Ritesh Sharma
A24 has built a reputation for delivering some of the most fascinating films, regardless of genre or budget. Whether working with a shoestring indie production or a mid-budget feature, the studio consistently crafts compelling, boundary-pushing cinema. More than just a production house, A24 serves as a launchpad for visionary filmmakers, providing them with the creative freedom and financial backing to bring their unique stories to life. From heartwarming dramas to pulse-pounding thrillers and deeply unsettling horror films, A24’s catalog is as diverse as it is captivating. Luckily, Max offers an impressive selection of A24 gems that will keep you glued to the screen. To make your watchlist even easier, we’ve curated the very best A24 movies currently streaming on HBO Max.
14. The Front Room (2024)
A24’s ‘The Front Room,’ based on Susan Hill’s short story of the same name, is a claustrophobic psychological horror that transforms family obligation into pure dread. The film follows Belinda (Brandy), a pregnant professor who, alongside her husband Norman (Andrew Burnap), takes in his estranged stepmother, Solange (Kathryn Hunter), in exchange for a hefty inheritance. What starts as an uneasy arrangement soon warps into something sinister as Solange’s religious fervor, eerie rituals, and quiet manipulations take an unsettling hold over their home—especially their newborn child. Blending psychological torment with supernatural unease, ‘The Front Room’ builds its horror through suffocating tension rather than overt scares. Watch it here.
13. Y2K (2024)
The Y2K event that didn’t happen, but took the world by storm, takes center stage in the eponymous drama. On New Year’s Eve of 2000, as a group of high school students celebrate the turn of the millennium, the year 2000 problem hits, bringing to life all machines that decide to take over the world. In the midst of such a “computer apocalypse,” we have Eli, Danny, and Laura, who try to survive and find a way to end the chaos as people die all around them or turn into mindless bodies controlled by the machines. The apocalyptic teen drama stars Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, and Julian Dennison and is directed by Kyle Mooney. If you are into apocalyptic movies, ‘Y2K’ is a worthy watch. It can be streamed here.
12. Opus (2025)
Mark Anthony Green’s psychological thriller ‘Opus’ follows struggling writer Ariel Ector (Ayo Edebiri), who is one of six people invited to the private party of a musical genius named Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich), who is about to make his comeback after 30 years. However, as soon as Ariel arrives at the location, she finds a lot of weird and creepy stuff, including Moretti’s blue-clad cult and the behavior of its members. As the hours pass, the six people are subjected to absurd treatments, such as being shaved and having their phones taken away. Under this new way of life, Ariel soon finds a shocking truth, one that will bring an “end” to her search for creativity. With commendable storytelling and effective cinematography, ‘Opus’ offers its viewers an escape from the clichéd real world, where everything is pre-decided, to one where nothing is what it seems, and it is as interesting as it is dark. You can watch the movie here.
11. We Live in Time (2024)
John Crowley’s ‘We Live in Time’ is a heartwarming drama that explores the romance of Tobias and Almut in a non-linear manner. Starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, the film jumps between time periods while showcasing how the two people fall in love and grow into a family, while dealing with the daily trials of life and grief. However, the strength of their love is put to the test when Almut is diagnosed with cancer. Intimate, sweet, and poignant, ‘We Live in Time’ offers the perfect binge for you and your life partner. It can be streamed here.
10. MaXXXine (2024)
‘Maxxxine’ is the third installment in the director Ti West’s ‘X’ film series and a direct sequel to X,’ cementing Mia Goth’s Maxine Minx as a true horror icon. Set in the neon-lit underbelly of 1985 Los Angeles, the film follows Maxine as she fights for legitimacy in Hollywood while being stalked by a masked killer and haunted by her dark past. With the Night Stalker murders looming in the background, Maxine’s journey takes a sinister turn when she becomes entangled in a brutal snuff film conspiracy tied to her estranged televangelist father. As bodies pile up and paranoia sets in, ‘Maxxxine’ escalates into a fever dream of violence, ambition, and survival. It is available here.
9. A Different Man (2024)
‘A Different Man’ follows Edward Lemuel (Sebastian Stan), a struggling actor with a severe facial disfigurement caused by neurofibromatosis. Isolated and insecure, Edward longs for connection—particularly with his playwright neighbor, Ingrid (Renate Reinsve). Desperate for change, he undergoes an experimental medical treatment that alters his appearance, giving him a new life and identity as “Guy Moratz.” Instead of embracing this second chance, Edward spirals into an obsession with the past, inserting himself into Ingrid’s play about his former self. What begins as an opportunity for reinvention soon becomes a harrowing descent into paranoia, envy, and fractured identity.
As Edward’s past and present selves collide, the film raises questions about what truly defines a person—their appearance, their experiences, or the way others perceive them. Adam Pearson (Oswald), who has neurofibromatosis himself, plays a charismatic and self-assured man who serves as Edward’s foil. His presence challenges Edward’s belief that his former self was inherently unworthy, leading to an intense and unsettling psychological unraveling. The movie is available here.
