Last Updated: May 8th

In addition to being America’s most trusted source of Carnivale episodes, HBO Go/HBO Now has a lovely collection of movies available ranging trashy action thrills to elegant period pieces to star-studded comedies. Here are the 20 best movies on HBO Go/HBO Now that you could and should be watching right now.

Related: The 30 Best Movies On Netflix Right Now, Ranked

Girls Trip (2017)

Girls Trip is that rare, raucous female comedy that manages to pair brilliant comedic performances with a nuanced, and heartfelt story. The premise of the Film rests with four women who became close in college but drifted apart as the years wore on, reuniting for one hell of a good time in New Orleans. Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and a scene-stealing Tiffany Haddish wade through cheating husbands, wild parties, and plenty of friendship drama while living it up in the Big Easy. And yes, that grapefruit scene is as side-splitting as everyone says.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

This spy thriller is set in Cold War Era Berlin and sees Charlize Theron playing a badass spy tasked with retrieving a sensitive information. Theron’s MI-6 agent Lorraine Broughton is brought in to investigate the death of her former partner and to deliver a list of double agents to her bosses in London. Of course, things aren’t what they seem, and Lorraine must take plenty of punches and shed a bit of blood in the name of God and country.

The Beguiled (2017)

The only thing better than Sofia Coppola giving us a dreamy, lush interpretation of a school of Southern Belles during the Civil War is Coppola making those Southern Belles scheming, resilient women who aren’t afraid to get their hands bloody. Nicole Kidman plays the headmistress of an all-girls school in Virginia that’s been mostly abandoned during the war save for a few students and a fellow teacher. When Colin Farrell shows up as a wounded Union Army deserter, the women take him in and things spiral quickly from there.

Gifted (2017)

Chris Evans stars in this family drama about a washed-up college professor forced to start his life over again and care for his gifted niece after the death of his sister. It’s nice to see Evan out of the spandex suit for once and this role is a good reminder that the guy can actually act. Octavia Spencer and Jenny Slate also star, but the real stand-out is young McKenna Grace, who plays seven-year-old Einstein Mary Adler – a brilliant and misunderstood young girl at the center of an ugly custody battle that has less to do with her and more to do with her mother’s mathematical legacy.

Ice Age (2002)

Sure, this is an animated film franchise that probably stayed past its welcome, but the original film was the interspecies buddy comedy we never knew we needed. With Ray Romano playing a grumpy woolly mammoth named Manny, who reluctantly teams up with a hapless giant ground sloth named Sid (John Leguizamo) and a tough sabretooth named Diego (Denis Leary), the film took us on a prehistoric journey as the three heroes sacrificed themselves in order to save a human baby. Just recapping the film is bringing on the feels.

A United Kingdom (2016)

British filmmaker Amma Asante has already proven she can capably handle historical dramas. Her first project, Belle, opened to critical acclaim for its efforts to show the struggle a young biracial woman endured living in 1800s Era England. A United Kingdom follows a similar path, with David Oyelowo playing Seretse Khama, heir to the throne of Bechuanaland, a small African nation rich in resources that has been under British rule for too long. As Seretse pursues an education in London he meets Ruth (Rosamund Pike), a working-class girl who falls in love with his charm and marries him, despite enormous opposition from her family, her government, and the people of Bechuanaland.

Orphan (2009)

We’re not saying all orphans are inherently evil, but young Russian ones named Esther who hail from insane asylums and murder entire families definitely are. Orphan stars Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther, a nine-year-old orphan adopted by Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) after the death of their third child. Esther bonds with the couple’s mute daughter, Max, but makes an enemy of their 12-year-old son Daniel and soon, she begins exhibiting strange behavior that slowly tears the family apart. The twist at the end of this is one you won’t see coming,zoo but it makks the whole origin story of Esther even more creepy.

Lady Macbeth (2016)

This British drama starring relative newcomer Florence Pugh chronicles a young woman’s murderous attempts to gain her freedom. Pugh plays Katherine, a beautiful bride married to a man twice her age and forced to endure a strict and stifling life with her husband and father-in-law. When she begins an affair with a field hand, Katherine proves she’ll go to bloody lengths to win her independence. This is less a love story and more of a cautionary tale to 1800’s Era men: the quiet ones are the most dangerous.

The Sandlot (1993)

If you grew up in the ’90s, then you’re probably already familiar with this coming-of-age film that follows a group of baseball-loving neighborhood boys who bond over the summer thanks to the sport and a neighborhood legend. The movie follows new-kind-in-town Scotty Smalls who joins the baseball league despite his lack of skill and becomes friends with Benny, the most talented player on the team. When Scott loses his stepfather prized baseball (signed by Babe Ruth) to a savage backyard dog named The Beast, the kids have to find the courage to retrieve the memento before Scott’s parents find out.

