Formerly known asHBO Max, Warner Bros’Maxis firmly established as one of the most prominent streaming options in the United States. The May 2023 rebranding spawned after a somewhat turbulent period that saw the platform’s library shrink to an extent, although it retained a plethora of stellar movies and shows. Live-action fans looking for Western blockbusters or classics should be well served sinceMax covers a wide spectrum of genres, ranging from modern horror such asEvil Dead RiseandHereditaryto iconic masterpieces like2001: A Space OdysseyandGone with the Wind.
Along with American flicks, Max also has an impressive selection of foreign releases. In terms of live-action stuff, films likeM,The Seventh Seal, andDiaboliqueare all easy recommendations. Unsurprisingly, this reach extends toanime, although the service’s selection of shows is fairly lacking. In fact, Max has such a limited range of anime series that they qualify as a feature; fortunately, the same cannot be said about the platform’s film library. Thebest anime movies on Maxalso happen to be some of the industry’s greatest-ever creations, and they justify a one-month subscription all on their own.
Every Anime Movie On Max
As Max does not have an overwhelming number of anime movies, the following table will include every feature available on the streaming platform, along with their Rotten Tomatoes scores and links to their Max pages.
2018
82%
2021
95%
1986
96%
2002
88%
Earwig and the Witch
2020
29%
2011
87%
2004
1989
98%
1999
78%
1988
93%
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
1984
89%
2017
90%
1994
1991
100%
86%
2008
91%
1992
1997
2019
97%
2010
94%
2001
2013
2006
40%
92%
2014
Whisper of the Heart
1996
Castle In The Skyis a story about teenagers Pazu and Sheeta. He is an orphan from a mining town who caught her when she fell from the clouds. Soon after, Pazu finds out Sheeta is being chased by pirates as well as the government because they want her crystal necklace (which is from the floating city of Laputa). Both of them go on an adventure to find Laputa and escape the bad guys.
One of Hayao Miyazaki’s earliest movies,Castle in the Skytakes the audience on a glorious adventure filled with irresistibly likable characters. The world is also fascinating, so much so that this movie almost needs to be longer so that more time can be spent exploring this realm.
Ride Your Wavetells the love storyof Hinako and Minato. She is a surfer in college from a seaside town and he is a firefighter who saves the day. But right after they meet and fall in love, Minato dies in an accident due to the ocean itself. Then Hinako finds out she is able to sing and summon him from the water, any body of water.
Released in 2019,Ride Your Waveis a slightly underappreciated anime movie with relatable characters, great animation, and a good message about finding yourself.
My Neighbor Totorois about magical creatures and little girls. There is 10-year-old Satsuki and 4-year-old Mei, and Totoros. The girls are sisters and they go on tiny adventures with the Totoros in the forest near their house. There is more to the plot, such as the siblings moving to the countryside with their father to be closer to their mother who is in the hospital.
My Neighbor Totorois basically Studio Ghibli’s defining film, at least in terms of marketing and representation. It is also quite different from Miyazaki’s other projects since this is a slice of life anime without much in the way of tension.My Neighbor Totoroexemplifies the director’s whimsical and mature style.
Promaretakes place thirty years after the appearance of Burnish, a race of mutant beings that have the power of fire. They destroyed much of the world with flames. Suddenly, a new group of mutant beings appears, and both battle it out. These mutants are called Promare and are like firefighters anduse mechsto fight back.
Promarepacks in everything people have come to expect from a Trigger production: exciting music, stellar action, and near-untouchable animation. This movie is all about HYPE, delivering one crowd-pleasing moment after another. While this feels like a film designed to be watched in a packed theater filled with Trigger fans who are ready to explode in joy at every reference,Promareis still a fun watch on Max and a solid introduction to the studio’s work.
Although predated by the entertainingThe Castle of Cagliostro,Nausicaä of the Valley of the Windis the first proper Hayao Miyazaki movie, in the sense that the project reflects many of the ideas and themes that would remain as fixtures throughout the esteemed director’s storied career. Thebest anime movies on Maxconsist largely of Studio Ghibli’s filmography, but this 1984 classic came out prior to the company’s creation; thankfully, it is still included in the streaming service’s library.
Set in a world where nature has spread to challenge humanity’s authority,Nausicaä of the Valley of the Windfollows a “chosen one” style figure as she fights to protect her kingdom. Epic in ambition, animation, and storytelling, this movie is a sweeping masterpiece that flies by. In fact, the only criticism one could make of this anime is that it is too short (despite coming in at two hours).
Mamoru Hosoda has built quite a resume over the last two decades. The director’s filmography includes the most unusualOne Piecemovie, Madhouse’sThe Girl Who Leapt Through TimeandSummer Wars, andWolf Children, one of the best anime features of the 2010s. The filmmaker’s most recent cinematic project was 2021’sBelle, aBeauty and the Beasthomage fit for the digital age. While not quite ranking amongHosoda’s greatest anime, the film nevertheless delivers beautiful animation and a generally entertaining story that touches upon themes of identity and insecurity.
