5 HBO (Max) movies that are perfect for the fall

No streaming service has a more extensive library of interesting movies worth watching than Max. In spite of its rather silly name, Max’s library includes some of the best films ever made, as well as plenty of other movies that range from good to great to excellent.

If you’re perusing Max and finding that it’s difficult to make up your mind, we’ve got you covered. We’ve pulled together five titles available on the streaming service that are the perfect way to spend some time this fall no matter what you might be interested in.

We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

A Ghost Story (2017)

A Ghost Story is definitely not for everyone, but if it sinks its teeth into you, you’re not likely to forget it. Following his death, a married man returns to his home as a ghost and watches his wife live the rest of her life.

Eventually, she leaves, and the rest of the film is a journey through time as our central ghost stays fixed on a single spot. It’s a mind-bending, beautiful examination of the nature of death, grief, and time, anchored by an incredible performance from Rooney Mara.

You can watch A Ghost Story on Max.

The Intern (2015)

A comedy that imagines Robert De Niro as a retiree interning at a fashion startup may seem like too much, but Nancy Meyers knows exactly how to craft it into something delicate and surprisingly funny.

De Niro and Anne Hathaway prove to be immensely charming leads, and the movie is surprisingly wise about what it means to age and see the world begin to leave you behind. The Intern may look a little schlocky, but if you’re looking for something meaty but not too heavy, it might be perfect for you.

You can watch The Intern on Max.

The Martian (2015)

If you needed a reminder that Matt Damon is a deeply charming actor, look no further than The Martian. Adapted from a novel of the same name, the film tells the story of an astronaut who is stranded on Mars for more than a year, and must figure out both how to survive and then eventually how to get home.

The film splits its time between Damon’s solo attempts to save his own life and his crew attempting to figure out how to bring him home. Directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator 2), The Martian looks impressive, manages its tone wonderfully, and will leave you smiling and satisfied the second it’s over.

You can watch The Martian on Max.

Unstoppable (2010)

Few movies about real-life events feel more harrowing than Unstoppable. Director Tony Scott’s final film tells the story of a runaway, unmanned train filled with toxic chemicals that must be stopped before it derails and harms thousands of people. The only hope of stopping the train comes from a veteran engineer and a young conductor who have to work together to keep the train on its rails and each other safe.

Denzel Washington is as captivating as ever here, and he’s met with aplomb by a young Chris Pine. The real selling point of Unstoppable, though, is that the movie just doesn’t let up from the moment it starts.

You can watch Unstoppable on Max.

Sinister (2012)

Sinister is a terrifying movie with a fairly ingenious premise. The film follows a true-crime writer looking for a hooky premise for his latest novel. After discovering a snuff film, he decides to move his own family into the house where the crime occurred, and then begins to realize that that decision may come with deadly consequences. Well, duh.

Carefully crafted to wring every ounce of tension out of this premise, Sinister is anchored by Ethan Hawke as a desperate, cocky man who realizes fairly quickly that he’s out of his depth.

You can watch Sinister on Max.