For all intents and purposes, HBO is now a streaming service. While it started out as a premium cable channel and is still available for cable subscribers, they recognized the changing landscape and decided to make their programming available separate from a cable package via HBO Now and HBO Go, which have now been folded into their bonafide streaming platform HBO Max, where you have access to their entire catalog of movies at any time, which means you can create a watchlist of films you want to check out.

To help you out in this endeavor, we've provided a list of the best movies currently available on HBO. We'll continue to update this list as new movies are added and removed from their catalog.

True Grit

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Image via Paramount Pictures

Directors/Writers: Joel and Ethan Coen

Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin

What do you get when the Coen Brothers make a full-on earnest Western? A great movie. 2010’s True Grit is more an adaptation of the source material than a remake of the John Wayne movie, as the Coen Brothers embrace the Western genre fully with the story of a young woman (Hailee Steinfeld) who charges a boozy lawman (Jeff Bridges) with escorting her across the rough terrain in search of the man who murdered her father. The film luxuriates in the Western landscape as cinematographer Roger Deakins brings it to life in stunning fashion, accompanied by Carter Burwell’s beautiful classic hymn-inspired score and dialogue that is stylized just so. If you shrugged this one off as “not as good as No Country” when it first came out, give it another shot. It may surprise you.

Just Mercy

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Image via Warner Bros.

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Writers: Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Lanham

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Rob Morgan, Brie Larson, Rafe Spall, and Tim Blake Nelson

Just Mercy is essential viewing. Filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) adapts Bryan Stevenson’s non-fiction book of the same name and brings to life a story about the failings of the criminal justice system and the inhumanity of the death penalty in stark, unsettling reality. Michael B. Jordan plays Stevenson, an idealistic young Harvard law graduate who travels to Alabama in the hopes of fighting for poor people who can’t afford legal representation. While there, he attempts to help a man (Jamie Foxx) appeal his murder conviction – which was secured with minimal evidence. It’s an emotionally upsetting but necessary watch for folks on both sides of the death penalty debate, as Cretton forces viewers to confront the realities of such a sentence. – Adam Chitwood

Shaun of the Dead

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Image via Universal Pictures and Rogue Pictures

Director: Edgar Wright

Writers: Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg

Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Bill Nighy, and Penelope Wilton

Shaun of the Dead is one of the best films of the 21s century, full-stop. Filmmaker Edgar Wright brings a refreshing touch to the comedy genre with a film that pays loving tribute to horror classics while still going its own way. Simon Pegg is Shaun, a directionless shop salesman whose girlfriend has had just about enough of him. But when a zombie apocalypse hits, Shaun rises to the challenged alongside his BFF Ed (Nick Frost), making something of himself once and for all. Hilarious, whip smart, and surprisingly emotional, Shaun of the Dead also happens to be immensely rewatchable. – Adam Chitwood

Hot Fuzz

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Image via Universal Pictures

Director: Edgar Wright

Writers: Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg

Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Olivia Colman, Lucy Punch, Rafe Spall, and Paddy Considine

After breaking out big with Shaun of the Dead, the filmmaking trio of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost reunited for another genre-bending British comedy, this time taking on the action genre. Hot Fuzz follows an annoyingly perfect police constable who is promoted and transferred to a sleepy English town, only to uncover a sinister plot. The film takes inspiration from the horror and action genres to great effect, but as is true of all of Wright’s films, transcends inspiration to stand on its own as a wholly unique – and wildly entertaining – piece of art all its own. One part slasher, one part Michael Bay actioner, and one part buddy cop movie, Hot Fuzz is all great. – Adam Chitwood

Ready or Not

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Photo by Eric Zachanowich/Fox Searchlight

Directors: Radio Silence

Writers: Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy

Cast: Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O’Brien, Henry Czerny, and Andie MacDowell

If you saw Knives Out and thought “what if this were a horror movie?” then you’ll love Ready or Not. The 2019 film follows a pair of newlyweds who assemble at the groom’s parents’ vast mansion for a celebration, only for the bride (Samara Weaving) to learn that it’s a time-honored tradition for the family to hunt the bride. If she survives until sun-up, she’s part of the family. If not, well. Chaos ensues, but the film has a dry, dark humor running throughout that makes it a blast and a half without knee-capping the stakes of the whole thing. It’s funny, it’s scary, it’s a darn good time. – Adam Chitwood

Emma.

