It’s finally summer, and along with it come the big blockbuster franchises returning for a big-screen release, including the action-packed, high-flying Top Gun: Maverick and the chaotic prehistoric world that is Jurassic World: Dominion. It’s wonderful to see box-office numbers increasing and to experience the unbeatable pleasure of watching a movie on a massive screen with amazing surround sound.
But, it’s an opportunity for relaxation and rest, and people may want to enjoy some of the best films from the at-home comforts of their homes. This is where streaming comes in, and HBO Max has an incredible selection of both classic and brand-new movies to provide you with some relief from the summer heat.
For those who don’t have the option of HBO Max or simply want to know what’s available on other platforms, be sure to read our other guides on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
The Batman (2022)
Running Time: Two hours, 56 mins
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Written by Matt Reeves and Peter Craig
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, John Turturro, and Andy Serkis
Although the much-anticipated remake of Caped Crusader premiered in theaters just two days ago, The Batman is already accessible to stream through HBO Max. The most recent version of the story of the cowled hero provides the Dark Knight a run for its money, being the most gritty and darkest adaptation to date, featuring an edgy and mature tone that gives great authority to the tense story of a detective. It’s a slow-paced, systematic take on the classic character, in which Batman is required to make use of his intellect rather than his strength to locate and stop the brutal serial killer known as The Riddler.
Also, read List Of Best Summer Movies on Hulu
The Raid: Redemption (2012)
Image via PT Merantau Films
Running Time: 1 hour and 41 minutes
Written and directed by Gareth Evans
Starring: Iko Uwais, Ray Sahetapy, Yayan Ruhian, and Joe Taslim
It’s possible that we’ll need to wait another year before we watch another installment of the legendary John Wick series, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t any other films that can satisfy your desire for some thrilling and intense action-oriented sets. Raid: Redemption Raid: Redemption is one film that does this and centers around the story of a young SWAT officer who is stranded in a building controlled by the psychotic crime lord along with his gang of brutal criminals (think Dredd without the science fiction elements). The action in both choreography and cinematography is unparalleled and could be considered one of the best action films in martial arts that have been released in recent years.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Image via Universal Pictures
The Run Time: 2 hours and 7 minutes
Produced by Steven Spielberg
Written By: David Koep
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough
Jurassic World: Dominion is finally out in cinemas. If you’d like to go back and revisit the thrilling adventure that began the whole thing, the first Jurassic Park is available to stream on HBO Max. As a renowned score by John Williams, science fiction writer Michael Crichton’s epic dinosaur tale is brought to life through the extraordinary direction of Steven Spielberg. What begins as an idyllic zoological park made up of prehistoric animals turns into an epic nightmare of evolutionary scales when the animals at the amusement park are let loose and roam throughout the park. At the same time, the tiny group of people brought to the park to try it out is trying to find a way to escape. If you’ve watched Jurassic Park and are still looking for additional dino-themed fun, The two sequels to the film Jurassic Park: The Lost World and Jurassic Park III are also available on HBO Max.
Black Dynamite (2009)
Running Time: 1 hour and 24 minutes
Produced and directed by Scott Sanders
Authors include: Michael Jae White, Byron Minds, and Scott Sanders
Starring: Michael Jae White, Tommy Davidson, and Arsenio Hall
“He’s extremely terrible. He’s not in the public eye. He’s Black Dynamite.” The tagline is like it was cut from the poster of the Blaxploitation movies in the 1970s, and it seems to be exactly the mindset that the writer and actor Michael Jae White had when making the cult film Black Dynamite. The result is a sharp satire of the time and subgenre of movies that is laugh-out-loud funny and features some enjoyable action scenes. Michael Jae White’s portrayal shows his character as the hero who is a sprinkling characteristic of “badassery.”
Ponyo (2008)
Run Time: 1 Hour and 41 minutes
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Written by Hayao Miyazaki as well as Melissa Mathison
With (English dub): Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, and Cate Blanchett
Any film made by the legendary Studio Ghibli could be on this list since each can be watched via HBO Max. Particularly during the summer months, we’d like to suggest Ponyo, an aesthetically amazing semiaquatic adventure of a boy’s first year when he can form a close bond with a beautiful goldfish princess. Ponyo has become frustrated with living with her controlling father and wishes to have a normal existence in the coastal town nearby without realizing the potential risks and consequences that may occur and impact her new friend’s life in ways that neither could have ever imagined.
Also, read 8 Best Easter Movies On Disney Plus
Rango (2011)
Run Time: 1 Hour and 47 minutes
Directed by Gore Verbinski
Authors: Gore Verbinski, John Logan, and James Ward Byrkit
Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty, Bill Nighy, and Alfred Molina
In the abstract, Gore Verbinski’s sequel to the enormous success of the first Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy as an animated family film featuring talking animals that are set in the wild west appears to be an insane concept. Rango is a fittingly bizarre film and in all the right ways. The titular lizard plays a self-proclaimed actor who finds himself in an isolated town, which feels stuck in the tradition of the 1800s western. When the town’s water supply is lost, Rango must play the role of a heroic sheriff and meet with various vibrant characters, including a terrifying gun-slinger from the rattlesnake. While families appear to be the main target audience for Rango as with the three original Pirates films, it doesn’t hesitate to be a bit darker and explore more existential themes and styles. This leads to a western-themed adventure that will delight younger viewers and offer something more appealing to the old-fashioned fans of the genre.
