7 Hidden Gem Movies You Didn’t Know Were On HBO Max

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HBO Max, owned by Warner Bros., has a large selection of movies, especially from Warner Bros. itself. Like most streaming services, the movies available from other studios change monthly. With thousands of titles, it’s easy to overlook some of the lesser-known, but great, films. HBO Max also has a surprising number of older, classic, and even cult-favorite movies that many viewers might not realize are available.

Whether it’s a classic from Akira Kurosawa or a recent, beloved cult hit from 2025, here are seven surprisingly good movies you can stream on HBO Max right now.

7) Freaky Tales (2025)

Even though it’s a recent release, Freaky Tales is a must-see for anyone with an HBO Max subscription. This quickly became a cult favorite, weaving together four connected stories set in Oakland, California, in 1987. The movie features over-the-top action and often comical violence, all presented with a fast-paced, energetic style, and includes appearances from real people woven into the narrative.

Freaky Tales is a wild ride featuring villains like evil Nazis, incredibly skilled martial artists, rebellious punk rockers protecting their community, and a former criminal trying to change his ways. While Pedro Pascal is the most recognizable actor, the entire cast delivers strong performances, with a fun cameo from Tom Hanks as a video store owner. If you enjoy unique and offbeat movies, you’ll likely love this one.

6) Slacker (1990)

Richard Linklater’s 1990 film, Slacker, is widely considered the blueprint for the wave of independent films that became popular in the 1990s. Filmmakers like Kevin Smith (who cited it as an inspiration for Clerks) and Quentin Tarantino have acknowledged its impact, praising how it showed aspiring directors a path to getting their work seen.

Slacker is a film that captures a single day in the lives of a group of young, unconventional people in Austin, Texas. It jumps quickly between characters, rarely focusing on anyone for more than a few minutes. The movie doesn’t have a traditional story; instead, it’s a snapshot of life in a college town, and feels like a nostalgic look back at the early 1990s for anyone who experienced that era.

5) Yojimbo (1961)

HBO Max has a great selection of Criterion Collection films, which is a fantastic way for new viewers to discover why Akira Kurosawa is considered one of the best directors ever. There’s one film in particular on the service that many will recognize as an inspiration for several hugely popular movies made later on.

The film Yojimbo follows a wandering samurai who arrives in a town caught between two feuding groups. He cleverly plays both sides, manipulating the clans to fight each other. Sergio Leone later created an unofficial remake called A Fistful of Dollars, which launched Clint Eastwood’s career.

4) Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar (2023)

Metalocalypse was an animated show on Adult Swim about a death metal band that became incredibly famous and was tasked with saving the world. The movie, Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, released in 2023, concluded the story after the show ended on Adult Swim.

As a huge fan of Adult Swim, I immediately connected with this movie’s vibe – it’s got that same sharp, satirical take on heavy metal. But it’s not just a parody; it’s a genuinely fun horror film! Think demons, magic, seriously cool depictions of Hell, and a ton of clever metal-themed jokes that any fan will appreciate.

3) Dead Man (1996)

Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man is a beloved, unconventional Western from the 1990s, known for its psychedelic style. The film stars Johnny Depp as Blake, an accountant from Cleveland, who accidentally kills a man and is wounded in the process. While fleeing, he’s aided by a Native American man called Nobody, who helps him remove the bullet.

Dead Man follows a man’s spiritual quest, mirroring the poet William Blake’s own life and beliefs. The film respectfully portrays Native American culture, avoiding common clichés, and offers a fresh perspective on traditional Westerns. With its use of Blake’s poetry and an original score by Neil Young, it’s a film that’s truly rewarding to watch.

2) Dredd (2012)

The 2012 film Dredd is a well-made action movie that many fans believe finally did justice to the iconic Judge Dredd character. While Sylvester Stallone played Dredd in a previous film from the 1990s, the newer version starring Karl Urban is a significant improvement. Based on the character from the 2000 AD comic book, Judge Dredd is a law enforcer who acts as judge, jury, and executioner in a dark, futuristic world.

While it didn’t perform well at the box office and drew comparisons to The Raid due to their similar plots about officers fighting their way through a building to defeat a villain, this movie is still highly enjoyable. The exciting action, intense violence, and faithfulness to the original comic book source material make it worth seeing. It does lack the humor found in the comics, but as an action film, Dredd stands out as one of the best of the 2010s.

1) Bronson (2009)

Before becoming a famous actor, Tom Hardy showcased his skills playing Michael Peterson, better known as Charles Bronson, starting in 1987. Bronson initially received a seven-year sentence for armed robbery, but his time in prison stretched to thirteen years due to frequent fights. He was arrested again in 1988 for another robbery and ultimately received a life sentence after taking hostages while incarcerated.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Bronson presents the story of a prisoner as a wild, theatrical performance, complete with a movie audience watching him recount his life. It’s a truly unique take on a criminal’s story, and Tom Hardy gives an incredible performance. Any film enthusiast should definitely check it out – it’s currently streaming on HBO Max.

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2025-11-11 22:21