8. Civil War (2024)
Alex Garland’s ‘Civil War’ is a harrowing depiction of a fractured America in the grip of an authoritarian regime. As rebel forces march toward Washington, veteran war photographer Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), journalist Joel (Wagner Moura), and their mentor Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) embark on a perilous journey to document the fall of the president (Nick Offerman). Alongside them is Jessie Cullen (Cailee Spaeny), a young and ambitious photojournalist who quickly becomes hardened by the brutal realities of war. With visceral cinematography and an unflinching narrative, ‘Civil War’ captures the horror of conflict through the lens of those who document it. You can catch it here.
7. Queer (2024)
Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’ is, as the title suggests, a queer drama that offers an almost psychedelic take on middle-aged William Lee’s obsession with a much younger man named Eugene Allerton, an American expatriate soldier. The story is set in Mexico City and follows the two men as they go to South Africa looking for a hallucinogenic drug. The events that follow are for the audience to perceive as real or imaginary, including the tragic ending, and that is where the movie’s charm lies. Based on William S. Burroughs’ eponymous novel, ‘Queer’ offers a powerful performance by Daniel Craig as William Lee, which is accentuated by Drew Starkey as Eugene Allerton. You can watch it here.
6. The Lighthouse (2019)
Robert Eggers’ ‘The Lighthouse’ is an atmospheric psychological horror film that lures viewers into the depths of madness. Shot in stark black-and-white with a square 1.19:1 aspect ratio, the film feels like a relic of early cinema, intensifying its claustrophobic and unsettling nature. Set in the late 19th century, the story follows two lighthouse keepers—Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) and Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe)—who are assigned to a remote island for a four-week shift. Wake, the grizzled veteran, exerts dominance over the younger Winslow, assigning him grueling tasks while keeping the coveted lighthouse lantern to himself. As the days stretch into weeks, the men’s isolation, coupled with the relentless storm that traps them on the island, begins to unravel their sanity. Watch this modern horror drama here.
5. Heretic (2024)
Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, ‘Heretic’ is a psychological thriller that offers as much for the eyes as it does for the mind. It follows two young Mormon women who arrive at Mr. Reed’s house after the latter shows interest in evangelization. However, as their discussion on religion proceeds, it becomes clear that Reed isn’t interested in the girls’ religious beliefs as much as he is in proving his own. The girls soon find themselves stuck in the house’s basement, which is also home to a prophet of God, although there is the stench of devilry in the air. They must find a way of escape before it’s too late. Starring Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed, along with Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, ‘Heretic’ offers a mind-bending approach to the religious horror genre while serving as a staunch commentary on atheism. You can watch it here.
4. Bring Her Back (2025)
Directed by Michael and Danny Philippou, ‘Bring Her Back’ follows Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong), step-siblings who are ushered into their new home by Laura (Sally Hawkins), who also fosters a mute young boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). While Laura and Oliver’s behavior seems weird at first, the plot’s progression soon reveals Laura’s wicked intentions and her use of Oliver to bring her dead daughter back to life. Equally disturbing and saddening, ‘Bring Her Back’ is a rare horror flick that puts a dark twist on the mother’s love motif, one that is as painful as it is scary. The movie can be streamed here.
3. Warfare (2025)
‘Warfare’ shows in graphic detail the events of November 19, 2006, when a Navy SEAL unit is ambushed by Iraqi militants while the former were hiding in a small house in Ramadi (Battle of Ramadi (Iraq War)) in central Iraq. The gritty movie is directed by Alex Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza and is a must-watch for those who like military dramas due to its razor-sharp detailing and realistic depiction of how the soldiers navigated the dangerous situation. ‘Warfare’ stars Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Joseph Quinn, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Charles Melton, and Noah Centineo. You can watch the drama unfold right here.
2. Sorry, Baby (2025)
‘Sorry, Baby’ is a deeply emotional and moving drama about a young woman navigating her life after a sexual assault. Ever since Agnes Ward was raped by her professor, she went into a shell of depression, not letting herself out, even when things looked better. Her best friend Lydie and Gavin, her neighbor, with whom she is in a sexual relationship, provide support and a feeling of warmth, but life, nay other people, always try to make her feel small, even while offering sympathy, which itself makes matters worse. If only she had a cat that listened to her. Directed by Eva Victor, who also wrote it, ‘Sorry, Baby’ is an Award-winning black comedy that deserves to be seen and studied. It can be streamed here.
1. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025)
‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ focuses on the life of Linda (Rose Byrne), a therapist with a mental health crisis. Her daughter has a feeding disorder that requires her to be fed through a tube. Linda was abandoned by her husband, and she has been caring for her daughter on her own. On top of this, she has to help other families navigate their issues. All this has led her to seek therapy from her colleague. There is no end to her rounds in the circle of mental and physical chaos. It is all about how well she makes them. Directed by Mary Bronstein, ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ is a compelling test of your emotional limits as you try to make sense of Linda’s life, only to wonder how far she is pushed to the edge. The movie can be streamed here.
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