With critically acclaimed movies directed by women making waves this year, like highly anticipated women-led movies, like Where The Crawdads Sing, set to release this summer, Hollywood is finally starting to reverse the long and unfortunate trend of the industry that has been long dominated by male voices. HBO Max has quickly become one of the streaming services with the best selections of films, including a wide variety of genres and a mix of old and new titles on their site.
With special collections from Warner Brothers, Studio Ghibli, Turner Classic Movies, and a host of other great contributions, fans will never run out of movies to watch. Their impressive collection also highlights a number of great films from incredible women filmmakers and showcases a wide array of captivating pictures created by talented women. These span genres from documentary and action to romantic comedies and superhero films and could captivate cinephiles of all shapes and sizes looking for a great movie to watch on the service.
Blinded By The Light (2019)
Blinded by the Light is a coming-of-age story about a young British-Pakistani aspiring musician who struggles in his career amidst racial and economic difficulties in 20th century Britain. The lead performance by Viveik Kalra was especially praised, and it was the first performance by the young actor.
Director Gurinder Chadha broke out with her 2000 film Bend It Like Beckham and has continued to make outstanding coming-of-age dramas over the course of her career. For her next film, Chadha is set to direct a Bollywood-style animated film about an Indian elephant with dreams of becoming a Bollywood star, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Wonder Woman (2017)
Wonder Woman's first entry into the DCEU was a critical and box office success, with a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes as well as a worldwide gross of more than $800 million, according to Box Office Mojo. The character has had major success, leading to a huge Christmas day streaming release for its sequel in 2020.
The movie was just the second in director Patty Jenkins' career and has since launched her continued franchise aspirations. Her first film Monster was released to massive acclaim, especially for the lead performance by Charlize Theron, and Jenkins is set to direct two more Wonder Woman sequels, as well as the Star Wars spinoff, Rogue Squadron.
Spielberg (2017)
Susan Lacy's documentary about the legendary director is an HBO Original film, and it received critical praise for its behind-the-scenes view into the filmmaker's career. Lacy has gone on to direct a documentary series about Jane Fonda and do work on the show American Masters, continuing her biographical filmmaking career.
The movie should be a must-watch for cinephiles and Spielberg fans, and it includes interviews with many Hollywood greats, such as Francis Ford Coppola, Tom Cruise, Laura Dern, Martin Scorsese, Oprah Winfrey, and more. Audience can go in excited to learn more about one of the greatest filmmakers in movie history.
You've Got Mail (1998)
Nora Ephron's screenwriting career began when she helped write the script for All The Presidents Men with her ex-husband, Carl Bernstein. Ephron was extremely popular for her journalism, writing, and screenplays in the 1980s and '90s.
After her break into screenwriting Ephron quickly rose to become one of the great romantic comedy writers in film history. She returned to work with collaborators Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan for You've Got Mail, which was a smash hit. The film is one of the most successful romantic comedies ever, making $250 million, and should satisfy all cinephiles looking for a great movie to watch on HBO Max.
Point Break (1991)
Kathryn Bigelow became just the second woman to win an Oscar for Best Director with her 2008 war movie The Hurt Locker, but the genre-bending filmmaker's most exciting movies came in the 1990s. Point Break is the movie that launched her to mainstream success.
Point Break is an action heist movie that features two exhilarating performances from Keanu Reaves and Patrick Swayze. With great action shots and a whole lot of surfing, there's no better movie to get ready for summer. Bigelow is considered by many to be one of the best action directors today, and Point Break is the perfect movie to throw on the biggest TV the viewer can find.
Clueless (1995)
Clueless, has developed a cult following as well as a legacy of being one of the best teen comedies in movie history. Heckerling also directed other teen comedy classics, like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, during her career.
The iconic movie was a breakout performance for Paul Rudd and has a memorable star turn from Alicia Silverstone, which lead to a TV series and young adult novelization. Heckerling also directed other teen comedy classics, like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, during her career, which Clueless fans should look to check out afterward.
Kajillionaire (2020)
Miranda July's terrific dark comedy about a woman in her mid-20s struggling to survive with her con-artist parents is one of the most underseen great films of the 2020s so far. The movie is hilarious from start to finish while showcasing a number of talented actors.
Fans of July's eclectic style will love the movie, and it features hilarious performances from Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, and Richard Jenkins, as well as a groundbreaking score from composer Emile Mosseri. Many feel that July is one of the most underrated indie directors currently working and fans of deadpan comedies should love Kajillionaire.
Love And Basketball (2000)
Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan star in Love and Basketball, about the lives of two aspiring professional basketball players who fall in love with each other over the course of the film. The movie remains one of the best sports movies ever made.
Gina Prince-Bythewood's romantic sports drama is one of the best directorial debuts ever and features an iconic climactic scene between Epps and Lathan at the end. Sports fans, romance fans, and all movie fans alike should find something to love in Prince-Bythewood's classic movie.
The Matrix (1999)
The Wachowskis shocked the movie world when The Matrix was released, revolutionizing action filmmaking while creating one of the biggest cultural phenomenons in movie history.
HBO Max also has all of the sequels in the franchise, including Matrix: Resurrections, which released in December 2021, perfectly setting up for an action-packed Matrix marathon. The Matrix franchise contains some of the most influential action movies ever created and is worth the price of an HBO Max subscription.
Mikey And Nicky (1976)
Mikey and Nicky tells the story of two mob and best friends, played by Peter Falk and John Cassavetes, after one is hired to kill the other. It is one of just four films from legendary filmmaker and comedian Elaine May and remains one of her best pieces of art in a career full of incredible works.
It is a tense mob thriller full of betrayal and moral contradiction that remains one of the best films of the 1970s, showcasing two twitchy and electric performances at the core from both Falk and Cassavetes. Elaine May did not get final cut in 1976, but her wonderful director's cut is streaming on HBO Max now.
