Though best known for producing many of the best television shows of all time, HBO is also home to many excellent films. HBO caught on quick that streaming was the way of the future, and got into the only media game early. We’ll be taking a look at what movies are on HBO right now. HBO-Go is home to not just every great HBO original series, but also hundreds of films ranging from all-time classics to new releases. Joining us in counting down the top 50 HBO movies available right now.
Best movies on HBO Go
50. Half Nelson (2006)
Half Nelson • Trailer
Half Nelson is the crown jewel of the inner-city-school-teacher subgenre. It’s a heavy drama headlined by a showstopping Ryan Gosling. With audiences used to his heartthrob side in the likes of The Notebook, Gosling took on the challenging protagonist of Half Nelson, a strung-out crack addict barely holding his life together. It’s a great character and a great performance.
Best movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
It's the gritty script and sheer quality of the performances that distinguish this parable. Full review — James Christopher, Times (UK)
Best movies on HBO right now
49. Thief (1981)
Thief - Trailer
Thief is a stylish gangster, heist film from director Michael Mann. It was Mann’s first feature film but already displayed his keen eye for visuals and the stylistic flourishes that would become trademarks of his career. James Caan is excellent in the starring role. The film is a neo-noir and, due to its color palette, was labeled as “neon-noir” upon release.
Best movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
A philosophical thriller filled with modernist cool. Full review - Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Best movies on HBO right now
48. Gladiator (2000)
Gladiator • Trailer
Ridley Scott’s 2000 action, drama is a throwback to Hollywood epics of old while feeling bold and modern at the same time. Russell Crowe provides a sturdy central performance as titular Gladiator, Maximus, but it is Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus who steals the show in the antagonist role. The action is exciting, the story is grand in scope, but if there’s one reason to watch Gladiator, it’s for Joaquin Phoenix’s performance.
Best movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Throughout it all, Crowe maintains a tough, slot-mouthed reticence; he is very persuasive as the superman of the Colosseum. Full review - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
47. Lethal Weapon (1987)
Lethal Weapon • Trailer
When Lethal Weapon premiered in 1987, it both cemented the tropes of the buddy cop genre and perfected the formula in one fell swoop. The film spawned a number of sequels and a wave of copycats and shallow imitations. The movie is about an ex-Navy SEAL Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) moves to California and starts working at the LAPD. He is paired with Detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and together, they fight some of the most dangerous criminals in the city.
The chemistry between Riggs and Murtaugh is pitch-perfect and the film is just as funny as it is thrilling.
Top HBO Movies
Critic Review Highlight
It's the gritty script and sheer quality of the performances that distinguish this parable. Full review — James Christopher, Times (UK)
Movies on HBO now
46. The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight • Trailer
The middle film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight is near-universally regarded as the best of the series and considered by many to be the best Batman film out of the many alternate adaptations of the original source comics. The Dark Knight plays out like a gritty crime, thriller with a strong script, good action, and a fantastic villain found in the Joker as played to perfection by Heath Ledger.
Best movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Watching the first dizzying, vertiginous overhead shot of the glittering skyscrapers and minuscule streets, I literally forgot to breathe for a second or two, and found myself teetering forward on my seat... Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Best movies on HBO right now
45. Magnum Force (1973)
Magnum Force - Trailer
Magnum Force is a part of the long-running Dirty Harry series and stands as possibly the best of the sequels. This time Clint Eastwood’s title character finds himself up against a group of police officers who have decided to work outside of the law to kill whoever they see fit. If you’re in the mood for a Dirty Harry marathon, HBO is also adding the sequels Sudden Impact and The Enforcer this month as well.
