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10 incredible sci-fi movies coming to HBO Max in January 2022

“It was hard to know who was more crazy, me, or everyone else.”

by Robin Bea
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
10. Birds of Prey

January 1

Birds of Prey breaks from the often dour tone of DC movies with a colorful, chaotic, and funny (but still wildly violent) rescue caper. DC fans can also check out Aquaman, Justice League, Shazam!, and Wonder Woman, all returning this month.

9. Godzilla: King of the Monsters

January 1

If you’re looking for pure spectacle, Godzilla: King of the Monsters has you covered. Its special effects and action sequences elevate a so-so story into a thrilling kaiju battle royale.

8. Watchmen

January 1

Zack Snyder’s Watchmen adapts Alan Moore’s comic into a dark inversion of superhero tropes. It’s worth a watch, whether you’ve read the comic or not.

7. King Kong

January 1

Peter Jackson’s incredible (and incredibly long) King Kong remake is beautiful, even if it takes its time to get going. For a schlockier take, King Kong: Skull Island is also back on HBO Max.

6. V for Vendetta

January 1

V for Vendetta, an adaptation of Alan Moore’s classic dystopian comic, tells a complicated story of revolution that became a symbol for real-life protests like the Occupy movement.

5. Batman Begins

January 1

Christopher Nolan’s grounded reimaging of Batman returns to HBO Max, along with its iconic sequel, The Dark Knight. A heap of animated Batman movies return to the platform as well.

4. The Animatrix

January 1

Whether you’ve seen The Matrix Resurrections yet or not, The Animatrix offers a wide range of perspectives on the series’ universe from a handful of incredible animators.

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

January 1

A two-hour car chase may not sound like the best venue for a sci-fi character study, but Mad Max: Fury Road manages to be equally spectacular and thoughtful.

2. Blade Runner: The Final Cut

January 1

Any version of Blade Runner is worth a watch, but The Final Cut gave director Ridley Scott complete creative control. Its bleak story of rogue androids hits just as hard today as it did on release.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey

January 1

Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is an absolute classic and a great way to explore sci-fi history at the start of a new year.

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