If there’s one thing both HBO and Warner Bros. are known for, it’s making great dramas. So the selection of drama movies available on HBO Max – both from Warner Bros. and from other studios – is unsurprisingly dense and high in quality. They range from new releases to unforgettable 90s movies to bona fide classics, and they’re all guaranteed to hit that “drama” sweet spot when you’re looking for it. But you may be daunted by all the options available, so we’ve used our expertise to pluck out the best drama movies on HBO Max for a really stellar list. Get your popcorn ready and check out our list below.
Can't find what you're looking for? Check out our list of the best movies on HBO, thrillers on HBO, or dramas on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Max.
Fargo
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.9/10
Fargo
- Release Date
- April 5, 1996
- Director
- Joel Coen , Ethan Coen
- Cast
- William H. Macy , Steve Buscemi , Frances McDormand , Peter Stormare , Kristin Rudrüd , Harve Presnell
- Runtime
- 98
Joel and Ethan Coen‘s 1996 film Fargo is a black comedy crime drama that kicks off with a down-on-his-luck car salesman (William H. Macy) hiring two eccentric criminals (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife, hoping to con his wealthy father-in-law out of a million dollars. When this harebrained plot ends up causing a triple homicide, Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), the pregnant Chief of Police of a small town in Minnesota, is put on the case.
Fargo was critically and commercially successful and won several awards, including the Academy Awards for Best Actress (McDormand) and Best Original Screenplay. Quirky, violent, and beautifully shot, the film’s influence can be felt in practically every crime film made since its release. A television reimagining of Fargo, created by Noah Hawley (Legion) and executive produced by the Coens, premiered on FX in 2014 and is still ongoing, having completed its fifth season in 2024.
V for Vendetta
Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 8.2/10
V For Vendetta
- Release Date
- February 23, 2006
- Director
- James McTeigue
- Cast
- Natalie Portman , Hugo Weaving , Stephen Rea , Stephen Fry , John Hurt , Tim Pigott-Smith
- Runtime
- 132
Based on the 1980s Vertigo Comics limited series of the same name by Alan Moore, David Lloyd, and Tony Weare, V for Vendetta is a dystopian political thriller that has had a far-reaching impact on the popular imagination. The film was directed by James McTeigue and written by the Wachowskis, with Natalie Portman starring as Evey Hammond, a young girl living in a fascist Britain who becomes involved with a masked revolutionary who calls himself “V” (played by Hugo Weaving). Other cast members of the movie include Stephen Rea, John Hurt, Stephen Fry, and Rupert Graves.
Easily one of the most influential comic book adaptations of all time, V for Vendetta has evolved into a political symbol over the years, with the lead character’s iconic mask regularly showing up as part of real-life political protests. The film was a box office success and received positive reviews from critics. Perhaps most importantly, even though it makes some departures and omissions from the graphic novel series, the movie successfully captures the spirit of its equally acclaimed source material.
The Wind Rises
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.8/10
The Wind Rises
- Release Date
- July 20, 2013
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Cast
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt , John Krasinski , Emily Blunt , Martin Short , Stanley Tucci , Mandy Patinkin
- Runtime
- 126
Written and directed by animation legend Hayao Miyazaki, the Studio Ghibli film The Wind Rises is a historical drama anime movie that presents a fictionalized biography of Japanese aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi. The film begins with Jiro's youth and artfully explores the course of his life as he grows up, falls in love, and becomes a successful aeronautical engineer during World War II. The film's original Japanese voice cast features Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto, and Masahiko Nishimura, and the English voice cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Martin Short, and Stanley Tucci.
The Wind Rises was the highest-grossing film released in Japan in the year it came out. The film was also wildly successful with critics, who lauded the direction, story, and artwork. The Wind Rises received numerous accolades, including an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature and an Annie Award win for Writing in an Animated Feature Production.
Parasite
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.5./10
Parasite
- Release Date
- May 8, 2019
- Director
- Bong Joon-ho
- Cast
- Seo Joon Park , Kang-ho Song , Seon-gyun Lee , Yeo-Jeong Jo , Woo-sik Choi , Hye-jin Jang
- Runtime
- 132 minutes
Written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite is a tale of discrimination, greed, and the lengths to which a human can go to survive. The film tells the story of the working-class Kim family, who infiltrate the wealthy home of the Parks. The movie also features an ensemble cast at the top of their game, including the likes of Song Kang-ho and Cho Yeo-jeong.