Best movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
An enthralling thriller which resounds like the boom of the Magnum force Full review - Louise Keller, Urban Cinephile
Movies on HBO now
44. The Fountain (2006)
The Fountain • Trailer
Darren Aronofsky followed up Requiem for a Dream with the extremely ambitious The Fountain. Sometimes unfairly derided, The Fountain tells a singular story through three different time periods and three different genres, each building upon the others in unique fashion. The story is thematically rich and rewards repeat viewing.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Anybody could see that Aronofsky was one of the few American filmmakers who saw the cinema past as a jumping-off point, not a toy store to plunder. His films were full of promise; and more, they delivered on their promises. Full review — Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Best movies on HBO
43. Raising Arizona (1987)
Raising Arizona • Trailer
Raising Arizona was the second feature film to come from the inimitable Coen Brothers. It is their goofiest romp by far as it follows a Nic Cage X Holly Hunter couple who take advantage of a rich family with more children than they need. Look for the over-the-top motorcycle riding, dynamite throwing villain, the dog-filled chase scene, and a great supporting role from John Goodman.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
To their old fascination with Sunbelt pathology, to their side-winding Steadicam and pristine command of screen space, the Coens have added a robust humor, a plot that keeps outwitting expectations and a...dollop of sympathy for their forlorn kidnapers. Full review — Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Best movies on HBO right now
42. The Lego Movie (2014)
The Lego Movie • Trailer
The Lego Movie surprised many skeptical movie-goers upon its release. What could have been a shallow cash-grab was instead treated with genuine care and heart. The film was helmed by the directing duo of Lord & Miller, and featured a star-studded voice cast with the likes of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, and many others.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
The movie is a wonderful surprise, cleverly written and executed brick by brick with a visual panache. Full review - Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
41. Phantom Thread (2017)
Phantom Thread • Trailer
Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest masterwork, Phantom Thread, is now available on HBO Max. The film is beautifully shot and impeccably assembled. The most compelling reason to watch Phantom Thread is for Daniel Day Lewis’ astounding performance, which might remain his final film performance if he sticks to his proposed retirement, though he has flirted with leaving acting behind before only to return for more excellent performances.
Top HBO Movies
Critic Review Highlight
A sumptuously crafted masterpiece of icy opulence, elegance and a rigid yet bold humour. Full Review - Zehra Phelan, Flavourmag
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
40. Shame (2011)
Shame • Trailer
Shame was the second feature-film from British director Steve McQueen who quickly cemented himself as one of the best filmmakers currently working in the industry. Shame tackles the difficult subject of sex addiction in the lead character played brilliantly by Michael Fassbender. Carey Mulligan is also great in a supporting role.
Top HBO Movies
Critic Review Highlight
With tremendous performances from Fassbender and Mulligan, and such superb technique from McQueen, this is a horrible inferno. Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Best movies on HBO right now
39. True Grit (2010)
True Grit • Trailer
The Coen Brothers’ 2010 remake of the 1969 John Wayne classic just might be the definitive telling of this story. Despite being a retelling of a familiar story, True Grit feels fresh and inventive. The film lacks none of the trademark Coen Brothers’ quirk and wit. The cast excels with a great script that twists the original story in the perfect ways.
