HBO Max August 2020 is oozing with rich content. Almost every corner of the streaming service’s distinct offerings are covered. For DC, a slew of Batman titles make their way back onto the platform after living a short life at launch. More notably, the Christopher Nolan entries, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, are joining for the first time. Other titles include Birds of Prey, the first two seasons of Harley Quinn, and the end of Doom Patrol Season 2.
Era-defining films of new and old such as Blade Runner (don’t worry it’s the Final cut), Walk the Line (also the Extended cut), and 2/3’s of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy are making their way to HBO Max. The streamer is also gaining recent and much talked about releases like The Way Back, Queen & Slim, Richard Jewell, and Jojo Rabbit. In only its first few months, HBO Max has proved to be a worthy subscription for those looking to expand their film repertoires, and August is no different.
In terms of HBO originals, fans can look forward to the finale of Perry Mason and I May Destroy You. The Jordan Peele-produced Lovecraft Country is also bound to wake waves across television. In terms of originals only found on HBO Max, moviegoers can look forward to An American Pickle starring Seth Rogen. The streamer will also be the only home to Class Action Park and Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness, the former being a documentary on what used to be the world’s most dangerous theme park and the latter being a docuseries lead by famed actor Ravi Patel as he travels around the globe. Class Action Park and a new unscripted cooking show from Selena Gomez, Selena + Chef, have both yet to schedule premiere dates in August.
Our Recs:
An American Pickle
This colorful comedy found a new home on HBO Max amidst the ongoing pandemic. Directed by Brandon Trost and based on Simon Rich’s New Yorker novella, An American Pickle stars Seth Rogen as a struggling laborer from 1919 who quite literally “pickles” himself to the present. He wakes up in a new world ala Steve Rogers and is guided by his great grandson, who is also played by Rogen. Don’t miss this bizarre, yet what is sure to be compelling comedy.
Lovecraft Country
HBO’s new series based on Matt Ruff’s novel of the same follows a road trip across 1950’s Jim Crow America. What might be deemed as a death wish to many is one Black man’s futile attempt to find his missing father. The real-life and fantastical horrors behind racism are soon visualized in a new way. Starring Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Michael K. Williams, this 10-episode series from both Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw and J.J Abrams’ Bad Robot productions is not one to miss.
Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
This new documentary tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who was murdered by multiple white men in 1989 Brooklyn. His death and the initial response sparked public outrage that lead to significant civil unrest. The activism that rose from this unjust hate crime planted the seeds for the same change that people are demanding to this day. More than just timely, this documentary is a necessary watch for modern america.
HBO Max’s Arrivals for August 2020
Coming August 1
10,000 BC, 2008
All the President’s Men, 1976
Altered States, 1980
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, Season 1
Bad Influence, 1990 (HBO)
Barefoot in the Park, 1967
Barkleys of Broadway, 1949
Batman (1989), 1989
Batman & Robin, 1997
Batman Begins, 2005
Batman Forever, 1995
Batman Returns, 1992
The Bear, 1989 (HBO)
Bee Season, 2005 (HBO)
Before Sunrise, 1995 (HBO)
Before Sunset, 2004 (HBO)
Biloxi Blues, 1988 (HBO)
Blade Runner: The Final Cut, 2007
Blue Crush, 2002 (HBO)
The Candidate 1972
Carefree, 1938
The Change-Up (Unrated Version), 2011 (HBO)
Chariots of Fire, 1981
Contact, 1997
The Dark Knight 2008
The Dishwasher, 2020 (HBO)
Driving Miss Daisy, 1989
Elf, 2003
The First Grader, 2011 (HBO)
The First Wives Club 1996
Flipper, 1996 (HBO)
Flying Down to Rio, 1933
Flying Leathernecks, 1951
Fool’s Gold, 2008
Fracture, 2007
The Fugitive, 1993
The Gay Divorcee, 1934
Get on Up, 2014 (HBO)
Go Tell It on the Mountain, 2004 (HBO)
Grace Unplugged, 2013 (HBO)
Hard to Kill, 1990
Harley Quinn, Seasons 1 & 2
Highlander: The Final Dimension, 1995 (HBO)
Highlander IV: Endgame, 2000 (HBO)
The Hindenburg, 1975 (HBO)
Hours, 2013 (HBO)
House of Wax, 2005
House Party, 1990
House Party 2, 1991
House Party: Tonight’s the Night, 2013
How to Be a Player, 1997 (HBO)
Idiocracy (Extended Version), 2006 (HBO)
Interview with the Vampire, 1994
Jeremiah Johnson, 1972
Jim Thorpe: All-American, 1951
Jojo Rabbit, 2019 (HBO)
Kung Fu Panda, 2008
Kung Fu Panda 2, 2011
Leprechaun, 1993 (HBO)
Leprechaun 2, 1994 (HBO)
Leprechaun 3, 1995 (HBO)
Leprechaun 4: In Space, 1997 (HBO)
