Top 10 Movies To Watch This Week on HBO Max | June 29-July 5, 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 June 29-July 5, 2025—because your time is too valuable for another “meh” movie night.

1. A Minecraft Movie (2025)

Yes, it finally happened—and somehow, A Minecraft Movie isn’t just a pixelated cash grab. Jason Momoa leads the cast as a goofy, overconfident warrior named Garrett who, along with three misfit humans, gets pulled into the Overworld through a portal glitch. Their mission? Team up with Steve (yes, that Steve) to stop an ancient piglin warlord from turning the cube-shaped world into chaos.

The tone is pure Saturday morning chaos with just enough Gen Z humor to keep it fun without being grating. It’s a blend of live action and animation that somehow works, and the cast is stacked: Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, and even Jennifer Coolidge show up to bring the madness. Plus, keep your eyes peeled—there are Easter eggs everywhere.

Whether you’re a Minecraft pro or just vaguely remember digging holes in creative mode, this one’s a surprisingly entertaining ride. Kids will love it. Adults won’t hate it. That’s a win.

2. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

If you’re showing up for subtlety, turn around now. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is pure monster mayhem, and it knows exactly what it is. When a new threat emerges from Hollow Earth—complete with an ice-breathing dinosaur king and gorilla warlords—our two titans are forced into an uneasy alliance.

Kong gets a cool new weapon. Godzilla glows pink. And the fight scenes? Ridiculous in the best way. There’s a plot in there somewhere about ancient civilizations and energy cores, but really, you’re here for the buildings getting smashed and creatures roaring at each other in IMAX slow-mo.

Critics were split, but audiences went wild—and honestly, that makes sense. It’s dumb. It’s loud. It absolutely rules on a big screen (or a big couch).

3. Dune (2021)

This one’s not just a movie—it’s a mood. Dune is the kind of cinematic world-building that makes you feel like you’re inhaling sand. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides, the soft-spoken heir to a noble house caught in a deadly power struggle over the galaxy’s most valuable substance: spice.

It’s slow, cerebral, and visually stunning—Denis Villeneuve turns the desert planet of Arrakis into something both beautiful and terrifying. The cast is stacked (Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa) and the score by Hans Zimmer? Bone-rattling. You don’t just watch this movie, you feel it.

It’s a lot to take in, but if you’ve got the patience, the payoff is epic. Think Game of Thrones in space with better lighting. And yes, there’s a worm.

4. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Buckle up and hydrate—Furiosa is George Miller’s latest sandblasted epic, and it does not take its foot off the gas. Anya Taylor-Joy steps into Charlize Theron’s boots as a younger Furiosa, charting her brutal origin story from kidnapped child to battle-hardened legend. The world is as grimy, feral, and metal as ever.

The stunts are outrageous. The world-building is layered. And Taylor-Joy sells every second of it with dead-eyed fury and a spine of steel. Chris Hemsworth flips the script as a manic warlord with a smile you definitely can’t trust.

It’s not as tight as Fury Road, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s wilder, meaner, and even more ambitious. If you like your action operatic and dust-covered, this is the one. Strap in.

5. Beetlejuice (1988)

It’s showtime! Beetlejuice is Tim Burton at his weirdest—and still one of the most original ghost stories ever made. When a sweet but dead couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) can’t seem to scare off the new family living in their house, they call in a “bio-exorcist” named Beetlejuice. Chaos—and a lot of screaming—ensues.

Michael Keaton goes absolutely unhinged in the title role, turning Beetlejuice into a walking disaster of charm and sleaze. Add Winona Ryder’s goth-girl icon Lydia to the mix, and you’ve got a movie that’s spooky, funny, and stylish as hell. The production design? Pure Halloween fever dream.

It’s weird. It’s wonderful. And after all these years, it still hits like a sandworm to the face.

6. Joker (2019)

You probably know the laugh by now, but Joker is still as unnerving as ever. Joaquin Phoenix disappears into Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian navigating a collapsing Gotham and a mind just as fractured. It’s not a superhero movie—it’s a psychological dive into isolation, mental illness, and the violence that can erupt when a system breaks down.

