30 Best Movies to Watch on HBO Max in November 2025

November on Max is stacked with festival standouts, franchise adventures, classic noirs, monster favorites, and holiday staples, so there’s plenty to plan for all month. The dates below match the confirmed November Max arrivals, so you can queue things precisely on the day they drop while mixing new releases with vault picks and seasonal comfort watches.

‘Past Lives’ (2023)

Two childhood friends who were close in Seoul reconnect years later in New York as their adult lives make room for unfinished history and the idea of inyeon. Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro carry a story that moves between languages and cities while exploring how choices shape who we become. The film became a major awards season breakout for its writing and performances. Streaming on Max Sunday 11/2.

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ (2024)

Generations after Caesar, a young chimp named Noa ventures across coastal ruins and a fortified enclave ruled by a zealot who distorts the past to control the future. Director Wes Ball opens the world with new tribes and a scholar orangutan named Raka as shifting alliances test both apes and surviving humans. Motion capture and large scale set pieces push the saga into a new era. Streaming on Max Thursday 11/13.

‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (2014)

A fragile peace between Caesar’s forest community and San Francisco survivors begins to crack as rival leaders pull their factions toward conflict. Andy Serkis returns in a landmark performance capture role while Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, and Gary Oldman navigate uneasy negotiations and betrayals. Matt Reeves stages tense power and dam sequences that set up the next chapter. Streaming on Max Sunday 11/2.

‘A Man Called Otto’ (2022)

A widower with strict routines finds his world changing when a lively family moves in next door and draws him back into everyday community. Tom Hanks stars in an adaptation of a Swedish novel and film that tracks small acts of kindness, neighborly repairs, and second chances. Marc Forster directs with a character-first approach and a score by Thomas Newman. Streaming on Max Thursday 11/6.

‘The Lego Ninjago Movie’ (2017)

Teen hero Lloyd defends Ninjago City while wrestling with the truth that the warlord Garmadon is his father, as Master Wu trains the team to control their elements. Jackie Chan, Dave Franco, and Justin Theroux lead a story that spins off the long running series with glossy animation and family themes. The set pieces jump from skyscraper battles to a quest for ultimate, elemental focus. Streaming on Max Wednesday 11/5.

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ (2017)

After a devastating attack, the British agency links up with the American Statesman to stop a biotech tycoon’s global hostage plan. The mission stretches from London to Kentucky, with Taron Egerton and Colin Firth joined by Julianne Moore, Pedro Pascal, Halle Berry, and Jeff Bridges. An Elton John cameo and gadget filled showdowns keep the action brisk. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Missing’ (2023)

Told entirely through screens and devices, the mystery follows a Los Angeles teen who races to find her mother after she disappears on a trip to Colombia. Search histories, account resets, and security camera pulls become puzzle pieces as Storm Reid leads the investigation. The film expands the format that began with ‘Searching’ and builds tension in real time clicks. Streaming on Max Thursday 11/20.

‘Flight Risk’ (2025)

A bush pilot ferries an air marshal and a wanted tech executive through Alaskan weather as shifting identities turn a routine transfer into a life or death standoff. The thriller unfolds largely inside a small aircraft with storms and terrain closing off options. Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace lead a tight, midair chess match. Streaming on Max Wednesday 11/26.

‘A United Kingdom’ (2016)

Seretse Khama of Bechuanaland marries Londoner Ruth Williams and faces political pressure from multiple governments as they fight to remain together. The story covers exile, negotiations, and a return that sets the stage for Botswana’s future. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike lead a historical drama grounded in real correspondence and diplomacy. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (1988)

A marquise and a vicomte manipulate romances to win social games that soon backfire amid letters, wagers, and calculated betrayals. Stephen Frears adapts Christopher Hampton’s play from the epistolary novel with Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Lavish costumes and sets frame a cold strategy that unravels in salons and bedrooms. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Happy Feet’ (2006)

A tap dancing emperor penguin named Mumble searches for answers when food runs short and embarks on a globe spanning journey. Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, and Nicole Kidman voice the adventure as large musical sequences drive the story. The film pairs environmental questions with a coming of age path through colonies, zoos, and ships. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Puss in Boots’ (2011)

Before meeting the ogre crew, the swashbuckling cat teams with Kitty Softpaws and a scheming old friend to chase magic beans and a prize in the clouds. Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek voice a fairy tale caper that blends heist mechanics and swordplay. The quest moves from desert towns to a giant’s realm as a golden goose threatens a nearby city. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Elf’ (2003)

Raised at the North Pole, Buddy travels to New York to find his father and adjust to city life while keeping holiday spirit alive. The story includes a toy department makeover, a snowball showdown, and a sleigh that needs belief to fly. Jon Favreau directs with James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, and Bob Newhart supporting. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘A Christmas Story’ (1983)