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Critic Review Highlight
Without comparing the film to John Wayne's original of 1969, the Coen's version stands on its own with noteworthy performances by Jeff Bridges and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. Full review - Kiko Martinez, San Antonio Current
Top HBO Movies
38. Pi (1998)
Pi • Trailer
Darren Aronofsky’s first film, Pi, remains one of his most compelling. Combining an extremely striking visual style with inventive camera work and an unforgettable soundtrack, Pi surpasses its small budget with flair. The main character is complex and intriguing, and Aronofsky utilizes the cinematic form to ground you as an audience member thoroughly in this distrubed character’s point of view. The end effect is a dizzying whirlwind of psychological confusion and distortion.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Aronofsky, who has parlayed this movie's Sundance success into two Hollywood deals, is that rare indie filmmaker who doesn't want to make hip romantic sitcoms. He's a genuine experimenter with a spooky visual style. Full review — Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Must-watch movies on HBO
37. The Nice Guys (2016)
The Nice Guys • Trailer
The Nice Guys is another buddy cop comedy from Shane black, the man who practically invented the subgenre with Lethal Weapon, except this time around they aren’t actually cops, and they actually hate each other. The Nice Guys is absolutely hilarious and makes excellent use of a Russell Crowe X Ryan Gosling duo.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Everything has its own illogic in "The Nice Guys," a consistently entertaining, frequently violent and generally slapdash action comedy directed by Shane Black. Full review — Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Must-watch movies on HBO
36. Blow-Up (1966)
Blow-Up • Trailer
Michaelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up is a highlight of 60s Italian cinema. The plot follows a fashion photographer who accidentally catches something suspicious in the background of a photoshoot. This premise was re-explored by Brian Depalma in 1981 as Blow Out, which swapped photography for audio recording. Blow-Up is a stylish and inventive thriller, definitely worth seeking out.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Michelangelo Antonioni's film is an inquiry into the modernist concern of what art is and how it affects life. Full review - Chuck Bowen, Slant
Best Movies on HBO
35. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
A Fish Called Wanda • Trailer
A Fish Called Wanda is a film called one of the funniest ever made. John Cleese penned the script and stars alongside fellow python Michael Palin as well as Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline. The Americans hold their own against the British comedy legends, with Kevin Kline possibly even managing to steal the show. It might be rather drab visually, but the script and characters remain blisteringly funny from start to finish.
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Critic Review Highlight
Low comedy at high speed, it pretends to be a caper movie about a smooth London jewel heist and its infinitely complex aftermath. Actually, it's a smart farce about ingrained cultural differences. Full review — Shella Benson, Los Angeles Times
Best Movies on HBO
34. Clerks (1994)
Clerks • Trailer
One of the most important independent films ever made, Clerks helped usher in a new era in filmmaking outside of the studio system. The film’s meager budget was supplied by writer, director Kevin Smith maxing out all of his credit and getting creative with all of the resources he had at his disposal. Clerk’s low budget shows but all of its rough edges only serve to add to the film’s abundance of charm.
Best Movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
It is one of those small-scale American independent movies that you either fall for or you don't, and one would confidently expect most of those fed up with big, empty, run-of-the-mill Hollywood epics to raise at least two cheers. Full review — Derek Malcolm, Guardian
Best Movies on HBO
33. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption • Trailer
The Shawshank Redemption is a gem of the prison movie genre. The characters and themes are complex and thoroughly engaging. Frank Darabont is at the top of his game in the director’s chair, displaying a remarkable command over his craft. Each and every cast member provides an excellent performance, particularly Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, and James Whitmore.
Best Movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
A tough, complex story [told] with clarity, compassion and considerable dramatic force. Full Review - Harper Barnes, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Must-watch movies on HBO
32. Biutiful (2010)
Biutiful • Trailer
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s last film before Birdman was Biutiful, the story of Uxbal, a man embarking on a personal journey as death looms large over his head. The supernatural component of the story is perhaps a bit jarring and could be integrated into the rest of the narrative more smoothly, but the drama at play is rich. Biutiful is an emotional story that is as capable of being uplifting as it is bleak and disheartening.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Irritu's previous films have been multilayered narratives. Here, he sticks to a single, admittedly richly vibrant milieu and a central character who appears in virtually every frame. Full review — Philip French, Guardian
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
31. Day of the Dead (1985)
Day of the Dead • Trailer
Day of the Dead was the third film in George A. Romero's incredible ‘dead series’ following the zombie establishing Night of the Living Dead and the sub-genre perfecting Dawn of the Dead. Day of the Dead is another all-time great zombie film from the master of the genre. Tom Savini’s special effects are a real highlight and the film is chock-full of iconic scenes.
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Critic Review Highlight
An inventive gore-fest, and one of the best horror movies of the eighties. Full review — Kim Newman, Empire
Must-watch movies on HBO
30. The Last Emperor (1998)
The Last Emperor • Trailer
This epic bio-drama chronicles the life of China’s final emperor. Bernardo Bertolucci helmed this immaculately crafted film that raked in a staggering nine Academy Award wins, including all the major craft categories. Each individual aspect of this film excels; worth watching to hear the stunning score alone with impressive work from David Byrne of Talking Heads fame.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Constantly absorbing and tremendously interesting. Full review — Todd McCarthy, Variety
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
29. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
When Harry Met Sally • Trailer
When Harry Met Sally just might be the crown jewel of the romantic-comedy genre. Written by rom-com veteran Nora Ephron and directed by comedy veteran Rob Reiner, When Harry Met Sally is classic cinematic teamup both on screen and off. The chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan is magnetic.
