February is another pivotal month for HBO Max. The streaming service recently surpassed 17.2 million subscribers, which isn’t even close to the number Netflix and Disney+ boast, but this is looking to change in the incoming year. More and more movies are shifting their theatrical release dates to later in 2021, and some even in 2022. Meanwhile, HBO Max is sitting nicely not having to worry about that. The last few weeks have seen a great marketing push for Warner Bros.’ tent pole films coming to streaming; January already brought Denzel Washington’s The Little Things and February has even more in store.
At the height of the 2021 awards season, HBO Max is bringing Judas and the Black Messiah to people’s homes. A tragic historical piece brought to life by a powerhouse cast – closed theaters cannot prevent moviegoers from seeing this at all costs. Another film from Warner Bros.’ theatrical slate, Tom & Jerry will surely reach a family audience in similar ways that Soul previously did on Disney+. The first few months of the year are typically a slow time for movie releases, but this isn’t looking to be the same in 2021. People everywhere are starved of the theatrical experience and HBO Max is looking to fill in this void in ways other streaming services simply cannot consistently provide. The ongoing pandemic is far from over, and those who initially thought of HBO Max’s blockbuster plan to be insane… are starting to change their minds.
Read more on our recommendations and see the whole list of everything coming to and leaving HBO Max in February below. See what’s also slated Netflix and Hulu!
Our Recs:
Judas and the Black Messiah
One of the must-see films of February without a doubt, Judas and the Black Messiah is a serious award contender for HBO Max. With incredible buzz and a Sundance 2021 premiere on the way, Judas is looking to even give Netflix’s contenders (such as Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7) a run for their money. Directed, produced, and co-written by Shaka King, the film follows the true story of William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) – a former criminal who agrees to infiltrate the Black Panther Party of the 1960s on behalf of the FBI. The target: famed activist and party chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). The two leading men are joined by Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, and Ashton Sanders. Also produced by Ryan Coogler, subscribers would be mad to skip this out. Judas and the Black Messiah premieres February 12 on HBO Max and in theaters.
Tom & Jerry
Arguably the most iconic cartoon duo of all time, Tom and Jerry were supposed to finally get their due on the big screen, but the simultaneous HBO Max release will have to do. This isn’t to sound negative, the streaming release of Soul brought immense wonder to families stuck at home and Warner Bros. is hoping this does the same. In the same vein of classics like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Space Jam, Tom & Jerry is a live-action/animated hybrid. The elephant in the room: the two aren’t really in their original form. This film is using 3-D animation to bring the characters to life, and many fans have already pointed out how different it looks from the norm. When they also get to hang with Chloë Grace Moretz and Michael Peña in the fanciest New York hotel, things feel even more different. By adhering to the duo’s traditional cat and mouse hi-jinks, will it stick the landing? Find out on February 26.
Earwig and the Witch
Speaking of diverging the norm with 3-D animation, Earwig and the Witch is another HBO Max release for the family with great potential. Based on the book of the same name, the story follows an orphan who discovers a world of magic tracing all the way back to her roots. This is the first 3-D animated film for the Studio Ghibli, the Japanese house responsible for a long list of timeless hits, including My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. Anyone familiar with these works can understand why a Ghibli adventure told through 3-D animation is a big deal. But similar to Tom & Jerry, this can either be huge with young audiences or miss the mark for a variety of reasons. Fans will know sooner than later for Earwig and the Witch premieres February 5 on HBO Max.
HBO Max’s Arrivals for February 2021
Coming February 1
All Good Things, 2010 (HBO)
The Amityville Horror, 1979 (HBO)
The Amityville Horror, 2005 (HBO)
American Style
The Apparition, 2012 (HBO)
Austin Powers in Goldmember, 2002
Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, 1997
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, 1999
Backdraft, 1991 (HBO)
Batman & Robin, 1997
Batman Forever, 1995
Batman Returns, 1992
Batman, 1989
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Be Cool, 2005 (HBO)
Blade Runner: The Final Cut, 2007
Butter, 2012 (HBO)
Captain Blood, 1935
Chewing Gum
Death Row Stories, Season 5
Deep Down, 2021 (HBO)
Drumline, 2002 (Extended Version) (HBO)
The Four Feathers, 2002 (HBO)
Get A Job, 2016 (HBO)
Get Shorty, 1995 (HBO)
Getting Even With Dad, 1994 (HBO)
Ghoulies II, 1987 (HBO)
Ghoulies, 1985 (HBO)
Giant, 1956
The Graduate, 1967
Growing Up Milwaukee, 2020
Head of the Class
The Investigation, Limited Series Premiere (HBO)
- The limited series explores the complex real-life investigation surrounding the 2017 murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall, making international headlines around the world as one of the most notorious criminal cases in Danish media history.