A 1940s Midwestern kid wants a Red Ryder BB gun and runs into bullies, triple dog dares, and an unforgettable department store visit. Jean Shepherd’s vignettes shape the narration and production recreates neighborhoods and storefronts with care. Iconic props and a leg lamp became part of holiday pop culture. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)

Clark Griswold’s plan for a perfect family holiday collides with outages, surprise guests, and an employer’s disappointing decision. The third entry gathers relatives, ladders, and elaborate yard displays that escalate through the dinner table and the front lawn. A chaotic suburban finale ties together the mishaps. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘The Polar Express’ (2004)

On Christmas Eve, a boy boards a mysterious train to the North Pole and learns about courage and friendship through a night of tests. Robert Zemeckis uses performance capture with Tom Hanks playing multiple roles and IMAX presentations expanding the release. The trip features hot chocolate service, a lost ticket chase, and a final bell. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘The Wolfman’ (2010)

An actor returns to his ancestral estate after a family tragedy and faces a curse that draws a relentless inspector and fearful villagers. Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt, and Anthony Hopkins lead a period Gothic with extensive makeup and visual effects. Moonlit hunts and manor corridors anchor the story’s set pieces. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Hellboy’ (2004)

A demon raised by humans works for a secret bureau that fights occult threats while an old enemy tries to unleash ancient forces. Ron Perlman leads a team that includes Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman with practical creature effects blended with digital work. The case files take the group from clockwork lairs to summoning rituals. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Brick Mansions’ (2014)

Set in a walled off Detroit district, an undercover cop and an ex con team up to stop a kingpin before a catastrophic weapon is triggered. Paul Walker’s final completed role pairs him with parkour pioneer David Belle in an English language remake of ‘District B13’. The action leans on vertical chases and improvised routes across the zone. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’ (1946)

A drifter takes a roadhouse job and starts an affair with his employer’s wife, and a plan to remove the husband leads to court maneuvers and a second twist. Lana Turner and John Garfield headline an adaptation of James M Cain’s novel with Hume Cronyn as a sharp prosecutor. Tay Garnett sets the danger along California highways and roadside diners. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘They Live by Night’ (1948)

A young fugitive and a small town woman try to build a life while an older gang and the law close in from both sides. Nicholas Ray’s debut adapts ‘Thieves Like Us’ with Farley Granger and Cathy O’Donnell. Location shooting and intimate scenes shaped later lovers on the run stories. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘The Unsuspected’ (1947)

A suave radio host presides over a show about unsolved crimes as a supposed suicide and a missing heiress pull his circle into a real mystery. Michael Curtiz directs Claude Rains with studio era shadows, party scenes, and late night confrontations. The plotting moves through recordings and elegant interiors. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘A Woman’s Face’ (1941)

A scarred blackmailer seeks surgery from a principled doctor and must decide whether to break with criminal partners who want one last job. Joan Crawford leads a courtroom framed drama where testimony and flashbacks bring out the truth. The story examines identity, loyalty, and a secluded estate plot. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘The Locket’ (1946)

A psychological noir traces a woman’s childhood theft to adult deception through flashbacks nested within flashbacks. John Brahm directs Laraine Day, Robert Mitchum, and Brian Aherne in an RKO thriller noted for its chilly mood. Memory and unreliable narration drive each account. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘The Mask of Dimitrios’ (1944)

A writer becomes obsessed with a dead criminal’s past and follows his trail through Europe as associates share conflicting stories. Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Zachary Scott anchor a web of smuggling, espionage, and betrayals told in flashback. Cafes and docks shape the shifting identities. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘They Were Expendable’ (1945)

PT boat crews fight delaying actions in the Philippines and face losses that underline the cost of duty when resources are scarce. John Ford places Robert Montgomery and John Wayne in operations that balance camaraderie with evacuation realities. A stateside interlude offers brief respite before orders return the focus to the water. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Destination Tokyo’ (1943)

A submarine crew slips into Tokyo Bay to insert a scouting team ahead of a planned air attack while patrols force silent runs. Cary Grant commands the boat and John Garfield joins the crew as codes, charts, and depth charges raise the stakes. The mission builds to a tense exit from the bay. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Objective, Burma!’ (1945)

An American unit parachutes into the Burmese jungle to destroy a radar site and then fights to escape across hostile terrain. Errol Flynn leads the patrol through ambushes, marches, and radio calls that mark a long withdrawal under pressure. Small unit tactics and rugged locations ground the action. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘The Set-Up’ (1949)

An aging boxer refuses to take a dive and fights for dignity during one long night told in near real time. Robert Wise adapts Joseph Moncure March’s poem with Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in a compact, ringside drama. Choreography and crowd tension drive the final rounds. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

‘Marked Woman’ (1937)

A Manhattan hostess stands up to a racketeer after her sister is killed while a principled prosecutor seeks her testimony. Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart headline a story drawn from contemporary vice cases. Tight sets and Warner crime picture pacing keep the pressure on every scene. Streaming on Max Saturday 11/1.

Share your picks for what you are watching first on Max this month in the comments.