Max hosts a lot of content, but what about the horror selection? Titles rotate throughout the year, and right now you can watch newer horror films like Midsommar and classics like Jaws. Maybe you’ll find a movie that will let you skip a terrifyingly long search.
If you’re ready to make a spooky selection, here are nine standout horror movies on Max. All of these films have received generally positive reviews or better, according to Metacritic. If you’re wondering what Max is all about, here’s more information about the streaming service, which combines the HBO Max and Discovery Plus libraries.
While one could argue that Jaws is better described as a thriller or action-adventure film than a horror film, its status as a classic cannot be disputed. Considered the first summer blockbuster, the 1975 film pits three men against a menacing great white shark.
A family accidentally discovers some unimaginable evils in this bloody supernatural horror story. It is the fifth installment in the film franchise following The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (’87), Army of Darkness (’92) and Evil Dead (2013).
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George Romero’s first horror film is an easy recommendation. A group of survivors take refuge in a house while members of the undead roam outside. The influential film is often considered the first modern zombie film, and while it may not offer Freddy Krueger-esque scares, you’ll find yourself drawn in by the characters at the heart of the story. You’ll want to leave the door open for this one (but in the event of a full-blown apocalypse, keep it very, very closed).
It’s more Stephen King, and you have to see Sissy Spacek’s Oscar-nominated portrayal of the prom queen at least once in your life. Why not now?
Horrors unfold in broad daylight in this spooky film from Ari Aster. Set at a midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village, Midsommar has plenty of disturbing surprises in store for its guests. Prepare for some shocking scenes and a gripping performance from Florence Pugh.
David Lynch’s first feature-length film will have you feeling like you’re in a bizarre nightmare. The 90-minute black-and-white horror film is filled with strange sounds and images, and the result is incredibly creepy. And don’t even get me started on the main character’s strange, alien-looking “baby” (who, oddly enough, is still kind of cute?). There are messages about men and parenthood in here, but even if we ignore the bigger picture, the surreal world of Eraserhead is definitely worth a visit.
This gritty horror film follows a family living in a remote house after an unnamed catastrophe and what happens when a desperate couple with a young child enters the picture. The horrors aren’t supernatural, but this terrifying film will haunt you.
This historical horror film is guaranteed to give you nightmares. The disturbing film centers on a family in New England in the 1630s and marks Anya Taylor-Joy’s film debut. In the 90-minute film, strange and shocking things happen to a farmer and his family who have moved to a remote area on the edge of a forest.
Black Swan is a surreal psychological horror film about the denouement of a talented ballerina. Natalie Portman’s character Nina feels the pressure to embody not only the innocent and elegant White Swan, but also the dark and sensual Black Swan for the lead role in a production of Swan Lake. But she doesn’t quite fit the mold of the latter Swan as much as newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis). The film follows her obsessive pursuit of perfection.
