Another month, another batch of films joining and leaving HBO Max. While February won’t see multiple trilogies of films vacated from the platform, there are still some important titles leaving that you ought to be aware of. This time around, a handful of legacy comedies, dramas, international offerings, and what is arguably one of the most instrumental superhero trilogies in recent years will be leaving HBO Max in February. It’ll be a tearful farewell for sure, but chances are we’ll see these films on HBO Max again within the next few months.

Be sure to check your watchlists and make time wherever it’s available. Not all of these are going to vanish at the end of the month. Without further delay, these are just some of the best movies leaving HBO Max throughout February 2023.

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The Dark Knight Trilogy (Feb. 11)

     Warner Bros.

The film trilogy that would establish a basis for the DCU to come, Christian Bale’s Dark Knight trilogy (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises) will leave HBO Max on February 11. Following a modernized Batman fighting against the forces of Ra’s al Ghul, the Joker, and Bane, The Dark Knight trilogy redefined how superhero films could be adapted for the silver screen, all while featuring amazing performances by Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Tom Hardy among others.

While The Dark Knight trilogy doesn’t necessarily connect to the modern DCU, any fan of the Batman franchise should give it a watch if they haven’t already. It was instrumental in changing the public perception of superhero films and released alongside the first entries in the MCU.

American Psycho (Feb. 28)

     Lionsgate

Is it still hip to be square? Probably not. Mary Harron’s horror film American Psycho will be leaving HBO Max on February 28. Originally a cult classic based on Brett Easton Ellis’ controversial novel, American Psycho has seen a modern resurgence through a variety of hilarious memes surrounding the story’s psychopathic lead Patrick Bateman. A white-collar investment banker who is as empty as he is handsome, his double life as a serial killer is the only thing that gives him any fleeting joy in life, though the two personas find themselves in direct conflict with each other.

Light on actual scares and gore, American Psycho is actually pretty funny at points, reveling in the thoroughly-detached personality of Christian Bale’s performance and making memorable scenes out of the most mundane scenarios. As a critique of yuppies and consumerism, it makes for fantastic viewing around the Hallmark Holiday season.

Coming to America (Feb. 28)

     Paramount Pictures

Directed by John Landis and starring Eddie Murphy, Coming to America will be leaving HBO Max on February 28. A romantic comedy of Eddie Murphy’s own creation, the comedic legend plays Akeem Joffer, crown prince of the African nation Zamunda. After abandoning plans for an arranged marriage, Akeem and his aide Semmi travel to New York City in search of someone who will love him for who he really is. Starring alongside Murphy is Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley, and John Amos. In keeping with other Eddie Murphy projects, both he and Arsenio Hall play multiple characters.

It’s easily one of Eddie Murphy’s best films, so much so that it even received a sequel exclusive to Prime Video in 2021. While the sequel wasn’t as warmly received, it hasn’t tarnished the reputation and legacy that its predecessor established.

Melancholia (Feb. 28)

     Nordisk Film

One of Lars van Trier’s most soul-crushing films, Melancholia will be leaving HBO Max on February 28. The film follows the perspectives of two sisters, Justine and Claire, as Earth readies itself to collide with a rogue planet. There’s no plan to save everyone, and there’s no real hope in the air, just two separate depictions of how someone may cope with the impending disaster.

Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg star alongside Alexander Skarsgård and Keifer Sutherland, each actor giving an absolute powerhouse performance in depicting the sheer despair one must feel with annihilation on the horizon. It’s a film that admittedly hits a lot harder now compared to its original release in 2011, so be prepared. Even if it won’t make you cry, you’ll be feeling a bit emptier than usual for a while.

Warrior (Feb. 28)

The Oscar-nominated Warrior sees Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, brothers separated by unfortunate circumstances, forced to confront each other in a steel cage, fighting out their differences in an MMA tournament for the ages. While not a commercial success by any means, Warrior did win praise from critics for both Hardy and Edgerton’s performances, in addition to rising above the clichés that similar stories rely on.

Some will observe similarities to films like Rocky or The Fighter, and you’d be right to make those comparisons. It’s a story we’ve seen before, but most would agree that the drama elements surrounding the estranged brothers elevate Warrior into a touching film worth seeing. If you’re a fan of MMA in general, you can also find guest appearances from Nate Marquardt, Amir Perets, and Yves Edwards.

American History X (Feb. 28)

     New Line Cinema

A harrowing examination of the neo-Nazi movement, American History X will be leaving HBO Max on February 28. Edward Norton and Edward Furlong play two brothers involved in the contemporary neo-Nazi movement, with Norton attempting to rescind his ways after a lengthy prison stint and keep Furlong from a similar fate. It’s a film that won Edward Norton three separate awards for Best Actor from a variety of institutions, even if Norton was never the same after the film’s completion.

Intended to be an analysis of how and why racism becomes propagated, American History X was critically acclaimed during its original release for its efficiency in doing just that. It’s an uncompromising film that won’t shy away from some of the worst that humanity has to offer. But, in much the same way, it shows that redemption is a genuine possibility for some.