The Best Horror Movies On HBO’s Max
Last Updated: March 4, 2025
Max (formerly HBO Max) has given genre fans another eclectic lineup this March. They are finally adding the unsettling 2024 Hugh Grant-led Heretic on March 7th. The streamer is also getting Beau is Afraid and Stand by Me for those not getting enough existential dread in their daily routine. So, while the app is not offering tons of titles, there are some films to note. In keeping with their smorgasbord vibe, I picked five movies that run the gamut. They have nothing in common, aside from I’m looking forward to curling up with them this month. So, if you’re looking for a small dose of variety, you might want to see what I have picked out below.
Check out what I think are the most interesting titles hitting Max this March.
Carrie (dir. Brian De Palma)
An abused and bullied teen unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated at her prom. Carrie is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations of all time. Is it because I relate too well to our protagonist? Maybe. Is it because watching her get swift and vicious revenge makes my heart happy? More than likely. However, I also think it’s the Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie showdown. Of all the mother-and-daughter battles I have participated in or watched on screen, this is one of the most brutal. So, I am always happy to see this 1976 gem streaming on one of the usual suspects. However, I appreciate Max a little more for adding it this close to prom season. That’s my kind of irony, and I love to see it.
Child’s Play (dir. Tom Holland)
A serial killer transfers his spirit into a popular kids doll that makes its way into the one of a single mother. Soon, bodies begin piling up, and the woman realizes deadly things come in small packages. I am a Chucky stan account and will always make time to watch the original Child’s Play. I watched this movie too many times as a kid for it to not imprint on my brain. More importantly, I have found comfort in revisiting the films after the untimely cancellation of the TV series Chucky. We are still unsure when, where, or how Charles Lee Ray will reenter our lives. However, we know he meant it when he said he would be our friend ’til the end. So, I am taking advantage of the first installment streaming on Max this month.
The Damned Don’t Cry (dir. Vincent Sherman)
A New York socialite climbs the ladder of success man by man as she reaches for the life she has dreamed of. However, she soon discovers she might have met her match when she falls into the arms of a rich gangster. The Damned Don’t Cry is based on the novel Case History by Gertrude Walker. I have been living my best noir life with Max’s library these last few months. I also recently watched Mommie Dearest for the first time. So, this Joan Crawford thriller is coming into my life at the perfect time. I am so excited to see a woman leave her husband and use her charms to go after the life she wanted in the 1950s. I am also really nosey and want to see how deadly this gets with my own eyes.
The Man with a Cloak (dir. Fletcher Markle)
A Frenchwoman travels to 1848 New York to ask her lover’s relative for financial assistance. However, she is met by his house staff, who have a much deadlier scheme in mind for their boss. The Man with a Cloak is based on the short story The Gentleman from Paris by John Dickson Carr. I am happily filling in blanks in my genre bingo card with Max’s constant stream of old noir films. I am excited to dig into this mystery and see how Barbara Stanwyck fits into this chaotic thriller. Not only because the title is cool but because the movie sounds like a melding of genres. It is also guaranteed to end with a murder or two, which makes it my kind of party.
Men in Black (dir. Barry Sonnenfeld)
A cop takes a job at a secret government agency that monitors alien lifeforms on Earth. He and his new partner soon find themselves in over their heads as they must battle an intergalactic villain. This Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones moment was a large part of many millennial childhoods. However, I have never rewatched it as an adult. So, I plan to rectify that this month while it’s on Max. I am extra giddy because the streamer is getting the original Men in Black trilogy, so I can finally see the two sequels I missed. I have a date night with my nostalgia planned, and I’m excited to see if this world is as fun as I remember it being.
Everything coming to Max in March
A Woman’s Face
Beau Is Afraid
Carrie (1976)
Carrie (2013)
Child’s Play (1988)
Child’s Play (2019)
The Damned Don’t Cry
The Forger
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters II
Heretic
The Mad Miss Manton
Maggie
The Man with a Cloak
Men in Black
Men in Black II
Men in Black III
Stand by Me
The Two Mrs. Carrolls
This Woman Is Dangerous
Did you also find a few hidden gems on this month’s list? Then let me know what titles are making you a happy little Max subscriber on Bluesky.
Categorized:Streaming Guides