Chef (2014)
Time of Run: 1 hour and 54 minutes
Written and directed by Jon Favreau
Starring: Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, and Sofia Vergara
A passion project that appears to have been inspired by his own life and work, Jon Favreau’s chef, is an enjoyable and heart-warming comedy about an artist’s struggle with financial prosperity and artistic success. Favreau’s character Casper could have everything he’s ever dreamed of and more as the head chef at a well-known and successful restaurant. But, Casper still can’t help to believe that he’s currently stuck in a “creative stagnation,” which means that Casper feels that the food he’s producing doesn’t have any value other than making money. This sets Casper on a path where he creates the food truck of his dreams. He is not only capable of making the food he’s always wanted to create but is also able to be able to reconnect with the family members who have been missing from his life.
My Blue Heaven (1990)
Time of Run: 1 hour and 37 minutes
Director: Herbert Ross
Written by: Nora Ephron
Starring: Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and Joan Cusack
In a rare character where Steve Martin doesn’t have his trademark white hairstyle, Vinnie Antonelli finds himself living a completely different lifestyle in a different region of the United States when Vinnie Antonelli moves from the bustling city to the more tranquil suburbs. The relocation isn’t just a holiday for Vinnie, an active mobster who has been put under the protection of witnesses through the FBI. His handler, played by the 80s and 90s comedian Rick Moranis, then has to contend with Vinnie’s frequent actions and schemes to escape, which all have hilarious outcomes.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
Running Time: 2 Hours
Directed by Jonathan Lynn
Written by: Dale Launer
Starring: Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield, and Fred Gwynne
If Bill Gambini and his best friend are being falsely accused of a murder you only have one attorney that he can afford, and that’s Vinny Gambini, his uncle Vinny. The only issue with this is that Vinny Gambini’s expertise in the courtroom is not extensive, as he’s never actually been a lawyer in a major murder case. Armed with the weapons-sassy sass of his long-time girlfriend Mona Lisa Vito, Vinny employs an unconventional approach to court cases that is difficult due to the strict southern judge Vinny has for an appeal.
Old (2021)
Run Time: 1 Hour and 48 minutes
Directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, and Thomasin McKenzie
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest movie isn’t flawless. It’s not perfect, but Old is still an intriguing psychological thriller that fully uses its unique and refreshing concept. A few people staying in a hotel in the area are invited to go to a secluded beach nearby. It appears to be a tiny piece of Heaven, but for one aspect: something about the beach is causing everyone there to get older very quickly. And, even more alarmingly, the same mysterious force that has caused their bodies to age quickly is preventing the people from leaving, and families are now forced to come up with a solution before they turn into dust.
It (2017)
Running Time: 2 Hours and 15 minutes
Directed by Andy Muschietti
Authors: Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Martell, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Wyatt Oleff
In the first Stephen King novel, fans eagerly awaited a contemporary adaptation following the decent but dated miniseries of the 90s of It. Finally, we got to see Pennywise in all his clown-like apprehension in a more terrifying and serious light in the 2017 adaptation, which wisely chose to concentrate on the part of the story in which people in the Losers Club were children. The clown who kills has never been this terrifying, and the film provides an astonishing amount of humor and levity to prevent its viewers from always having their heads shut. If you’re looking to watch the full range of Pennywise, HBO Max is the perfect place to be to enjoy the entire miniseries from 1990 and Chapter 2 on the site.
Transformers (2007)
Duration two hours and twenty-four mins
Produced and directed by Michael Bay
The story was written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and John Rogers.
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Peter Cullen, and Hugo Weaving
The Transformers franchise has indeed seen its fair share of challenges and ups, but the live-action original film based on the cult toy series and the animated show is one of the bright spots. It’s not difficult to believe that even the most staunch of reviewers. Michael Bay’s take on the disguised robots is packed with the kind of excitement and action you’d expect from a Michael Bay Transformers movie. The Autobots and Decepticons fighting it out on a massive 4K TV is exactly the kind of thing one would like to watch when looking for an eye-catching Summer blockbuster.
Also, read List Of Best Easter Movies on HBO Max
Se7en (1995)
The Run Time: 2 hours and 7 minutes
Directed by David Fincher
Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Gwenyth PaltrowWhile many believe that Se7en could be more in purgatory than hell, you will be able to feel the tremendous feeling of heat that comes from this intense thriller by David Fincher. The detective’s Somerset and Mills are trying to find the person who is responsible for a series of murders. The only common thread is that they are all inspired by any of the seven sins that are deadly. Their investigation eventually leads them to some clues and ultimately leads toward one of the more memorable and shocking endings in a neo-noir movie that has ever been made.
