The Best Movies on HBO Right Now (May 2022)

The Batman (2022): The Dark Knight Returns Again

Two years into his stint as the caped crusader, Batman (Robert Pattinson) has a lot of enemies, but he also has a deranged admirer known as the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the Riddler goes after Gotham's elite one by one, the city's future is once again in the hands of the dark knight.

With its stellar cast, writing, and action sequences, The Batman is the Batman movie you didn't know you needed. Standout performances include Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman and Colin Farrell as Penguin.

Kimi (2022): A Tech-Savvy Take on a Classic Premise

As an employee of Amygdala Corporation, Angela (Zoë Kravitz) works from home monitoring data collected by the company's smart speaker, Kimi. When she intercepts evidence of a crime, Angela's supervisors tell her to ignore it, leading Angela to launch her own investigation.

Kimi manages to feel both fresh and familiar by applying a technological twist to a classic Hitchcockian premise.

Thelma & Louise (1991): A Classic Road Movie with a Feminist Message

Thelma (Geena Davis) is a meek housewife who agrees to go on a road trip with her best friend Louise (Susan Sarandon). But, when they run into trouble on the road, they wind up becoming fugitives fleeing to Mexico. At times both funny and heartbreaking, this movie's great performances and feminist slant helped make it a pop culture phenomenon.

Nightmare Alley (2021): Guillermo Del Toro's Beautiful Noir

Director Guillermo Del Toro's previous film, The Shape of Water, was a poignant and touching story about two lost souls finding each other and truly connecting despite one of them being a cat-eating fish man. Nightmare Alley is not quite so lovely but is still full of the solid performances and beautiful visuals that make all of Del Toro's work so special.

This movie is an adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham's 1946 novel (which received its first film version in 1947) and tells the story of Stanton Carlisle (Cooper), a man with a shady past who finds a good – and potentially lucrative – hiding spot in a traveling carnival. This study of the dark side of an already pretty seedy world is a must-see for fans of noir and Del Toro.

Between The World And Me (2020): A Timely Adaptation of the Best-Selling Book

Based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling book from Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me is a powerful look at what it's like growing up as a Black man in America. Coates frames his book as a letter to his teenage son, and it's as relevant now as it was when it was first published in 2015. The HBO film is part stage adaptation, part animation, and part documentary. It features appearances by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, and many more.

Joker (2019): Grittiest Villain Origin Story Without a Superhero

Before there was Batman, there was a down-on-his-luck clown named Arthur Fleck. When the Joker elicits outrage from billionaire Thomas Wayne, it has a backlash effect as people take to the streets in clown masks.

Joaquin Phoenix's performance isn't quite as memorable as previous interpretations of the character. Nonetheless, his take on Gotham's most famous villain is the best we've seen in the recent slew of DC films.

Moonshot (2022): Most Out-of-This-World Rom-Com

While boarding a spaceship to Mars, Sophie (Lana Condor) befriends a stowaway named Walt (Cole Sprouse). Although Sophie has a boyfriend on the red planet, sparks start flying in space.

Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse have cosmic chemistry, and the rest of the cast delivers consistent laughs in this young adult rom-com.

David Byrne’s American Utopia: Best Musical for '80s Fans

American Utopia is an adaptation of the Broadway show and music album of the same name created by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and Brian Eno. The show features songs from this latest album along with older hits like "Once in a Lifetime" and "Burning Down the House." After the Broadway show earned rave reviews, director Spike Lee decided to direct a film version, and it's a brainy, playful expression of art.

Tenet (2020): Christopher Nolan's Latest Trippy Sci-Fi Flick

Tenet stars John David Washington and Robert Pattinson as secret agents who utilize time travel to prevent an apocalyptic attack. To say more about this trippy sci-fi film would spoil it. Some things you should just experience for yourself. Like director Christopher Nolan's other films, Tenet is visually stunning, but some viewers might also find it a bit confusing.

Mad Max Fury Road (2015): One of the Best Action Films Ever Made

In an era when action movies are filled with CGI, Mad Mad Fury Road is a rare treat. It's an action movie made almost entirely with practical effects and stunts. And the result is mind-bogglingly awesome. The plot is sparse; the titular Mad Max (Tom Hardy) helps a handful of women escape from the villainous Immortan Joe and his band of post-apocalyptic warriors. But you're not really watching for the plot anyway. It's all about the spectacle.

No Country for Old Men (2007): A Chilling Modern Western From the Cohen Brothers

Based on the Cormac McCarthy novel, No Country for Old Men is a modern-day Western and crime drama from the Cohen brothers. When Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone bad, he decides to keep the cash he finds at the scene. But, this draws the attention of a chilling hitman named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) and a world-weary sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones). Filled with fantastic performances, the film is a dark and compelling morality tale.

Gravity (2013): An Eerie Survival Drama

This sci-fi drama from director Alfonso Cuarón (Roma, Children of Men) is a tense tale about two people trying to survive the perils of Space. Sandra Bullock Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is the newbie on her first shuttle mission. Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) is the grizzled veteran on his last mission. When their routine spacewalk goes horribly wrong, they're left with nothing to rely on but each other.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)—Furriest Dark Comedy Sequel From the 90s

What's weirder than cute furry creatures that turn into monsters if you feed them after midnight? A sequel to a movie with that very premise. In The New Batch, Billy (Zach Galligan) reunites with his mogwai once again to save the town from gremlins.

Most of the cast from the 1984 classic return, including Howie Mandel as the voice of Gizmo. You can also watch the original Gremlins on HBO Max.

Life of Pi (2012): Best Reluctant Friendship Between a Man and a Tiger

Based on the Yann Martel novel of the same name, Life of Pi is the exciting tale of a young man who survives a shipwreck and finds himself stranded in a rowboat with a single stowaway—a Bengal tiger. Adrift on the Pacific Ocean with no help in sight, the man struggles to sustain himself while forming a bond with his new boatmate. The film is both emotional and charming, with stunning visuals, and it nabbed director Ang Lee an Oscar the year it debuted.

The Goonies (1985): The Beloved '80s Adventure Still Holds Up

To an entire generation who grew up in the '80s, The Goonies is like a warm, fuzzy blanket of nostalgia. This tale of a group of misfits who go looking for a buried pirate treasure while being pursued by bumbling criminals still manages to charm over 35 years later. It's a fun film that's worth introducing to the kids (if you haven't already).

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022)—For Hardcore Potterheads

This TV special brings the main cast of the Harry Potter franchise together to reminisce about their time filming the eight fantasy blockbusters. There are plenty of interviews and cast conversations. Who isn't mentioned (or seen) is Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has created controversy in the news and social media over the past few years because of her anti-transgender opinions.