There are plenty of Halloween titles joining Max (originally HBO Max) this October. From theScreamfranchise toBeetlejuice, there are many films landing on the platform that are perfect for this time of year. In addition to these horror picks,Season 2 ofThe Gilded AgeandOur Flag Means Deathwill also arrive on Max this month. However, as new content is added to the streaming platform, other notorious films and TV shows have to go.
FromIttoBelfast,here are a few must-sees to remember before they leave the platform at the end of this month.
RELATED:What’s New on Max in October 2023
‘Blue Velvet’ (1986)
Leaving on:October 31|Director:David Lynch
Cast:Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern
If twisted thrillers are your cup of tea, thisDavid Lynchtitle is a must-see. It is wild, violent, and clever, featuring youngLaura DernandIsabella Rosselliniin roles they will forever be remembered for. InBlue Velvet, Jeffrey Beaumont (played byKyle MacLachlan) returns to his hometown after his father has a stroke. One day he spots a human ear lying in a field and decides to investigate it alongside a police officer’s daughter (Dern). As the two begin to connect the dots about the case, Beaumont suspects that lounge singer Dorothy Vallens (Rossellini) might have something to do with the crime. Although Vallens is the primary suspect on the protagonist’s radar, he slowly becomes engulfed in her obscure world.
Watch on Max
‘Alpha Dog’ (2006)
Leaving on:October 31 |Director:Nick Cassavetes
Cast:Justin Timberlake, Anton Yelchin, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried
This star-studded film is based on the real-life case of Jesse James Hollywood. Directed byNick Cassavetes,Alpha Dogfollows 15-year-old Zach Mazursky (Anton Yelchin) kidnapped by a drug dealer (Johnny Truelove played byEmile Hesch) after the boy’s older brother fails to pay back his debt. While Mazursky is being held hostage, he befriends the dealer’s accomplice (Frankie played byJustin Timberlake) and soon becomes the life of the party. Yet, things start to go south once the police get involved. Although this film features a bunch of teenagers with no moral compass (theEuphoriaof the mid-2000s), it manages to keep viewers guessing until the very end.
‘Belfast’ (2021)
Leaving on:October 31|Director:Kenneth Branagh
Cast:Jude Hill, Lewis McAskie, Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan
A heartfelt outlook at a tumultuous moment for Northern Ireland,BelfastisKenneth Branagh’s most personal project to date. Based on the director’s childhood, the film focuses on The Troubles through the perspective of a little boy named Buddy (played byJude Hill). As the conflict intensifies for Buddy and his family, who are Ulster Protestants, the thought of leaving Belfast becomes more and more present. Primarily shot in black-and-white, this film received a lot of praise in 2021 as well as seven Academy Award nominations.
‘It’ (2017)
Leaving on:October 31|Director:Andrés Muschietti
Cast:Bill Skarsgård, Sophia Lillis, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard
It is almost Halloween, so it would be impossible to disregard a horror title from this list. The 2017 adaptation ofStephen King’s best-selling novel became an instant spooky season classic ever since its release. The film follows a group of kids known as The Losers Club as they attempt to destroy Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), a clown-like monster that preys on children in their community. In case you are looking to watch the film’s sequel, it is important to point out thatIt Chapter Twowill also leave Max on October 31.
‘Raging Bull’ (1980)
Leaving on:October 31|Director:Martin Scorsese
Cast:Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent
Martin ScorseseandRobert De Niroare a match made in cinematic heaven, andRaging Bullis only one of the many examples of their notable partnership. The sports drama follows Jake LaMotta (De Niro), a skilled boxer with an unbalanced personal life. The more he is drawn to the fights in the ring, the more he becomes a reprehensible character that drives his family and loved ones away. With an excellent cast and thrilling fight sequences, this film is technically impeccable and a title worth adding to the watch list before it is off Max.
‘13 Going 30’ (2004)
Leaving on:October 31|Director:Gary Winick
Cast:Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Christa B. Allen, Judy Greer
Most picks on this list go to dark places, but if you are looking for a feel-good, this rom-com is exactly what you need. It is centered on Jenna Rink (played by bothChrista B. AllenandJennifer Garner), a 13-year-old whose wish to turn 30 comes true overnight. Although the protagonist always wanted to grow up and become the editor of her favorite fashion magazine, Jenna finds that adult life is much harder than she anticipated. As she tries to adjust to her age and the challenges that come with it, the character learns to be bold and value the right people. This isn’t a super original storyline, but it is iconic nonetheless. The “Thriller” sequence and Garner’s on-screen chemistry withMark Ruffalowill forever be a staple in pop culture.
RELATED:This ‘It’ Deleted Scene Would’ve Shown Pennywise’s Horrifying Origin Story
‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (1986)
Leaving on:October 31|Director:Frank Oz
Cast:Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin, Christopher Guest
Yes, a remake ofLittle Shop of Horrorsis currently in the works, so this means that there isn’t a better time to watch the OG film than before the upcoming adaptation comes out. The horror musical is about a nerdy florist named Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis) who finds a carnivorous plant that quickly becomes the talk of the town. Although the plant is attracting a lot of clients to the shop, there is a price to pay to keep it alive given its thirst for human flesh and blood. With quirky musical numbers here and there, this might be a go-to Halloween pick for those who hate jump scares.
