The latest global streaming rankings highlight HBO Max’s top ten films worldwide. This snapshot reveals viewer preferences across diverse genres and indicates trends for family-friendly content and genre cinema.
The chart’s leader is A Minecraft Movie, which continues to dominate HBO’s streaming charts. The Jared Hess–directed adaptation has been a box‑office force, earning over $954 million worldwide off a $150 million budget. Critically, the film holds a mixed 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences responding more favorably.
Notable Entries In The Line‑Up
Several entries stand out in this mix. Horror‑tinged fare like It Feeds and genre hybrids such as The Alto Knights signal growing viewer interest in tentpole horror and crime stories. Family‑skewing series like My Mom Jayne also reflect streaming demand for light drama engagements.
Another point of interest is Big Daddy, a long‑standing comedy feature that continues to resurface, suggesting nostalgia drives streaming patterns. Meanwhile, the appearance of Fast X and the animated sequel How to Train Your Dragon 2 underscores the draw of established IP to viewers globally.
HBO Max Top 10 Films
Below is the full roster of this week’s top ten HBO Max-films worldwide:
1. A Minecraft Movie 2. It Feeds 3. My Mom Jayne 4. The Alto Knights 5. Big Daddy 6. Distant 7. The Valet 8. Fast X 9. How to Train Your Dragon 2 10. Pixels
In The Minecraft Movie a teenage girl is transported into the blocky world of Minecraft, where she must team up with unexpected allies to save the Overworld from destruction at the hands of the malevolent Ender Dragon.
Bill Murray vividly recalled how Andie MacDowell's presence on set challenged him during the filming, revealing deeper conflicts that arose during production.
One of the most popular films of Bill Murray is Groundhog Day, a film regarded as a beloved comedy classic. However, it was a difficult film to make, and Murray didn’t get along well with both the director and several cast members. But one particular actor drove him absolutely crazy.
Groundhog Day was directed by Harold Ramis, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Danny Rubin. Murray starred alongside Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott. At the time, the film was a commercial success and received positive reviews.
End of Friendship
The film tells the story of a cynical TV weatherman who reports on the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and becomes trapped in a time loop, reliving February 2nd repeatedly.
Despite being considered a comedy classic, one of Murray’s most popular films, and a real success for director Ramis, the making of it was so challenging that it eventually led to the end of the friendship between Murray and Ramis.
Behind-The-Scenes Conflicts
Fans delving into the behind-the-scenes conflicts of Groundhog Day may feel discouraged, especially if they are fans of the 80s comedies. Murray and Ramis collaborated on genre-defining classics like Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, and of course the Ghostbusters films.
But throughout all those productions, Murray's stubborn behavior repeatedly surfaced, and by the time they started on Groundhog Day, Ramis was likely at his wit's end.
Drifting Apart
In addition to battling the frigid weather conditions in Woodstock, Illinois, Ramis had to deal with Murray's temper tantrums, his constant lateness to the set, and the fact that they disagreed on nearly every detail.
Reports suggest that at one point, Ramis grabbed Murray by the collar and pushed him against a wall. Once filming wrapped, the two parted ways and only spoke again when Ramis was on his deathbed in 2014.
Driven Crazy
Murray was a frustrating presence on the set of Groundhog Day, not just for Ramis. He also clashed with co-star Michael Shannon, to whom he ultimately had to apologize in front of the entire team.
However, there was one actor who made him "completely crazy" during shooting, and it wasn’t Shannon; it was his female co-star MacDowell. "Andie MacDowell drove me absolutely crazy during that movie," Murray told Collider in 2021. "We were always waiting on Andie MacDowell's hair."
Beautiful Hair
At first glance, this statement seems like a playful remark from Murray, a humorous distraction suggesting a conflict before he lightly complains about MacDowell's famous, luscious curls that required a lot of time from the hairstylist. But in light of the tense atmosphere on set, and what we know about Murray’s behavior, his comment takes on a different context.
"The fact is: Andie MacDowell has the most beautiful hair you will ever see in your life," Murray continued. "When she finally arrived, you just had to accept it; that hair was truly amazing. But she drove me crazy. I think about it often; I really owe her an apology, because she truly drove me to madness."
Frustrated
Although MacDowell herself has never indicated that she struggled with Murray during shooting, the fact that he expressed a desire to apologize suggests there may have been friction that she never publicly acknowledged.
In fact, Murray hinted that his behavior might have been a reaction to his suspicion that she didn’t like him: "I’m not really a method actor, but I must’ve been incredibly frustrated that she still hadn't fallen in love with me. We were shooting for seventeen weeks, and she still didn't like me. I was probably holding onto that."
Difficult Film
The longer Murray spoke about MacDowell, the clearer it became that this was more than just a friendly joke about her hairstyle. It sounded more like she became one of his targets during shooting and that he later realized he could have behaved better.
"That was a difficult film to make," he concluded. "It was just as hard for her, and then she also had that hair to deal with."
Both actors have had careers spanning over 50 years, yet we have never seen Sylvester Stallone and Samuel L. Jackson share the screen together. That is about to change.
This month it has been revealed that Jackson will be joining the third season of Tulsa King, the hit series featuring Sly on Paramount+ streaming service, before starring in his own spin-off.
Social Media
Stallone posted a new photo on his Instagram, which you can view below, showcasing the production that has started and giving a first look at Jackson's shady mafia character.
According to the latest reports, his character is named Russell Lee Washington Jr., who will clash with Dwight Manfredi (played by Stallone) during the third season before heading to New Orleans for the series NOLA King.
