What to watch Hbo go
The rise of HBO Go means that the original HBO just doesn’t get the attention that it used to. And it is true that HBO Max boasts a much larger selection of films that can be streamed on-demand, but for HBO subscribers who aren’t ready to upgrade, there are still joys to be found in premium cable channels. There are multiple versions of HBO in your cable package, so there’s a programming schedule already at your fingertips. And if you want to call your own shots, check out our updated list of the best movies on HBO. You can stream these flicks whenever you like, provided that you have the time.
A Mighty Wind
A Mighty Wind has a lot in common with This Is Spinal Tap, including director Christopher Guest and several of the main performers. But instead of spoofing heavy metal in a mockumentary format, this film dives into the genre of folk music. After breaking apart decades earlier, The Folksmen — Mark Shubb (Harry Shearer), Jerry Palter (Michael McKean), and Alan Barrows (Guest) — are reunited for a benefit concert in memory of their late manager. While The Folksmen struggle with their insecurity, another musical duo and former lovers, Mickey Crabbe (Catherine O’Hara) and Mitch Cohen (Eugene Levy), must overcome their personal issues and deliver the performance of a lifetime.
Bowfinger
Steve Martin may play the title character in Bowfinger, but this is Eddie Murphy’s movie to shine. Murphy has a double role as action star Kit Ramsey and his dorky doppelganger, Jiff. Martin’s Robert “Bobby” K. Bowfinger is a would-be director who simply won’t take no for an answer, so when Kit turns down the leading role in his picture, Bobby uses actors to convince Kit that he’s at the center of an alien invasion. When Kit goes into hiding, Bobby hires the naive Jiff to take his place so he can finish the movie — even if it kills Jiff.
Rosewater
Comedian and talk show host Jon Stewart felt so strongly about Rosewater that he took a leave of absence from The Daily Show to write and direct the adaptation of Maziar Bahari’s novel. The real-life Bahari appeared on The Daily Show while covering the Iranian elections in 2009, which earned him some very unwanted attention. The film casts Gael García Bernal as Maziar and follows his subsequent harrowing ordeal at the hands of the Iranian government. While enduring torture for months, a blindfolded Maziar recognizes his main interogator by the rosewater fragrance that he uses. This all too real monster pushes Maziar to his limits in order to extract a false confession.
Collateral
Tom Cruise really doesn’t play villains that often, but Collateral is a rare exception. In director Michael Mann’s stylish thriller, Cruise plays Vincent, an apparently affluent man who hires a taxi driver, Max Durocher (Jamie Foxx), to take him to several locations in Los Angeles during a single night. But after the first stop, Max learns that Vincent is a deadly contract killer who is using him to get to his intended victims. Physically, Max poses little threat to Vincent, which is why he will have to call upon all of his skills to survive the night and stop Vincent’s rampage. If he can.
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park is one of the rare blockbusters that holds up decades after its release. In director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel, Dr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) and his scientists have achieved the impossible. They have successfully cloned and revived several dinosaur species. But Dr. Hammond doesn’t want to be known for his scientific feat, he wants to be Walt Disney and turn the whole thing into a literal theme park. Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are brought in to visit the isolated island park shortly before the inevitable dino mayhem begins.
One Hour Photo
Writer and director Mark Romanek couldn’t have guessed that One Hour Photo would be so hopelessly dated less than two decades after its release. That said, this movie is worth rewatching for Robin Williams’ quietly terrifying performance as Seymour “Sy” Parrish. On the surface, Sy is a harmless older man who becomes attached to the Yorkin family because he has developed their photos for years. So much so that Sy imagines himself as a member of the family. But when Sy discovers that Will Yorkin (Michael Vartan) is cheating on his wife, Nina (Connie Nielsen), he takes extreme steps to protect “his” family regardless of the consequences.
American Splendor
Get ready for a comic book movie like no other. American Splendor is inspired by the autobiographical comic by Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti), an unassuming file clerk who channeled his unhappiness with his existence into stories that resonate with people from all walks of life. The real Harvey Pekar periodically appears to comment on the story of his life, as Harvey meets his future wife and collaborator, Joyce Barbner (Hope Davis), before they face his cancer diagnosis together. The movie is a true story, and a number of Harvey’s other friends and family appear as themselves in addition to the actors who play them on screen. It’s also a very endearing look at a comic book icon.
