Top 10 Movies To Watch This Week on HBO Max | October 12-18, 2025

So you’re stuck in scrolling purgatory again, huh? Endlessly thumbing through HBO Max, hoping something jumps out. We’ve been there. That’s why we pulled together the Top 10 Movies you would actually want to watch this week—no fluff, no filler. Whether you’re into thrillers, rom-coms, or indie gems, there’s something worth hitting play on. Here’s your movie cheat sheet for October 12–18, 2025—because your time is too valuable for another “meh” movie night.

Superman (2025)

The Man of Steel finally feels human again.

James Gunn’s Superman reboot is exactly what the DC Universe needed—a reset that’s equal parts hopeful, funny, and sincere. David Corenswet absolutely nails that old-school Superman energy, the kind that feels more Christopher Reeve than grimdark brooding. Rachel Brosnahan brings smarts and spark as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is just the right kind of smug menace. It’s bright, heartfelt, and refreshingly grounded. Basically, the Superman movie we’ve been waiting decades for.

Bring Her Back (2025)

A24 does it again—this one will mess with your head.

Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou (the Talk to Me twins), Bring Her Back is one of those horror films that sneaks up on you and then never lets go. A brother and sister move in with a foster mom after their father dies, but when she introduces them to a “new sibling,” things take a turn that’ll leave you holding your breath. Sally Hawkins is unsettlingly good, and the atmosphere is pure nightmare fuel—think Hereditary meets The Babadook but Australian and even bleaker. You’ve been warned.

Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

Two horror icons, one gloriously ridiculous bloodbath.

Before cinematic universes were a thing, Freddy vs. Jason gave us the ultimate slasher crossover. Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund, of course) tricks Jason Voorhees into doing his dirty work, and the whole thing escalates into a campy, gory showdown for the ages. It’s big, loud, and exactly what you want from early-2000s horror. Does it make sense? Barely. Is it fun? Absolutely. Popcorn, friends, and a sense of humor required.

Corpse Bride (2005)

Tim Burton at his most romantic—and most haunted.

Johnny Depp voices Victor, a nervous groom who accidentally proposes to a corpse (Helena Bonham Carter) and ends up in the underworld. What sounds morbid turns into something weirdly beautiful, with Burton’s signature mix of melancholy and charm. The stop-motion animation is stunning even by today’s standards, and Danny Elfman’s score gives it that bittersweet fairytale feel. If you love The Nightmare Before Christmas, this is essential spooky-season viewing.

Scooby-Doo (2002)

Zoinks! The gang that defined your childhood still slaps.

Yes, it’s goofy. Yes, the CGI is very 2000s. But Scooby-Doo remains peak nostalgia. Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, and Linda Cardellini are the Mystery Inc. gang. The jokes still land, the monsters are absurd, and Rowan Atkinson as the theme-park owner is comedy gold. It’s dumb in the best way—and honestly, you’ll have more fun watching it than most modern comedies. Don’t pretend you don’t still know all the lines.

Friday the 13th (2009)

Jason got a reboot—and it’s meaner than you remember.

Marcus Nispel’s Friday the 13th remake doesn’t waste time with backstory. Within minutes, people are dead, Camp Crystal Lake is crawling with shadows, and Jared Padalecki is running for his life. This version of Jason is fast, brutal, and terrifyingly methodical. It’s not subtle—but then again, it’s not supposed to be. Throw it on, turn off the lights, and let nostalgia meet pure, gory adrenaline.

Beetlejuice (1988)

It’s showtime.

Michael Keaton is absolute chaos as Betelgeuse—the wild-haired, bug-eating “bio-exorcist” helping a ghostly couple scare off their new home’s living occupants. Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, and Catherine O’Hara round out one of the weirdest and most quotable casts of the ‘80s. It’s creepy, hilarious, and totally timeless. If you haven’t rewatched it in a while, do it now. You’ll realize just how much of modern comedy still steals from this movie.

The Mummy (2017)

Not the Brendan Fraser classic, but still a wild ride.

Tom Cruise takes the reins in this modern Mummy reboot, kicking off (and immediately ending) Universal’s short-lived “Dark Universe.” Cruise plays a soldier-of-fortune type who unearths an ancient Egyptian princess (Sofia Boutella) with world-ending powers. There’s action, sandstorms, and Russell Crowe randomly showing up as Dr. Jekyll because… why not? It’s messy but entertaining in that “turn your brain off and enjoy the chaos” way. A fun watch if you don’t take it too seriously.

Practical Magic (1998)

Witchy sisters, family curses, and late-‘90s perfection.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star as the Owens sisters, who accidentally raise the dead and unleash a dangerous spirit in their small coastal town. Throw in Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, and Aidan Quinn, and you’ve got one of the coziest Halloween movies ever made. It didn’t get enough love when it came out, but it’s since become a cult favorite. Light the candles, pour the wine, and settle in—it’s witchy comfort food.

Warfare (2025)

Alex Garland trades sci-fi for the battlefield.

Warfare isn’t your standard war movie—it’s gritty, tense, and uncomfortably real. Co-directed by Garland (Ex Machina) and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza, it follows a group of soldiers stationed inside an Iraqi family’s home as war unfolds around them. Will Poulter and Joseph Quinn lead a killer ensemble that keeps you glued to the screen. It’s loud, claustrophobic, and shot with the kind of realism that sticks with you after the credits. One of A24’s best this year, hands down.

And That’s a Wrap

From cape-clad heroes and cursed sisters to haunted houses and slasher icons, HBO Max has you fully covered this week. Want scares? Go Bring Her Back or Friday the 13th. In the mood for something weird? Beetlejuice and Corpse Bride deliver. Or maybe you just need comfort chaos—yes, Scooby-Doo, we’re looking at you. Whatever your vibe, grab a blanket, hit play, and let the scrolling end here.