{"id":189732,"date":"2025-08-29T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/29\/3-underrated-hbo-max-movies-to-watch-this-weekend-august-29-31\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T09:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T09:30:00","slug":"3-underrated-hbo-max-movies-to-watch-this-weekend-august-29-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/29\/3-underrated-hbo-max-movies-to-watch-this-weekend-august-29-31\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Underrated HBO Max Movies to Watch This Weekend (August 29-31)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It\u2019s not technically the end of summer, but it sure does feel like it. If you\u2019re feeling bummed out, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/media-network\/hbo-max\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HBO Max<\/a> is just the ticket to chase those blues away.<\/p>\n<p>The streamer has tons of films to watch, but these three underrated movies are certain to take your mind off school or work.<\/p>\n<p>Take a trip to the stars with the sci-fi horror prequel <em>Alien: Covenant<\/em>, or watch <strong>Jessica Lange<\/strong> give one of the best performances of her illustrious career in <em>The Great Lillian Hall<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re still craving some star power, watch a young <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/tom-hardy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Tom Hardy<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>Benedict Cumberbatch<\/strong> in the compelling real-life drama, <em>Stuart: A Life Backwards<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3>\u2018Alien: Covenant\u2019 (2017)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Alien: Covenant | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/svnAD0TApb8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The modern <em>Alien<\/em> movies are divisive. Some people love <em>Prometheus<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/ridley-scott-calls-gladiator-2-the-biggest-movie-of-his-career\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ridley Scott<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s return to the sci-fi franchise that made him famous, while others were cool to its esoteric approach to a series known for extreme violence. The follow-up, <em>Alien: Covenant<\/em>, is even more contentious \u2014 while it gave fans the blood and guts they wanted, most were still unsatisfied with its depiction of the famous Xenomorphs. But if you strip <em>Alien: Covenant<\/em> of all its lore and expectations, it works as a B-grade sci-fi flick.<\/p>\n<p>Set 10 years after the events of <em>Prometheus<\/em>, <em>Covenant<\/em> focuses on a new crew of space colonists who detect a weak distress call from a nearby planet. They soon encounter the android David (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/michael-fassbender\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Michael Fassbender<\/strong><\/a>), the sole survivor from the previous film, who warns them of dangerous, mutating creatures lurking on the planet\u2019s surface. But one of the colonists, Daniels (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/harry-potter-spinoff-fantastic-beasts-casts-katherine-waterston-2015156\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Katherine Waterston<\/strong><\/a>), doesn\u2019t quite trust David and believes he might be more of a threat than the facehuggers that are eager to breed more Xenomorphs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbomax.com\/movies\/alien-covenant\/7cb8cee4-2637-4dcb-a7c4-8b9d3f31f227\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Alien: Covenant<\/em> is streaming on HBO Max.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>\u2018The Great Lillian Hall\u2019 (2024)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Great Lillian Hall | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3EZyqr0kDtM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Lillian Hall (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/jessica-lange\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Jessica Lange<\/strong><\/a>) is a famous Broadway actress rehearsing for her next, sure-to-be-hit play when she experiences moments of confusion that cause her to forget her lines. At first, she thinks it\u2019s because of the stress of preparing for the play\u2019s highly anticipated opening night, but she soon finds out these are symptoms of something more serious and irreversible. As Lillian struggles to deal with the reality of living with dementia, she\u2019s determined to finish one last play before she retires from the stage.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Great Lillian Hall<\/em> works best as a vehicle for two tour-de-force performances from a pair of the finest American actresses working today. As Lillian, Lange fully embodies her character\u2019s strength and unwillingness to deal with an inevitable truth \u2014 she\u2019ll have to give up the one thing she truly loves more than anything else. As Lillian\u2019s confidante, Edith, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/kathy-bates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kathy Bates<\/strong><\/a> plays a woman who wants to help her longtime friend even if it means turning a blind eye to some of Lillian\u2019s problems. Both create portraits of two women who share a long history and know that their time together is about to end.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbomax.com\/movies\/great-lillian-hall\/b18a74bc-c43a-4985-8a16-07f95ede581d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Great Lillian Hall<\/em> is streaming on HBO Max.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>\u2018Stuart: A Life Backwards\u2019 (2007)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"HBO Signature Films: Stuart: A Life Backwards Trailer (HBO)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QhG_WImjnjM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tom Hardy<\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/benedict-cumberbatch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Benedict Cumberbatch<\/strong><\/a> are bonafide stars thanks to their work in blockbuster comic book movies like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/venom-review-10-burning-questions-about-falls-most-bizarre-movie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Venom<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/the-amazing-avengers-end-game-gets-4-stars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Avengers: Endgame<\/em><\/a>. But in 2007, they were still relatively unknown British actors struggling to break through. They both achieved international notice for <em>Stuart: A Life Backwards<\/em>, a television dramatization of the award-winning play of the same name.<\/p>\n<div id=\"news-block\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form  \">\n<div class=\"newsletter-signup__success\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<h3>Thank You!<\/h3>\n<p>You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Hardy stars as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2006\/sep\/10\/familyandrelationships.socialexclusion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Stuart Shorter<\/strong>, a real-life figure<\/a> who grew up in an abusive household before living most of his young adult life on the streets. Saved from a life of destitution by two outreach workers, Stuart becomes an advocate for the homeless in England during the \u201890s before his mysterious death in 2002.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-movies-on-hbo-and-max-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-movies-on-hbo-and-max-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">28 Must-Watch Movies on HBO Max to Stream Right Now (August 2025)<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tScary movies are the order of the month for HBO Max. Rather than waiting for Halloween, two horror movies are making a big splash. Final Destination Bloodlines is currently No. 1 on HBO Max after an impressive run in theaters earlier this year. Alien: Covenant\u2018s resurgence on HBO Max is more of a surprise, but [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Cumberbatch stars as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/books\/2017\/feb\/04\/biographies-alexander-masters-stuart-a-life-backwards-discarded\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Alexander Masters<\/strong>, Shorter\u2019s friend and biographer<\/a>, and his scenes with Hardy form the backbone of the movie. Their contrasting acting styles, with Hardy going full Method to accurately portray the disabled and mentally unstable Stuart and Cumberbatch fully embodying the brainy Alex, are fascinating to watch and give the film a vibrant urgency that makes it hypnotic to watch.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbomax.com\/movies\/stuart-a-life-backwards\/9070a0c1-4670-43d7-a49c-f8e5af04b99a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Stuart: A Life Backwards<\/em> is streaming on HBO Max.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/3-underrated-hbo-max-movies-to-watch-this-weekend-august-29-31-25\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s not technically the end of summer, but it sure does feel like it. If you\u2019re feeling bummed out, HBO Max is just the ticket to chase those blues away. The streamer has tons of films to watch, but these three underrated movies are certain to take your mind off school or work. Take a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":189735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-189732","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/189735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=189732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=189732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}