3 excellent HBO Max movies to watch this weekend (July 24-26)

Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek Published Jul 25, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Derek Malcolm has been covering the worlds of tech and entertainment for more than two decades. Before coming to How-To Geek in 2025, Derek was a contributing editor and writer for the A/V and Home Theater section at Digital Trends, where he wrangled and wrote everything from what to watch on Netflix to reviews, explainers, and guides on the latest Bluetooth speakers, turntables, projectors, and other A/V gear. Based in Toronto, Derek graduated from Humber College's Journalism program in 1999, after which he started covering the worlds of music, movies, TV, and celebrity for publications such as TV Guide, Hello! magazine, and Inside Entertainment. He then got the bug for covering tech and gadgets in 2006, when he served as editor-in-chief of Canadian tech magazine Connected for more than a decade. An avid skier, when all the snow's gone Derek can be found at home spinning vinyl with his daughter or cheering on his favorite F1 team, McLaren. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Looking for a good movie to throw on this weekend (or into the week, for that matter)? HBO Max isn't just a den for dragons, it also hosts a giant library of great movies, from comedies and thrillers to high drama and documentaries, that it updates every month, with many coming on loan from other studios. We're raiding the catalog this weekend and have plucked a handful we think you'll like, including a swashbuckling '90s adventure, a crime saga with one of cinema's greatest twist endings, a horror to keep you up, and my top pick for the weekend—a Stephen King dystopian nightmare that just keeps walking. 4 The Mummy (1999) Brendan Fraser is the best mummy hunter ever—fight me I don't care what Rotten Tomatoes says (it's got a 64%) about Stephen Sommers' 1999 action-monster remake of the 1932 classic, The Mummy; this '90s blockbuster is pure comfort food, it made an action star out of Brendan Fraser, and sparked several sequels, a prequel, and spinoffs. It's 1926 Egypt, and rugged adventurer Rick O'Connell (Fraser) leads Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) and her thief-of-a-brother, Jonathan (John Hannah), to the fabled City of the Dead, where they accidentally awaken Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), a mummified high priest who needs to sacrifice Evelyn to resurrect his lost love. Locusts are unleashed, darkness falls, and flesh-eating beetles have their feast as Rick and the crew try to put Imhotep back in his sarcophagus. The Mummy Release Date April 16, 1999 Cast Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Patricia Velásquez, Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O'Connor, Jonathan Hyde, Erick Avari, Stephen Dunham, Corey Johnson, Mohammed Afifi, Tuc Watkins, Omid Djalili, Bernard Fox, Aharon Ipalé, Carl Chase, Abderrahim El Aadili, Jake Arnott, Mason Ball, Isobel Brook, James Traherne Burton, Peter Chequer, Porl Smith, Ian Warner Runtime 124 minutes Director Stephen Sommers Writers Stephen Sommers Producers James Jacks, Kevin Jarre Sequel(s) The Mummy Returns, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, The Mummy 4 Franchise(s) The Mummy Main Genre Adventure Executive Producer(s) Kevin Jarre 3 The Usual Suspects This will have you screaming, "Who is Keyser Söze?!" Endlessly parodied and quoted, this 1995 Oscar-winning film has one of the most compelling twist endings of all time. Director Bryan Singer's The Usual Suspects is the story of a group of hardened criminals, Hungarian mobsters, and a ghostly mastermind known as Keyser Söze, who may or may not exist. After a docked ship mysteriously explodes in San Pedro Bay, killing 27 bad people, one of only two survivors, con artist Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey), tells the entire crazy story to U.S. Customs agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) in an L.A. police station. Told in flashbacks, Verbal's story is elaborate, involves drugs and jewels, and includes his crew of five career criminals caught up in it all—including Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), and Hockney (Kevin Pollak). "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist," Verbal tells Kujan of the phantom crime lord at the core of it all. But who is Keyser Söze? Is he the Devil? The Usual Suspects will have you asking the same question. The Usual Suspects Release Date July 19, 1995 Cast Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Suzy Amis, Giancarlo Esposito, Dan Hedaya, Paul Bartel, Carl Bressler, Phillipe Simon, Jack Shearer, Christine Estabrook, Clark Gregg, Morgan Hunter, Ken Daly, Michelle Clunie, Louis Lombardi, Frank Medrano, Ron Gilbert, Vito D'Ambrosio, Gene Lythgow, Bob Elmore Runtime 106 minutes Director Bryan Singer Writers Christopher McQuarrie Producers Michael McDonnell, Bryan Singer Main