The Best Horror Movies On HBO’s Max
Last Updated: February 7, 2025
The (HBO) Max programming this February is very eclectic. They are adding wild cards like The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Last Days on Mars, and The Guilty. The streamer is also adding four Final Destination films to complete the series and allow us to binge the franchise before Final Destination: Bloodlines crashes into theaters this year. The app is even looking out for the comic kids and tossing Watchmen: Chapter II into the lineup. So, while it does not seem like a lot is happening on the surface, there is quite a bit to get into if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and put in some work. This obviously means I took this as a challenge and did just that. I was able to pick out five movies that could not be more different from each other, and I love that for me.
Check out the five titles I cannot wait to watch this month.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (dir. Ang Lee)
A young warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then embarks on an adventure with a mysterious man. I would be a fool if I did not point out that Ang Lee’s epic action film is now available on Max. It is the movie where many of us were introduced to (and fell in love with) Michelle Yeoh, who has been kicking ass on screens for decades. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon also gives quite a few other women space to throw hands and take names. This is part of the reason it is still celebrated today. If you have not revisited this game-changing martial arts film in a while, you should also probably check it out this month.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (dir. Rouben Mamoulian)
Dr. Jekyll cannot control his dark side once he tries a potion that transforms him into Mr. Hyde. If one story is the definition of “fuck around and find out”, it is the tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While we have been bombarded with different versions of this story forever, I have never had the privilege of watching the 1932 film. So, I am glad Max is allowing me the chance to correct this oversight this February. I have a soft spot for classic horror and find these oldies comforting. I also enjoy watching men be their own downfall after over a decade on Twitter. It will be interesting to see how this movie compares to all the adaptations and spoofs that came after it.
The Host (dir. Bong Joon-ho)
When a monster emerges from Seoul’s Han River and begins wreaking havoc, a small family tries to protect their town from its wrath. How can we go wrong with a Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, Memories of Murder) movie where a giant monster causes chaos and destruction? This whole cast is cool and many are excellent actors with amazing filmographies. However, I showed up for my girl Bae Doona, whose resume includes Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Sense8. She does not know how to miss, so I hit play whenever I see her name and have yet to regret it. So, clearly, The Host is my top priority on Max this month. Although, I will take any excuse to rewatch this title because it is pure cinema if we are being honest.
Shadow on the Wall (dir. Pat Jackson)
A woman murders her sister in a fit of jealous rage and then makes plans to kill the little girl who witnessed her sinister deed. This 1950 thriller sounds like a banger, and I cannot wait to get into it ASAP. I am here for the messy dynamics of a sister having an affair with her sibling’s fiancé. I am leaning all the way into my TV because clearly, that ends with a woman choosing violence over conversation. However, the child witness also being in the line of fire is what really has me giddy. I am a big fan of films that understand all characters should be in danger if they are truly going to raise the stakes. I am not to blame if I watch this on Max and it becomes my new personality.
The Window (dir. Ted Tetzlaff)
A 9-year-old boy witnesses a murder from his fire escape, but no one will believe him. I am very loud about putting child characters in danger if they are going to be included in the story. So, knowing this kid is the sole witness to something and is about to be a target has my attention. I have been trying to take advantage of the library of 1940s noir Max has accumulated over the last year. It is one of the subgenres I know the least about, which is wild because these stories are usually right up my alley. I cannot wait to see if this one is as tense as it sounds.
Everything coming to Max in February
Bad Boys
Bad Boys II
The Conjuring
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Deepwater Horizon
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)
Dredd
Elevation
Final Destination
Final Destination 2
Final Destination 3
Final Destination 5
The Guilty
The Host
The Last Days on Mars
Pearl: The X-Traordinary Origin Story
Safe in Hell
Shadow on the Wall
Speed
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Tall Target
The Window
Traitor
Watchmen: Chapter II
So, Max is definitely giving us some good, decent, and questionable cinema this month. It is not the greatest list of titles, but it is audacious, and I am not mad about it. I look forward to playing around with this lineup to see if I discover any diamonds in the rough. Maybe I will find a movie that becomes one of my new favorites. Or at least a couple worth talking about.
Are you excited about the genre titles Max is dropping onto the platform this month? Then let me know what movies you cannot wait to see on the streamer this February at @misssharai.
Categorized:Streaming Guides
