A number of new films, including Father of the Bride and House Party, are set to arrive on HBO Max this summer. With the world of streaming services always expanding, it can be hard to decide what to watch next. Each platform has such a large number of options that it's hard to actually pick one. As a result, underrated movies often get lost in the sea of title boxes.
While these movies remain unknown to casual moviegoers, due to strong performances, crisp writing, and stylized, confident direction, they deserve to be seen. Here are 10 of the most underappreciated movies on HBO Max that you need to see.
Shiva Baby (2020)
Shiva Baby features rising star Rachel Sennott as Danielle, a 20-something Jewish girl who runs into her sugar daddy at a shiva along with his wife and daughter. Surrounded by nosy relatives and family friends, Danielle tries to keep her secret from coming to light while navigating the fallout of a past relationship.
Released during the pandemic, the movie played at multiple film festivals virtually and had a limited release. However, since its release on HBO Max, it's found a small but vocal fanbase. For those who like to cringe laugh, it doesn't get better than this lean 78-minute comedy.
Bronson (2008)
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive), Bronson follows Michael Peterson (Tom Hardy), an impulsive young man who's sentenced to seven years in jail for robbing a post office. Instead of taking his sentence peacefully, he transforms himself into his alter-ego Charles Bronson, 'the most violent prisoner in Britain.'
Bronson is a stand-out performance viewers can't miss as it is one of Tom Hardy's most villainous characters. While the movie received polarizing reviews, critics agreed that Hardy's character alone made it worth the price of ission.
Hoop Dreams (1994)
Setting the groundwork for many modern sports documentaries, Hoop Dreams tracks the lives of William Gates and Arthur Agee, two boys who want to become professional basketball players. The movie captures their lives through all of their injuries, academic struggles, and slumps, leading up to their ultimate success.
Considered one of the best documentaries from the '90s, Hoop Dreams was notoriously snubbed by the Oscars, receiving a sole nomination for Best Editing. Despite this setback, it became one of the highest-grossing documentaries ever for its time and is worth watching for its lasting impact on the genre.
Wonder Boys (2000)
Wonder Boys tells the story of Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas), a writer-turned-professor who is simultaneously dealing with his wife leaving him, writer's block, and the antics of his students. While handling these obstacles, he's under pressure from his editor to deliver another book.
The movie received positive reviews but failed to make a return at the box office. With a cast that includes the likes of Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr., and s McDormand, Wonder Boys has all the ingredients of a quaint dramedy and deserves a second glance from today's audiences.
Time Bandits (1981)
Terry Gilliam's third directorial feature, Time Bandits depicts the story of a young boy who accidentally s a band of time-traveling dwarves as they jump from era to era attempting to steal its treasures. Though not technically a Monty Python film, it features performances from John Cleese and Michael Palin (who also co-wrote the film).
The film was a modest commercial success, although not nearly as well known as many of Gilliam's other works. With fun performances from Shelley Duvall, Ian Holm, and the legendary Sean Connery, Time Bandits is surely a hidden gem worth revisiting.
Lars And The Real Girl (2007)
From director Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), Lars And The Real Girl lays out how a delusional, shy young man comes to form a relationship with a doll he finds on the internet. While his friends and family initially find it more than odd, his sweet nature slowly brings them to come around.
The romantic comedy received many awards nominations, including Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. Starring Ryan Gosling in one of his most underrated movies, the cast is filled out by Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, and Patricia Clarkson, making the movie one viewers don't want to miss.
All The President's Men (1976)
Based on famous events in modern American history, All The President's Men presents the story of reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) whose investigative journalism uncovered the details of the Watergate scandal and led to Richard Nixon's resignation.
Though it was popular when released due to its timely nature, Taxi Driver, Rocky, and Carrie came out the same year and went on to have bigger legacies. Given its detailed writing and hyper-realistic performances, All The President's Men deserves to be viewed again as one of the best movies of its decade.
The Raid: Redemption (2011)
Set in the slums of Jakarta, The Raid finds a S.W.A.T. team trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless drug kingpin and his underlings. When they end up surrounded, the soldiers have no option but to fight their way out to survive.
Shot with minimal to no CGI, the film was universally praised for its practical stunt work. Reminiscent of Chinese Kung Fu flicks, the Indonesian action epic used a combination of different fighting styles to stage its scenes. As far as modern small-budget action movies go, it doesn't get better than this.
Insomnia (2002)
Considered one of Christopher Nolan's best movies, Insomnia follows two Los Angeles detectives who are called up to a town in southern Alaska, where the sun doesn't set, to investigate the intricate murder of a local teenager. When one of them can't sleep, they become delusional, leading to complications in the case.
Insomnia isn't talked about nearly as much as Nolan's earlier work Momento or the work that followed (The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, etc.). That said, it's a peculiar addition to Nolan's resume that curious minds will enjoy and stars Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and Robin Williams in a rare dramatic role.
Jackie Brown (1997)
Starring Pam Grier of Foxy Brown fame, Jackie Brown unfolds the story of a flight attendant caught between being a mule for a drug dealer and an informant for the FBI. When things begin to go wrong, the titular character must figure out a way to survive the mess that follows.
Quentin Tarantino's follow-up to Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown had high standards to meet going into its theatrical run. While it was not as critically or commercially successful as most of Tarantino's following work, it more than stands on its own as an entertaining crime thriller.
