Time is a precious commodity, especially when it comes to streaming movies. Don’t get me wrong — if a film can hold my attention for three hours, by all means, go for it. But sometimes, you just want to get in and out in under two hours. Thankfully, HBO Max has a fantastic selection of movies that clock in under 120 minutes.
While every film on this list deserves a spot on your watchlist, our top pick is a sci-fi masterpiece that launched a billion-dollar franchise. Other highlights include an underrated 2018 comedy, a crime thriller that revitalized a star’s career, and a rom-com with a genuinely great twist.
5. Game Night
“How can that be profitable for Frito-Lay?”
Sometimes you discover a movie you completely missed in theaters. Game Night was exactly that for me when it released in 2018. I caught it on streaming and honestly couldn’t believe how hard I laughed. It’s now my go-to answer whenever someone asks, “What’s an underrated comedy I should watch?”
Max Davis (Jason Bateman) and his wife Annie (Rachel McAdams) are gaming enthusiasts who regularly host game nights at their home. One evening, Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) arranges a murder-mystery game. But unbeknownst to the players, actual mobsters kidnap Brooks, setting off a wild night of chaos and hilarity. Jesse Plemons — please do more comedies.
Game Night — 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes)
4. Hell or High Water
Taylor Sheridan writes a thrilling Western
I admire what Taylor Sheridan has accomplished on television. The empire he’s built at Paramount+ is genuinely impressive. How the man sleeps is beyond me, given how constantly he’s writing new scripts and producing new shows. But I might be in the minority here — I actually prefer Sheridan’s feature films over his TV work. I’d take Hell or High Water over Yellowstone any day.
In this neo-Western written by Sheridan and directed by David Mackenzie, Chris Pine and Ben Foster star as Toby and Tanner Howard, two brothers who resort to robbing banks to save their family ranch from foreclosure. Hot on their trail is Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges), a Texas Ranger nearing retirement. It’s a heist thriller, a neo-Western, and a meditation on morality all rolled into one. Please write more movies, Mr. Sheridan.
Hell or High Water — 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes)
3. Crazy, Stupid, Love
Rom-coms can have plot twists too
When people discuss the best plot twists, you usually hear names like The Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects, or Shutter Island. While Crazy, Stupid, Love isn’t as intense as those films, it absolutely deserves a spot on any list of memorable twists.
Heartbroken Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is shocked to learn his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) had an affair and now wants a divorce. Despite his best efforts to meet women at bars, Cal can’t move past the pain of his failed marriage. Enter Jacob (Ryan Gosling), the smooth-talking player who takes Cal under his wing. But Jacob begins to question his own methods after meeting Hannah (Emma Stone). Even knowing the twist is coming, Crazy, Stupid, Love still makes me smile because of its undeniable charm.
Crazy, Stupid, Love — 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes)
2. John Wick
The Baba Yaga comes out of retirement
Before 2014, Keanu Reeves was in a slump. He was coming off a 2013 that included two flops: Man of Tai Chi and 47 Ronin. Remember, this is the same actor who starred in Point Break, Speed, and The Matrix. Reeves needed a win. Little did he know that a revenge film called John Wick would revitalize his entire career.
Retired hitman John Wick (Reeves) left the criminal underworld to start a new life with his wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan). After Helen passes away, John keeps to himself and quietly grieves. Then, the son of a Russian crime boss (Alfie Allen) steals John’s car and kills his dog. There are mistakes, and then there’s antagonizing the legendary assassin known as John Wick. The resulting action sequences are violent, exhilarating, and audacious. John Wick is now one of the greatest action franchises in Hollywood history.
John Wick — 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes)
1. The Terminator
“I’ll be back”
You don’t need a two-and-a-half-hour runtime to tell a great sci-fi story. You don’t even need a $100 million budget. Sometimes, you just need James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a brilliant script. Released in 1984, The Terminator follows the titular cyborg assassin (Schwarzenegger) sent back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), a Los Angeles waitress who will one day give birth to John Connor, the leader of the resistance in the war against the machines.
Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a member of the resistance, is sent from the future to protect Sarah and stop the Terminator. The resulting cat-and-mouse chase is a technical marvel — which should come as no surprise, since Cameron, the master filmmaker, is behind the camera.
The Terminator — 1 hour 47 minutes (108 minutes)
More movies to stream this weekend
If you’re looking for another movie on HBO Max this weekend, try Place a Killing, a Glen Powell-led thriller premiering June 19. For some laughs, head to Hulu for hilarious comedies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Big Daddy.
