Top 10 Movies To Watch This Week on HBO Max | August 17-23, 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 August 17-23, 2025—because your time is too valuable for another “meh” movie night.

1. Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)

Death still doesn’t take no for an answer.

The sixth installment in the Final Destination franchise taps into a fresh kind of dread—generational. Stefanie’s recurring nightmare sends her back home to uncover the truth behind a long-buried family tragedy. There’s the classic setup (a near-death escape, the clock ticking down), but this one feels tighter, smarter, and slicker than it has any right to. Bonus: Tony Todd returns, and the kills? Oh yeah, they’re as creative as ever.

2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

The war hasn’t started… yet.

Humanity’s on its last legs after a viral outbreak, while Caesar leads a fragile ape society on the outskirts of what used to be San Francisco. When peace talks between apes and humans break down, things escalate fast. Matt Reeves’ first swing in the Apes trilogy is part blockbuster, part Shakespearean tragedy—and Andy Serkis’ motion-capture performance is still unmatched.

3. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Revenge is a beast.

Caesar returns for his final chapter—scarred, weary, and pushed to the brink. After a devastating ambush, he sets out to face a ruthless human Colonel (played with icy precision by Woody Harrelson). It’s not just apes vs. humans—it’s ideology, grief, and survival stripped to the bone. And yes, it sticks the landing. Bring tissues.

4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

Caesar’s gone—but his legend echoes loud.

Set generations later, apes rule and humans hide in the shadows. When a young chimp named Noa discovers the truth about the past—and a rising tyrant threatens everything—he must decide what kind of future he’s willing to fight for. It’s a bold reboot that still honors what came before. If you’re in for sweeping sci-fi world-building with emotion baked in, this one’s for you.

5. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Dirty deeds, done World War II style.

Guy Ritchie takes on real history—but with all the swagger and snark you’d expect. Henry Cavill leads a ragtag squad of British black-ops misfits sent to sabotage Nazis behind enemy lines. Think Inglourious Basterds but with mustache wax, sarcastic banter, and pulpy action sequences that look ripped from a graphic novel. It’s not subtle, but it is a blast.

6. Babygirl (2024)

Power, lust, and one very bad idea.

Nicole Kidman plays a high-powered CEO who starts an affair with her much younger intern—and things spiral fast. Slick, steamy, and unsettling in all the right ways, this A24 drama walks a razor’s edge between erotic thriller and psychological chess match. Harris Dickinson holds his own, but this is Kidman’s playground—and she’s got fangs.

7. The Beekeeper (2024)

Don’t mess with the beekeeper.

Jason Statham goes full sting mode as a former covert operative who takes on a scammer network after a personal tragedy. What starts as a small-scale revenge story turns into a conspiracy big enough to threaten the country. Fast punches, big explosions, and a surprisingly sharp script make this more than just another shoot-’em-up. Statham in quiet-rage mode? Always a win.

8. The Benchwarmers (2006)

Revenge of the nerds… on the baseball field.

Three grown men with unresolved childhood trauma start their own Little League team and challenge actual kids. Somehow it works—probably because David Spade, Rob Schneider, and Jon Heder commit 100% to the nonsense. It’s dumb, it’s loud, and it still hits the “outcast makes good” nostalgia button if you grew up on Sandler-era Happy Madison comedies.

9. The Cable Guy (1996)

He just wants to hang… forever.

Jim Carrey dials up the creepy in this dark comedy about a lonely cable installer who takes customer service way too personally. What starts as goofy friendship quickly turns into surveillance, sabotage, and stalking—with Matthew Broderick stuck in the middle. It was a box office curveball back in the day, but it’s aged into one of Carrey’s most underrated performances.

10. Killing the Competition (2025)

Cheer moms walk so dance moms can run.

Melissa Joan Hart trades wholesome for unhinged in this suburban thriller about a mom who snaps when her daughter’s cut from a high-stakes dance team. The vibe? Lifetime-meets-true-crime-meets-Black Swan, just dialed down a notch. It’s campy, fast, and lets Hart chew the scenery in ways that’ll surprise you if you only know her from sitcoms.

And That’s a Wrap

This week’s HBO Max lineup is stacked with wild swings—from post-apocalyptic monkey battles to erotic office affairs to a cable guy who just won’t quit. Whether you’re here for high-concept horror (Final Destination: Bloodlines), war-time chaos (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare), or just need a good throwback laugh (The Benchwarmers, The Cable Guy), you’ve got options.