While 2020 has wreaked havoc on society in more ways than one, one small bright spot were several brilliant series and films offerings that helped us make it through this year. Offering everything from escapism to honest portrayals of everyday life, these are the movies and films that helped us make it through the year. Help ring in the new year with new beginnings in the form of the top 24 shows and movies on HBO Max, curated by Variety.
For a much-needed therapy session, opt for “Euphoria’s” special episode, featuring stellar performances from Emmy award-winning actor Zendaya and Colman Domingo. The hour-long interlude provides a bridge to the series’ long-anticipated second season and includes frank, moving discussions about life, addiction, recovery and radical self-love.
If you’re looking for a more light-hearted fare, “Emma” is the film to watch. “The Queen’s Gambit” star Anya Taylor-Joy embodies the titular role with ease, bringing to life the whimsy and wit of the Jane Austen classic romantic comedy. Similarly, “Crazy Rich Asians” offers romance with equal parts comedy and drama, as well as plenty of heart. Who needs fireworks when you have Michelle Yeoh’s sparkling emerald or that awe-inspiring wedding entrance!
But if you’re looking for something that will literally scare away any remnants of 2020, choose the hair-raising thriller “The Invisible Man” with Elisabeth Moss, who portrays a survivor of intimate partner violence fleeing, and fighting back against, her presumed-to-be-dead abusive ex.