On the lookout for the next HBO Max must-watch movies to add to your list? If you’d rather skip the scrolling and get to streaming, why not let the critics do some of the legwork for you in narrowing down what to watch?
Just like all the best streaming services, HBO adds a fresh batch of movies every month, but only a few gems pass that coveted 90% Rotten Tomatoes threshold. While a high score on a review aggregator doesn’t guarantee you’ll love a film, it’s usually a solid sign that most critics found something to appreciate.
This month, HBO Max has added another batch of well-loved features, including iconic slasher films, modern horror blockbusters, and a few non-scary critical darlings that’ll have you reaching for the tissues. Here are the five new to HBO Max movies with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes you should stream in October 2025.
‘Pearl’ (2022)
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Let’s kick things off with one of my favorite horror movies of all time. If you liked the twisted mother-daughter story at the heart of this year’s “Bring Her Back,” “Pearl” should be next on your watchlist. While technically the middle chapter of Ti West’s “X” horror trilogy, it still works flawlessly as a standalone watch (though there are some fun callbacks to “X” I noticed upon rewatch).
This unsettling psychological horror is an instant classic thanks to a career-defining performance by Mia Goth. She stars as Pearl, a young woman desperate to chase her dreams in Hollywood but trapped on an isolated farm under the suffocating control of her mother (Tandi Wright) while her husband is away fighting in WWI.
Her ticket to freedom comes when her wealthy sister-in-law (Emma Jenkins-Purro) tells her there’s a troupe in town auditioning new dancers to take on the road. But when her big break starts to slip through her fingers, something in Pearl snaps. Her descent into madness is equal parts captivating and terrifying to watch, and Goth’s raw talent culminates in a haunting monologue that I routinely point to as one of the best moments in modern horror movies to date.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Watch “Pearl” on HBO Max now
‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’ (2022)
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Let’s take a hard turn for a second to highlight something less scary and more heart-warming — but still another one of my favorite movies of all time. Based on a series of viral YouTube shorts from the early 2010s, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is a mockumentary that follows the adventures of Marcel: a one-inch-tall, anthropomorphic seashell (voiced by Jenny Slate).
Our window into Marcel’s bite-sized world is Dean (played by director Dean Fleischer Camp), a filmmaker who moves into the Airbnb that Marcel and his grandmother, Nana Connie (Isabella Rossellini), call home. Captivated by Marcel’s charm, Dean begins documenting his life and whimsical, often unexpectedly profound outlook on the world. The duo set out on a journey to find Marcel’s long-lost family. Despite the initially light and breezy tone, this is one film that isn’t afraid to dive into weightier themes like handling grief and finding a sense of belonging. Keep some tissues handy.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Watch “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” on HBO Max now
‘Drag Me to Hell’ (2009)
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I slept on “Drag Me” to hell back when it came out (I saw the fly going up some girl’s nose in the trailer and said, “Nope!”), but when I finally sat down and watched it a few years ago, I was mad that it took me so long. “Drag Me to Hell” plays like a twisted modern fable, exploring the dire consequences of selfish choices made for all the wrong reasons.
At its center is Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a loan officer at a Los Angeles bank who, to try to outshine a rival for a promotion, denies an elderly woman (Lorna Raver) an extension on her mortgage. That calculated career move sends Christine careening into a living nightmare when the woman puts a powerful curse on her, condemning her to days of torment before she’s dragged into hell. As her reality unravels, she turns to a psychic in a desperate attempt to break the curse before time runs out.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Watch “Drag Me to Hell” on HBO Max now
‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984)
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I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect Wes Craven’s iconic horror classic to make the cut for this list. I’m a huge fan, but horror movies don’t tend to earn high marks among critics. The original “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is the rare exception, though “Freddy Vs. Jason” still comes out on top in my book. The OG still holds its place in the horror movie pantheon, as does its legendary villain, Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), who easily ranks alongside Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees as one of the most iconic figures in horror history.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” follows a group of teenagers who begin to see a mysterious disfigured man who turns their dreams into nightmares. After one teen meets a gruesome end, Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) narrowly escapes a similar fate and is terrified to realize that she must stay awake if she wants to survive. You won’t have any trouble staying awake during this one. If anything, you’ll have trouble falling asleep after with that haunting nursery rhyme stuck in your head: “one, two, Freddy’s comin’ for you.”
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Watch “A Nightmare on Elm Street” on HBO Max now
‘Sorry, Baby’ (2025)
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Let’s end on another non-scary entry. Eva Victor’s feature debut “Sorry, Baby” is a dark comedy-drama that, as Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus puts it, “triumphantly announces writer-director and star Eva Victor as a formidable talent.” This acclaimed A24 film stars Victor as Agnes, a literature professor grappling with trauma after being sexually assaulted.
When a close friend visits with life-changing news, Agnes is forced to confront how frozen she’s been for the past three years. She begins the difficult process of moving forward, but healing ain’t always pretty. Life is absurd and complicated, and so are people, something “Sorry, Baby” puts center stage with unflinching humor and tenderness.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Watch “Sorry, Baby” on HBO Max from October 30
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