Genre Crime Budget $6 million Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Executive Producer(s) Art Horan, François Duplat, Hans Brockmann, Robert Jones 2 Hereditary You never know what's lurking in your genes Oh boy, if you haven't seen A24's terrifying Hereditary, which put the company on the horror map (and by all rights should have gotten Toni Collette an Oscar nod), then grab a pillow to hide behind and clear your Saturday night schedule. When Annie Graham's (Collette) estranged mother Ellen dies, grief and disturbing incidents grip the family, which includes her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), teenage son Peter (Alex Wolff), and eccentric daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro). When another unspeakable tragedy happens, it's revealed that something dark and sinister is lurking—a multi-generational demonic curse tied to the kings of Hell, and it's coming for them. Slow-burning dread builds to one of the most upsetting final acts in modern horror. The film's writer/director, Ari Aster, would go on to scare the crap out of more audiences the following year with Midsommar, in 2019. Hereditary Release Date June 8, 2018 Cast Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Zachary Arthur, Gabriel Byrne, Mallory Bechtel, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd Runtime 2h 7m Director Ari Aster Writers Ari Aster Budget 10 million Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 1 The Long Walk Keep walking or die in Stephen King's dystopia Family pets, corn fields, clowns, a luxury mountain hotel, and a '58 Plymouth Fury—just a few of the normal, un-scary things that Stephen King has turned into the most horrifying stories ever. Well great, now we can add walking to that list—thanks, Stephen. The first novel King ever wrote—published in 1979 under his Richard Bachman pseudonym—The Long Walk was just made into a major motion picture in 2025, with director Francis Lawrence bringing the same dystopian feel he perfected on The Hunger Games films. Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your KnowledgeName the Stephen King horror movieTrivia challenge Think you know your King? Identify these chilling films from just a clue or two. HorrorStephen KingMoviesCharactersPlot Twists Begin A group of childhood friends reunite as adults to battle a shape-shifting evil that preys on their deepest fears — and has a particular fondness for a storm drain. Name the film. ASleepwalkersBItCThe MistDNeedful Things Correct! It (2017) is based on King's 1986 novel and follows the Losers' Club as they face Pennywise the Dancing Clown in Derry, Maine. The film was a massive box office hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing horror movies ever made. Not quite — the answer is It (2017). The storm drain is where Pennywise lures young Georgie Denbrough in the unforgettable opening scene. The story was so big it was split into two films, with Chapter Two following the Losers as adults. Continue A telekinetic teenage girl is humiliated at her school prom by a cruel prank, triggering a catastrophic act of revenge on her classmates. Name the film. AChristineBFirestarterCCarrieDThe Dead Zone Correct! Carrie (1976), directed by Brian De Palma, was the very first Stephen King novel to be adapted into a film. Sissy Spacek's haunting performance as Carrie White earned her an Academy Award nomination. Not quite — the answer is Carrie (1976). The infamous prom scene, involving a bucket of pig's blood, is one of horror cinema's most iconic moments. Carrie was King's debut novel, and he reportedly almost threw the manuscript away before his wife rescued it from the trash. Continue A writer checks into a remote, supposedly haunted hotel for the winter to serve as caretaker, only for isolation and supernatural forces to slowly destroy his sanity. Name the film. A1408BThe ShiningCDoctor SleepDBag of Bones Correct! The Shining (1980), directed by Stanley Kubrick, is set at the Overlook Hotel and stars Jack Nicholson in one of horror's most iconic roles. Interestingly, Stephen King himself was famously unhappy with Kubrick's adaptation. Not quite — the answer is The Shining (1980). The Overlook Hotel becomes a prison of the mind for Jack Torrance and his family. Kubrick's film diverges significantly from King's novel, which is why King later approved a more faithful TV miniseries adaptation in 1997. Continue A thick, mysterious mist rolls into a small Maine town, concealing terrifying creatures, while the survivors trapped in a grocery store turn on each other in fear and desperation. Name the film. AItBDreamcatcherCThe MistDChildren of the Corn Correct! The Mist (2007), directed by Frank Darabont, is known for one of the most devastating endings in horror history — an ending that King himself said he wished he'd written. Darabont changed the conclusion from the novella and King fully endorsed it. Not quite — the answer is The Mist (2007). The film explores how quickly fear and religion can turn