HBO Max has plenty of great sci-fi gems to watch, but these 10 should be at the top of any movie fan's list.
Although binge-watching television series have been common for some time, their popularity has never increased.
New streaming services are popping up left and right, and HBO Max is the latest to offer a convenient array of comforting treats via app technology on your cell phone or on TV. Some game consoles also have this technology..
Science fiction has always been a satisfying balance between entertainment and thematic maturity.
While HBO Max may not prioritize science fiction much, a particular highlight is the extensive buffet of so many classics.
Additionally, some of these milestones also delve into science fiction, resulting in impressive high scores. Still, there are hits from a wide range of decades and subgenres, allowing for thrills for any sci-fi fan.
Fantastic Planet (1973)
A hugely influential animated film, Fantastic Planet revolves around the relationship between tiny human-like creatures on a strange alien world and their relatively gigantic blue-skinned overlords.
Deeply allegorical, the film's story is as subversive as its style. Full of violence, nudity and political subtext, it is clearly influenced by the psychedelic and countercultural movements of the 1960s and remains genuinely strange, thought-provoking and engaging to this day.
King Kong (1933)
After Peter Jackson updated Kong with such an authentic and likable personality, it can seem daunting and even unnecessary to revisit the original.
However, the classic holds up surprisingly well, with a much tighter script and charming special effects.
It's true that some of the film's attitudes feel dated. Its poor approach to women was actually reproduced as a joke in Jackson's remake.
But the adventure sequences are really compelling, both on Skull Island and in the city. The concepts were clearly inventive and carefully crafted, so any fan of all modern versions will be pleased.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
This belated sequel to the classic 1982 film, Blade Runner 2049 adheres to the Hollywood sequel formula in some respects, but stands out as its own thoughtful, artfully crafted experience in its own right.
The ongoing story of synthetic humans hunted down after being chosen for “retirement” is as existentially stimulating for audiences now as it was in the 80s.
Ryan Gosling stars in the film in a much less ambiguous role than Harrison Ford's lead in the original, with Ford returning and adding a bit to his character while keeping some things mysterious.
The real stars of the show are still the Oscar-winning cinematography and effects, however, with director Denis Villeneuve's vision proving to be just as impressive as Scott's.
Blade Runner (1982)
Stepping up from its sequel is Ridley Scott's loose adaptation of Philip K. Dick's short story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Even today, the film remains a somewhat polarizing icon of the genre, eschewing traditional blockbuster action tropes for more cynical and philosophical takes on film noir themes.
Part of its complicated legacy stems from how many different cuts of the film exist and have been released for public consumption.
After two different stage versions and a director's cut, Blade Runner – The Android Hunter refines all the changes until what appears to be the definitive version and that is what HBO Max offers to subscribers.
Solaris (1972)
The 1970s were an intriguing time for science fiction, which indulged in the same gritty, cynical attitude as other Hollywood blockbusters.
Stories about the extinction of flora and the transformation of humans into the secret ingredient of their own food source. This Russian classic generates an extraordinary, almost oppressive sense of mystery.
However, some may find the extensive runtime off-putting, clocking in at nearly three hours. Mainly due to the extremely slow pace.
But this is a considerably ambitious film and also one of the first science fiction episodes to prioritize the human condition.
It meticulously balances an artistic approach with compelling pathos. Give it a try when you're feeling up for a cinematic challenge.
Friends: The Reunion
The long-awaited reunion program of Friends broke ratings records in the UK. The NBC series about six friends living in New York City came to an end in 2004 after ten seasons.
However, despite having ended 17 years ago, the phenomenon known as Friends has only grown over the years, especially thanks to its airing on streaming services like Netflix, and the calls for a reunion of all six members have only grown.
When HBO Max paid over $1.4 billion to bring Friends to its streaming service in 2019, they were looking to finally get all six cast members back together.
Although COVID has delayed it by more than a year, the improvised Friends: The Reunion finally aired last month.
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
First announced in 2019, the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai will finally premiere in 2021.
The Tze Chun animated series will serve as a prequel to Gremlins from 1984, sharing the story of how a young Sam Wing met Gizmo.
Raya and the Last Dragon's Izaac Wang is voicing young Sam. While Howie Mandel won't be returning to voice Gizmo, AJ Locascio is set to take over the voice role.
He will be joined by notable names such as Ming-Na Wen, BD Wong, James Hong and Matthew Rhys.
Jellystone!
Yogi Bear will be back in the spotlight in a TV series for the first time since Yogi Bear's Gang when Jellystone! arrives on HBO Max.
CH Greenblatt's animated series features Yogi Bear and other Hanna-Barbera characters such as Cindy, Mr. Pixote, Boo Boo and Mountain Lion, who live in Jellystone Town.
Jeff Bergman is voicing the role of Yogi Bear, and the series is expected to arrive by the end of 2021.
Young Justice
Young Justice originally aired on Cartoon Network before moving to the DC Universe for season 3.
The series will make another move, this time to HBO Max for its upcoming fourth season. Focusing on DC superheroes of all ages, season 4 of Young Justice has the subtitle Phantoms.
It's unclear when exactly the new season will drop, but development has been underway since 2019.
The Prince (2022)
HBO Max is gearing up to debut another adult animated satire titled The Prince.
The political comedy series developed by Gary Janetti will follow six-year-old Prince George as he makes life difficult for his royal family.
Originally scheduled to premiere in spring 2021, The Prince was postponed due to the death of Prince Philip in April, out of respect for the royal family.
