The Best Movies Leaving HBO Max In January 2021
Before Sunrise
A dreamy, swooning, romantic film that kicked off an entire trilogy, Before Sunrise finds Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meeting on a train from Budapest, and clearly falling head-over-heels for one another. They drift around Vienna talking and flirting, and while that could've ended up being very boring indeed, the chemistry between Hawke and Delpy coupled with Richard Linklater's direction turns the entire experience into something transcendent.
Ad Astra
James Gray's melancholy space odyssey Ad Astra has very sad astronaut Brad Pitt blasting off to find his father (Tommy Lee Jones), who vanished years ago during an expedition to find alien life. Introspective, moody, and unique, Ad Astra was a box office bomb because it's not exactly what you'd call a "crowd-pleaser." But the movie deserves to find an audience, so you might want to check it out before it leaves HBO Max.
Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984 dropped onto HBO Max on Christmas Day, and the reaction was...well, mixed, to say the least. But if you're still hoping to check the superhero sequel out you better act fast because it's not sticking around long. Warner Bros. is releasing all of their upcoming 2021 features directly to HBO Max, but like Wonder Woman 1984, they'll all observe a 30-day window before vacating the streaming service.
Enemy Of The State
Tony Scott's ultra-hyper, ultra-fun Enemy of the State is like a not-so-secret sequel to Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation. But while Coppola's flick was quiet and introspective, Enemy of the State is all bombast – and that's fine. Will Smith plays a hotshot attorney who accidentally gets mixed up in a government conspiracy, and has to turn former CIA agent Gene Hackman for help. Also: the movie is set during Christmas time, so if you're still in a Christmas movie mood, here you go.
Magnolia
Paul Thomas Anderson's sprawling Magnolia checks in with several connected characters living in Los Angeles, resulting in a near-masterpiece. The reaction toward Magnolia seems to have cooled over the years, with even Anderson himself commenting that he now thinks the movie is too damn long. But I'm here to tell you Magnolia remains a great work from a great filmmaker, gosh darn it.
Movies Leaving HBO Max in January 2021
LAST CHANCE TO CATCH: SELECT TITLES LEAVING HBO MAX IN JANUARY
January 7:
War Dogs, 2016 (HBO)
January 24:
Wonder Woman 1984, 2020
January 31:
Ad Astra, 2019
After Hours, 1985 (HBO)
Akeelah And The Bee, 2006 (HBO)
All Is Bright, 2013
America, America, 1964
Anchors Aweigh, 1945
The Arrangement, 1969
Bee Season, 2005 (HBO)
Before Sunrise, 1995 (HBO)
Before Sunset, 2004 (HBO)
Best Laid Plans, 1999 (HBO)
Bigger Than The Sky, 2005 (HBO)
Blade II, 2002
Blade, 1998
Blood Simple, 1984 (HBO)
Bridge To Terabithia, 2007 (HBO)
Bright Lights, Big City, 1988 (HBO)
The Change-Up, 2011 (HBO)
The Children, 2009
A Christmas Carol, 1938
Crash, 2005 (Director's Cut) (HBO)
David Copperfield, 1935
Days After Your Departure, 2019 (HBO)
Enemy Of The State, 1998 (HBO)
Everybody's All-American, 1988 (HBO)
Father's Day, 1997 (HBO)
Friday Night Lights, 2004 (HBO)
Get On Up, 2014 (HBO)
Guys And Dolls, 1955
High Society, 1956
Jeepers Creepers 2, 2003 (HBO)
Jeepers Creepers, 2001 (HBO)
Leprechaun 2, 1994 (HBO)
Leprechaun, 1993 (HBO)
Magnolia, 1999 (HBO)
The Man With The Golden Arm, 1955
Mars Attacks!, 1996
Martha Marcy May Marlene, 2011 (HBO)
Martin Lawrence You So Crazy, 1994 (HBO)
New Year's Eve, 2011 (HBO)
Ocean's Eleven, 2001
Ocean's Thirteen, 2007
Ocean's Twelve, 2004
On The Town, 1949
The Pelican Brief, 1993
Planet Of The Apes, 2001 (HBO)
Risky Business, 1983
Semi-Pro, 2008
Some Came Running, 1958
Something Borrowed, 2011 (HBO)
Splendor In The Grass, 1961
Walk The Line, 2005 (Extended Version) (HBO)
When Harry Met Sally, 1989