ordinary people against one another. Director Frank Darabont also adapted King's The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Continue An obsessive fan rescues her favorite author from a car crash, takes him captive in her remote home, and forces him to rewrite the ending of his latest novel — to her exact specifications. Name the film. ASecret WindowBMiseryCDolores ClaiborneDGerald's Game Correct! Misery (1990) stars Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes, a role that won her the Academy Award for Best Actress — the first horror performance ever to win that award. James Caan plays the captive writer Paul Sheldon. Not quite — the answer is Misery (1990). Annie Wilkes is widely regarded as one of cinema's greatest villains. The infamous 'hobbling' scene is one of the most cringe-inducing moments in horror history, and King based the story partly on his own struggles with addiction. Continue A family moves to a rural Maine home near a burial ground with ancient and terrifying power — one that can bring the dead back to life, but not quite as they were before. Name the film. AThinnerBPet SemataryCGraveyard ShiftDNeedful Things Correct! Pet Sematary (1989) is based on one of King's most disturbing novels, which he reportedly locked in a drawer because it scared even him. The 2019 remake updated the story with a shocking early twist that divided fans. Not quite — the answer is Pet Sematary (1989). The story explores grief, denial, and the terrifying consequences of defying death. King has said this is the one book he wrote that truly frightened him, particularly because of how it centers on the loss of a child. Continue A vintage 1958 Plymouth Fury becomes possessed by a malevolent force, developing a jealous obsession with its teenage owner and wreaking violent revenge on anyone who gets in the way. Name the film. AMaximum OverdriveBTrucksCChristineDFrom a Buick 8 Correct! Christine (1983) was directed by John Carpenter and is based on King's novel of the same name. The film is notable for its eerie practical effects showing the car repairing itself after being damaged — achieved by filming the car being crushed and then playing it in reverse. Not quite — the answer is Christine (1983). The self-repairing car effect is one of the film's most memorable moments, achieved through clever in-camera tricks rather than CGI. John Carpenter delivered a sleek, stylish adaptation that remains a cult favorite. Continue A woman is left handcuffed to a bed in a remote lakeside cabin after her husband dies of a heart attack during a fantasy roleplay — and as night falls, she may not be alone. Name the film. AMiseryBRose RedC1408DGerald's Game Correct! Gerald's Game (2017) is a Netflix original directed by Mike Flanagan, who has become one of the foremost adapters of King's work. The film stars Carla Gugino in a tour-de-force performance, much of it filmed entirely on a bed. Not quite — the answer is Gerald's Game (2017). Director Mike Flanagan expertly translated what many considered an 'unadaptable' novel into a gripping psychological horror film. Flanagan went on to adapt King's Doctor Sleep and the beloved series The Haunting of Hill House. See My Score Challenge CompleteYour Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again The story takes place in a broken, dystopian version of 1970s America, where each year 50 teenage boys enter a competition where the only rule is to keep walking, and the last man standing wins untold riches. Walk any slower than three miles per hour, though, and three warnings later, you're shot on the spot. Mark Hamill stars as the ruthless, barking "The Major" presiding over the walkers who form bonds along the way. It's a thrill ride with an 88% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Long Walk Release Date September 12, 2025 Cast Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Joshua Odjick, Keenan Lehmann, Marina Stephenson Kerr, Noah de Mel, Teagan Stark, Daymon Wrightly, Maricar Faderon, Toni Reimer, Athena Barten Runtime 108 Minutes Director Francis Lawrence Writers JT Mollner, Stephen King Producers Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Francis Lawrence, Cameron MacConomy Main Genre Horror Characters By Stephen King Based On The Long Walk by Stephen King Executive Producer(s) Andrew Childs, K. Blaine Johnston, Stephen King, Mika Saito, Christopher Woodrow Solid movie night picks From tomb-raiding to a brisk walk-turned-terrifying, that's a movie weekend with range. Once you've recovered, How-To Geek's other streaming roundups are happy to help refill your watchlist. Subscription with ads Yes, $10.99/month Simultaneous streams 2 or 4 HBO Max is a subscription-based streaming service offering content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, and more. In 2025, the service re-branded itself as HBO Max after having previously cut "HBO" from its name. Live TV Live sports available in Standard and Premium plans Price Starting at $10.99/month or $109.99/year