Jacob’s Ladder, 1990 (HBO)
Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, 1993 (HBO)
Justice League
Justice League Unlimited
La Deuda, 2021 (HBO)
Lars And The Real Girl, 2007 (HBO)
The Last Exorcism, 2010 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Lay The Favorite, 2012 (HBO)
Life Of Pi, 2012 (HBO)
Love & Basketball, 2000
The Lucky One, 2012 (HBO)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, 1983
Man of Steel, 2013
The Matrix, 1999
The Matrix Reloaded, 2003
The Matrix Revolutions, 2003
Monkey Shines, 1988 (HBO)
Murder On The Orient Express, 1974 (HBO)
My Bloody Valentine 3-D, 2009 (HBO)
The Neverending Story II The Next Chapter, 1991 (HBO)
Outbreak, 1995
Pathfinder, 2007 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Presumed Innocent, 1990
Raw Deal, 1986 (HBO)
Robot Chicken, Season 10B
Safe House, 2012 (HBO)
Saw II, 2005 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Saw III, 2006 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Saw IV, 2007 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Saw V, 2008 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Saw VI, 2009 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Saw, 2004 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Saw: The Final Chapter, 2010 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Selena, 1997
The Shadow, 1994 (HBO)
Sling Blade, 1996 (HBO)
Stop-Loss, 2008 (HBO)
Sunshine Cleaning, 2009 (HBO)
The Goonies, 1985
The Tank, 2017 (HBO)
This Must Be The Place, 2012 (HBO)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, 2011 (HBO)
Training Day, 2001
Unforgiven, 1992
United Shades of America, Season 5
Up In The Air, 2009 (HBO)
Wildcats, 1986 (HBO)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 1971
Coming February 2
A Rodeo Film, ABFF HBO Short Film Competition Finalist (HBO)
A Storybook Ending, ABFF HBO Short Film Competition Finalist (HBO)
Black Boy Joy, ABFF HBO Short Film Competition Finalist (HBO)
The Cypher, ABFF HBO Short Film Competition Finalist (HBO)
Dolapo Is Fine, ABFF HBO Short Film Competition Winner (HBO)
Fake Famous, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Coming February 3
Tacoma FD, Season 2
Coming February 4
Haute Dog (S1C), Max Original Series
Selena + Chef, Season 2 Finale
Coming February 5
Aquaman , 2018
Earwig and the Witch (Studio Ghibli Premiere), 2021
In Other Words, 2021 (HBO)
Vengeance: Killer Coworkers
Vengeance: Killer Lovers
Vengeance: Killer Neighbors
Coming February 6
Irresistible, 2020 (HBO)
The Windsors: Inside The Royal Dynasty, 2019
Coming February 7
We Bare Bears: The Movie, 2020
Coming February 9
Black Art: In The Absence Of Light, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Gen:Lock, Season 1
Coming February 10
C.B. Strike: Lethal White, Season Finale (HBO)
Coming February 11
There is No “I” in Threesome, HBO Max Documentary Premiere
- There is No I in Threesome is about a New Zealand couple who decide to open up their relationship.
Coming February 12
Dunkirk, 2017 (HBO)
El Inconveniente (Aka One Careful Owner), 2021 (HBO)
Havana Street Party Presents: Beatriz Luengo (HBO)
Judas and the Black Messiah, Warner Bros. Film Premiere, 2021
- Bill O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Black Panthers per FBI Agent Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) and J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen). As Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) ascends, falling for a fellow revolutionary (Dominique Fishback) en route, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul.