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Critic Review Highlight
When Harry Met Sally... is a sweet, embraceable comedy, a moonstruck Manhattan romance that, like a Gershwin tune, turns the sighs and glances, the spats and reconciliations, all the cliches of the heart into infectious melody. Full review — William Gallagher, BBC
Best movies on HBO right now
28. Quadrophenia (1979)
Quadrophenia • Trailer
Quadrophenia is the film version of the rock opera by The Who of the same name. The plot follows Jimmy, played by Phil Daniels, a disaffected youth who navigates life, heartbreak, and the Mod V. Rocker subculture of the 1960s. The film is emotionally raw and, of course, backed by an excellent soundtrack.
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Critic Review Highlight
Director Franc Roddam shot the film with a gritty, realistic feel and the themes of youthful rebellion and confusion are absolutely timeless, magnified by the specificity of the setting rather than being limited by it. Full review - Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
27. Beginners (2010)
Beginners • Trailer
Beginners was the second feature-film from writer, director Mike Mills, the man behind Thumbsucker and 20th Century Women. Beginners is a great, somber drama with the perfect amount of humor to lighten the mood. The film gets heavy and gets deep without ever losing its sense of fun; it strikes the perfect balance of tones. The editing and production design standout as truly excellent.
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Critic Review Highlight
It is tonally elusive, cerebral and subdued, but this is a film with a healthy, if self-conscious IQ. Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Best HBO Movies
26. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Punch Drunk Love • Trailer
Paul Thomas Anderson’s romantic drama Punch-Drunk Love grabs you from the intriguing opening frame and never lets go. It’s the director’s shortest film, but it packs a lot into its brisk runtime. Adam Sandler gives an excellent dramatic performance and his romance with Emily Watson is undeniably sweet and heartfelt. It’s a different kind of romance film, one with an angry edge and spontaneous bursts of humor.
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Critic Review Highlight
What Anderson and his equally unlikely stars, Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, have managed is to stretch the boundaries of the romantic comedy genre to their extreme outer limits. Full review — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Best movies on HBO right now
25. Misery (1990)
Misery • Trailer
Misery is a masterclass in building and sustaining tension for the entire duration of a film. It is also a perfect example of a bottle film in which nearly every scene takes place in just one location with a housebound James Caan fearing for his life from an obsessed and captor played brilliantly by Kathy Bates. Find out where Misery Ranks amongst the best Stephen King movies.
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Critic Review Highlight
Bates turns Wilkes into the nastiest nurse to reach the screen since Louise Fletcher tormented Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Full review - Desmond Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
24. Boogie Nights (1997)
Boogie Nights • Trailer
The sophomore effort from director Paul Thomas Anderson became a cultural phenomenon and served as the director’s breakthrough to mainstream success. The lengthy runtime breezes right by in this exceedingly fun film. The many characters all feel fully fleshed-out and performed to perfection.
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Critic Review Highlight
Boogie Nights, an epic tale of porn, pleasure, and excess, offers a purer hit of exhilaration than any movie this year. Full review — Owen Glelberman, Entertainment Weekly
Best HBO Movies
23. Before Sunrise + Before Sunset (1995 - 2004)
Before Sunrise • Trailer
Before Sunrise and Before Sunset both joined the HBO Max platform this month. The Before trilogy is one of a handful of crowning achievements in writer/director Richard Linklater’s career. HBO Max is not currently offering Before Midnight so you may need to seek the conclusion to the trilogy elsewhere. The Before stand easily alongside cinema’s greatest on-screen romances. The wall-to-wall dialogue is captivating and supremely natural. Warning, you may cry during one or all three of these films.
