HBO Max is the streaming home of many super high-profile movies, from Sinners to the Harry Potter films — but it also houses plenty of underrated gems you may never have seen.
If you’re looking for a new movie to watch on the platform, the Watch With Us team has three recommendations that may have flown under the radar when they were in theaters.
From one of the best Batman stories of all time to an underrated rom-com starring Dev Patel to a heartbreaking biopic, these three films will fit whatever mood you’re in.
‘The Iron Claw’ (2023)
This wrestling biopic starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Holt McCallany and Harris Dickinson feels like it should have been a no-brainer when it came to awards, but it was largely overlooked by the Oscars, Golden Globes and other major circuits in 2023.
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The Iron Claw follows the Von Erich wrestling family, a group of brothers whose lives were marked by tragedy — and it has the rare distinction of being a biopic where instead of heightening the drama, the director actually omitted a character’s death to make the story less devastating. Maybe it’s heavy sadness kept it from awards recognition, but that doesn’t make the performances — particularly Efron’s — any less moving.
‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ (2012)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was successful enough to merit a sequel, but we still think it doesn’t get talked about enough — this sweet romantic comedy is a true ensemble piece that puts older characters front and center.
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The film follows a group of British retirees who move to a retirement home in India, only to find it’s not quite as luxurious as the advertising implied. But thanks to the infectious optimism of hotel manager Sonny (Patel), the seniors build an unexpected home in this new environment. An A-list cast led by Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and more make this charming movie a delight in every scene.
‘Batman: Mask of the Phantasm’ (1993)
True Batman obsessives know that one of the most acclaimed depictions of the Dark Knight comes not from live action but animation. Spun off from Batman: The Animated Series, this film features the definitive voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill as the Joker and the sleek Art Deco animation style that made the series so beloved from the 1990s to today.
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The film explores a young Bruce Wayne’s romance with fellow Gotham University student Andrea Beaumont (Dana Delany) and the painful choices that ultimately lead him to become the Caped Crusader. Years later, when Andrea returns to Gotham, Bruce is forced to confront both his past and a deadly new vigilante haunting the city. Beautifully animated and emotionally layered, the movie was unfairly overlooked in theaters due to its rushed release, but it remains a must-watch for DC fans.
Whether you’re looking for comedy, tragedy or superheroics, check out one of these underrated HBO Max movies this month.
