Leaving Max in December 2023 – catch these 7 movies with over 90% Rotten Tomatoes before they go!
It’s time to say goodbye to these movies on Max, so get watching them before they’re gone for good
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There’s a fair few movies leavingMaxduring the holiday season, and with the countdown on, it’s important to know which ones to prioritize. In our guide below, we’ve picked out the biggest titles with over 90% Rotten Tomatoes ratings that are leaving in December. What better time than during the holiday season to slot in some time with the streamer, whether it’s cozied up on your couch or on those journeys to see family and friends.
From the whimsy ofPaddington 2to Stephen King’s edge-of-your-seat thrillerMisery, there’s still a chance to watch these titles before it’s too late. We voted Max ourStreaming Service of the Yearfor its vast array of genre-spanning titles and there’s still plenty the streamer has to offer, so be sure to check out thebest movies on Maxas well as thebest Max showsonce the options on our list are out to pasture.
Spotlight (2015)
Max leaving date:December 15, 2023Rotten Tomatoes score:97%Runtime:129 minsDirector:Tom McCarthyAge rating:R
Spotlighttells the true story of a team of investigative journalists at the Boston Globe hellbent on exposing the priests of a local Roman Catholic church for child molestation charges. This gripping drama is fronted by a star-studded cast; Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, to name a few, and shows the real impact and change that journalism can have by bringing the scandal and its cover-up to light.
The acting is phenomenal given the harrowing subject matter andSpotlighttook home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2016 for its ability to tackle the real-life events with necessary delicacy.
Paddington 2 (2017)
Max leaving date:December 31, 2023Rotten Tomatoes score:99%Runtime:103 minsDirector: Paul KingAge rating:PG
A change of pace for our next entry as Paddington, the friendly bear with the blue coat, red hat, marmalade sandwiches, and a very big heart embarks on a mission to find his aunt the perfect 100th birthday present. Voiced by Ben Whishaw, Paddington spreads joy wherever he goes and the big screen is no exception.
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Paul King, director of 2023’sWonka, crafted two heart-warming movies to tell Paddington’s stories and while he hands the director’s hat over to Dougal Wilson forPaddington in Peruin 2024, it’s still a good a time as any to watchPaddington 2.
It’s leaving Max, but you’ll still find it on Netflix, and we love it so much we even placed it in ourbest Netflix movieslist. A pretty impressive status for a little bear from the 1950s.
Before Midnight (2013)
Max leaving date:December 31, 2023Rotten Tomatoes score:98%Runtime:109 minsDirector:Richard LinklaterAge rating:R
From director Richard Linklater, famed forDazed and ConfusedandBoyhood(and whosehighly anticipated new movie,Hit Man, is coming to Netflix) comes the third in the Before franchise, withBefore SunriseandBefore Sunsetreleasing prior. Each film follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) from the very beginnings of their relationship – meeting by chance, to trusting fate to now, inBefore Midnight, nine years on and firmly a couple now raising twin girls.
During a visit to Greece for a wedding,Before Midnightfocuses on the complicated web of intimate relationships and how emotions can change over time. The pair find themselves at a crossroads, questioning their relationship and contemplating the future. With nearly 20 years between the first film and the last, it’s in true Linklater fashion that he shows dedication to a timeline and the actors within it, crafting excellent cinema.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Max leaving date:December 31, 2023Rotten Tomatoes score:98%Runtime:104 minsDirector: Joseph SargentAge rating:R
Not to be confused with 2009’s adaptation,The Taking of Pelham One Two Threeis the original 1974 movie with a phenomenal 98% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Four disguised gunmen take control of a New York subway car, holding its passengers for ransom, threatening to kill passengers until they’re paid a million dollars by the city.
The conundrum throughout being, with such a hostage situation based under the city’s streets, how would the hijackers escape? Quentin Tarantino paid homage to this movie throughReservoir Dogsand the codenames of the criminals, but to watchThe Taking of Pelham One Two Threeis to enjoy its twisty, unpredictable heist for everything that it offers in its own right.
The Lego Movie (2014)
Max leaving date:December 31, 2023Rotten Tomatoes score:96%Runtime:100 minsDirector:Phil Lord and Christopher MillerAge rating:PG
Our list weaves between the weighty and the whimsical, and for our next entry, we’re standing firmly in the latter. 2014’sThe Lego Moviebrings the Lego minifigures to life through adventure, excellent voice-acting, and the story of Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), an ordinary construction worker thrown into a quest to stop an evil supervillain.
If we listed all the excellent cast for this movie, we’d run out of breath. We’re talking Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, Charlie Day, Jonah Hill, Jake Johnson… okay, we ran out. Fun for all ages with nostalgia and comedy for older generations and bright, vibrant, fun and adventure for the younger ones.
The Lego Moviebecame the launchpad for three subsequent films, a TV series, a theme park ride, and two video games. So, when we speak about how you should watch it before it leaves Max, there’s a few good reasons for you right there.
Misery (1990)
Max leaving date:December 31, 2023Rotten Tomatoes score:91%Runtime:107 minsDirector:Rob ReinerAge rating:R
Based on the novel by Stephen King, famed novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) finds himself rescued from a car crash and taken care of by his biggest fan, Annie (Kathy Bates). The film is entitledMiseryfor a reason, though, and it’s not just for Paul’s unfinished novel character’s name. As Paul recuperates in Annie’s house, he soon realizes that he’s living in a nightmare as his fan-turned-nurse switches between a sweet and loving carer to a terrifying rage-filled tormentor.
Miseryis not for the faint-hearted, with the intensity and suspense running high throughout the entire 107 minutes. A 91% Rotten Tomatoes rating has been earned for the exceptional acting, true-to-novel script, and incredible balance between the tender and the truly terrible.
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (1969)
Max leaving date:December 31, 2023Rotten Tomatoes score:90%Runtime:110 minsDirector:George Roy HillAge rating:PG
Last but by no means least,Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kidis a truly iconic Western. Not only did it cement the careers of its leads, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, but it catapulted them to an extra esteemed status for their monumental on-screen buddy pairing. Portraying real-life outlaws, Robert LeRoy Parker aka Butch Cassidy and Harry Longabaugh aka the Sundance Kid, the duo head on the run from the law after a string of train robberies and flee to Bolivia. With all the tropes of the Western genre, what ensues in this classic is bounty hunting, gripping shootouts, lengthy chases, daring escapes, and a truly thematic ending.
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Grace is a freelance writer for TechRadar, with past work at sites like GamesRadar, Metro and WhatToWatch. She’s been writing about entertainment for over ten years, and has a special interest in sci-fi, rom-coms, and captivating dramas.
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