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Image via Focus Features

Director: Autumn de Wilde

Writer: Eleanor Catton

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart, and Bill Nighy

This 2020 adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Emma is as sumptuous as it is delightful – and it is extremely sumptuous. Directed exquisitely by Autumn de Wilde, this new adaptation is called Emma. and stars The Witch breakout Anya Taylor-Joy in the titular role of a young woman in Regency-era England who decides to meddle in the personal lives of her friends and family – ultimately playing matchmaker. There’s a wit to the film to be sure, but also a naughtiness (for lack of a better word) to Taylor-Joy’s performance that really makes this thing soar. It’s also just absolutely gorgeous to look at. – Adam Chitwood

The Invisible Man

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Image via Universal Pictures

Director/Writer: Leigh Whannell

Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen

From the ashes of the Dark Universe came one of the best horror remakes ever made, 2020’s The Invisible Man. Instead of blowing out a huge budget or eventizing the property, writer/director Leigh Whannell actually takes a microscope to the iconic horror story and crafts a tale of an abuse survivor haunted by her abuser. Elisabeth Moss plays a PTSD-riddled woman who is haunted – both literally and figuratively – by her dead, abusive husband. No one believes her when she says he’s not only still alive but invisible, and things go from bad to worse as she’s forced to fight on. It’s absolutely terrifying in every conceivable way, and Moss delivers a tremendous performance. – Adam Chitwood

School of Rock

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Director: Richard Linklater

Writer: Mike White

Cast: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, and Sarah Silverman

Richard Linklater's 2003 family-friendly love letter to rock remains as vibrant and joyful as ever. Jack Black stars as guitarist Dewey Finn, a rocker who has just been kicked out of his band and is struggling to pay the rent. He decides to swipe a substitute-teaching job from his roommate Ned (Mike White), and while he's bored at first, he gets energized when he sees his classroom is full of potential rockers and therefore a chance to win the battle of bands. However, as he starts teaching them about rock, he realizes that he cares about more than just winning the rock competition. The film is charming, but it comes alive thanks to Black's winning performance that lets you feel like you're getting in on some mischief as the kids learn about rock rather than math. – Matt Goldberg

The Talented Mr. Ripley

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Image via Paramount

Director/Writer: Anthony Minghella

Cast: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jack Davenport

For some insane reason The Talented Mr. Ripley feels like an underrated movie, but make no mistake: it’s one of the best films of the past 50 years. Set in the 1950s, Matt Damon plays the titular character, who is tasked with bringing Dickie (Jude Law), a young man living it up in Italy, home by Dickie’s father. The problem? Dickie’s father made a mistake in thinking Tom actually knew Dickie. Tom becomes infatuated with Dickie and his lifestyle, subtly taking on Dickie’s persona as his own. Deadly twists ensue and Damon proves here that he’s one of the greatest actors of his generation. The film delves into themes of identity, lust, and morality with a brilliantly deft touch, and the cinematography is astounding. – Adam Chitwood

Ford v Ferrari

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Image via 20th Century Fox

Ford v Ferrari may not reinvent the wheel when it comes to a sports drama, but director James Mangold makes an absolutely perfect wheel. Even if you’re not into cars or car culture, you’ll be riveted by the story of how Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) worked together to overcome the suits at Ford to create a car that could beat Ferrari at Le Mans. The humor is sharp, the performances are winning, and the driving scenes are outstanding. Mangold helps you understand why people are passionate about this world, and it goes beyond Ford just wanting to reinvent its image for a younger generation. The film evolves to be a story about two guys chasing perfection and being good enough to get there. It’s a total blast. – Matt Goldberg