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Critic Review Highlight
Before Sunrise is so much like real life -- like a documentary with an invisible camera -- that I found myself remembering real conversations I had experienced with more or less the same words. Full review — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Best HBO Movies
22. Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Nocturnal Animals • Trailer
Tom Ford’s second feature film is a genuine masterpiece of the thriller genre. Nocturnal Animals presents an excellent script in the perfect light. This dark, twisty thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat with great acting across the board and a real artist’s touch behind the camera.
Top HBO Movies
Critic Review Highlight
Tom Ford hits it out of the park with a stunning film noir that resonates with ghostly, poetic terror. Don't overthink what Ford has so cunningly crafted. Surrender to it. Full review — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Best HBO Movies
21. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun of the Dead • Trailer
Shaun of the Dead was the start of the Cornetto trilogy, followed by Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. The entire trilogy is excellent, and Shaun of the Dead starts the loosely connected series off with a bang. Simon Peg and Nick Frost make for one of the best comedy duos to ever hit the silver screen, and Edgar Wright’s direction is sublime. The film is top-notch comedy and a loving ode to the zombie genre. If you love Shaun of the Dead and are looking for similar films, check out our list of the best zombie comedies.
Top HBO Movies
Critic Review Highlight
The pasty, scruffy Pegg shows a surprising amount of range for the unlikely hero of a zombie flick. Full review - Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Must-watch movies on HBO
20. Prisoners (2013)
Prisoners • Trailer
Denis Villeneuve rocketed into Hollywood consciousness with his first American-made film, Prisoners. A bleak mystery/thriller with morally grey protagonists and eerily-honest antagonists. A never-better Hugh Jackman leads a strong cast through this excellent script.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
A certain dour realist vigour keeps the nightmare alive. Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Must-watch movies on HBO
19. Amelie (2001)
Amelie • Trailer
Amelie is just about as whimsical as a film can get, even giving Wes Anderson a run for his money. The production design and cinematography of Amelie are exquisite, and the titular heroine is sure to wheedle her way into your heart.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
What comes across most powerfully is Jeunet's athletic, playful directing style, a tour de force of tricks, gags and effects. Full review — Andrew Pulver, Guardian
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
18. The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix • Trailer
The Matrix was a cultural phenomenon immediately upon release. Rarely does a film so quickly and completely take over the zeitgeist. Taking the sequels out of the equation, The Matrix is an incredible piece of science-fiction and action filmmaking. So much innovation in craft and technique went into pulling off this film.
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Critic Review Highlight
A wildly cinematic futuristic thriller that is determined to overpower the imagination, The Matrix combines traditional science-fiction premises with spanking new visual technology in a way that almost defies description. Full review — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Best movies on HBO right now
17. Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz • Trailer
Hot Fuzz is a strong contender for the title of Edgar Wright’s best movie, quite the feat when against such stiff competition. The buddy pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost is as great and lovable as ever, and the humor is extremely varied and deeply layered with constant callbacks, subversions, and rapid-fire jokes. Hot Fuzz is a loving homage to buddy cop movies and action movies and is an overall brilliant action-comedy.
