Best Movies On HBO Max In November 2026, Including Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Published Nov 1, 2026, 1:46 PM EST Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more. Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics." HBO Max will see the arrival of many exciting movies of different genres throughout November, and quite a few of them have already landed on the streaming service on the new month's first day. HBO Max subscribers can look forward to sci-fi releases from major franchises, superhero movies of different natures, classic comedies, and many more on the streamer this month. Choose the movie with the higher Rotten Tomatoes score. Sure, HBO Max's new arrivals in November also include several TV shows, such as The Gilded Age season 4, but when it comes to the streamer's movie division, the diverse menu of options is one that instantly jumps to the eye. This stacked list includes major franchises, both with classic movies and more recent releases, and standalone offerings that come as a must-watch on the streamer for different reasons. Here are the best movies to watch on HBO Max in November 2026: 15 Dune (1984) - November 1 With Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three ending his trilogy, this early attempt at depicting the dense world and story of one of the best sci-fi franchises ever becomes the perfect companion on HBO Max. 1984's Dune might not be as grand or awe-inspiring as Villeneuve's space operas. However, David Lynch's sci-fi movie comes with the director's unique surrealist visual style, allowing fans to get a different experience from Arrakis. It also features Patrick Stewart as Gurney, making it a fitting watch in November to remember the late actor. 14 The First Purge - November 1 The Purge is a dystopian horror franchise that has become a major sensation in recent years. In this world, all crimes are decriminalized for a 12-hour period annually, allowing Americans to release all their aggression and leading to lower crime rates over the rest of the year. As its title suggests, The First Purge focuses on the test event that would lead to the annual Purge becoming common practice in this version of the United States. 13 Happy Feet - November 1 Director George Miller's career has multitudes. From the gritty action of the Mad Max sci-fi franchise to the heartwarming story of a lonely penguin trying to fit in with his peers in Happy Feet, the director has done it all. Happy Feet comes with vibrant animation, a charismatic main character, and an emotional adventure. Happy Feet's cast is also stacked, featuring names like Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, and more. 12 Jerry Maguire - November 1 After Digger turned out to be a major box office bomb, Tom Cruise fans can bounce back on HBO Max in November with the arrival of Jerry Maguire. The sports movie sees the actor play the title sports agent, balancing the growing romance between him and Renée Zellweger's Dorothy Boyd, and what it takes to get a new agency off the ground. Jerry Maguire has many iconic scenes and quotes. 11 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - November 1 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the second movie in the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard Jurassic World trilogy. It is also the modern dinosaur franchise's scariest entry, so for those who want plenty of suspense and a horror tinge to their dinosaur stories, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom offers just that, while also keeping the action-packed tone of the first Jurassic World trilogy. The sci-fi movie presents some intriguing ideas about cloning. 10 Project X - November 1 Project X is the new November arrival on HBO Max for those who want to kick back and relax with a wild blast of a movie on the streamer. Project X is a comedy that follows three teenagers trying to throw a party to become popular, only for the event to rapidly grow to an enormous proportion, and they completely lose control. Project X is full of surprises, including Miles Teller as a fictionalized version of himself. 9 Rise of the Guardians - November 1 Rise of the Guardians is a gorgeous animated fantasy movie. It tells the story of Chris Pine's Jack Frost, the Spirit of Winter, who gets recruited by a team, the Guardians, to stop Jude Law's evil Pitch Black, who wants darkness to corrupt the world and erase any trace of the Guardians in children's imagination. The movie also features Alec Baldwin as Santa Claus, Isla Fisher as the Tooth Fairy, and Hugh Jackman as the Easter Bunny. 8 Scream (1996) - November 1 The first Scream movie arrives on HBO Max a day after Halloween, but it still fits in with the celebration of horror. Scream birthed one of the most iconic movie franchises of all time, contributing a lot to the slasher genre. There are some surprising twists, iconic characters, and bloody deaths in this first chapter of the franchise. With the Scream franchise set to return after the success of 2026's Scream 7, rewatching the original prepares for what is next. 7 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - November 1 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is Guy Ritchie's second entry in an action-oriented take on the most popular detective in fiction. It is brimming with the director's signature visual flair, fast-paced action, snappy dialogue, and more. Robert Downey Jr. is magnetic as Sherlock Holmes, and A Game of Shadows is an exciting movie to entertain fans of the actor while waiting for December's Avengers: Doomsday. Jude Law is by Sherlock's side as John Watson, with the duo stopping Jared Harris' Moriarty throughout Europe. 6 The Wolverine - November 1 Another Jackman movie arriving on HBO Max in November is The Wolverine. The Marvel movie was developed by Fox as the second entry in Wolverine's solo trilogy. It takes the character to a new location, Japan, exploring Wolverine's past as he reunites with an old friend whom he had saved during World War II. The Wolverine is dark, violent, and also sees Logan wrestling with his grief over the death of Famke Janssen's Jean Grey in X-Men: The Last Stand.