Published Apr 20, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT
Dalton is a freelance writer, novelist, and filmmaker from Orlando Florida. He currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and pursues writing full-time. He is an avid reader, film buff, and amateur historian who also publishes novels on the side. Dalton graduated from the University of Central Florida with a BFA in Film and he often applies his industry-specific knowledge when writing about film and television. Along with his blog, Dalton's critical essays on film have been published in various places online.
Don't let your HBO Max subscription go to waste, watch these three excellent films instead. With a well-known entity like HBO behind it, Max quickly became one of the most popular streamers on the market at launch. Not only does HBO Max host the majority of the premium cable channel's library, but they create new movies and shows as well.
Unlike other big streamers like Prime Video or Netflix, which has a little bit of everything, Max is a uniquely curated service. Though it has a smaller catalog than its aforementioned competitors, nearly everything on HBO Max is of above-average quality. This means that subscribers never need to fear that they might waste their evening by picking a dud.
Despite that, it's still a challenge to narrow down the movie selection on HBO Max. The streamer's catalog stretches back to the earliest days of movie history, and reaches all the way up to the present day. Max is frequently a landing spot for movies fresh out of theaters, and their list of movies changes from month to month.
This week's HBO Max movie picks don't really follow a particular pattern. Three disparate genres are represented, and movies are pulled from the past and present. There's action, disaster, and even some dark dramedy to keep viewers on their toes as April nears its end. You can't go wrong with this trio on HBO Max.
3 If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025)
Mary Bronstein's dark dramedy, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, scored an Oscar nomination and continues A24's indie dominance. It's anchored by a stellar performance from Rose Byrne, showcasing a side of the veteran actor never before seen. It's also an illustration of the quality of creative filmmaking that's still available just outside the mainstream.
The movie has been a cornerstone of HBO Max's catalog since its premiere, and is one of the most challenging recent releases. Though it isn't for everyone, it's miles beyond the usual stuff found on streaming. It's surreal, engaging, and often cringe-inducing, and has the ability to make the audience feel something whether they like it or not.
2 Twister (1996)
The natural disaster film waxes and wanes in popularity every generation, and Twister was released at one of the genre's high points. The effect-heavy extravaganza captures the nightmarish terror of tornadoes, and the psychology of those who chase them. That said, Twister isn't some cerebral art flick, and instead embraces the wild wonder of nature.
Twister is a '90s classic, and it's a must-see for every movie fan. Though the visual effects are cheesy by today's standards, the film's excitement is not diminished by time. HBO Max, like all streamers, carries its fair share of nostalgic movies. However, Twister is the ideal film to revisit as spring gives way to the storms of summer.
1 Ballerina (2025)
Image courtesy of Everett CollectionBilled as being "From the World of John Wick", Ballerina is a spinoff of the aforementioned franchise. Ana de Armas assumes the title role that was first introduced in John Wick 3, and she proves herself to be a bona fide action star. With John Wick out of action for now, the Ballerina helps to fill the void.
The style is slick, and the action is fluid and lyrical. Ballerina revels in its own over-the-top absurdity, celebrating its genre in every frame. A rudimentary knowledge of the John Wick series is helpful, but the film stands alone as well. With other John Wick spinoffs in development, more installments will likely land on HBO Max in the near future.
English (US) ·