Top HBO Movies
Critic Review Highlight
It's such a vibrant goof, so full of love both for the movies and for its cast of ridiculous characters that you forgive it the odd soggy stretch. Full review - Dana Stevens, Slate
Must-watch movies on HBO
16. City of God (2002)
City of God • Trailer
City of God is an epic gangster film spanning three decades of gang life in Brazil. Memorable characters, an inventive script, bold camera work and editing, and a great sense of directorial style make City of God a must watch. City of God should rank highly on any list of the greatest gangster films ever made.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
City of God delivers a bruising, visceral experience of the vicious spiral of violence that draws kids into a life of crime, brutality and murder as the only avenue open to them. Full review — David Rooney, Variety
Must-watch movies on HBO
15. In Bruges (2008)
In Bruges • Trailer
In Bruges was the feature film debut of Martin McDonagh. The script scored him his first Best Original Screenplay nomination, with his second arriving nine years later with 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. In Bruges is a pitch black comedy about a pair of hitmen who go forced-sightseeing in Bruges, Belgium. The film is packed with memorable lines and deep, belly laughs, and Colin Farrell has never been better.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
In Bruges is a haunting and hypnotic movie, just the thing to get lost in. Full review — Peter Travers, Rolling Stones
Best Movies on HBO Right Now
14. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul • Trailer
From director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul is a surprisingly understated yet nuanced story of the human spirit. From the outside it appears to be incredibly simple film; few characters, few locations, simple, restrained cinematography… but the simplistic appearance hides a great depth of emotional resonance and character-driven thematic exploration.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Technically flawless, deceptively simple and avoiding excesses, it is about problems that are timely and timeless in implications. Full review — Variety
Must-watch movies on HBO
13. A Woman Under the Influence
A Woman Under the Influence • Trailer
A Woman Under the Influence is one of many collaborations between actress Gena Rowlands and her writer-director husband John Cassavetes. The story is hyper-realistic and follows Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk as a wife and husband in a committed but extremely strained marriage. The dramatic engine of the film is driven by the main character’s mental health as she undergoes a complete breakdown. The pacing of the first act is a bit harsh, but stick with it and you’ll be rewarded with one of the most intense and emotionally raw performances ever committed to film from a fully unmasked Gena Rowlands. Peter Falk makes for an excellent foil to his severely troubled wife.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Like steep hill climbs, John Cassavetes's films can be jolly hard work, but the view from the top is worth it. Full Review - Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
Best HBO Movies
12. Dragged Across Concrete (2018)
Dragged Across Concrete • Trailer
Robbed of its theatrical release due to a dispute with the studio, S. Craig Zahler’s third feature film is a towering testament to his talents as an auteur. The 2-hour-39-minute runtime is entirely justified as Dragged Across Concrete becomes one of the most tense cinematic experiences you will likely ever have throughout the entirety of the third act.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
This is a long film, but there is something so horribly compelling about its unhurried slouch towards the precipice. Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Best HBO Movies
11. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
Sophie's Choice • Trailer
Meryl Streep turns in a career defining performance in this devastating drama. The only misstep is focusing too much on the less interesting Stingo as the protagonist, though his perspective does make for a compelling, gradual reveal of information about our titular heroin. Kevin Kline also turns in a layered performance as a deeply complicated character that keeps the present day storyline engrossing alongside the heartbreaking flashbacks.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
So perfectly cast and well-imagined that it just takes over and happens to you. It's quite an experience.. Full review — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Best Movies Ever on HBO
10. Blood Simple (1984)
Blood Simple • Trailer
The Coen Brothers came out swinging for the fences with this their debut feature. Blood Simple is a tense thriller with a hard-hitting, noir edged script and a carefully constructed climactic cat and mouse chase that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Best Ever Movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
A gripping, drum-tight noir masterpiece to compare with Touch of Evil. Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Must-watch movies on HBO
9. Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club • Trailer
Few films infect the zeitgeist as immediately and fully as David Fincher’s Fight Club. Though the message of the film is often misunderstood, Fight Club’s thought provoking themes still resonate as well in 2020 as they did when the original novel was first written. Fight Club is a stylishly assembled flick that also happens to contain one of cinema’s greatest twists; oft parroted, rarely matched.