Bridesmaids

Image via Universal Pictures

Director: Paul Feig

Writers: Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumalo

Cast: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McClendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Jon Hamm, and Chris O’Dowd

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids holds up tremendously well, and remains one of the funniest movies of the 21st century. It’s a tale of female friendship as Kristen Wiig plays a single woman in her mid-thirties whose best friend (Maya Rudolph) is getting married, but planning the bridesmaid festivities with the bride’s rich new friend (Rose Byrne) proves to be a struggle. Bridesmaids is downright hilarious, but also has a heart to it that makes the characters human and relatable – especially when it comes to friendship dynamics. And then there’s also a scene where the women all have diarrhea while wearing bridesmaid dresses. – Adam Chitwood

Ad Astra

Don't believe the ads that Ad Astra is some kind of space thriller. Yes, there are moon pirates and other action scenes in the abyss of space, but the film is more like a mashup of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Apocalypse Now. The film follows astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt giving one of the best performances of his career), a man closed off from his own emotions and believing his stoicism makes him great at his profession. When his long lost father (Tommy Lee Jones) is suspected to be responsible for electrical surges on Earth, Roy must make his way out to Mars to send a message to his dad with the fate of the solar system riding on their communication. It's a movie about the shortcomings of stoicism and finding meaning in a meaningless universe. The themes of the film may be cold and cerebral, but the emotions are always right near the surface of this powerful and profound sci-fi tale. - Matt Goldberg

The Good Liar

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Image via Warner Bros.

If you’re exhausted by the onslaught of franchise movies that rely more on special effects than performances, then The Good Liar is like water in the desert. Bill Condon’s twisty thriller follows Roy Courtnay (Ian McKellen), a con man trying to scam a wealthy widow (Helen Mirren), but like any good con artist movie, nothing is what it appears to be. The real draw here is McKellen and Mirren, two acting legends bouncing off each other with rich, substantive roles to play. However, the material is pulpy enough that you’ll always have a good time as Condon gleefully twists the knife with every shocking twist and turn. The story also has something interesting to say about the power of history and those who choose to ignore it, but even if you want to ignore the subtext, you’ll be riveted watching McKellen and Mirren show why they’re masters of their craft. – Matt Goldberg

Jaws

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Image via Universal Pictures

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writers: Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb

Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, and Murray Hamiton

Jaws (along with Star Wars) birthed the modern blockbuster, and Steven Spielberg's breakthrough film has lost none of its potency in the decades since. A film that will still make you afraid to go back in the water, the story follows police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) as he tries to protect his sleep beach community from a killer shark that's gobbling up the local population. Rather than use relentless action, Spielberg shows he knows how to perfectly play the suspense and keep you invested in his main characters as they play a game of prey trying to outwit a fearsome predator. Whether it's shocking you with a brief glimpse of the shark or treating you to the tale of the dark fate of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, there's not a weak moment in this classic thriller. – Matt Goldberg

La La Land

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Image via Lionsgate

Director/Writer: Damien Chazelle

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, and J.K. Simmons

Perhaps the best thing that ever happened to La La Land is losing Best Picture. Outside the weight of an Oscar race, Damien Chazelle’s musical is a delightful, bittersweet romance between an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and frustrated jazz musician (Ryan Gosling), but in the harsh light of an awards race, it was required to be more and every fault, from Gosling’s love of jazz to the sunnier side of Hollywood became a damning fault. Now almost a year removed from all of that, it’s much easier to appreciate La La Land on its own merits and luxuriate in the stunning movie. It may not be the “Best Picture” of 2016, but its craft and heart are undeniable. – Matt Goldberg

Good Boys

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Image via Universal Pictures

Writers/Directors: Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky

Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, and Brady Noon

If you enjoy South Park, Superbad, and/or Booksmart, you’ll probably enjoy Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky’s Good Boys. The plot follows lifelong best friends Max (Jacob Tremblay), Lucas (Keith L. Williams), and Thor (Brady Noon) as they start sixth grade only to have their friendship start to fracture when they lose a drone belonging to Max’s dad (Will Forte) to a pair of high school girls (Molly Gordon and Midori Francis). The boys desperately need to get the drone back so that they won’t be grounded and they can go to a party with kissing. The comedy expertly balances its raunchy humor with a total sweetness so that the kids are mature enough to constantly drop F-bombs, but they’re also so innocent that they mistake a sex doll for a CPR doll. If you’re looking to close out your summer with a terrific comedy, you won’t do better than Good Boys. – Matt Goldberg

Blinded by the Light

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Image via Warner Bros.

