Maxhas become a fierce competitor in the world of streaming. Armed with content from HBO and Warner Bros., Max offers some of the best TV shows and movies ever made. The streaming service is jam-packed with beloved, critically acclaimed shows, from classics likeThe Sopranos, Sex and the City,andSix Feet Underto more recent phenomena likeGame of Thrones, The Last of Us,andThe White Lotus.
Max’s movie selection is even more vast. Overwhelmingly vast. Its catalog ranges from the Charlie Chaplin silent films of the 1920s all the way to 2024’sBeetlejuice Beetlejuice,covering just about everything in between. There are a ton of iconic and recognizable films currently available on Max. You’ve got timeless classics likeThe Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, and2001: A Space Odyssey.Then you have the more recent hits likeBarbie, Denis Villeneuve’sDune, Call Me by Your Name,andJoker.
And then, there are the underrated gems, overlooked films that flew under the radar for most audiences. Looking for a great film that you haven’t seen or even heard of? Here are 10 films currently streaming on Max that fit the bill, ranked by year of release.
10’Priscilla' (2023)
Priscillais a sort of spiritual companion to 2022’sElvis.Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sophia Coppola, this little filmfocuses on the ex-wife of rock and roll’s most famous artist. Serious and intimate, it captures the relationship between Priscilla and Elvis, even its darkest, most sobering moments.
Priscillapaints a very different picture from the Baz Luhrmann counterpart. It didn’t make quite the same splash asElvisdid. But the film still garnered positive reviews from critics, most of whom praised the performances of Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis.
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9’Reality' (2023)
Realityis an HBO original film, so, of course, it’s available on Max. Here, a young woman receives an unexpected visit by the FBI for leaking sensitive documents to an online publication.
Realityis based on the real transcript of the 2017 FBI interrogation. The film starsthe It Girl of the moment, Sydney Sweeney, as the titular character. The filmreceived critical acclaim, particularly for Sweeney’s performance.
8’Dream Scenario' (2023)
Dream Scenario
What if hundreds of people, even strangers whom you’ve never met, started seeing you in their dreams? This is the unusual phenomenon experienced by Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage), an evolutionary biology teacher with nothing really extraordinary about him. Yet for whatever reason, Paul finds himself at the center of hundreds of people’s dreams, turning him into a media sensation.
Dream Scenariois a quirky and humorous gem with a unique concept, the perfect combination for an A24 film.
7’The Florida Project' (2017)
The Florida Project
Long before he hit it big withAnora,Sean Baker directed a little indie film calledThe Florida Project.Similar toAnora, The Florida Projectfocuses on a sex worker who’s struggling to make ends meet and provide for her six-year-old daughter. Their impoverished lifestyle in Kissimmee, Florida is starkly juxtaposed with their famous neighbor, Disney World, contrasting the magic of Disney with the harsh reality of the film’s characters.
This work marked the film debut for many of its actors, though it does star Willem Dafoe.The Florida Projectis a great coming-of-age story that’s just as good, if not better, thanAnora.
6’Jackie' (2016)
Jackieis a historical drama about one of America’s most famous First Ladies, Jacqueline Kennedy. It follows her days in the White House, as well as the immediate aftermath of her husband’s infamous assassination.
Natalie Portman is uncanny as Jacqueline Kennedy, perfectly mimicking the iconic figure’s speech patterns and mannerisms.Jackieearned three Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Portman’s remarkable performance.
5’Gloria Bell' (2018)
Gloria Bell
2013’sGloriais a Chilean-Spanish drama that holds a rare and coveted score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2018, the film’s director,Sebastián Lelio, made an English-language remake of his own moviecalledGloria Bell.
Starring Julianne Moore and John Turturro,Gloria Bellcenters on its titular character, an aging divorcee who has an intense affair with a man she meets at a Los Angeles dance club. While it didn’t land a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes like its predecessor,Gloria Belldid score an impressive 90% from critics.
4’Big Eyes' (2014)
Big Eyesis a biographical drama directed by legendary filmmaker Tim Burton. It depicts the toxic relationship between American artist Margaret Keane and her second husband, Walter Keane, who steals credit for Margaret’s popular paintings of people with unusually big eyes.
The film is also led by acclaimed actors Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. As far as Burton movies go,Big Eyesis one of the least weird films in the director’s catalog.And also one of his best.
3’Another Earth' (2011)
Another Earthisn’t your typical big-budget sci-fi blockbuster. It doesn’t feature extravagant CGI or action-packed battle sequences. It’s a thought-provoking film made for a grand total of $100,000.
InAnother Earth,quite literally a second Earth, dubbed Earth 2, inexplicably appears in our galaxy. A young woman haunted by her past is offered the chance of a lifetime to be one of the first people to travel to Earth 2. Although it’s weighed down a bit by slow pacing,Another Earthis a unique sci-fi offering led by a soulful story rather than special effects.
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2’American Splendor' (2003)
American Splendoris another HBO original film.It’s an adaptation of the eponymous comic book seriesby underground comic book writer and gloomy pessimist, Harvey Pekar, who’s credited for changing the perception of the graphic novel.American Splendor,both the comic book series and the film, is a biographical account of Pekar’s life, capturing the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Pekar is played by acclaimed actor Paul Giamatti in one of his first starring roles.American Splendorhas the look and feel of an A24 film. It employs a unique style, combining live-action, documentary, and animation, to create a moving portrait of one of the comic book industry’s biggest unsung heroes.
1’Blood Simple' (1984)
Blood Simple
If you’re a movie buff, then you’re probably well-acquainted with the Coen brothers. You’ve also probably seen some of their most iconic films, likeFargo, The Big Lebowski,andNo Country for Old Men.But have you ever seenBlood Simple?
This indie is the Coen brothers' very first film. It follows a chain of misunderstandings and chaotic events when the owner of a small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife.Blood Simpleis classic Coen brothers – a violent and funny thrill ride that’s now regarded asone of their best films.
