HBO Max is one of the newest streaming platforms on the block, and while it may be pricier than most of its competitors, it also offers some of the best and most unique content of them all. And for movie fans, HBO Max is great because it features lots of great movie franchises. Monsters, horror, action, comedy, sci-fi, fantasy—you name it and it’s probably available. Here are the best movie franchises you can stream on HBO Max right now....

Romance, scandal, war, politics… These are all important elements in any movie that deals with royalty, but especially when that royalty is rooted in monarchy and inheritance. Here are my picks for the best movies about royalty and monarchy, ranging from fantasy movies about fictional kings and queens to period dramas about the very real British royal family. 18. The Duchess (2008) Directed by Saul Dibb Starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper...

The American Frontier, more commonly known as the Wild West or the Old West, was an intimidating place. Spanning the mid-1800s to early-1900s, it was a time unlike any other in American history. There’s a long and storied history of movies set in the Wild West, which gave rise to the Western genre and all the iconic themes and archetypes the genre is still known for: cowboys, corrupt sheriffs, prostitutes, scorned lovers, saloon brawls, pistols at dawn… those sorts of things....

While many viewers hate them, mentally unstable anime characters are great for injecting unpredictable plot twists and character developments (which all anime fans love). These crazy characters may have lost their sanity to some degree, but the stories behind their loss can be eye-opening, heart-breaking, and soul-rending—so much so that you may even start to pity them. Mentally unstable anime characters aren’t limited to those who simply run wild and kill on a whim....

If you’re a growing anime/manga fan who wants to step it up and graduate beyond watching and reading to collecting physical goodies, then subscription boxes are a great way to ease yourself in. With an anime/manga subscription box, you get a new box delivered to your door every month with goodies for you to enjoy. Opening a subscription box is always exciting. Here are the best anime- and manga-related subscription boxes worth subscribing to....

Multiplayer PvP is hard to get right. If the core gameplay is fun, it often doesn’t matter what the game mode is—but if the core gameplay sucks, then even the coolest game mode ideas won’t salvage it. Then again, when fun core gameplay meets a fittingly well-designed game mode, that’s when something truly special happens. A clever game mode can turn an otherwise good game into a great game. Here are some of the best PvP game modes I’ve had the pleasure to experience in my time as a competitive online gamer....

Cinematographers are one of the unsung heroes in filmmaking, next to film editors, stunt performers, and casting directors. And like all unsung heroes, the input of a cinematographer can be what elevates an otherwise good movie to be great—or even legendary. Sometimes, a scene is shot in a way that impacts you in ways you never expected. It pulls you in, evokes certain feelings, and takes you to another plane....

The US version of The Office began its stint on NBC as an imitation of the original British version, which makes sense when you consider that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s original series was critically acclaimed, culturally significant, and outright hilarious. But after the US version’s first season, the dynamic between the characters began to change: Michael Scott stopped being such a close rendition of Gervais’ David Brent; Dwight Schrute took off in his own direction; the whole cast relaxed into their roles....

Rome, the eternal city. It’s been the seat of power for some of history’s most powerful rulers and emperors, as well as home to some of cinema’s greatest adventures and love entanglements. Few places in the world elicit the kind of response that Rome does, which is why—since the beginning of modern cinema—the city has housed the ambitions of filmmakers from all around the globe. Not to mention all the cinematic greats who’ve hailed from Italy and created some of their best work in the city, including the likes of Federico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Sergio Leone....

The wuxia movie has roots firmly planted in Chinese literature, with stories that often involve valiant warriors in a medieval Asian era, who use swords to solve conflicts of honor, integrity, and destiny. Wuxia movies are primarily adventure films with a dash of romance, but they have a wholly unique style that undergirds everything about them. Most notably, wuxia movies have fight scenes that feel worlds apart from fight scenes in Western movies....

Think back to the opening night of Star Wars in 1977. For those who were able to catch the premiere, you might remember Luke Skywalker looking up and watching the twin sunset on Tatooine, all set to the swelling of hopeful music—and the Skywalker saga is born. And then in 2018, The Last Jedi hits cinemas. Luke Skywalker looks out over the waters of Ahch-To with his imminent death looming before him—and as he watched the sun set, he fades away to become one with the Force, and the music tells the whole tale....

What is the dolly zoom? Also known as the contra zoom or Vertigo shot (as it was first used to magnificent effect by Alfred Hitchcock in his 1958 thriller film Vertigo ), the dolly zoom is a camera movement that’s quick yet effective at disorienting viewers. In layman’s terms, the dolly zoom is when the camera lens zooms in on the subject while the camera itself is pulled backwards . The resulting effect is pretty dizzying, making it look like the subject stays in place while the background morphs around them....

What makes a plot twist so good? For us, it’s when the clues, hints, and foreshadowing are subtle but littered throughout. If there aren’t enough clues for the audience to catch, then the plot twist not only feels cheap, but the movie doesn’t evolve on a second or third watch. Noticing the small hints on a rewatch is part of the fun. But on the flip side, too many clues that are obvious and heavy-handed make the plot twist predictable....

If you aren’t taking advantage of these tips and features yet, you’ll be surprised how much more enjoyable Prime Video can be. 1. Adjust Quality to Use Less Data Consider switching to the “Good” video quality setting and using 94% less data per hour . Unless you’re watching on a massive 75+ inch screen or projection, you probably won’t be able to notice the difference in quality—and even if you do, Good quality is certainly good enough....

John Carpenter has a unique style that makes it clear you’re watching a movie he made—no matter what genre it happens to be in. Synth-heavy soundtracks. Gruesome special effects. And even if you miss his signature elements, his own name finds its way above movie titles so you always know you’re watching a John Carpenter movie. John Carpenter’s movies span a range of genres—from sci-fi to action to romance—but he’s known as the Master of Horror for good reason....

Many think of manga as nothing more than “comics from Japan”—which is true to an extent, but there are some big differences. One of the more significant elements that stand out in manga is how manga artists use a different set of symbols, icons, and illustrative images to depict certain emotions and effects. This is called iconography . Manga iconography is the visual language used to show character expressions when dialogue bubbles and narration can’t be used due to an overcrowded frame....

Despite its rocky latter seasons, Arrested Development continues to live on in the minds of those who fell in love with those first three seasons—and new fans are born each day as they discover the show on Netflix. The first three seasons of Arrested Development have cemented their status in contemporary TV culture, with several notable scenes often used as templates for memes and/or to make light of current events....

Betrayal at House on the Hill is one of the most popular board games once you graduate beyond mass market games like Monopoly , Risk , and Scrabble and step into the world of hobby board games. The game has such incredible appeal to those who have never experienced anything beyond classic parlor games. It has atmosphere, it has exploration, and it has a funky traitor mechanic that elevates the game into a deeply memorable experience....

Many board game lovers shy away from games that take longer than one hour to complete. I think just about anyone would feel intimidated by a board game with a three-hour playtime and a 20-page rulebook. Most complex games have a sharp learning curve, especially if you’re used to lightweight games. Despite this, complex games are still worth learning—it’s extremely rewarding to complete a game after hours of strategic thinking....

For some, there’s nothing more frightening than creepy-crawlies. Whether it’s an ant, spider, cockroach, centipede, or scorpion, just a sighting could make one faint without warning. Which is why so many films have been made about bugs and insects. A lot of them are pretty terrible, mind you, but some of them are actually quite good and worth a watch. If you’re squeamish about tiny, multi-legged crawlers, maybe this list isn’t for you....