Leprechaun: Origins, 2014 (HBO)
The Long Kiss Goodnight, 1996
The Lost Boys: The Thirst, 2020 (HBO)
The Lost Boys: The Tribe (Unrated Version), 2020 (HBO)
Love Field, 1992 (HBO)
Lovelace, 2013 (HBO)
Lying And Stealing, 2019 (HBO)
The Marine (Unrated Version), 2006 (HBO)
Martha Marcy May Marlene, 2011 (HBO)
Marvin’s Room, 1996 (HBO)
Maverick, 1994
Monkeybone, 2001 (HBO)
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, 2007 (HBO)
Murder at 1600, 1997
The Mustang, 2019 (HBO)
My Blue Heaven, 1990
My Sister’s Keeper, 2009
Nell, 1994 (HBO)
New Year’s Eve, 2011 (HBO)
Ocean’s Eleven, 2001
On Dangerous Ground, 1952
On Golden Pond, 1981 (HBO)
Phantom, 2013 (HBO)
Pi, 1998 (HBO)
Raise the Titanic, 1980 (HBO)
Roberta, 1935
Romeo Must Die, 2000
Savages (Unrated Version), 2012 (HBO)
Say It Isn’t So, 2001 (HBO)
Serendipity, 2001
Skyline, 2010 (HBO)
South Central, 1992
Spy Game, 2001 (HBO)
Steven Universe Movie (2019)
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, 1939
Striptease, 1996
Swing Time, 1936
They Live by Night, 1949
Things Never Said, 2020 (HBO)
Three Days of the Condor, 1975
Time Bandits, 1981 (HBO)
Top Hat, 1935
Two Minutes of Fame, 2020 (HBO)
Walk the Line (Extended Version), 2005 (HBO)
Wedding Crashers, 2005
Without Limits, 1998
Yes Man, 2008
Coming August 2
I’ll Be Gone In The Dark, Docu-Series Finale (HBO)
Coming August 3
HBO Asia’s Invisible Stories
Coming August 4
Aldnoah.Zero
Inuyasha
Mob Psycho, Season 1
Promised Neverland, Season 1
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
The Swamp, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Coming August 6
An American Pickle, Film Premiere Doom Patrol, Season 2 Finale
Esme & Roy, Season 2B
On The Trail: Inside the 2020 Primaries, Documentary Premiere (CNN)
Coming August 7
Habla Now, 2020 (HBO)
Coming August 8
Richard Jewell, 2019 (HBO)
Coming August 9
Perry Mason, Season Finale (HBO)
Coming August 11
Hard Knocks ’20: Los Angeles, Series Premiere (HBO)
Coming August 12
Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn (HBO)
Coming August 13
Infinity Train, Season 3 Premiere
Coming August 14
Carmen Y Lola (AKA Carmen And Lola), 2020 (HBO)
Coming August 15
Birds Of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), 2020 (HBO)
Coming August 16
Lovecraft Country, Series Premiere (HBO)
Coming August 18
Looney Tunes, Batch 3
Smurfs, Season 2
Coming August 20
The Fungies, Season 1A
Singletown, Season 1
Coming August 21
No Quiero Ser Tu Hermano (AKA I Don’t Want to Be Your Brother), 2020 (HBO)
Coming August 22
Queen & Slim, 2019 (HBO)
Coming August 23
Mia’s Magic Playground
Coming August 24
I May Destroy You, Finale (HBO)
Coming August 27
Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness, Docuseries Premiere
Coming August 28
Seneca, 2019 (HBO)
Steven Universe Future, Season Six
Coming August 29
The Way Back, 2020 (HBO)
Leaving HBO Max in August
One thing that HBO Max has gotten much criticism for is losing tent pole titles so soon after launch. Unfortunately, this can also be seen in August. All of the Harry Potter films are set to leave. A very jarring move considering that they carry a very heavy presence on HBO Max’s interface. Will this stick? It wouldn’t be surprising if this decision were overturned similar to how notable DC films were set to leave, but ended up staying on the streaming service in July. Regardless, take the time to watch any gems on the chopping block below, from Corpse Bride to Kill Bill (which was also just ironically added to the platform last month).
Leaving August 25
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, 2011
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2005
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 2009
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2007
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 2004
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 2001
Leaving August 28
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Director’s Cut), 2005 (HBO)
Leaving August 31
42nd Street, 1933
A Perfect World, 1993
Adam’s Rib, 1949
Along Came Polly, 2004 (HBO)
Cabaret, 1972
Dumb & Dumber, 1994
Full Metal Jacket, 1987
Good Will Hunting, 1997
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 2003 (HBO)
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, 2019 (HBO)
Kill Bill: Volume 1, 2003
Kill Bill: Volume 2, 2004
Love Actually, 2003 (HBO)
Magic Mike, 2012
Megamind, 2010
Misery, 1990
Monsters Vs. Aliens, 2009
Mystic River, 2003
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 1989
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, 1985
Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird , 1985
The Adjustment Bureau, 2011 (HBO)
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, 2004 (HBO)
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, 2005
Unforgiven, 1992
Veronica Mars, 2014
You’ve Got Mail, 1998
