August is shaping up to be a blockbuster month for HBO Max. House of the Dragon wraps one of its strongest seasons, Lanterns debuts mid-month with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, Anne Hathaway stars in the decidedly non-Devil Wears Prada Mother Mary, and Bob Odenkirk continues his action-hero run in Normal. But before all that, HBO Max has refreshed its film catalog with three standout picks worth your time this week: a heartbreaking music documentary, a border thriller that defined a generation of filmmakers, and a coming-of-age classic named after a legendary song.
3. Amy (2015) — The Definitive, Intimate Portrait of Amy Winehouse
Director: Asif Kapadia | Runtime: 128 min | Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Asif Kapadia’s Oscar-winning documentary isn’t just a music biopic—it’s a slow-motion tragedy. Built almost entirely from archival footage, home videos, and Amy Winehouse’s own voice, Amy traces her meteoric rise from a wickedly funny North London teen with a once-in-a-generation jazz voice through the Grammy-sweeping Back to Black to her death from alcohol poisoning at 27. The film doesn’t flinch from her struggles with bulimia, addiction, a turbulent marriage, and the crushing pressure from all sides—including her father, Mitch. It’s essential viewing for Winehouse fans and a masterclass in documentary storytelling.
2. Sicario (2015) — Emily Blunt Descends into the Drug War’s Moral Fog
Director: Denis Villeneuve | Runtime: 122 min | Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Before Dune and Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve crafted cartel terror in Sicario, from a script by a pre-Yellowstone Taylor Sheridan (his first produced screenplay). Idealistic FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) joins a shadowy task force led by Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) to extract a cartel lieutenant from Juarez, Mexico. The wild card: Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), a softly spoken “consultant” whose true agenda crystallizes as they cross the border. The Juarez convoy sequence—a racing lineup of black SUVs shot by legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins—is worth the watch alone. Three Oscar nominations, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a sequel (Sicario: Day of the Soldado) that proves the original’s staying power.
1. Stand by Me (1986) — Four Friends, One Long Walk Into Growing Up
Director: Rob Reiner | Runtime: 89 min | Genre: Drama
My top pick this week is a classic I’ve seen half a dozen times but not recently—a nostalgic revisit made bittersweet by director Rob Reiner’s passing last year. Adapted from Stephen King’s novella The Body, Stand by Me places you as a silent fifth member of a quartet in 1959 Castle Rock, Oregon. Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), narrated by his older self (Richard Dreyfuss), recounts the bittersweet summer he and his friends—Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman), and Vern Tessio (Jerry O’Connell)—trekked along railroad tracks to find a missing boy’s body. The leech-filled swamp, Chopper the junkyard dog, the train bridge near-miss, and a showdown with switchblade-wielding greaser Ace Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland)—these moments are burned into film history. The ensemble cast is one of the most memorable ever assembled, and the film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Hot August Movie Nights
Keep tissues handy—at least two of these films will have you welling up. When the credits roll, HBO Max’s streaming guides are full of worthy follow-ups.
HBO Max Plans: Starting at $10.99/month or $109.99/year (with ads). Live sports available in Standard and Premium tiers. 2–4 simultaneous streams depending on plan.
Source: How-To Geek
Meta Description: Three acclaimed HBO Max movies to watch August 3–9: Amy Winehouse documentary, Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario, and Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me coming-of-age classic.