The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)

This 2017 war drama from filmmaker Niki Caro is based on a book, which is based on a true story of a Polish family who risked everything to help their Jewish neighbors escape the Nazis during World War II. Jessica Chastain stars as Antonina Zabinski, a mother and wife who helps her husband run the Warsaw Zoo. Antonina is more comfortable around animals than she is people, but that doesn’t stop her from smuggling hundreds of Jews to safety after the family’s Zoo is destroyed in an air raid and Nazi’s set up shop on the grounds. The film is full of tension and a thrilling kind of dread as Antonina risks more and more to save the people she comes to love.

Die Hard (1988)

The 1988 John McClane action masterpiece that spawned countless imitators more than holds up thirty years on, which explains Die Hard being tapped for preservation in the National Film Registry. Bruce Willis is armed with quips and thrilling sequences as one man fighting insurmountable odds in a Los Angeles skyscraper that’s been taken over by Alan Rickman’s genius baddie Hans Gruber. Laughs, gasps and Carl Winslow await. Welcome to the party, pal.

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

Hitman extraordinaire John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is forced to come out of retirement and that’s lovely news for fans of heart-stopping fight sequences. Miserable news for Wick’s enemies, though. A down and dirty sequel with inventive violence and an adrenaline injection plunged in the viewer’s heart, Chapter 2 amps up all the things that made the original such a welcome surprise. (Except for that dealbreaker dog lovers had with the first go-around.) John Wick: Chapter 2 is pretty to look at, funny and damn brutal.

Split (2017)

M. Night Shyamalan’s cinematic batting average isn’t exactly pristine, but he’s been acing the creepy thrill ride lately with The Visit and Split. The latter is a delightfully uncomfortable picture that has James McAvoy as a live wire of a man with more personalities than the Real Housewives roster and Anya Taylor-Joy attempting to escape his clutches. If you enjoy your thrillers taut and with the performers themselves as the special effects, Split should please your twisted little heart.

Logan (2017)

Hugh Jackman bids goodbye to his furry Canadian alter-ego in this hard-R box office smash that offers up a grizzled late period take on Wolverine with a lovely mix of emotional gravitas and the appeal of a dude clawing up the brains of bad guys and ne’er-do-wells alike. Dafne Keen shines as the mysterious young girl that’s found herself in Logan’s life and Patrick Stewart returns as the least cuddly version of Professor Charles Xavier yet. Critics and fans alike are pretty sweet on this different brand of superhero movie.

Behind The Candelabra (2013)

It’d be rude for a Liberace-focused film not to be showered in sparkly awards upon release, don’t you think? Steven Soderbergh’s HBO Films take on Scott Thorson’s memoir Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace earned Emmys galore for its blend of effective drama and dark comedy. Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, and Scott Bakula all scored well-deserved praise and trophies for their work in this gripping (and appropriately stylish) drama that will have you scrambling down many a Wikipedia rabbit hole after.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Embraced by critics and filmgoers alike, Wonder Woman is living, breathing, ass-kicking proof that the DCEU is capable of providing superhero fare that doesn’t have to lead to shouty arguments over a Rotten Tomatoes score. Gal Gadot stars as Diana Prince (the titular woman of wonder) in Patty Jenkins’ exhilarating comic book motion picture set during World War I. Leaning into charm and fun alongside scenes of villain thumping, Wonder Woman sees our heroine as something too special not to stand out in her surroundings and the film is all the more captivating for it.

Storks (2016)

For all the fanfare surrounding Seth Rogen knocking out an R-rated animated comedy about food-f*cking, fellow Apatow pal and comedy filmmaker Nicholas Stoller crafted his own cartoon comedy actually aimed at tots and it was pretty darn good. Stoller, who helmed Neighbors and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, wrote and co-directed this kids comedy that presents a world where storks deliver babies and packages. Andy Samberg voices a stork who’s rising high in the stork delivery, world which should give you an idea of how goofy (in the best possible way) this Warner Bros. animated offering is. A loaded voice cast roster with Katie Crown, Key & Peele, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell and Kelsey Grammar bring the jokes to life.

Mommy Dead And Dearest (2017)

Erin Lee Carr’s spellbinding crime doc Mommy Dead and Dearest plunges into the bizarre and absorbing true story surrounding the murder of Dee Dee Blancharde. It’s an absorbing, strange and disturbing watch that doles out enough jawdropping moments in 83 minutes to put full seasons of TV to shame. Sundance hopefuls would have a field day with the visuals in this documentary if they were to try and adapt this stranger-than-fiction tale of manipulation, murder and motherhood.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Sometimes in life, you just want to see a humongous ape tear sh*t up. Kong: Skull Island promised an orgy of Kong smashiness and did not disappoint with a finished product that’s more akin to a thrill ride than a movie proper. Come for the outrageous spectacle, stick around for John C. Reilly’s incredible performance as stranded U.S. Army Air Forces lieutenant Hank Marlow.