Very Scary People, Season 2
Coming February 13
The Book Of Eli, 2010 (HBO)
Coming February 14
The Lady And The Dale, Documentary Series Finale (HBO)
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, Season 8 Premiere (HBO)
Coming February 15
30 Coins, Season Finale (HBO)
The Batman
Food Wars! The Fourth Plate (Dubbed) (Crunchyroll Collection)
Hot Ones, Season 1
Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President, 2020
Static Shock
Coming February 18
Arthur’s Law (Dubbed), Max Original Series Premiere
Ben 10, Season 4B
It’s a Sin, Max Original Limited Series Premiere
- Set in 1981, Ritchie (Olly Alexander), Roscoe (Omari Douglas) and Colin (Callum Scott Howells) are young lads, strangers at first, leaving home at 18 and heading off to London with hope and ambition and joy… and walking straight into a virus that most of the world ignores.
Coming February 19
The Killer Truth, Season 1
Coming February 20
Argo, 2012 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Jujutsu Kaisen, Season 1 Episodes 1-12 (Dubbed)
Coming February 22
Beartown, Series Premiere (HBO)
- A five-episode limited series from Sweden, explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, the courage it takes for an individual to go against the group and the consequences of how we raise our children.
Coming February 23
Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
Coming February 25
Close Enough, Season 2 Premiere
Coming February 26
Blade Runner 2049, 2017 (HBO)
Lupe, 2021 (HBO)
Painting With John, Season Finale (HBO)
Tom & Jerry, Warner Bros. Film Premiere, 2021
- One of the most beloved rivalries in history is reignited when Jerry moves into New York City’s finest hotel on the eve of “the wedding of the century,” forcing the event’s desperate planner to hire Tom to get rid of him, in director Tim Story’s “Tom & Jerry.” The ensuing cat and mouse battle threatens to destroy her career, the wedding and possibly the hotel itself. But soon, an even bigger problem arises: a diabolically ambitious staffer conspiring against all three of them.
Coming February 27
Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey, 1991 (HBO)
Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure, 1989 (HBO)
How It Really Happened, Season 5
Leaving HBO Max in February
Just like Wonder Woman 1984, Denzel Washington’s The Little Things will be leaving HBO Max after one month of streaming exclusivity. Other notable leaving titles include The Conjuring, Us, and Doctor Sleep. It feels kind of ridiculous to see such films leave since the connections with Warner Bros., but alas these complications come with the sheer nature of the streaming world. Check out what else is leaving HBO Max in February below.
Leaving February 5
Storks, 2016 (HBO)
Leaving February 15
Little, 2019 (HBO)
Leaving February 20
The Conjuring, 2013
Leaving February 22
Us, 2019 (HBO)
Leaving February 28
American Pie, 1999 (HBO)
The Astronaut’s Wife, 1999
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, 2012 (HBO)
Blow-Up, 1966
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, 2005
Chinatown, 1974
Cold Mountain, 2003 (HBO)
Congo, 1995 (HBO)
Cowboys & Aliens, 2011 (Unrated Version) (HBO)
Crazy Rich Asians, 2018
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, 2008 (HBO)
The Descendants, 2011 (HBO)
The Devil Inside, 2012 (HBO)
Dick Tracy, 1990 (HBO)
Doctor Sleep, 2020 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Dolphin Tale, 2011
G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, 2009
Gangs Of New York, 2002 (HBO)
The Good Liar, 2019 (HBO)
Gun Crazy, 1950
Happy Feet Two, 2011 (HBO)
Harriet, 2019 (HBO)
I Think I Love My Wife, 2007 (HBO)
Idiocracy, 2006 (HBO)
Lean On Me, 1989
The Legend Of Bagger Vance, 2000
Life, 1999 (HBO)
The Little Things, 2021
Logan’s Run, 1976
Lola Versus, 2012 (HBO)
Motherless Brooklyn, 2019 (HBO)
Muriel’S Wedding, 1995 (HBO)
The Mustang, 2019 (HBO)
My Dream Is Yours, 1949
The Omega Man, 1971
On Moonlight Bay, 1951
The Sitter, 2011 (Unrated Version) (HBO)
Soldier, 1998
Soylent Green, 1973
Spies Like Us, 1985
Stephen King’s Needful Things, 1993
Tango & Cash, 1989
Teen Witch, 1989 (HBO)
Westworld (Movie), 1973
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, 1971
