Best Movies on HBO Right Now — Filmmaker Playlist (Oct 2020)

Movies on HBO right now

49. Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978)

Movies on HBO right now

48. Ford V. Ferrari (2019)

Best movies on HBO Go

47. Unbreakable (2000)

Best movies on HBO right now

45. Cast Away (2000)

Best movies on HBO Go

44. Half Nelson (2006)

Best Movies on HBO Right Now

43. Lethal Weapon (1987)

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.

Movies on HBO now

41. The Dark Knight (2008)

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 movie takes place after Gordon (Gary Oldman), Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and Batman (Christian Bale) begin an assault on Gotham's organised crime, the mobs hire the Joker (Heath Ledger), a psychopathic criminal mastermind who offers to kill Batman and bring the city to its knees.

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.

Movies on HBO now

40. The Fountain (2006)

Darren Aronofsky followed up Requiem for a Dream with the extremely ambitious The Fountain.  The movie is about three people living in different centuries embark on a search for the tree of life in order to protect their loved ones and receive the gift of immortality.

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.

Movies on HBO now

39. Election (1999)

Election is an enduring film from early on in the career of filmmaker Alexander Payne. It's a movie about Tracy (Reese Witherspoon) who runs unopposed for her high school election. However, the school's civics teacher has different plans, so he tells the varsity's popular football player (Mathew Broderick) to run for president and chaos follows.

With a Reese Witherspoon and Mathew Broderick double team at the center, Election offers social commentary and satire with a whip-smart screenplay.

Best movies on HBO

38. Raising Arizona (1987)

Best movies on HBO Go

37. Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Taika Waititi's latest film is the academy award winning JoJo Rabbit. The movie is about Jojo who is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend -- Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi) -- Jojo must confront his blind nationalism as World War II continues to rage on.

This anti-hate satire labasts Hitler and the Nazi party party from the perspective of an impressionable member of the Hitler Youth. This is a hilarious film that also offers a heaping helping of heart. If you’ve already seen Jojo Rabbit, we have a video essay on the movie's most impactful scene.

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.  His movie is about a successful and handsome New Yorker Brandon (Michael Fassbender) who seems to live an ordinary life, but he hides a terrible secret behind his mask of normalcy: Brandon is a sex addict. His constant need for gratification numbs him to just about everything else. But, when Sissy (Carey Mulligan), Brandon's needy sister, unexpectedly blows into town, crashes at his apartment and invades his privacy, Brandon is finally forced to confront his addiction head-on.

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

35. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead was the final film from legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet, and what a capstone to his impressive filmography. The movie is about Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his brother Hank (Ethan Hawke) who decide to rob their parents' jewellery store. Things take a turn for the worse when their father decides to hunt down the criminals, not knowing that they are his own sons.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawk both give astoundly good performances, and that’s not even mentioning that incredible supporting performances from Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, and Michael Shannon. The unorthodox visual style might not be to everyone’s liking, but this dark thriller is sure to impress in the acting and script departments.

Top HBO Movies

34. Pi (1998)

Darren Aronofsky’s first film, Pi, remains one of his most compelling. The movie is about numbers whiz Max Cohen (Sean Gullette) who is stunted by psychological delusions of paranoia and debilitating headaches. He lives in a messy Chinatown apartment, where he tinkers with equations and his homemade, super-advanced computer. One day, however, Cohen encounters a mysterious number. Soon after reporting his discovery to his mentor (Mark Margolis) and to a religious friend (Ben Shenkman), he finds himself the target of ill-intentioned Wall Street agents bent on using the number for profit.

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.

Must-watch movies on HBO

33. A Woman Under the Influence

Must-watch movies on HBO

32. The Nice Guys (2016)

Best Movies on HBO

31. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

Best Movies on HBO

30. Clerks (1994)

Must-watch movies on HBO

29. Biutiful (2010)

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. The movie is about a trapped in a missile silo, a small team of scientists, civilians and trigger-happy soldiers who battle desperately to ensure the survival of the human race, but tension inside the base is reaching breaking-point, and the zombies are gathering outside.

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.

Must-watch movies on HBO

27. The Last Emperor (1998)

When Harry Met Sally just might be the crown jewel of the romantic-comedy genre. The movie is about a chance encounter between two graduates which culminates in a short-term friendship. But when fate brings them back together five years later, they are forced to deal with how they feel about each other.

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.

Best Movies on HBO Right Now

25. Beginners (2010)

Beginners was the second feature-film from writer, director Mike Mills, the man behind Thumbsucker and 20th Century Women. The movie is about an Oliver (Ewan McGregor), a graphic designer, who is attracted to a free-spirited and unpredictable Anna (Mélanie Laurent) . Memories of his father encourage him to open himself up to the potential of a true and long-lasting relationship.

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.

Best HBO Movies

24. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

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. A movie is about a frustrated Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) who calls a phone-sex line to curb his loneliness. Little does he know that he will land in huge trouble and will also jeopardise his relationship with Lena (Emily Watson).

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.

The sophomore effort from director Paul Thomas Anderson became a cultural phenomenon and served as the director’s breakthrough to mainstream success. The movie takes place in the San Fernando Valley in 1977, where teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him into adult-film sensation Dirk Diggler. Brought into a supportive circle of friends, including fellow actors Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), Rollergirl (Heather Graham) and Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), Dirk fulfills all his ambitions, but a toxic combination of drugs and egotism threatens to take him back down.

The lengthy runtime breezes right by in this exceedingly fun film. The many characters all feel fully fleshed-out and performed to perfection.

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 movie takes place while travelling on a train in Europe, Jesse, an American man, meets Celine, a French woman. On his last day in Europe before returning to the US, he decides to spend his remaining hours with her.

 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.