Director: Gurinder Chadha

Writers: Sarfraz Manzoor, Gurinder Chadha,and Paul Mayeda Berges

Cast: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, and Dean-Charles Chapman

You don’t have to be a Bruce Springsteen superfan to fall head-over-heels in love with Blinded by the Light. The true-story drama speaks to the personal nature and power of music, and how art in general can shape and affect one’s life in substantial ways. It follows a young British Pakistani teenager named Javed who discovers the music of Springsteen and connects deeply with The Boss’ songs about working class life and how dreams can’t become a reality until you actually do something about them. There’s a joyous, delightful quality to the film that makes it a feel-good movie by any measure, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself overwhelmed with emotion by the end. This is one of the best films of the year. – Adam Chitwood

Die Hard

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Image via 20th Century Fox

Director: John McTiernan

Writers: Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza

Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, and Bonnie Bedelia

A straight-up action masterpiece, Die Hard is also a masterclass in narrative storytelling. It has a simple setup: An NYPD detective (Bruce Willis) goes to Los Angeles to reconcile with his estranged wife, only to discover she and her co-workers are being held hostage in their office building. John McClane is your prototypical reluctant hero, but what sets him apart from the macho action stars of the 80s is he’s vulnerable. He’s consistently out of his depth, annoyed at the entire situation, and on top of that he’s got no shoes. This is a hero you not only root for, but empathize with. And Alan Rickman delivers a truly iconic performance as villain Hans Gruber. – Adam Chitwood

Die Hard with a Vengeance

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Image via 20th Century Fox

Director: John McTiernan

Writer: Jonathan Hensleigh

Cast: Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, and Samuel L. Jackson

The only good Die Hard sequel, Die Hard with a Vengeance throws a few brilliant twists into the Die Hard formula to arrive at a follow-up that feels at once surprising and in keeping with what made the first movie so successful. John McClane (Bruce Willis) reluctantly teams up with a cab driver (Samuel L. Jackson) as the two are led on a wild goose chase across NYC by a nefarious antagonist who’s hidden bombs and has a hidden motive of his own. The “ticking clock” narrative adds a sense of urgency to the entire ordeal, and Willis and Jackson have wonderful chemistry. – Adam Chitwood

Shazam!

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Image via Warner Bros.

While Shazam! may not have the thematic substance of Wonder Woman or the cultural impact of Man of Steel, it marks an exciting change-up for the DC Cinematic Universe. This DC Comics adaptation is basically Big but with superheroes, as a young foster kid is given the power to transform himself into a muscular superhero simply by uttering the word “Shazam!” Zachary Levi plays the superhero version of the character, and director David F. Sandberg has fun honing in on what it would really be like if a kid got to live inside a superheroic body. Surprises arise in the third act that point a positive step forward for future installments, but for now this is a pleasantly pleasant DC movie, which is a welcome change of pace. – Adam Chitwood

The Kid Who Would Be King

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Image via 20th Century Fox

Joe Cornish's long-anticipated return since his outstanding 2011 movie Attack the Block was well worth the wait. The story follows Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis), a bullied young kid in England who pulls Excalibur from a stone at a construction site, which means it's on him and his young friends to battle the rising forces of darkness led by the evil sorceress Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). With the help of Merlin (played as a teenager by the scene-stealing Angus Imrie and as an old man by the always-welcome Patrick Stewart), Alex must find the heroism in himself and bring together both friends and enemies alike. The Kid Who Would Be King is the kind of PG adventure movie we don't get anymore, and it proves itself an instant classic of the genre. - Matt Goldberg