HBO Max subscribers have quite a few high-profile movies to watch on the streaming service this weekend, and they all either come from major franchises or feature recognizable stars. On last weekend’s HBO Max movie recommendations, I talked about why viewers should check out Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The Wolverine, and Red Sparrow, all movies featuring true Hollywood heavy hitters.
After all, some of the stars in those three films include Chris Pratt, Hugh Jackman, and Jennifer Lawrence, all fan-favorite actors with experience in major movies and franchises. Out of those three films, only the Jurassic World movie is not currently trending on the streamer. Right now, The Wolverine is HBO Max’s 10th most-watched movie in the United States, while Red Sparrow is the 8th.
For this weekend’s HBO Max movie recommendations, I chose one film that is currently trending on the streamer’s US chart, which is a horror thriller that explains how the events of one of the genre’s most popular franchises in recent memory began. Joining it is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie that serves as a brand-new chapter in a visually stunning and morally complex franchise.
The other film on our HBO Max list is the lone superhero entry, and while it is based on Marvel characters, the movie in question is not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is getting ready for Avengers: Doomsday‘s theatrical release in December. These are the best movies to watch on HBO Max this weekend:
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The First Purge (2018)
Starting the list is The First Purge, which is the only new recommendation to be on HBO Max’s nationwide Top 10 at the time of writing, standing at 6th. The Purge franchise has gone viral, with its concept being that during one night in the year, all crime is legal in the US, leading to lower criminality rates year-round, as people let out all their aggression on this one government-approved night.
As its name suggests, The First Purge follows the contained experiment that would later lead to the annual Purge becoming institutionalized. The movie is gritty, dark, and violent, featuring the same kind of high-stakes, adrenaline ride filled with bloody deaths, scary masks, and surprising moments that fans have come to expect from the horror franchise.
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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes arrived with all three other modern movies in the sci-fi franchise on HBO Max on November 2. The reason why I chose to suggest this film instead of the other entries in the franchise is not only due to how it is the latest Planet of the Apes release, but how it did a masterful job in revitalizing the franchise with a brand new time period, showing an updated world in Caesar’s absence.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is another visually stunning entry in the franchise, making the most out of cutting-edge CGI and motion capture performances. The viewer can’t help but fully feel for these apes as if they were real beings, with a layered and emotionally resonant story, a morality debate at its center, and the slow exploration of a brave new world, this is an adventure worth embarking on this weekend on streaming.
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Madame Web (2024)
Finally, Madame Web is not one of the best movies featuring Marvel characters, but it is a lot of fun, perhaps not even intentionally. See, there are many problems with the Marvel film, but Madame Web‘s potential as an unintentional superhero comedy to remember, exploiting its flaws, makes it a movie worth checking out if you were among those who did not give it a go in theaters.
Madame Web swings onto HBO Max this Saturday, November 14.
The story revolves around Dakota Johnson as Cassie Webb, a paramedic who realizes the visions she is having allow her to predict the future and change it if she decides to act. Cassie finds herself desperately trying to save three young girls destined to become Spider-Women from a Spider-Man-esque villain. The movie also features stars like Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, Isabela Merced, Emma Roberts, and more. Go in with an open mind and a bucket of popcorn, and you should get some good laughs and a few exciting surprises from Madame Web on HBO Max.
- Release Date
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February 14, 2024
- Runtime
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117 minutes
- Director
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S.J. Clarkson
- Writers
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Claire Parker, Matt Sazama, S.J. Clarkson, Burk Sharpless
- Producers
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Lorenzo di Bonaventura