Todd Phillips directs with a gritty, ’70s-infused flair that owes as much to Taxi Driver as it does to comic books. The film walks a tightrope between character study and social commentary, and Phoenix keeps it grounded—even as he spirals into chaos. His performance? Uncomfortable, magnetic, Oscar-worthy.

It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a powerful one. If you’re up for something dark, intense, and completely removed from capes and CGI, this is Gotham at its most raw.

7. Ready Player One (2018)

Remember pop culture? Ready Player One crams decades of it into a single, neon-drenched VR rollercoaster. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie takes place in a future where most people escape their broken reality by logging into the OASIS, a massive virtual world filled with Easter eggs—and danger.

Tye Sheridan plays Wade Watts, a teenager trying to win control of the OASIS by solving puzzles left behind by its creator. Along the way, he teams up with fellow avatars, battles evil corporations, and races through a mind-bending tribute to The Shining. It’s loud, nerdy, and stuffed with references you’ll either love or completely miss.

It’s not subtle, but it’s a blast. Think Wreck-It Ralph meets The Matrix, with a little Back to the Future thrown in for good measure. Perfect if you want something big, bright, and unapologetically geeky.

8. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

This is the one that started it all. Fellowship of the Ring introduced us to Frodo, the Shire, and that deceptively tiny piece of jewelry that could end the world. It’s a fantasy epic that somehow balances massive world-building with quiet, emotional moments—and still looks amazing two decades later.

Elijah Wood leads a dream ensemble that includes Ian McKellen’s scene-stealing Gandalf, Viggo Mortensen’s rugged Aragorn, and Sean Astin’s forever-loyal Sam. Director Peter Jackson turns Tolkien’s sprawling novel into a journey that feels personal and mythic all at once. From the Mines of Moria to the sweeping hills of Rohan, it’s cinematic magic.

It’s three hours well spent. If you’ve never seen it, what are you even doing? And if you have—well, it’s always time for a rewatch.

9. Barbie (2023)

This one could’ve been a mess—but instead, Barbie became a full-blown cultural moment. Directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll, it’s a pink-hued satire that tackles gender roles, identity crises, and corporate nonsense… all while looking fabulous. Oh, and Ryan Gosling’s Ken? Comedy gold.

The film bounces between Barbie Land and the real world, with Barbie facing existential dread and Ken discovering the horrors (and allure) of patriarchy. It’s bold, absurd, and sneakily emotional. Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach don’t play it safe—and it pays off.

It’s bright. It’s funny. And it manages to be both completely ridiculous and genuinely profound. Come for the outfits, stay for the existential commentary.

10. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Sometimes the best friendships are forged in fire—literally. How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup, a scrawny Viking who bucks tradition by befriending a dragon instead of killing one. That dragon? The now-iconic Toothless, part cat, part jet engine, and all heart.

The animation is still stunning, especially the flying scenes that practically demand a big screen. But what really makes this one stand out is its emotional core. It’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in fireballs and flight, with themes of empathy, courage, and doing things your own way.

Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, this one never stops soaring. And yes, you will cry. Probably more than once.

And That’s a Wrap

There you go—ten HBO Max picks that swing from high fantasy (Fellowship of the Ring) to post-apocalyptic carnage (Furiosa) to full-blown digital chaos (Ready Player One, Minecraft). Whether you’re in the mood to cry over dragons, cheer on kaiju, or question society’s grip on sanity (Joker anyone?), this week’s lineup is stacked.

You’ve got genre-benders (Barbie), timeless gems (Beetlejuice), and blockbusters that still hold up (Dune, Top Gun: Maverick if we’re being honorary). Some will make you think. Some will make you laugh. And a few might make you wonder how much therapy went into writing them.

If your HBO Max watchlist has been collecting digital dust, consider this your sign. Queue it up, hit play, and let the streaming marathon begin.