There are over 70 new HBO Max movies in November 2025 – here are 3 sci-fi hits with over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes
With the spooky season in view and the holiday season not quite started, it can be difficult to choose the perfect viewing for this time of year, but after a month of spooky stuff, I always like to escape into a little sci-fi before the holiday classics dominate TV, and HBO Max’s November offering makes it one of the best streaming services for doing just that.
Spanning nearly a century of cinema, some of the best HBO Max movies arriving this month include my favorite installment in a decades-old franchise, a vintage sequel, and a debut effort from a legendary director.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
![Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | Official final trailer [HD] | PLANET OF THE APES - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DpSaTrW4leg/maxresdefault.jpg)
Look on it
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Director: Matt Reeves
RT score: 91%
The second part of the reboot Monkeys franchise, Dawn built on Get up respectable original effort in delivering the true dystopian drama that fans have been craving.
While Increase explained how apes acquired their increased intelligence and alluded to the deadly pandemic that decimated the human population, Dawn picks up 10 years later, with the remaining humans now fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Meanwhile, the apes have established their own colony in the forests of San Francisco, showing the first signs of a dominant society on Earth. But when the two tribes must interact for the first time in a decade so humans can repair a dam in ape territory, the uneasy alliance is threatened by purists on both sides.
THE Monkeys the franchise has always been steeped in allegory, and Dawn skillfully addresses themes of racial divisions and human needs that seem more relevant today than ever. It’s also a technical marvel, with stunningly realistic apes, thanks in large part to outstanding mo-cap performances from Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell. And when tensions finally come to a head, director Matt Reeves delivers a mud-and-blood-soaked action climax that puts most other blockbusters to shame.
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Look on it
Runtime: 75 minutes
Main cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valérie Hobson, Elsa Lanchester, Ernest Thesiger, EE Clive, Oliver Peters Heggie
Director: James Whale
RT score: 98%
I know I promised we’d leave the horror behind, but this Universal Monsters classic veers much more into the realms of science fiction than its predecessor, as the ethically challenged scientists from the original film strive to create a companion for their original monster.
Picking up where the 1931 original left off, Bride of Frankenstein reveals that none of the supposed deaths that concluded the previous film remained, with Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and the Monster (Boris Karloff) revealed to have survived the iconic burning windmill. Although he renounces his creation, Henry is lured back to Doctor Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who forces him to assist in his attempts to create a “bride” for the monster by kidnapping his wife Elizabeth (Valerie Hobson).
While the OG Frankenstein is undoubtedly a classic, Bride has to be very high on the list of sequels that surpass the original, with some hailing it as Whale’s masterpiece. In recent years, the film has been cited for its queer subtext and camp sensibility, and there’s no denying that the film’s gothic elegance has continued to inspire the likes of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. But even taken literally, Bride of Frankenstein is enormously fun and a perfect film for those still looking for slightly spooky vibes.
Hellboy (2004)
Look on it
Runtime: 122 minutes
Main cast: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Karel Roden, Rupert Evans, John Hurt
Director: Guillermo del Toro
RT score: 81%
While there have since been numerous attempts to revive the demon-loving franchise, none have come as close to Guillermo del Toro’s two iconic films.
Based on the comic strip by Mike Mignola, hell boy stars a perfectly cast Ron Perlman as the titular demon turned investigator. Working for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, Hellboy is tasked with fighting all manner of paranormal threats, but when a resurrected Rasputin reveals his plan for Hellboy to inadvertently trigger the apocalypse, the ancient demon is faced with a struggle between his identity and his destiny.
More of a straight blockbuster than most of Del Toro’s other works, hell boy still offers all the characteristics one would expect from the Oscar-winning filmmaker. Unlike so many other comic book adaptations of its era, the film is as concerned with its characters and their relationships as it is with the spectacular set pieces, not that they aren’t as visually impressive as one might expect from del Toro. Perlman balances the character’s sardonic wit and vulnerability in a way that none of the following actors have quite managed, especially impressive considering the layers of makeup he plays under. With Del Toro Frankenstein a tantalizingly close adaptation, it’s the perfect time to revisit its debut tale of a misunderstood monster.
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