In the real world, Suzu is uncomfortable in her own skin. Isolated and lonely, the girl feels insignificant whenever she is just herself; however, she can escape reality by visiting U, a virtual world that lets her become the person of her dreams. As Belle, Suzu attains a level of virtual super stardom typically limited to only the most successful of idols. Naturally, things eventually take a turn.
When Marnie Was Thereis about 12-year-old Anna who befriends Marnie. They are in the Japanese countryside, where Anna likes to sketch by herself. Marnie is mysterious. Eventually, the viewer finds out Marnie is not just a stranger to her after all.
When Marnie Was Therehas a mesmerizing quality to it. The anime’s central mystery is engaging and driven almost solely by emotion, culminating in a final act that satisfies both the characters' arcs and the audience’s expectations. For nearly a decade, this movie was Ghibli’s final “great” project, although that changed in 2023 with the release of Miyazaki’sThe Boy and the Heron.
Princess Mononokeis about the journey of Ashitaka looking for the cure to a curse by Tatarigami. He got it from a demon while protecting his village. Ashitaka, on his quest into a forest, meets Lady Eboshi, who leads a clan of humans, as well as Princess Mononoke, a woman who was raised by wolves. There is a war brewing between the humans and the creatures of the forest.
Many ofMiyazaki’s movies incorporate an environmental message, but the director has a special talent for ensuring these themes do not come across as preachy.Princess Mononokemight be the best example of this as the film goes out of its way to not vilify anyone, presenting a more complex story in the process.
Only Yesterdaytends to be overshadowed by Studio Ghibli’s more mainstream releases, but Isao Takahata’s early ’90s drama acts as a splendid showcase of that legendary director’s unique vision and talent. The story follows Taeko Okajima, a woman in her mid-20s who travels from Tokyo to a rural town to spend time with some family. During her trip, Taeko reminiscences about her childhood, be it in the form of repressed memories or dreams that fell by the wayside.
Only Yesterdayis grounded in raw human emotions, ones that are relatable but also complex. Taeko’s journey is defined by self-reflection and discovery, and the movie does not hesitate to force its protagonist to face some harsh truths. This flick is a great pick for anyone searching for something less fantastical than most of the anime films on Max.
Isao Takahata’s final film,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyatells the classic Japanese story about a couple who discover a girl in a bamboo shoot. Narratively sparse and driven predominantly by emotion,Princess Kaguyais a visual masterpiece, albeit not quite in the typical sense. The film has a minimalist art style that is striking but also rather plain, which complements the story’s fairy tale origins.
At just over two hours,Princess Kaguyais a long sit that gives each of its story beat plenty of room to breath, permitting viewers to immerse themselves in the world created by the anime. Towards the end of the film, there is a burst of animation that comfortably ranks among Studio Ghibli’s greatest moments. Frankly, it might be the studio’s crowning achievement.
Spirited Awayis a tale of 10-year-old Chihiro. She gets caught up in a secret world after losing her parents to a pig-like transformation. Chihiro winds up encountering strange spirits and creatures as well as a nasty sorceress named Yubaba and a mysterious boy named Haku. She must work at Yubaba’s bathhouse to free herself and her parents (under Haku’s supervision).
The only anime movie to win anAcademy Award for Best Animated Feature,Spirited Awaymight just be Hayao Miyazaki’s crowning achievement. Overflowing with imagination and substance, this 2001 movie blends fantasy and humanity to create something truly magical.
Weathering With Youis a story about a time in the world when the rain just will not stop. Hodaka, a teenage boy, runs away from the Japanese countryside to Tokyo. There, he befriends an orphan girl named Hina who is able to manipulate the weather. Unfortunately, there is a price to pay to use her powers and Hodoka does everything possible to stop that from happening.
Slightly overshadowed byMakoto Shinkai’s previous film,Your Name,Weathering With Youcovers a lot of the same ground as its predecessor, be it star-crossed lovers or climate change. LikeYour Name,Weathering With Youis a work of art filled with beautiful imagery, endearing characters, and a lot of rain.
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi,The Secret World of Arriettymight be Studio Ghibli’s most beautiful movie, a statement that is not made lightly. The studio is well known for crafting fully realized fantasy worlds, andArriettytakes a similar but slightly different approach. The story revolves around a boy named Shou who meets the eponymous Arrietty, a girl who happens to be a Borrower. These are tiny people who live under a house’s stairs or in its walls, trying desperately to remain hidden from humans.
While the anime’s plot and characters are of high quality,Arrietty’s most impressive component is its world-building. The anime immerses viewers in the Borrowers' home, exploring a society that exists just beyond the familiar. The movie reveals enough about the Borrowers so that their existence makes sense within this universe, while simultaneously leaving enough unanswered questions to not diminish the content’s magic.