A Familiar Face
NOLA King is penned by Dave Erickson, who is closely involved in the current universe with Stallone, as he is also the writer, executive producer, and creative showrunner there.
In 1999, The Blair Witch Project exploded onto the scene. In an era with limited internet access, this found footage film felt incredibly believable and downright frightening.
Against all odds, the horror film succeeded, grossing $250 million at theaters worldwide. Including the sales and rentals of video tapes and DVDs, as well as broadcasts on television and streaming platforms, the film earned an estimated $370 million globally across all platforms.
Severe Arrangements
With a young team and a budget of only $35,000, the film was purchased for $1 million after screening at the Sundance Festival by Artisan Entertainment. Unfortunately, the studio insisted that the unknown actors pretend they were really dead.
This made people believe it was a true story, allowing viewers to genuinely feel frightened. The arrangement was extreme: the actors were barred from acting or seeking publicity. Thus, the film marked both the beginning and the abrupt end of their acting careers.
Completely Neglected
When Lionsgate announced a reboot for the film's 25th anniversary, actors Joshua Leonard, Heather Donahue (Rei Hance), and Michael C. Williams decided to speak out. Aside from a payment of $1,000 for two weeks of film work, including their own filming, they received no income from that movie. They were entirely neglected.
Due to subsequent lawsuits, they received $375,000 each. However, with a better contract, it could have been $1 million per actor. Sadly, all three have struggled to secure a decent income after that film - and Rei Hance even had to change her real name to escape her connection to the movie. More insights are available in the Forbes YouTube video.
The hope for new episodes of Sherlock has officially vanished. Despite repeated rumors and optimistic statements from the creators, it appears there is no future for the British series.
The BBC launched its innovative version of the classic detective story in 2010. Instead of the Victorian era, a modern setting was chosen where Sherlock Holmes and John Watson navigated through London using smartphones and GPS. Four seasons, each consisting of three episodes, quickly gave the series a cult status.
Last Hope Squashed
For a long time, there remained talk of a possible return. In 2024, producer Sue Vertue hinted that there were certainly future possibilities, provided the schedules of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman could align. That hope has now been completely crushed by Mark Gatiss, who stated that both lead actors simply are no longer interested in a sequel.
After the fourth season, both Cumberbatch and Freeman chose other projects, including major roles within the Marvel universe. Freeman even mentioned that the atmosphere surrounding the series troubled him, especially due to the demanding attitude of some fans. According to him, Cumberbatch also felt that the whole dynamic had become unhealthy.
Controversial Finale
The final season, which aired in 2017, divided the audience. Particularly the introduction of Eurus Holmes, a secret sister with severe psychological issues, was experienced as forced and unnecessarily complex by many viewers. This storyline put Sherlock's mental state to the test but left many fans with a bitter aftertaste. The show, with a fantastic rating of 9.0 on IMDb, is still available for viewing on Hulu.
When George Miller announced over 10 years ago that he would start a reboot of Mad Max, not everyone was on board. Could the 70-year-old director deliver a worthy sequel? With Fury Road, he surprised both friends and foes.
Not every film fan is waiting for a sequel, prequel, let alone a complete reboot of a beloved franchise. Consider the upcoming Harry Potter series. While millions are excited, many others feel this reboot comes too soon.
The Origin
There were fears that Miller's Fury Road would merely turn out to be a nostalgic tribute, but the result proved to be entirely different. It became a cinematic statement. What started as a daring idea from Miller evolved into a modern action classic.
The original Mad Max trilogy from the 1980s put Mel Gibson on the map and created a post-apocalyptic icon with its gritty style and minimal budget. Especially The Road Warrior (1981) became a cult favorite. However, that series leaned heavily on pulp, violence, and vaguely drawn characters.
Mad Max 2.0
In Fury Road, Miller demonstrated what happens when an old franchise is boldly reinvented. With Tom Hardy in the title role and a dominant Charlize Theron as Furiosa, Fury Road shifted the focus towards thematic depth and visual poetry.
Although the film features sparse dialogue, the emotion is palpable, and the blockbuster primarily excels with all of the chases and explosions involved. The result: an unprecedented spectacle, regarded as one of the greatest action films of all time.
Success
That Fury Road succeeded is evident. It holds a fantastic 8.1 on IMDb and an almost perfect 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was nominated for ten Oscars and won six, a rarity for an action film.
At a time when reboots are often seen as lazy "cash grabs", Fury Road proved that with the right vision and respect for the source material, something radically new can be created. This reboot surpassed the original classics with Gibson in both style, content, and impact.
A film like The Odyssey is automatically one that is eagerly awaited. Why? Simply because it is being made by Christopher Nolan, and you know it will be special.
Images surfaced yesterday on various social media channels, showcasing the first poster displayed on cinema walls, including one at AMC The Grove in downtown Los Angeles.
Check out the poster below
The official poster has now also been revealed on X, along with news that a very early teaser will be released next week. This will be exclusively shown in theaters, likely paired with the release of another potential 'Universal' hit that is coming soon; Jurassic World Rebirth.
Another noteworthy piece of news is that the film will receive an R rating, as the production has hired an intimacy coordinator. Set photos have already pointed to graphic barbarity, sensuality, and bloody action scenes.
In theaters July 2026
The project, with a budget of $250 million, is currently still in full production and filming in Sicily, Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Morocco, Iceland, Scotland, and the LA studios.