Best HBO Movies

21. Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Tom Ford’s second feature film is a genuine masterpiece of the thriller genre. The movie is about Susan (Amy Adams) who receives a manuscript of her ex-husband Edward's (Jake Gyllenhaal) new novel and finds it very compelling. However, the story forces her to confront several disturbing truths about their marital life.

 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. We can't wait for what Ford directs next.

Must-watch movies on HBO

20. Prisoners (2013)

Denis Villeneuve rocketed into Hollywood consciousness with his first American-made film, Prisoners. The movie takes place when the police take time to find Keller Dover's daughter and her friend, when he decides to go on a search himself. His desperation leads him closer to finding the truth and also jeopardises his own life.

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.

Must-watch movies on HBO

19. Amelie (2001)

Amelie is just about as whimsical as a film can get, even giving Wes Anderson a run for his money. The movie is about Amelie (Audrey Tautou), a young waitress, who despite being caught in her imaginative world, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.

The production design and cinematography of Amelie are exquisite, and the titular heroine is sure to wheedle her way into your heart.

City of God is an epic gangster film spanning three decades of gang life in Brazil. The movie takes place in the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, where two young men choose different paths. Rocket (Seu Jorge) is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood. José "Zé" Pequeno (Leandro Firmino da Hora) is an ambitious drug dealer who uses Rocket and his photos as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival, "Knockout Ned" (Matheus Nachtergaele).

 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.

Must-watch movies on HBO

16. In Bruges (2008)

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. The movie is about Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), two hitmen, who get stuck in Bruges, Belgium, after an unsuccessful mission. The situation becomes complicated when their boss asks Ken to kill Ray.

The film is packed with memorable lines and deep, belly laughs, and Colin Farrell has never been better.

Best Movies on HBO Right Now

15. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Best HBO Movies

14. Dragged Across Concrete (2018)

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 movie is about police partners (Mel Gibson & Vince Vaughn) who descend into the criminal underworld after they are suspended for assaulting a suspect on video.

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 on HBO Max

13. The Conversation (1974)

In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola released The Conversation just months before the release of The Godfather: Part II. The movie is about a surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) who is hired by a mysterious client's brusque aide (Harrison Ford) to tail a young couple, Mark (Frederic Forrest) and Ann (Cindy Williams). Tracking the pair through San Francisco's Union Square, Caul and his associate Stan (John Cazale) manage to record a cryptic conversation between them. Tormented by memories of a previous case that ended badly, Caul becomes obsessed with the resulting tape, trying to determine if the couple are in danger.

The fact that Coppola was able to squeeze The Conversation in between production of the two Godfather films is a true testament to the cinematic force he was in the 1970s. The Conversation is both a gripping character study and a thought-provoking exploration into the nature of surveillance. Gene Hackman gives one of, if not the, best performances of his career.

Best HBO Movies

12. Sophie’s Choice (1982)

Best Movies Ever on HBO

11. Blood Simple (1984)

The Coen Brothers came out swinging for the fences with this their debut feature. The movie is about a man who hires detectives to find out whether or not his wife has been cheating on him. He orders the detective to kill her off if his suspicions turn out to be true.

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.

Must-watch movies on HBO

10. Fight Club (1999)

Must-watch movies on HBO

9. Aliens (1986)

James Cameron’s follow up to the 1979 sci-fi classic is rightly hailed as one of the best sequels ever made. The movie is about Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) who is sent back to the planet LV-426 to establish contact with a terraforming colony. Once there, she encounters the Alien Queen and her offspring and has to fight them to survive.

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 of All Time on HBO

8. Die Hard (1988)

One of the best action films ever made, hands down, and in contention for the top spot of all time. The movie is about detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) who hoping to spend Christmas with his estranged wife, arrives in LA. However, he learns about a hostage situation in an office building and his wife is one of the hostages.

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.

Dog Day Afternoon is an incredible film from master filmmaker Sidney Lumet. The movie is about a man (Al Pacino) who decides to rob a local Brooklyn bank to pay for his lover's operation, but he is forced to take hostages after the heist does not go as planned.

 The film tells the true story of a bank robbery gone wrong but the film places 100% of the focus on the characters over the potential action and thrills of a typical heist film. The entire cast fires on all cylinders in a film that was largely improvised when it came to the dialogue while the structure of the film came from an article about the real-life event.

Jaws is arguably Steven Spielberg’s best film. The movie is about a police chief (Roy Scheider), a marine scientist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a fisherman (Robert Shaw) who spring into action after a white shark terrorises the inhabitants of Amity, a quiet island.

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.

Se7en was David Fincher’s first masterpiece (of many), just his second feature-film following Alien 3, which he later disowned. A movie is about a serial killer who begins murdering people according to the seven deadly sins. Two detectives (Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman), one new to the city and the other about to retire, are tasked with apprehending the criminal.

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.

John Patrick Shanley wrote and directed this adaptation of his own play.  The movie takes place after a nun (Meryl Streep) observes Father Flynn's (Philip Seymour Hoffman) closeness with Donald (Joseph Foster), a black student and the altar boy, when she reports her suspicions to the principal. Together, they try to expose Flynn's antics.

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 Ever on HBO.

3. Alien (1979)

Ridley Scott’s seminal 1979 film is a masterpiece of both the sci-fi and horror genres. The movie is about the crew of a spacecraft, Nostromo, who intercept a distress signal from a planet and set out to investigate it. However, to their horror, they are attacked by an alien which later invades their ship.

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

2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly 

Best Movies Ever on HBO

1. Requiem For a Dream (2000)

Requiem for a Dream is the crown jewel of Darren Aronofsky’s career. The movie is about the drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people which are shattered when their addictions run deep.

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.