Temple Grandin (2010)

Inspirational without being self-congratulatory or condescending, Mick Jackson’s Temple Grandin places Claire Danes in the role of the real-life title character as she develops into a voice in animal science that cannot be ignored. A world that’s unaccommodating to autism and women in the ranching industry does not make things easy for Grandin and Danes portrays her with detail, intelligence and heart. Bonus points awarded for having the courage to include comedy and taking the effort to make something with warmth. You don’t get that too often in movies featuring the inner workings of slaughterhouses.

Hidden Figures (2016)

Theodore Melfi’s 2016 biographical drama focusing on three black women and their essential contributions to the Space Race was an absolute smash at the box office and with leads like Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae it’s not hard to understand why. It’s an unapologetically sentimental film that inspires, especially with a trio as lovable as Henson, Spencer and Monae.

Get Out (2017)

Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor, Get Out proved a smash with critics and filmgoers alike when Jordan Peele’s filmmaking debut hit theaters in 2017. A horror film with a stellar cast (led by Daniel Kaluuya), razor-sharp social commentary and chills galore, don’t be fooled by the “comedy” category branding of the Golden Globes. Get Out may have its funny bits, but it isn’t here to make you giggle. It’s unflinching art and will also f*ck up your ability to listen to tea being stirred for roughly the next 50 years or so.

Real Women Have Curves (2002)

Living up to the immense hype it earned at Sundance that year, Real Women Have Curves is a coming-of-age tale that balances drama and comedy while shining a spotlight on the acting skills of future Superstore star America Ferrera. (The film marked the actress’s cinematic debut.) Ferrera plays Ana García, a young Mexican-American woman navigating cultural, societal and familial expectations in Los Angeles as she works toward her goal of heading to college. Smart, dignified and occasionally bittersweet, Real Women Have Curves is a movie unafraid of its warmth and humanity.

Back To The Future (1985)

Who knew working overtime to make sure your parents get together could be such a treasured family adventure? Robert Zemeckis’ classic sci-fi comedy Back to the Future is still held in high esteem decades on thanks in part to the endearing team of plucky everyteen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and delightful lunatic scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). The sheer joy and adventure packed into this trip to the ‘50s via the ‘80s still resonates today. Your mileage may vary on the sequels which are also cozily nestled into the HBO Go library.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Royal Tenenbaums may have inspired too many twee imitators, but don’t let that put you off this stylish Wes Anderson dramedy dealing with an estranged family burdened by unfulfilled potential, raw emotional nerves, and the return of its brash patriarch. Gene Hackman’s performance as Royal Tenenbaum is genius and exists alongside a bounty of incredible turns from an all-star cast that also includes Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson.

The Purge: Election Year (2016)

Blessed be the New Founding Fathers for giving us the latest entry into The Purge franchise which manages to feel noticeably less batsh*t crazy by the day in the current political/cultural landscape. This time an anti-Purge senator is on the run during a period of time where all crime (and crazy-ass mask action) is legal for the alleged good of the country. The social commentary is about as subtle as a jackhammer enema and that suits this dystopian action title just fine.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping played to tumbleweeds in theaters, but Lonely Island film projects are built for cult worship on streaming and DVD anyhow, so this seems to be the order of things. This absolutely ridiculous gag-packed mockumentary follows delusional pop titan Conner4Real (Andy Samberg) as he squanders his assorted highs and crash lands into non-stop lows in hilarious fashion. (Recent Katy and Taylor rollouts might make this a touch on the “too real” side, mind you.) Roughly 38% of all famous people on Earth pop up in this thing for a cameo, if that also strokes your fancy.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. isn’t exactly a looker by any stretch, but Steven Spielberg’s candy-gobbling extraterrestrial stumbled into our hearts anyway. The universally adored ‘80s blockbuster weaves a tale of a boy and his unlikely alien friend that melds sci-fi wonder and heartfelt childhood feelings into a sweet and endlessly rewatchable story. Even after being parodied to death, iconic scenes like Elliott and E.T.’s flying bike sequence still strike a special nerve. It doesn’t hurt that the film has aged a smidge better than its Universal Studios ride.

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)

Every ounce as poignant as when it was released in 2016, Spike Lee’s four-part documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts explores the real human devastation Hurricane Katrina left in its wake as well as what the catastrophe exposed about American societal constructs. It will break your heart, make you mad and once you’ve seen all four hours you’ll never forget them. It’s a difficult watch, but a necessary one.

Maximum Overdrive (1986)

If you enjoy your 80s action-horror movies soundtracked by AC/DC and featuring a gakked-out-of-his-mind Stephen King in the director’s chair, Maximum Overdrive has you covered. Emilio Estevez and a gaggle of truck stop folk battle machines that go homicidal, genocidal, but rarely suicidal in this fascinating curiosity. It’s not an elegant masterpiece by any stretch, but Emilio vs. Evil Trucks should be all any sensible person could want.