The film won countless awards upon its release, becoming the first ever foreign language film to win the coveted Best Picture Award at the Academy Awards. Shocking and brutal, Parasite manages to punctuate its tense story with moments of humor, with Bong Joon Ho himself describing the film as a black comedy. Parasite, as its name suggests, infests into the fabric of the audience and unapologetically tackles the very real divides that split our modern-day class system. A true work of art, Parasite is a wonderful example of the power of filmmaking.
The Assistant
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.4/10
The Assistant
A searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the insidious abuse that threatens every aspect of her position.
- Release Date
- January 31, 2020
- Cast
- Julia Garner , Kristine Froseth , Noah Robbins , Clara Wong
- Runtime
- 87 minutes
- Story By
Award-winning filmmaker Kitty Green (Ukraine Is Not a Brothel) takes a step out of the world of documentaries to present a scathing look at the life of executive assistants in this scripted drama that she wrote, directed, and edited. The Assistant follows a young executive assistant played by Julia Garner (Ozark) through a single day of her life, where she has to navigate harassment, sexual impropriety in the workplace, and discrimination while trying to walk the fine line of professionalism that could mean the difference between keeping her job and not being able to pay her bills. The film also stars Matthew Macfadyen, Makenzie Leigh, Kristine Froseth, Jon Orsini, Dagmara Domińczyk, and Noah Robbins.
With The Assistant, Green perfectly captures the struggles of a low-status worker trying to survive in a cut-throat corporate environment. The movie premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2019 and was well-received by critics, with special praise for Garner’s performance in the lead role. The Assistant is a much-needed and often claustrophobic work that exposes the everyday misogyny of an office setting in all its ugliness
Good Will Hunting
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.3/10
Good Will Hunting
- Release Date
- December 5, 1997
- Director
- Gus Van Sant
- Cast
- Robin Williams , Matt Damon , Ben Affleck , Stellan Skarsgård , Minnie Driver , Casey Affleck
- Runtime
- 126
Good Will Hunting is an Academy Award-winning breakout hit co-written by friends and frequent collaborators Matt Damon (The Martian) and Ben Affleck (Argo). The story follows a brilliant yet troubled young man named Will Hunting (Damon), who is given a chance to attend MIT and study under a brilliant math professor (played by Stellan Skarsgård). The catch is that he must see a therapist, which is something Will is vehemently opposed to. That is until he meets the unorthodox therapist Dr. Sean Maguire, played by the immensely talented Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire). With Sean’s help, Will slowly learns to embrace his potential and question what he truly wants.
A universally acclaimed movie, Good Will Hunting received nine Academy Award nominations and won in two categories, Best Supporting Actor for Williams and Best Original Screenplay for Affleck and Damon. The film earns every accolade thrown at it, presenting a deep meditation on the ways we can be our own biggest obstacle in life while delivering stunningly real dialogue in every scene. With brilliant performances and a well-crafted story, Good Will Hunting is a film you simply must watch.
Reality
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.7/10
Reality
- Release Date
- May 29, 2023
- Director
- Tina Satter
- Cast
- Sydney Sweeney , Josh Hamilton , Marchánt Davis , Benny Elledge
- Runtime
- 83 minutes
Based on a real-life FBI investigation into leaked classified documents, Reality is a crime drama film directed and co-written by Tina Satter, adapting her stage play Is This a Room for the screen. The film stars Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) as Reality Winner, a young US Air Force member and NSA translator who is under investigation for leaking documents that exposed the Russian government’s interference in the 2016 United States elections. Besides Sweeney, Reality also stars Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis as supporting characters. The film was co-written by James Paul Dallas.
In Reality, Sweeney delivers a masterful performance that feels incredibly real as she navigates the flurry of questions thrown at her throughout this interrogation. The film is further heightened by Satter’s captivating direction, finding a way to perfectly transition the narrative from the stage to the screen while giving a fresh perspective on the story. The movie premiered at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival and was critically acclaimed upon its release.
Empire of Light
Rotten Tomatoes: 45% | IMDb: 6.6/10
Empire of Light
- Release Date
- December 9, 2022
- Director
- Sam Mendes
- Cast
- Olivia Colman , Micheal Ward
- Runtime
- 1 hr 53 min
Written and directed by Sam Mendes (1917), Empire of Light is a gripping character-driven film starring Academy Award winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite) alongside Micheal Ward (Blue Story), Colin Firth (The Banshees of Inisherin), Toby Jones (Infamous), and more. Set in a coastal town in 1980s England, the film is essentially a romantic drama centered around a struggling theater, the Empire Cinema. Empire of Light is steeped in the sociopolitical landscape of the time while reminding us that issues like mental health stigma and racism are still prevalent in our current climate.