[Best Movies of All Time on HBO]
Critic Review Highlight
An outrageous mixture of brilliant technique, puerile philosophizing, trenchant satire and sensory overload, Fight Club is the most incendiary movie to come out of Hollywood in a long time. It's a mess, but one worth fighting about. Full review — David Ansen, Newsweek
Must-watch movies on HBO
8. Aliens (1986)
Aliens • Trailer
James Cameron’s follow up to the 1979 sci-fi classic is rightly hailed as one of the best sequels ever made. Aliens trades some of the focus on horror of the first film for a larger emphasis on action, while keeping things tense and claustrophobic. This is a sequel that ups the scale and spectacle on all fronts.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
It's blaster action, not Gothic future-horror. Fortunately, director-screenwriter James Cameron has shaped his film around the defiant intelligence and sensual athleticism of Weaver, and that's where Aliens works best. Full review — Shella Benson, Los Angeles Times
Best Movies of All Time on HBO
7. Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard • Trailer
One of the best action films ever made, hands down, and in contention for the top spot of all time. Also it just so happens to be one of the best Christmas films ever made, and that’s a fact. Die Hard excels with a lovable every-man protagonist, a villain for the ages, and hard-hitting, inventive action scenes.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Die Hard is as high tech, rock hard and souped up as an action film can be. Full review — Variety
Must-watch movies on HBO
6. Jaws (1975)
Jaws • Trailer
Jaws is arguably Steven Spielberg’s best film. A pioneer of the summer blockbuster and remarkable exercise in tension. It’s the interplay between the human characters that makes this shark film work so well. The growing chemistry of the leads showcases excellent character work across the board.
Best movies to watch on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Delivers an astonishingly effective thriller built on a very primal level: fear... On a sheer cause and effect basis, it could be Spielberg's finest. Full review — William Thomas, Empire
Top HBO Movies
5. Se7en (1995)
Se7en • Trailer
Se7en was David Fincher’s first masterpiece (of many), just his second feature-film following Alien 3, which he later disowned. Se7en is one of the best thrillers ever made and is a timeless classic of the serial-killer subgenre. The script is tight, the direction is taut, and the performances are excellent.
Best Movies of All Time on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
A dark, gripping thriller which saves it's most shocking revelations for the final scenes. Full review — Mark Salisbury, Empire
Must-watch movies on HBO
4. Doubt (2008)
Doubt • Trailer
John Patrick Shanley wrote and directed this adaptation of his own play. Doubt is a heavy drama that takes aim at abuse within the catholic church through complex character and an objective, limited point of view. This is an incredible film full of astounding performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and a scene-stealing Viola Davis.
Best Movies of All Time on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
The air is thick with paranoia in “Doubt,” but nowhere as thick, juicy, sustained or sustaining as Meryl Streep’s performance. Full review — Manohla Dargis, The NYTimes
Best Movies Ever on HBO.
3. Alien (1979)
Alien • Trailer
Ridley Scott’s seminal 1979 film is a masterpiece of both the sci-fi and horror genres. Even the smallest details of this late-70s classic have been infused into the cinematic zeitgeist. Ripley, Dallas, the Xenomorph, the facehugger, the chest burster, the eggs, the android, the space jockey, Jonesy, Mother, even the simple matter of the set design and sound design have achieved legendary status.
Best Movies of All Time on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
After 40 years, this sci-fi horror masterpiece still feels lethally contemporary. Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Best Movies of All Time on HBO
2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly • Trailer
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly tells the real-life story of Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who found himself struck by Locked-in Syndrome, an affliction that left his entire body paralyzed except for one of his eyes. It’s a captivating tale that speaks to the strength of the human spirit and the will to survive and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Top Movies on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
Nothing in director Julian Schnabel's career so far has anticipated the sweetness, sadness, maturity and restraint of this lovely movie. Full review — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Best Movies Ever on HBO
1. Requiem For a Dream (2000)
Requiem for a Dream • Trailer
Requiem for a Dream is the crown jewel of Darren Aronofsky’s career. One of the best films ever produced, a harrowing tale of addiction desperation. Requiem For a Dream is a bleak and upsetting watch that showcases the raw power of cinema.
Best Movies of All Time on HBO
Critic Review Highlight
This is, without a doubt, cutting-edge film-making. Full review — Ben Falk, BBC
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The Best Movies on Netflix
Whether you simply watched everything on our Best Movies on HBO list or are still browsing for entertainment, we've got you covered. In this case, we have the absolute best movies on Netflix playing right now. Across every genre and decade, if you want to watch something great, this playlist will get the job done.
