The 10 Best New Movies to Watch on HBO Max This Month (Updated January 2023)

From beloved classics to critically acclaimed new releases, the best movies on HBO Max have something incredible to offer moviegoers in 2023.

HBO Max has been the streaming platform of choice for some of the best entertainment in recent years. Every month, movies and TV shows come and go, keeping the selection on the platform fresh. HBO Max has had some great movies added recently or soon. Some of them are from recent years, while others have been fan favorites for a while. Regardless, subscribers will have several options when it comes to movies on the streaming service.

From some exciting new movies to beloved classics, fans will get something incredible this January when they watch the best movies on HBO Max.

The Lobster (2015)

This year has been a big one for Colin Farrell, with critically acclaimed performances ranging from Batman to The Banshee of Enisherin. One of the overlooked performances of his career was the dark comedy "The Lobster."

Farrell plays a lonely man who participates in a program that incentivizes people to find their soul mate by severely punishing them if they fail to fall in love by the end of the program. A hilarious and absurd love story featuring supporting cast including Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman and John C. Reilly.

The Menu (2022)

One of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, The Menu is a new addition to the quirky subgenre of cooking-food horror. The film revolves around an exclusive experimental dinner hosted by a famous chef. But more sinister intentions are revealed as eager special guests gather at an out-of-the-way restaurant.

The film is a dark comedy that both shocks and makes audiences laugh. It's a satire on artists, critics and consumers, delivering clever commentary while telling a gripping story. It also has an excellent cast led by Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Support the Girls (2018)

While Support the Girls may not have been read by many people when it was first released, it is a charming comedy that deserves a larger audience. Regina Hall stars as the manager of a sports bar who always takes care of her female staff despite the endless responsibilities at hand.

Hall's stellar performance is reminiscent of her versatility. There are plenty of down-to-earth laughs and heart-warming interactions in this simple yet bizarrely touching comedy.

The Guilty (2021)

Jake Gyllenhaal's powerful performance as sole focus Crime movie "Sin". He plays a police officer who is disciplined and reassigned as a 9-1-1 operator who gets a call from a woman who has been taken and begins a desperate attempt to save her.

The only actor on screen for most of the film, Gyllenhaal starred in the thriller. Even though everything happens over the phone, it's a gripping story built in an interesting way.

Hereditary (2018)

Hereditary, one of A24's many great horror films, is the stunning debut of Ari Aster. The film revolves around a family who, after suffering a great loss, find themselves haunted by evil spirits.

This is a great horror movie about grief, and some of its most disturbing moments come from painful human interactions. However, it's still a haunting genre piece with some terrible scares and great performances, especially by Tony Collette as the family's matriarch.

Our Idiot Brother (2011)

Although not usually included among Paul Rudd's best films, Our Idiot Brother is an underrated comedy that showcases the actors' incredible charisma. Rudd plays a friendly yet shadowy man, even though he just wants to be a burden to his three sisters help.

Even when he inadvertently makes a mess, Rudd's character is very likable, he has a positive attitude about everything and is very funny. There's also a great supporting cast, including Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, and Emily Mortimer as his sisters.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Fans who haven't seen the excellent crime film Take Pelham One Two Three should grab their chance when it hits HBO Max this month. Walter Matthau stars as a New York City transit cop who must rescue a group of hostages who have been held by armed men for ransom in a subway car.

The film is excellent as a crime thriller, with a chilling performance by Robert Shaw as the clever and ruthless leader of the criminals. But this movie takes it a step further with its terrific sense of humor, and is pure entertainment from start to finish.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

The political thriller Zero Dark Thirty chronicles what may be the largest manhunt in history. Jessica Chastain stars as a CIA agent tasked with investigating the location of Osama bin Laden after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Efforts, obstacles and dangers surrounding this task. Chastain is excellent, director Kathryn Bigelow maintains a wry tension throughout, and a strong supporting cast includes Chris Pratt and James Gandolfini.

With so many John Wick-inspired action movies, fans may be interested in revisiting the originals. Keanu Reeves stars as the titular ex-assassin who is dragged back into his violent past when the son of a gangster kills his new puppy.

John Wick (2014)

The film gives Reeves a fantastic comeback role, reminding audiences that he is one of the greatest action stars of all time. The action sequences also stand out amidst the usual CGI fights in modern cinema, which are highly choreographed and thrilling.

Fans looking to get back to Old Hollywood may be interested in finding From Here to Eternity when it launches on HBO Max in January. The Best Picture winner is an epic love story set on a Hawaiian military base that tells the story of an abused soldier and an officer's intertwined affair with the captain's wife.

From Here to Eternity (1953)

The film is set in The bombing of Pearl Harbor made for an exciting romance. The movie has an incredible cast including Montgomery Clift, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra and Deborah Kerr.

NEXT: Reddit's 10 Best HBO Original Movies