Gods and Monsters
Gods and Monsters tells the story of James Whale (Ian McKellen), the acclaimed Universal Pictures horror director who helmed Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and more. James is also an openly homosexual man whose star has faded by this time in his life. With his health in decline, James forms an odd friendship with a gardener named Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser). While Clayton seems to have genuine affection for James, he is staunchly heterosexual and he is unable to give James what he wants. But their emotional bond is the reason why this film is a classic.
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Who is The 40-Year-Old Virgin? That would be Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell), a very shy guy who has given up on ever finding love or sex after several bad experiences. David (Paul Rudd), Cal (Seth Rogen), and Jay (Romany Malco), take it upon themselves to help Andy solve his relationship problems by finding Andy a suitable woman. However, Andy finds his best prospect is Trish Piedmont (Catherine Keener), a woman who already has three kids and a grandchild. Both Andy and Trish want certain things out of their relationship, even if they can’t always articulate the things that will make them happy.
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
The late Fred Rogers wouldn’t have categorized himself as a saint, but his fans may disagree. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? follows Rogers’ life both behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera as the host of the beloved children’s program, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Rogers’ widow, Joane Rogers, and their children: John and Jim Rogers, share their stories about him alongside luminaries like Tom Junod, Yo-Yo Ma, Joe Negri, David Newell, and more. Fred Rogers was a special man who had a unique bond with his viewers. They loved him, and it appears that the feeling was mutual.
It: Chapter One
When it comes to evil clowns, few can match the malevolent intensity of Pennywise the Clown. Bill Skarsgård is absolutely terrifying as Pennywise in the newest adaptation of Stephen King’s It. Director Andy Muschietti wisely decided to split the novel’s twin narratives into two separate movies, with It: Chapter One tackling the story in 1988. Following the brutal death of his younger brother, Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) realizes that Pennywise is hunting the town’s children. Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis), Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard), Stanley Uris (Wyatt Oleff), Eddie Kaspbrak (Jack Dylan Grazer), and Mike Hanlon (Chosen Jacobs) join Bill in The Losers’ Club as they take it upon themselves to confront Pennywise.
Cinderella Man
This may come as a surprise, but there really was a Cinderella Man. That was the nickname that the press gave to James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), a boxer whose fall from the ring and his return to prominence was an inspirational story during the Great Depression. Cinderella Man follows James through the hard years after his first exit from the ring. After his manager, Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), books James in a last-minute match, his victory propels him on an unlikely winning streak. Much to the horror of James’ wife, Mae Braddock (Renée Zellweger), James’ comeback leads straight to the world champion, Max Baer (Craig Bierko), a brutal man who suggests that Jake will not survive their fight.
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises is not generally considered the best of Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies. But it’s still a great superhero flick in its own right and the swansong of Christian Bale’s Dark Knight. Eight years after the Joker’s defeat, Batman is gone, and Gotham City is a very different place. However, the arrival of Bane (Tom Hardy) forces Bruce Wayne to come out of retirement, as a sinister plan uses the Wayne family fortune to finance the utter destruction of Gotham itself. And unlike Batman’s previous villains, Bane is a more formidable physical fighter than Bruce is. He’s the only one who can break the Bat. In the aftermath, Bruce has to claw his way back to save Gotham and himself.
Maria Full of Grace
There’s not much hope for Maria Álvarez (Catalina Sandino Moreno) in Maria Full of Grace. Maria is a 17-year old girl living in Colombia who is essentially stuck working in a sweatshop to support her family. When Maria leaves her job and becomes pregnant, she and her friend Bianca (Yenny Paola Vega) become drug mules in order to make their way to the United States. However, both women soon have reason to fear for their lives before fleeing from the drug traffickers. And without the drug money, neither Maria nor Bianca know where to turn.
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs was the movie that made Quentin Tarantino, and he even co-starred in a minor role as Mr. Brown. Local crime boss Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney) and his son, Nice Guy Eddie (Chris Penn), assemble a team of crooks for a jewelry heist. Among the group are Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi), and the psychopathic Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen). However, one of their number is an undercover cop who gets in way over his head once the heist goes horribly wrong.
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