Colman’s performance in the film is a brilliant character study that’s dripping with emotion. Though Empire of Light’s story wasn’t well received by critics, the sheer beauty of the scenes playing out before you is what makes this movie so enjoyable, expressing a deep love for cinema and the impact it has on the lives of those who experience it. That’s hardly surprising, considering the film’s cinematography is by industry legend Roger Deakins.
The Fallout
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.0/10
The Fallout
- Release Date
- January 27, 2022
- Director
- Megan Park
- Cast
- Maddie Ziegler , Jenna Ortega , Julie Bowen , John Ortiz
- Runtime
- 1 hr 32 min
Written and directed by Megan Park, The Fallout is an unfortunately timely drama that premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, garnering critical praise for its haunting and raw subject matter. Starring Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) and Maddie Ziegler, The Fallout explores the significant mental and emotional trauma caused by all-too-common school tragedies.
Focusing on the victims and survivors, The Fallout uncomfortably reveals the strain on relationships as these youths’ worlds are forever changed and the support they find through their shared trauma. Co-starring with Ortega and Ziegler are Niles Fitch (This Is Us), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), and Shailene Woodley. – Yael Tygiel
The Banshees of Inisherin
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 7.7/10
The Banshees of Inisherin
Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.
- Release Date
- October 21, 2022
- Director
- Martin McDonagh
- Cast
- Colin Farrell , Brendan Gleeson , Barry Keoghan , Kerry Condon
Martin McDonagh writes and directs The Banshees of Inisherin, a dark comedy that explores the strange tensions of adult male friendships, as well as themes of isolation, legacy, and mortality. Set on a fictional Irish island, The Banshees of Inisherin takes place in the 1920s during the Irish Civil War and tells the story of Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell), a simple farmer whose life is derailed when his longtime friend, folk musician Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), abruptly decides that he no longer wants to be friends with Pádraic.
McDonagh’s cinematic eye and solid script, along with its inspired performances, earned The Banshees of Inisherin widespread critical acclaim. The film is easily one of the best of 2022, with numerous accolades to its name, including nine nominations at the Academy Awards. At the Venice International Film Festival, where the movie had its world premiere, The Banshees of Inisherin earned Farrell the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and McDonagh the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay.
The Many Saints of Newark
Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 6.3/10
The Many Saints of Newark
- Release Date
- September 22, 2021
- Director
- Alan Taylor
- Cast
- Vera Farmiga , Jon Bernthal , John Magaro , Billy Magnussen , Ray Liotta , Corey Stoll
- Runtime
- 120
Prequels, sequels, and threequels are all the rage these days, and The Many Saints of Newark is no exception, serving as a prequel to The Sopranos. Stacked to the gills with character actors, including the likes of Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta, and Jon Bernthal, the film touches down in Newark, New Jersey, in 1967 and follows the upbringing of everyone’s favorite crime boss amidst the chaos of not only the Newark riots but of changes in his own family — some more dangerous than others. Michael Gandolfini shines as a younger version of Tony Soprano — the role originated by his late, great father James Gandolfini — but it’s Alessandro Nivola who steals the show as Dickie Moltisanti, Tony’s ruthless and calculating uncle who helped mold him into the most iconic mob boss of all time.
A critically acclaimed film, The Many Saints of Newark was written by Lawrence Konner and Sopranos creator David Chase, with direction by Alan Taylor. For fans of The Sopranos, the film is a welcome dive back into the seedy underbelly of what made the HBO series great. And even for non-fans, David Chase’s newest adventure into the hearts and minds of the famous criminal family before they’d really made their mark stands out as an impressive mob film for the ages.
King Richard
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.5/10
King Richard
A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard.
- Release Date
- November 18, 2021
- Director
- Reinaldo Marcus Green
- Cast
- Will Smith , Aunjanue Ellis , Saniyya Sidney , Demi Singleton
- Runtime
- 138
In a career highlight performance, Will Smith stars as Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, in this sports biopic that puts Smith in the shoes of the hard-working, success-oriented family man. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin, King Richard also stars Aunjanue Ellis as the Williams sisters’ mother, Oracene "Brandy" Price, with Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams and Demi Singleton as Serena Williams. Tony Goldwyn and Jon Bernthal appear in supporting roles.
