A New Thriller Is HBO Max’s Most-Watched Movie This Week

HBO’s streaming catalog constantly shifts with audience viewing habits, bringing an eclectic mix of blockbuster franchises, intimate dramas, and high-energy comedies to the forefront. This week’s most popular selections highlight a broad spectrum of storytelling, ranging from chilling psychological thrillers to explosive science fiction spectacles. Viewers have gravitated toward real-life historical adaptations as well as uniquely staged stand-up specials. The current favorites reflect a strong appetite for intense survival narratives and lighthearted cinematic escapism alike.

‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked’ (2011)

Dave Seville and his musical chipmunk companions embark on a luxury cruise for a well-deserved family vacation. The trip quickly takes a chaotic turn when Alvin’s mischievous antics get the entire group shipwrecked on a remote, uncharted island. While they struggle to survive and find a way back home, they discover that the island is not as deserted as it seems. Their survival skills are put to the test as they encounter an eccentric castaway named Zoe.

‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ (2023)

Father Gabriele Amorth, the real-life chief exorcist for the Vatican, is sent to Spain to investigate the terrifying possession of a young boy. He arrives at a decaying abbey where a sinister demonic entity has taken hold of the child. During his spiritual battle to save the boy, Amorth uncovers a centuries-old conspiracy that the Catholic Church has desperately tried to keep hidden. He must confront both the powerful demon and the dark historical secrets buried within the abbey walls.

‘Robin Hood’ (2010)

Following the death of King Richard the Lionheart, skilled archer Robin Longstride returns to an impoverished England. He assumes the identity of a fallen knight and travels to Nottingham, where he meets the fiercely independent Lady Marion. Discovering the corruption of King John and the looming threat of a French invasion, Robin rallies a group of outlaws to defend their homeland. The skilled marksman must unite the fractured nation and lead a rebellion against the treacherous forces seeking to destroy England.

‘The Smashing Machine’ (2025)

This biographical sports drama chronicles the turbulent life and career of legendary mixed martial arts pioneer Mark Kerr. Set primarily between 1997 and 2000, the film explores his rise to dominance in the unregulated early days of the sport. While achieving massive success in the ring, Kerr battles severe personal demons, including a crippling addiction to painkillers. His volatile relationship with his girlfriend Dawn adds further strain as he fights to maintain his humanity in a brutal profession.

‘Chris Fleming: Live at The Palace’ (2026)

Filmed at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, comedian Chris Fleming delivers his debut HBO stand-up special. He brings a unique blend of highly physical comedy, musical elements, and vivid storytelling to the stage. His energetic performance covers a wide range of bizarre everyday observations, jumping seamlessly from analyzing dog breeds to dissecting the intricacies of Tillamook cheese. The special highlights his eccentric theatrical style and acrobatic stage presence.

‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ (2024)

Following their previous explosive confrontation, Godzilla and Kong are forced to form an uneasy alliance. A colossal, undiscovered threat hidden deep within the Hollow Earth emerges, threatening the existence of both the Titans and humanity. The film explores the ancient origins of these mythical creatures and the historical battles that tied them to the surface world. Together, they must stop a tyrannical ape known as the Skar King from bringing absolute destruction to the planet.

‘Masterminds’ (2016)

Based on true events, this comedy follows a disgruntled armored car driver who orchestrates one of the largest bank heists in American history. David Ghantt is manipulated by his work crush and her criminal associates into stealing millions of dollars from the Loomis Fargo vault. After successfully pulling off the robbery, he is betrayed and left stranded in Mexico while his accomplices flaunt the stolen wealth. He must evade a relentless hitman and the authorities while figuring out how to get revenge on those who framed him.

‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ (2025)

A psychotherapist named Linda faces an escalating mental and physical toll while caring for a young daughter who requires a feeding tube. Her life spirals out of control when her apartment ceiling collapses, forcing her to relocate her medically fragile child into a rundown motel. Navigating an absent husband and a hostile relationship with her own therapist, Linda struggles to maintain her professional sanity. The stressful environment slowly pushes her toward the edge as she attempts to keep her family together under extreme duress.

‘2073’ (2024)

Set in a dystopian version of New San Francisco, a lone survivor named Ghost navigates the ruins of a collapsed society. The narrative blends a fictional framing device with real-world archival footage to highlight the impending dangers of climate change, authoritarianism, and unchecked surveillance. Ghost scavenges for resources while reflecting on the historical events and political decisions that led to the planet’s destruction. The film serves as a stark documentary-style warning about the current trajectory of global technological and environmental policies.

‘Dead of Winter’ (2025)

A grieving widow named Barb travels into the frozen wilderness of northern Minnesota to scatter her late husband’s ashes. During a severe blizzard, she seeks help at a remote cabin and inadvertently interrupts a brutal kidnapping orchestrated by a desperate couple. Isolated without cellular service and facing a heavily armed threat, Barb realizes she is the captive teenage girl’s only hope for survival. The elderly woman uses her deep knowledge of the harsh environment to fight back and outsmart her dangerous adversaries.

Please let us know which of these trending releases you plan to watch next by sharing your thoughts in the comments.