If you are an aficionado of classic cinema, HBO Max is offering some of Hollywood’s greatest films to stream in March.
To determine the best movies to stream on HBO Max this March, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, and ruled out documentaries. (Data on streaming availability, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood, and directorial credits are from IMDb.)
Our list features a thumbs-up consensus among Rotten Tomatoes critics and audience members alike. Thirty-four out of 50 movies on our list of movies that can be streamed on HBO Max in March hold a score of 90% or above from RT critics and audience members. Eleven of the films have a perfect 100% Freshness score among RT critics. (Compare this list to the best movies on Netflix right now.)
Click here for a list of the best movies on HBO Max right now
Most of the HBO Max offerings were released in the 20th century, which is represented by 41 films on the list.
Charles Chaplin, perhaps the most consequential figure in motion-picture history as a pioneering performer, director, and producer, has seven films on the list, all of them with a Rotten Tomatoes Freshness score of 90% or above. These include the classics “The Gold Rush,” “Limelight,” “City Lights,” and “Modern Times.” (Read here about Charlie Chaplin’s best and worst movies.)
Other film evergreens on the HBO Max list include “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Bringing Up Baby,” “The Big Sleep,” “The Miracle Worker,” and “Citizen Kane.”
More recently honored motion pictures available to be streamed in March include “Argo,” “The Matrix,” “The Dark Knight,” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”
50. Boogie Nights (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (268,611 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (189,642 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (73 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
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49. Withnail & I (1987)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (44,055 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (25,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (37 reviews)
> Directed by: Bruce Robinson
48. The Matrix (1999)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,759,161 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (33,324,202 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (155 reviews)
> Directed by: Lana & Lilly Wachowski
47. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (58,969 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (39,185 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (51 reviews)
> Directed by: Howard Hawks
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46. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (121,700 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (130,710 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (74 reviews)
> Directed by: George A. Romero
45. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (22,263 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (37,079 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (33 reviews)
> Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
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44. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,578,386 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1,212,887 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (372 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
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43. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (7,759 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (2,057 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (10 reviews)
> Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
42. Argo (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (617,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (208,987 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (359 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Affleck
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41. The Fugitive (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (279,123 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (267,937 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (79 reviews)
> Directed by: Andrew Davis
40. Casino Royale (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (601,654 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (703,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (259 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Campbell
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39. A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (23,726 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (8,243 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (31 reviews)
> Directed by: John Cassavetes
38. Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (16,795 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (5,490 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (35 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
37. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (28,840 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (9,478 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (42 reviews)
> Directed by: Joseph Sargent
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36. Se7en (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,517,067 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (468,879 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (82 reviews)
> Directed by: David Fincher
35. The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (47,055 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (16,059 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (31 reviews)
> Directed by: John Huston
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34. All the President’s Men (1976)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (117,562 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (50,360 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
33. The Miracle Worker (1962)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (19,187 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (8,844 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (25 reviews)
> Directed by: Arthur Penn
32. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (989,753 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (749,469 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (203 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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31. The Big Sleep (1946)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (82,715 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (33,542 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: Howard Hawks
30. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (296,218 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (50,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (132 reviews)
> Directed by: David Lean
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29. Before Sunset (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (248,039 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (71,186 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (177 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Linklater
28. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (379,622 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (876,535 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (145 reviews)
> Directed by: Victor Fleming
27. Limelight (1952)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (19,395 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (7,303 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (35 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
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26. Raging Bull (1980)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (356,943 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (131,523 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (76 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
25. The Terminator (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (820,969 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (776,923 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: James Cameron
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24. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (47,356 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (4,853 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (37 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Brooks
23. The Departed (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,241,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (738,191 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
22. The Circus (1928)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (32,235 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (6,739 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (28 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
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21. To Be or Not to Be (1942)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (33,747 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (6,029 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (47 reviews)
> Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
20. Taxi Driver (1976)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (761,825 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (260,919 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (94 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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19. The Great Escape (1963)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (246,586 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (103,579 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (49 reviews)
> Directed by: John Sturges
18. Tampopo (1985)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (19,034 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (5,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (56 reviews)
> Directed by: Jûzô Itami
17. Citizen Kane (1941)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (422,500 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (159,588 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (117 reviews)
> Directed by: Orson Welles
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16. Le Samouraï (1967)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (52,470 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (10,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (33 reviews)
> Directed by: Jean-Pierre Melville
15. Before Sunrise (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (286,974 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (73,661 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (46 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Linklater
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14. On the Waterfront (1954)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (148,492 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (52,268 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (105 reviews)
> Directed by: Elia Kazan
13. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (119,669 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (26,178 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (52 reviews)
> Directed by: John Huston
12. The Gold Rush (1925)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (106,473 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (20,591 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (50 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
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11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,731,527 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,355,751 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Jackson
10. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,332,128 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (847,443 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Demme
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9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (954,220 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (279,963 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: Milos Forman
8. The Kid (1921)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (120,168 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (15,470 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (48 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
7. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (228,668 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (138,714 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (67 reviews)
> Directed by: Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly
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6. Modern Times (1936)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (228,754 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (40,314 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (108 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
5. City Lights (1931)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (176,008 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (27,144 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (54 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
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4. Spirited Away (2001)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (693,872 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (337,321 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (191 reviews)
> Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (2,419,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,831,566 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (345 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
2. Goodfellas (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,165,874 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (430,048 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (103 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 9.3/10 (2,465,102 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (887,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (77 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Darabont
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