24 Of The Best Movies On HBO Max Australia Right Now
14th Jul 2026
Written by:
Siriol Dafydd
Entertainment Writer | Urban List, Sydney
The scroll struggle is real, people. We get it. We live it. And we’re here for you.
To help you get down to business and find great movies without the faff and fatigue, here’s our list of top choices to stream right now. From classics like Blade Runner and blockbusters like Barbie to award-winning docos like The Alabama Solution, here’s our Urban List top picks for the best movies on HBO Max Australia in 2026.
Jump to:
- The Best Dramas on HBO Max
- The Best Documentaries on HBO Max
- The Best Sci-fi on HBO Max
- The Most Iconic Films to Stream on HBO Max
The Best Dramas On HBO Max
Dead of Winter
If you like your movies bleak, gritty, and in the middle of nowhere in grim weather, then this Emma Thompson thriller might be worth a go. The story follows a widowed Minnesotan woman who heads into the wilderness amid a brutal blizzard to scatter her husband’s ashes. But, as she accidentally stumbles across a desperate couple holding a young girl hostage, it turns into a chaotic, relentless, and blood-soaked battle to save her life. It’s not the best thing you’ll see in your life, but if you want to see Emma Thompson and Judy Greer playing against type, it’ll kill a couple of hours.
Wuthering Heights
If you didn’t catch this one at the cinema when it was being promoted to within an inch of its life, you can watch Emerald Fennell’s bold and "toxic" reimagining of the Brontë classic from the comfort of your sofa right now. Starring Aussie superstars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi, it offers a somewhat different take on the period drama genre and goes for a more modern, gritty aesthetic with plenty of intoxicating lusty vibes to boot.
The Life of Chuck
This genre-bending drama starring Tom Hiddleston is a movie adaptation of Stephen King’s novella. Structured in three acts, it explores the life of a man told backwards. Blending surreal imagery with poignant realism, it’s an acquired taste but worth the watch if you like introspective storytelling with plenty of emotional and philosophical weight.
The Smashing Machine
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson stars in a career-defining role as mixed martial arts & UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Chronicling his career in the early (and not so lucrative) days of MMA, his struggles with addiction, and his turbulent relationship with his partner (played by Emily Blunt), it’s an emotionally tough movie to watch. Many critics reckoned Dwayne Johnson would earn an Oscar nomination for this role, but alas, it was not to be. Still, if you want to see him in a totally different kind of role, it’s worth watching.
One Battle After Another
You’ve probably already heard of this comedy action thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, but just in case you haven’t, here’s the general gist. An ex-far-left revolutionary has to jump back into action and re-embrace some pretty dicey lifestyle choices to protect his daughter from a corrupt military officer hell-bent on destroying them. It’s got a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And, if that’s not enough, you should know and trust by now that Leo doesn’t pick bad movies.
The Family McMullen
Although we’ve plonked it in the drama category, this one might be best described as a ‘dramedy’. Following on from the 1995 indie hit, The Brothers McMullen, it brings the original cast (including Edward Burns, Connie Britton, and Michael McGlone) together with a new generation of actors and characters. With the siblings now older, the story focuses on their marriages, parenting troubles, and midlife identity issues. So, if you’re in the mood for a warm, heartfelt, funny, and nostalgic holiday-season comedy-drama, look no further.
The Best Documentaries On HBO Max
The End
This is not one to watch when you’re feeling a little blue or vulnerable, but if you’re braced for a raw and deeply moving doco about the final months of ordinary people facing terminal cancer, it’s worth a watch. Made from personal video footage recorded by the families over the last months, weeks, and days of their loved ones’ lives, it captures the painfully intimate realities of cancer, terminal illness, palliative care, and grief. Uncompromisingly honest, it’s as relevant now as it was when it first came out in 2004.
Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare
This feature‑length documentary reconstructs the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster that followed a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011. Blending first-hand testimony from control room workers as well as interviews with political leaders and journalists, it focuses on those harrowing nine days where government officials, plant engineers, and everyday citizens worked to avert a total meltdown among hydrogen-explosive and rapidly rising radiation levels. Unlike many other documentaries, it’s immersive, intense, and cinematic.
Thoughts & Prayers
Did you know that the active-shooter preparedness industry in U.S schools is worth a disturbingly huge $3 billion? As fascinating as it is terrifying, Thoughts & Prayers takes a look at the various elements of the industry, from simulated drills, survival gear, and bulletproof backpacks to the emotional toll preparations take on students, teachers, and parents. Certainly not a relaxed watch, but it asks some tough questions about the value of fear‑driven solutions over violence prevention.
The Alabama Solution
Filmed and researched over a six-year period, this doco exposes systemic abuse, forced labour, cover-ups, suspicious deaths, and all sorts of corruption within Alabama’s prison system. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025 and quickly gained acclaim, particularly for its unprecedented access to smuggled footage filmed by prisoners risking everything to share the truth from the inside. It’s certainly not easy viewing, but it’s definitely worth a watch.
The Idaho College Murders
If you’re a fan of true crime, check out this 2023 documentary about the brutal killings of four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—on November 13, 2022. From details of the initial investigation to interviews with the victims’ families, it offers a victim-centric look at the murders. Interviews with investigative journalists and criminal experts also hash out new theories about how and why this tragedy occurred. It’s definitely not an easy, watch-with-popcorn kind of film, but if you like true crime, you’ll get what you need from this one.