While there has been some criticism regarding the complimentary portrayal of a complicated man, there’s no doubt that King Richard tugs at the heartstrings in a stirring story about parenthood and what it takes to coach and raise not one but two world-famous athletes. Newcomer Saniyya Sidney plays a nuanced young Venus Williams struggling under the pressures from her father and the world. A success story that deserves all the praise it gets, King Richard was critically acclaimed and won numerous accolades, including the Best Actor Academy Award for Smith.
Blood Simple
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.6/10
Blood Simple
The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies, and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.
- Release Date
- January 18, 1985
- Director
- Joel Coen , Ethan Coen
- Cast
- John Getz , Frances McDormand , Dan Hedaya , M. Emmet Walsh
- Runtime
- 99 minutes
Few filmmakers make a debut as confident or stunning as Blood Simple, but the Coen Brothers have no problem making their voices heard with their first feature. Dan Hedaya plays a dive bar owner who suspects that his wife (Frances McDormand) is cheating on him with an employee (John Getz). His suspicions confirmed, he asks a P.I. (M. Emmet Walsh) to kill the lovers, but this plot soon spirals out of control and leads to unexpected bloodshed.
With Blood Simple, the Coens made a masterpiece of neo-noir, and while they would go on to a series of classics like Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men, their first film is still a stand-out. Though it was only moderately successful at the box office, Blood Simple has received near-universal acclaim from critics and is considered one of the best films of the last hundred years.
Casablanca
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Casablanca
A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.
- Release Date
- January 23, 1942
- Director
- Michael Curtiz
- Cast
- Humphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , Conrad Veidt , Sydney Greenstreet
- Runtime
- 102 minutes
Casablanca follows jaded nightclub owner Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), who just wants to be left alone. That is, until the love of his life, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), comes to him looking for help for her husband, a Czech Resistance leader. Directed by Michael Curtiz from a screenplay by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch, Casablanca is a landmark film in the history of cinema — a war movie filmed during World War II that deals with themes that go far beyond its historical setting.
The 1942 Academy Award for Best Picture winner, Casablanca has lost none of its impact over the decades. It really is a movie that has it all — action, adventure, intrigue, romance, patriotism, sacrifice. It's more than just, "Here's looking at you, kid." Don't be daunted by the film's prestige; you can still enjoy it for how damned entertaining and surprisingly funny it can be. Casablanca still hits with all the immediacy of its original release as it embraces universal themes about love and self-sacrifice. It's a beautiful movie worth revisiting.
The Tale
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 7.2/10
The Tale
- Release Date
- January 20, 2018
- Cast
- Laura Dern , Ellen Burstyn , Jason Ritter , Elizabeth Debicki
- Runtime
- 114
Filmmaking doesn’t get more inventive or more harrowing than The Tale. Jennifer Fox set out to interrogate her own memories and look into sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of adults who she thought were her friends. It’s a vital movie of the #MeToo movement, examining how predators prey on their victims and how those victims turn their pain inward and distort what really happened to avoid facing that pain.
Led by a searing, complex performance from Laura Dern, The Tale is an essential movie, brilliantly made with thought and ingenuity, and one of the best films of 2018. – Matt Goldberg
Joker
Rotten Tomatoes: 69% | IMDb: 8.4/10
Joker (2019)
During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
- Release Date
- October 2, 2019
- Director
- Todd Phillips
- Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix , Robert De Niro , Zazie Beetz , Frances Conroy , Brett Cullen , Shea Whigham
- Runtime
- 122
One of the most subversive films of recent times, Joker is a loose adaptation of the DC Comics character’s origins featuring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role. Set in the 1980s, Joker follows struggling comedian and clown Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) as his life and sanity unravel under the pressures of his beaten-down life. The film tackles themes of inequality and mental health, all leading up to Arthur’s climactic transformation into the Clown Prince of Crime. Joker was directed by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. Besides Phoenix, the film also stars Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy.
Joaquin Phoenix delivers one of the best performances of the decade as Arthur Fleck, the kind of guy who can't catch a break or make his own. Phoenix’s performance in Joker earned him the Best Actor Academy Award, and the film was both critically and commercially successful. A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, is currently set to release on October 4, 2024.