uses crisp, natural light — and most of the dialogue is improvised. See how Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen, Lucas Hedges and the rest of the impeccable cast have fun with that.
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Kimi (2022)
Steven Soderbergh directs this engaging tech thriller set during the COVID-19 pandemic. Angela, a Seattle tech worker played by a neon blue-haired Zoë Kravitz, has agoraphobia, a fear that prevents her from making it past the front door of her apartment. But when she uncovers an unsettling recording while doing her job, she’s pushed to make the leap. Kimi is a stylish thriller complete with eye-catching cinematography, a solid score and a protagonist you’ll be rooting for.
The Fallout (2022)
After a shooting occurs at her high school, 16-year-old Vada Cavell must navigate friendships, school and her relationship with her family. The Fallout skillfully approaches serious subject matter with realistic dialogue and compassion for its characters. With strong performances from stars Jenna Ortega, as Vada, and Maddie Ziegler, as her new friend Mia Reed, the feature will keep you glued to the screen for the entirety of its 90-minute runtime.
Dune (2021)
Remember 2021, when Warner Bros. movies hit HBO Max on the same day they premiered in theaters? That exciting period may be over, but at least we’ll always have the memory of watching Denis Villeneuve’s stunning sci-fi epic Dune at home. If you’ve never seen the film or need to brush up on what “the spice” is before Part Two, stream Dune now.
