February is long gone, but March has plenty of treats in store for HBO Max subscribers. This weekend, subscribers can take advantage of the dozens of new films added to the streaming service's library this month, including The Expendables trilogy, Creed, Creed II, and This Is the End. Those in the mood for fascinating family drama can tune into the true crime docuseries Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty and the comedic Mexican drama Mariachis. Subscribers likely won't get bored with so much on their HBO Max watchlist this weekend.
Milk Tells the Story of an Inspiring Activist
New to HBO Max this month is Milk, the 2008 biographical film starring Sean Penn as gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California. The film follows the life of Harvey as he explores his political career as a gay man in the 1970s, up until his assassination in 1978. For fans who enjoyed the FX miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven last year, they'll also find Milk incredibly moving and inspiring, as it was also written by Dustin Lance Black. The biopic received critical acclaim from critics, mostly for Penn and Josh Brolin's performances, the directing and the screenplay. For his performance, Penn won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
The Expendables Honors '80s Action Stars
One of the most anticipated films in 2023 is The Expendables 4, which will feature an ensemble cast of Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Megan Fox, 50 Cent and more. But it's still a long way away from the September release, and luckily that's plenty of time to revisit the first three films on HBO Max. Beginning with the first film in 2010, The Expendables franchise is written (and partly directed) by Sylvester Stallone, who shows his talent in bringing action to the big screen. An homage to action films made in the 1980s and 1990s, The Expendables follows a group of mercenaries who carry out any mission thrown their way. From assassinations to rescue missions, the Expendables are the group to turn to for any sort of trouble.
Throughout the franchise, the Expendables face danger from both enemies and themselves. They learn that not only are they the only elite mercenary group out there but that the team's co-founder Conrad Stonebanks isn't too proud of his own work. The fourth film will feature the group getting thrown into the middle of a nuclear conflict between Russia and the United States and will be Stallone's final appearance in the franchise.
Creed I and II Showcase the Rise of Donnie Creed
The third installment to the Creed franchise hits theaters this weekend, with Michael B. Jordan returning as the titular character and making his directorial debut. But before he gets into the ring with Jonathan Majors' Damian Anderson, check out the first two Creed films to see how the titular boxer got his start. A sequel and spinoff to the Rocky franchise, the 2015 film Creed follows Jordan as Adonis "Donnie" Creed, the son of Rocky Balboa's former rival turned friend Apollo Creed. Being the first film from the Rocky franchise that was released in years, Creed received immense acclaim from critics, and Sylvester Stallone even received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The second film Creed II continues Donnie's career as a boxer with Rocky mentoring him in his corner. This time, the sequel sees the return of the Dragos from the original Rocky franchise, with Viktor Drago (son of Ivan) getting into the ring against Donnie. While not as acclaimed as its predecessor, the sequel was still a big enough hit to garner a third film in the franchise. The third film won't have the Italian Stallion in Donnie's corner, but if the first two films have taught viewers anything, it's that Donnie is well enough prepared to handle his own.
This Is the End Hilariously Depicts Celebrities in the Apocalypse
Apocalyptic media is all the rage, but with The Last of Us' first season almost at an end, how else will viewers get their apocalyptic fix? With HBO Max's newest addition to its library, they won't have to worry. This Is the End is certainly a different take on the apocalypse story, putting a comedy spin on it. The film follows a group of celebrities playing themselves as the world seemingly comes to an end. Just some of the celebrities playing fictional and exaggerated versions of themselves include James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill and Emma Watson. A critical success among fans and critics, This Is the End is the light-hearted take on apocalypses that is rarely seen in movies or television anymore.
Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty Dives Into Generations of Crime
Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty is one of the most enthralling docuseries on any streaming service right now, but it's only available for HBO Max subscribers. For true crime fans, Low Country has the suspense to start off the new year on a thrilling note while uncovering the dark secrets of the lawyer accused of murdering his wife and son. The series investigates the 100-year history of the prominent Murdaugh family in South Carolina, made up of generations of district attorneys. While Alex Murdaugh is the one in the news for his current trial, where he's accused of murdering his wife and 22-year-old son, the docuseries reveals that this incident isn't shocking in the family. Through a detailed exploration of past crimes and accusations, Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty paints the prestigious family as more of an organized crime family than anything.
Mariachis Brings Family Together Through Music
HBO Max's newest addition to its television library is the Mexican dramatic comedy Mariachis. An homage to generations of music, the series tells the heartwarming story of a family coming together to celebrate life with tunes. When the family patriarch Rosendo is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, his wife, family and estranged family come together to form a Mariachi band in the hopes of delaying the inevitable. While the initial intentions were to just resurrect Rosendo's background as a famed musician, the band finds success of their own. But of course, it wouldn't be an HBO series without some family drama risen by secrets from the past. The first three episodes are now available on the streaming service, with new episodes premiering every Thursday.