The Best Sci-Fi To Watch On HBO Max
Blade Runner (1982)
This retro sci-fi gem defined the genre when it was first released. The film is set in a bleak future where the protagonist, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), is a ‘blade runner’ tasked with hunting down rogue humanoid robots known as replicants. The moody style of the film—filled with neon, shadows and decay—and its dystopian themes have helped to make it a cult classic.
Dune (2021)
Dune is a sweeping sci-fi epic based on the classic novel by Frank Herbert. The 2021 film follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as a young nobleman living in a society in the near future. The film has been praised for its visuals, cast and bringing the book to life. It also sets the stage for the later Dune movies (you can also watch Dune Part Two on Max).
Companion
I never thought I would describe a sci-fi horror film as fun, but it kind of is? The story centres around a group of friends in a remote cabin when it’s revealed that one of the girls is actually a ‘companion robot’. Without giving any more of the plot away, that is just one of the revelations of this movie, but it’s not the twists and turns that drive that crazy story forward. There is plenty of action, some refreshing concepts, and seriously gory scenes.
Iconic Movies To Watch On HBO Max
The Town
Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, this tense crime thriller is a classic for good reason. The story follows Doug, a skilled bank robber from Boston who becomes entangled in a complicated relationship with Claire, a bank manager he took hostage during a heist. And, if trying to balance his criminal life with his feelings for Claire wasn’t enough to deal with, he’s under increasing pressure from an FBI agent who is fast closing in. If you like high-stakes action with plenty of emotional depth and drama, this one’s worth a watch.
Sinners
What’s better than a movie starring Michael B. Jordan? A movie starring Michael B. Jordan twice (ooph). Set in 1932 Clarksdale, Mississippi, Sinners follows twin brothers who return home from World War I to open a juke joint for the Black community. But when they come up against a supernatural evil, they must fight against both human and paranormal enemies to make their dream a reality. Blending period drama with supernatural horror and era-defining music, this one was a hit with both critics and fans. It also has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so you know you’re in for a treat.
Don’t Worry Darling
This one is iconic, alright… but perhaps moreso for the drama off-screen than on it. With Shia LeBeouf replaced by Harry Styles after production already started, rumours of clashes between Florence Pugh and director Olivia Wilde, and a very high-profile romance between Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles, this one got plenty of attention before it even premiered. It’s kind of like Inception meets The Truman Show meets The Stepford Wives. You’ll definitely have more questions than answers by the end of the film, but it’s worth watching just to be able to join in the conversation about what on earth it was all meant to mean.
Wonka
Fun, fantastical, and family-friendly, Wonka is the feel-good origin story of one of the most iconic literary characters of all time. With the brilliant Timothée Chalamet starring as Willy Wonka and the likes of Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson, and Olivia Coleman in supporting roles, this musical fantasy film gave us all the feels and then some. It’s Paddington meets Matilda, and we’re totally here for it.
Barbie
Who could forget Barbie summer? This modern flick took over the world in 2023. Starring Australia’s own Margot Robbie, the story follows Barbie and Ken as they leave the perfect Barbie World and are faced with the real world and their own reality. There are lighthearted moments and playful song and dance numbers intermixed with thoughtful looks at gender roles and feminism. No matter where you stand on Barbie, this movie is a very fun time and is worthy of a watch.
The Dark Knight
Widely considered to be one of the best superhero films (with a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes), The Dark Knight follows Batman (Christian Bale) as he faces off against the Joker (Heath Ledger). The film is gritty and offers depth, with Batman forced to confront where the line is drawn between good and evil. The Oscar-winning performance by Heath Ledger has also remained one of his most iconic roles.
Gravity
Released in 2013, Gravity stars Sandra Bullock as a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission and George Clooney as a veteran astronaut. An accident on board the spaceship leaves them stranded, and what follows is a gripping story as they try to survive. The film is genuinely terrifying, and it will make you glad you never attempted that whole astronaut thing.
Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix
One of HBO Max’s most iconic movie franchises to stream is Harry Potter, and trust us when we say The Order of the Phoenix is one of the best movies from the entire series. Following Harry in the year after he witnesses Voldemort’s return, we see him struggle with a growing connection to his nemesis and with becoming increasingly distant from his friends. This film is a bit darker than its predecessors and we see Harry getting very grumpy and isolated as he has to deal with Snape, his scar hurting more, and confusing feelings with girls. Bless.
Call Me By Your Name
If you haven't watched this beautiful love story yet, consider your evening viewing sorted. Call Me By Your Name is a love story set in Northern Italy in the '80s. It stars Timothée Chalamet as Elio and Armie Hammer as Oliver, following the two as they slowly fall in love over the summer they spend together. The film is beautifully shot and critically acclaimed, and you will want to book a trip to Italy to fall in love immediately.
The Best Comedy On HBO Max
Pillion
Fancy some dark romcom dramedy vibes? Starring Alexander Skarsgård, it follows the story of two gay men — one shy, timid, and introverted, and the other a leader of a local biker gang — who start a BDSM relationship. And, as the former is swept off his feet and takes on the submissive role in their relationship, his eyes are opened to a new and liberating world of desire. Imagine 50 Shades of Grey, but funnier and flying the flag for the queer community.