Here Are the Best Movies to Stream this Weekend on HBO Max, Including ‘Emmanuelle’

If your watchlist needs a quick refresh, HBO Max has a mix of brand-new premieres, festival-circuit standouts, franchise action, and comfort-watch favorites ready to go. The lineup spans intimate character pieces, headline-grabbing true-story drama, animation with heart, and big-studio spectacle—plenty to fill a weekend queue without repeating yourself.

Below are ten films newly added or freshly spotlighted this week. Each entry includes a brief primer on the story plus key cast and crew details—so you can decide at a glance what to start first and what to save for late-night viewing.

‘Warfare’ (2025)

A modern war drama, ‘Warfare’ embeds viewers with a small U.S. unit during an intense operation that unfolds largely in real time, following team tactics, split-second decisions, and the ripple effects of a mission under extraordinary pressure. The story keeps its focus at ground level—radio chatter, room-to-room clears, and the bonds between soldiers in the field—as a young ensemble navigates the stakes of a single day.

Developed as a grounded, tech-accurate production, ‘Warfare’ emphasizes immersive sound design and close-quarters cinematography to maintain immediacy. The script is built around procedural detail and chain-of-command dynamics, with the creative team leaning on veterans’ experiences to shape the action and atmosphere.

‘Friendship’ (2025)

In ‘Friendship,’ suburban dad Craig becomes fixated on befriending his magnetic neighbor Austin—who happens to be a TV weatherman and musician—and that pursuit slowly upends two families and their wider circle. The comedy pairs Tim Robinson as Craig with Paul Rudd as Austin, with Kate Mara and Jack Dylan Grazer in supporting roles as everyday routines start to warp under social pressure.

Written and directed by Andrew DeYoung in his feature debut, the project leans on ensemble timing and character-driven set-pieces. The production is built around awkward escalation and suburban performance, with editing and music cues shaping how small misunderstandings snowball into bigger complications.

‘Emmanuelle’ (2024)

Set against international luxury and shifting identities, ‘Emmanuelle’ follows a hotel-brand auditor whose professional trip to Hong Kong becomes entwined with a personal reawakening. Noémie Merlant leads as Emmanuelle, with Naomi Watts and Will Sharpe appearing in key roles as desire and duty collide across boardrooms, suites, and crowded streets.

A contemporary reimagining of a long-running screen property, the film is directed by Audrey Diwan from an adaptation of Emmanuelle Arsan’s novel. The production updates the setting and character dynamics, foregrounding intimacy coordination, location work, and a sleek visual language to chart power, consent, and control.

‘Ghost Cat Anzu’ (2024)

‘Ghost Cat Anzu’ follows a troublemaking guardian spirit who is tasked with protecting a shy girl after she’s sent to live with her grandfather in the countryside; the pair navigate grief, growing up, and the everyday strangeness of a town where the supernatural feels just around the corner. The hand-drawn feature balances comic set-pieces with gentle character beats as the bond between the title spirit and his reluctant charge deepens.

Co-directed by Yoko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita, the film is a Japanese–French co-production that premiered at major animation festivals before its wider rollout. The creative team leans into expressive layouts and tactile background art, with voice performances anchoring the blend of slice-of-life storytelling and folklore.

‘Lonely Castle in the Mirror’ (2022)

‘Lonely Castle in the Mirror’ brings seven students—each retreating from school troubles—into a hidden castle ruled by a masked girl, where a wish-granting mystery binds them together. The fantasy premise frames a story about isolation, friendship, and the puzzles they must solve to unlock what they’re really seeking.

Directed by Keiichi Hara and based on Mizuki Tsujimura’s bestselling novel, the film was animated with A-1 Pictures and released domestically by Toho before expanding internationally. The adaptation threads grounded character beats through a fairy-tale structure, with voice performances anchoring the castle’s shifting rules and revelations.

‘The Fate of the Furious’ (2017)

‘The Fate of the Furious’ kicks off with Dominic Toretto going rogue under a cyberterrorist’s sway, forcing the crew to track him across Havana, Berlin, New York, and the Arctic. Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, and Charlize Theron lead the ensemble, with returning teammates navigating new alliances and revenge-tinged stakes.

Directed by F. Gary Gray from a script by Chris Morgan, this eighth main entry in the ‘Fast & Furious’ saga is a Universal Pictures production with globe-spanning location work. The film extends the series’ continuity while introducing tech-driven antagonism and large-scale convoy set-pieces.

‘Fireworks’ (2017)

Set in a seaside town on the cusp of summer break, ‘Fireworks’ follows classmates who test whether fireworks are round or flat—an offhand question that spirals into time-bending do-overs tied to a looming departure. The Japanese voice cast includes Suzu Hirose and Masaki Suda as the story loops through second chances and unspoken feelings.

An animated feature from studio Shaft, ‘Fireworks’ is directed by Akiyuki Shinbo with Nobuyuki Takeuchi and adapts Shunji Iwai’s 1993 television drama concept, featuring a screenplay by Hitoshi Ōne. The film plays with visual motifs and branching outcomes to reframe a single day from multiple angles.

‘Almost Christmas’ (2016)

‘Almost Christmas’ gathers a sprawling family under one roof for the holidays, where old grudges, new romances, and kitchen disasters collide over a long weekend. Danny Glover stars alongside Kimberly Elise, Mo’Nique, Gabrielle Union, Romany Malco, and J.B. Smoove, with the ensemble trading barbs and reconciliations as plans go sideways.

Written and directed by David E. Talbert and produced by Will Packer for Universal Pictures, the movie blends family melodrama and comedy around seasonal rituals. The production builds around ensemble chemistry, cross-cutting through parallel subplots that converge at big meals and bigger reveals.

‘The 33’ (2015)

Based on real events, ‘The 33’ recreates the 2010 Copiapó mine disaster in Chile, charting the lives of miners trapped underground for 69 days and the multinational rescue mounted above. Antonio Banderas portrays Mario Sepúlveda, with Juliette Binoche and Rodrigo Santoro among the ensemble portraying family members, officials, and rescuers.

Directed by Patricia Riggen from a script by Mikko Alanne, Craig Borten, Michael Thomas, and José Rivera, the international co-production filmed in Chile and Colombia with additional work in the U.S. The movie intercuts subterranean survival with engineering logistics and media scrutiny to track the crisis from both sides.

‘Veronica Mars’ (2014)

Set years after the series of the same name, ‘Veronica Mars’ finds the title character returning to Neptune to help former boyfriend Logan after a scandal turns deadly. Kristen Bell leads as Veronica, with Jason Dohring and Enrico Colantoni reprising key roles as old classmates and former allies reenter the picture.

Written and directed by Rob Thomas with Diane Ruggiero-Wright, the Warner Bros. project was financed through a record-setting crowdfunding campaign and shot on a tight schedule with much of the original cast. The feature continuation preserves the show’s noir framework while expanding the mystery to a hometown-wide scandal.

Enjoy the picks—and tell us which of these you’re queuing up first in the comments.