Here Are the Best Movies to Stream this Weekend on HBO Max, Including this Year’s Hottest Oscar Contender

Max continues to diversify its streaming library with a blend of brand-new biographical features and enduring cinematic franchises. This weekend’s selection includes highly anticipated 2025 and 2026 releases alongside high-octane action trilogies and supernatural romances. Viewers can explore the life of a comedy legend, witness the intense world of professional mixed martial arts, or revisit the origins of iconic modern heroes. These titles represent a wide range of genres designed to cater to various audience preferences during the late January viewing window.

‘Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!’ (2026)

This documentary chronicles the expansive and influential career of one of the most celebrated figures in American comedy. Released in early 2026, the film explores the creative process behind his most iconic works, including ‘Blazing Saddles’ and ‘The Producers’. It features a series of personal interviews and never-before-seen archival footage that spans his decades in film, television, and theater. The project serves as an intimate portrait of his enduring wit and his status as a comedic pioneer.

‘The Smashing Machine’ (2025)

Directed by Benny Safdie, this biographical drama stars Dwayne Johnson as the legendary mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr. The narrative focuses on Kerr’s rise to prominence in the UFC and his simultaneous struggle with substance abuse and the pressures of fame. Set during the late 1990s, the film provides a raw look at the physical and psychological toll of professional combat sports. It represents a dramatic departure for Johnson, who portrays the vulnerability and intensity of a man facing internal and external battles.

‘One Battle After Another’ (2025)

This 2025 release delivers a high-stakes narrative focused on military strategy and personal resilience during a time of intense conflict. The story follows a group of protagonists as they navigate a series of escalating confrontations that test their endurance and moral character. Utilizing advanced cinematography, the film aims to provide a visceral and realistic depiction of modern tactical operations. It joined the Max library in late 2025, offering a tense and atmospheric experience for fans of the action-war genre.

‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ (2019)

Keanu Reeves reprises his role as the legendary hitman who is now on the run with a $14 million price tag on his head. After being declared ‘excommunicado’ for killing a member of the High Table, Wick must fight his way out of New York City to seek sanctuary. The film expands the franchise’s mythology by introducing the Director and the Adjudicator while showcasing elaborate stunt work. It is recognized for its stylized world-building and the introduction of ‘gun-fu’ sequences involving diverse weaponry and environments.

‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ (2017)

In this sequel, retired assassin John Wick is forced out of his peaceful life by a former associate to whom he owes a blood oath. His mission takes him to Rome, where he must confront some of the world’s deadliest killers within the secret society of the Continental. The film explores the intricate rules and traditions that govern the international assassins’ guild. It solidified the series’ reputation for high-precision action choreography and dark, atmospheric storytelling.

‘John Wick’ (2014)

The film that launched a global franchise follows a former hitman who returns to his violent roots after a gang of criminals steals his car and kills his dog. This final gift from his deceased wife serves as the emotional catalyst for a relentless quest for vengeance against the Russian mob. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the movie introduced audiences to the Continental, a neutral hotel for criminals with its own strict set of laws. The narrative is praised for its efficient storytelling and for revitalizing the career of Keanu Reeves in the action genre.

‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1’ (2011)

The first half of the series’ finale depicts the wedding of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen followed by their transformative honeymoon. The plot takes a dramatic turn when Bella discovers she is pregnant with a child that poses a threat to her life and the surrounding wolf pack. This installment focuses on the shifting alliances between vampires and werewolves as they confront the arrival of a supernatural hybrid. It explores themes of family, sacrifice, and the physical consequences of immortality.

‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ (2009)

Following a dangerous accident, Edward Cullen decides to leave Bella Swan to protect her from the inherent perils of the vampire world. Bella sinks into a deep depression until she finds comfort in her friendship with Jacob Black, who is hiding a supernatural secret of his own. The film introduces the Volturi, the powerful Italian vampire coven that enforces the laws of their kind. The story emphasizes the emotional struggle of loss and the discovery of the ancient conflict between vampires and the Quileute shape-shifters.

‘Greenland’ (2020)

Gerard Butler stars as John Garrity, a man who must transport his estranged wife and young son to a secure bunker before a planet-killing comet strikes Earth. Unlike traditional disaster films, this narrative focuses on the breakdown of social order and the intimate choices families make during a global catastrophe. The story follows the family’s journey through a landscape of panic, highlighting the desperation and occasional altruism of survivors. It is noted for its grounded approach to the genre and its emphasis on human survival instincts.

’65’ (2023)

A pilot named Mills crashes on a mysterious planet only to discover that he is actually on Earth 65 million years in the past. To survive the hostile environment, he must protect a young girl named Koa while navigating a terrain filled with dangerous prehistoric creatures. The film blends elements of science fiction with survival horror as the duo races toward an escape vessel before an extinction-level event occurs. It features intense sequences of primal combat and explores the developing bond between the two survivors.

Tell us which of these films you plan to stream first in the comments.