HBO Max tends to get an eclectic mix of modern movies and classic films every month. But the older movies outnumber the new ones.
Fortunately, there is a good selection of relatively recent films this month, courtesy of A24’s movie library.
Now that the new films are here, Watch With Us is sharing our picks for the three underrated HBO Max movies you should watch in January 2026.
This month, our picks include a thriller, an action comedy and a good old-fashioned rom-com.
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‘A Most Violent Year’ (2010)
Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain star om the crime thriller A Most Violent Year as Abel Morales and his wife, Anna Morales. Abel is the owner of an oil company whose business is under assault on both sides of the law. Criminals are stealing his oil and hijacking his trucks, while politicians spearhead investigations into any potential illegal activities in the hopes of bringing Abel down.
Anna is a proponent of fighting fire with fire and meeting the violence against them with some violence of their own. Abel is trying desperately to keep himself off that path. But as their financial troubles mount, Abel may not have any choice except to take things into his own hands.
A Most Violent Year is streaming on HBO Max.
‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ (2017)
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are an entertaining duo in The Hitman’s Bodyguard, even though they’re usually at each other’s throats. This action comedy features Reynolds as Michael Bryce, a man who was once a respected bodyguard for the rich and powerful. That changed when a hit man, Darius Kincaid (Jackson), murdered one of Michael’s clients and sent his career into a tailspin.
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Years later, Michael’s ex-lover, Amelia Roussel (Élodie Yung), calls upon him for help after she’s betrayed by her fellow Interpol agents. She needs Michael’s help escorting Darius to the International Criminal Court to testify against a dictator, Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman). Dukhovich will do almost anything to make sure that Darius’ testimony is never heard, even if it means Ryan’s death as well.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard is streaming on HBO Max.
‘Love Crazy’ (1941)
The real-life couple of William Powell and Myna Loy starred in 14 films together throughout their illustrious careers, and Love Crazy was one of their best. This time, Powell and Loy play a married couple, Steve and Susan Ireland. They’re happily married at the beginning of this screwball comedy, but events and Steve’s ex-girlfriend, Isobel Grayson (Gail Patrick), conspire against them.
No matter what he does, Steve winds up in compromising positions with Isobel that make his wife suspicious. Susan’s plot to make Steve jealous also has the unintended consequence of making her neighbor, Ward Willoughby (Jack Carson), hopelessly infatuated with her. To keep his wife from filing for a divorce, Steve discovers that she can’t legally leave him if he’s declared insane. But getting locked up is easy; getting back out may prove to be more of a challenge for Steve.
Love Crazy is streaming on HBO Max.
