Star-Filled Rom-Com Tops HBO Max’s Top 10 Most-Watched Movies List of the Week

This week, streaming viewers have a wide variety of movies to choose from, including beloved romantic comedies from the early 2000s and powerful new biopics. HBO Max is featuring everything from big-name ensemble casts and family-friendly animated films to critically praised dramas. Audiences are enjoying both familiar favorites and recently released, buzzworthy films from A24. Whether you’re into action-packed MMA stories or funny heist movies, there’s something for everyone.

‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked’ (2011)

This fun, animated movie follows Alvin and the Chipmunks, along with the Chipettes, as they turn a fancy cruise ship into a wild playground. Their mischievous behavior, led by Alvin, gets them lost at sea and stranded on a deserted island. Dave Seville, their caretaker, must team up with his rival, Ian Hawke, to rescue them. While lost, the chipmunks meet a solitary castaway and learn the importance of teamwork as they try to escape the island before a volcano erupts. The movie features popular songs and plenty of comical survival situations.

‘The Shape of Water’ (2017)

This beautiful and imaginative story takes place in America in 1962, during the Cold War. It centers on Elisa, a woman who can’t speak and works cleaning a top-secret government lab. Her life is turned upside down when she finds a strange, fish-like creature held captive there. Elisa develops a special connection with the creature and, with the help of her friends, bravely plans a way to set it free. Director Guillermo del Toro creates a visually captivating film exploring themes of love, understanding, and the hidden darkness within people.

‘MacGruber’ (2010)

I absolutely love this movie! It’s based on a hilarious sketch from ‘Saturday Night Live’ and it perfectly spoofs those over-the-top action heroes from 80s TV. Will Forte is brilliant as MacGruber, a special ops agent dragged back into service to stop his arch-nemesis from unleashing a stolen nuclear weapon. He tries to gather a team of pros, but honestly, he’s so clumsy and his plans are so ridiculous, it constantly puts everyone in danger. It’s just pure, silly, and often shockingly funny to watch him stumble through these intense spy situations!

‘Robin Hood’ (2010)

Directed by Ridley Scott, this film offers a fresh take on the classic Robin Hood story. Russell Crowe stars as a skilled archer fighting for King Richard. After the king’s death, he discovers the people of Nottingham are being oppressed by a dishonest sheriff and unfair taxes. He takes on the identity of a dead knight to help the knight’s widow, played by Cate Blanchett, and ultimately sparks a rebellion against the unjust rule. The movie explores the complex political landscape and epic battles that transform the archer into the legendary outlaw, Robin Hood.

‘Monster-in-Law’ (2005)

Jennifer Lopez plays Charlotte, a temporary worker and artist who falls for a doctor named Kevin. Their relationship is complicated by Kevin’s mother, Viola (played by Jane Fonda), a former news anchor who is determined to keep him to herself. Viola subtly tries to sabotage the romance, leading to a funny and escalating conflict as Charlotte realizes what’s happening and decides to stand up for herself against her difficult potential mother-in-law.

‘The Notebook’ (2004)

This movie is a love story based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. It follows Noah and Allie, who have a passionate summer romance in the 1940s. Their relationship is complicated by their different families and the fact that Allie’s parents don’t approve of Noah. The story is told through flashbacks, as an elderly man reads their love story to a woman with dementia. It’s known for its heartfelt depiction of a love that lasts through difficult times, including war and being apart.

‘The Smashing Machine’ (2025)

Dwayne Johnson stars in this intense biographical film about Mark Kerr, a pioneer of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The movie follows Kerr’s incredible success in the late 1990s, showcasing his reign as a two-time heavyweight champion. But it also explores the difficult side of his life, including his battle with painkiller addiction and a troubled relationship with his partner, Dawn Staples. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film provides a raw and honest portrayal of the physical and mental challenges faced by fighters.

‘Masterminds’ (2016)

This funny crime movie, starring Zach Galifianakis, is based on the real story of a $17 million robbery in North Carolina in 1997. Galifianakis plays David Ghantt, an armored car employee who’s tricked into stealing the money by a woman he likes and her criminal friends. After the heist, David escapes to Mexico, but his partners spend lavishly and plan to eliminate him to hide their involvement. The film uses a talented comedic cast to poke fun at the ridiculousness and incompetence surrounding this major cash robbery.

‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ (2025)

Rose Byrne delivers a compelling performance as Linda, a therapist whose life falls apart due to the pressures of being a mother and her job. While her husband is at sea, Linda struggles to care for her young daughter, who is battling a puzzling illness and eating problems. Things get even harder when their apartment is damaged. Forced to stay in a motel, Linda clashes with her own therapist (played by Conan O’Brien) but finds an unexpected connection with a neighbor. The film is a tense and often unsettling look at the challenges of modern motherhood and the feeling of being overwhelmed.

‘Valentine’s Day’ (2010)

Garry Marshall’s romantic comedy takes place in Los Angeles and follows the love lives of many different people on Valentine’s Day. The film connects several stories – from a florist planning a proposal to a soldier meeting someone new – showing how their paths cross throughout the day. It looks at all kinds of relationships, from new crushes and first dates to long-lasting commitments, and brings everything together in a heartwarming conclusion.

2026-02-22 18:46