7 Best Summer Movies on HBO Max That You Didn’t Know Were Streaming

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Currently, we’re smack dab in the heart of the 2025 summer movie season, and there are some blockbuster films gracing our screens such as Superman, How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch, and F1. This is a time when people flock to cinemas primarily for enjoyment. While entertainment might be the main purpose of going to the movies throughout the year, there’s something about summer that makes us crave some light-hearted fun. If you prefer not to venture out to the theater, HBO Max offers an excellent alternative and boasts a selection of films ideal for summer viewing.

Instead of limiting our focus to films exclusively launched during traditional summer movie seasons of past years, we’re also including those that happened to be released in May, June, July, or August. We’ll make sure to note the year of release for each title. Moreover, these are popular, entertaining movies that you might not realize are available on HBO Max.

1) Bullet Train

The action-packed movie titled “Bullet Train” centers around a fast-moving train filled with assassins and criminals, each with their own motives, such as a case full of money or finishing a hit. The story largely follows the character “Ladybug,” portrayed by Brad Pitt, who is there for the briefcase. However, as the plot unfolds, his main objective shifts from obtaining the briefcase to simply surviving, since it appears everyone on this train has some score to settle with him.

Almost all of David Leitch’s films are ideal for summertime entertainment. As a director, he excels at creating action-comedy movies that strike a balance between the two genres without leaning too heavily on one over the other. Moreover, with its unexpected plot twists and dynamic acting from its stars like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, and Hiroyuki Sanada, it could potentially be more entertaining to watch multiple times than films such as Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2, and The Fall Guy.

2) Mortal Kombat

In simpler terms, Paul Anderson’s “Mortal Kombat” isn’t top-tier art, but it stands out among video game adaptations thus far. Similar to the games, the movie presents a team of ordinary earthlings with extraordinary martial arts abilities who are whisked away to a tournament. The tournament’s significance is immense, as it occurs only once per generation and only the most skilled fighters from Earth are invited to the realm of Outworld. However, few return, and this time the competition is even more critical because if Outworld wins again, it could mean the end for Earth.

The film titled “Mortal Kombat” debuted in August 1995. Traditionally, August marks the time when studios release movies that are considered riskier. This was also the month “Borderlands” came out. However, unlike “Borderlands”, “Mortal Kombat” proved to be a huge success. Firstly, “Mortal Kombat” is an enjoyable film to watch, while “Borderlands” unfortunately isn’t. It’s true that “Mortal Kombat” is a bit silly and a product of its era, but that’s part of its appeal. HBO Max offers both “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation”, which it’s best to avoid, and the underappreciated 2021 remake. The latter doesn’t quite capture the summer movie feel like the 1995 version, but is still worth a stream regardless.

3) Speed

The narrative revolves around Keanu Reeves’ character, a LAPD officer named Jack Traven, who receives a call from a former adversary planning to bomb a city bus. According to the caller, if the bus maintains speeds below 50 miles per hour, it will explode.

The fundamental idea behind “Speed” might be its most brilliant aspect. Similar to “Die Hard”, it features a solitary setting and a somewhat enigmatic terrorist, but unlike Hans Gruber in “Die Hard”, this antagonist, Howard Payne, seems more inclined towards detonation than the money he demands. What sets “Speed” apart is that the central location is not stationary; instead, it keeps moving. This dynamic setting significantly contributes to the plot’s momentum. Moreover, the exceptional chemistry between Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, coupled with Dennis Hopper’s intense performance, makes “Speed” one of the most engaging action films ever produced.

4) The Hangover

A standout comedy film in studio history, “The Hangover“, follows a straightforward storyline. A man is on the verge of marriage, but one of his friends insists on throwing a bachelor party. What better location than Las Vegas? Yet, after what seems like an extended night of partying, only three out of the four bachelor party attendees regain consciousness in their hotel room, with the groom nowhere to be found. The trio must then reconstruct their chaotic night and, above all, locate the missing groom.

Despite Bradley Cooper’s expressed desire for another Hangover film, it’s clear that Todd Phillips’ movie thrived best as a standalone production, even though The Hangover Part II might be underappreciated as a darker take on the original party animal concept. It’s intriguing to ponder how The Hangover would have fared if not released in June, as that was an ideal release date for it given its status as the epitome of a summer comedy. This movie is the quintessential crowd-pleaser and, on its initial release, was preferred by audiences over the more expensive comedy, Land of the Lost. Despite being overshadowed by two less impressive sequels, The Hangover remains a fun choice to watch when everyone’s out of high school for summer break.

5) Clash of the Titans (2010)

In simple terms, Louis Leterrier’s polished reinterpretation of the 1981 film “Clash of the Titans” essentially retells the same story. The protagonist is Perseus, who is the half-human son of Zeus, the ruler of humans and leader of Mount Olympus. However, Zeus’ brother, Hades, aspires to instigate a rebellion, and he uses all his resources, including Furies and Poseidon’s sea monster, the Kraken. Perseus teams up with a diverse band of warriors from various parts of the world in an attempt to keep the Kraken submerged where it belongs.

In 2010, prior to the summer blockbuster season, the film “Clash of the Titans” was released, but it didn’t receive much critical acclaim. However, it was entertaining and remains so today (with Mads Mikkelsen having a substantial role, always a plus). On the other hand, its follow-up, “Wrath of the Titans,” lacked the same appeal due to being exceedingly dull. It’s the kind of movie that you might want to watch when you’re looking for a light, action-packed adventure, want to switch off your thoughts, and simply enjoy. Additionally, it was fitting to cast Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades, and both actors seemed to relish their roles in the film, particularly Fiennes.

6) The Meg

One of the top shark movies other than “Jaws,” titled “The Meg,” narrates the tale of Jonas Taylor (played by Jason Statham), a renowned deep-sea diver who is summoned to save his ex from a mission that went awry. What caused the mission to go awry? A 75-foot-long megalodon, and it’s currently heading towards devouring some spring breakers.

In simpler terms, “The Meg” is a movie that showcases Jason Statham’s prowess in action roles, but when it comes to this film titled “The Meg,” it’s not just Statham who steals the show. The real star is the gigantic shark, and despite its PG-13 rating slightly limiting its impact, it’s an enjoyable creature to observe. The movie also benefits from a strong supporting cast, each of whom seemed to grasp their roles perfectly, with actors like Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, and Cliff Curtis in tow.

7) Get Shorty

In a nutshell, “Get Shorty” introduces us to Chili Palmer, a charismatic Miami gangster who unintentionally angers a higher-up in his mob. To make amends, he embarks on a journey to Los Angeles, a place he’s always wanted to be, to collect a debt from film director Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman). As Palmer gets more involved in the entertainment industry, he finds himself enjoying it and even finds love along the way. However, his troubles aren’t over as the disgruntled mob boss is on his way to L.A., intent on causing trouble for Palmer. But Palmer must find a way to outsmart him and stay one step ahead.

One of Barry Sonnenfeld’s standout adaptations is undoubtedly “Get Shorty,” which masterfully encapsulates Elmore Leonard’s writing style and prose. The film is also exceptionally well-cast, with Travolta delivering one of his finest performances since Vincent Vega in “Pulp Fiction.” Among the top-tier films adapting Leonard’s works (which includes “Out of Sight,” “Jackie Brown,” and this one), “Get Shorty” is unquestionably the most lighthearted, making it an excellent choice for introducing to friends during summer breaks.

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2025-07-21 22:40