The streaming world gets a little more crowded every day. While once you could reliably download Netflix and get everything you needed, no you're going to need access to several streaming services if you want a great selection of films. One of the more exciting new competitors in this space is HBO Max, a streaming service that gives users exclusive access to a number of well-loved movies and shows.

Features

HBO Max is HBO's new streaming service, combining not only the films and television programs that have traditionally aired on HBO but also a number of TV shows that have traditionally aired on a number of Warner Brothers' other networks. The app allows users to not only watch their programs on their smart devices, but also to build up viewing queues and take a look at the different programming options that are available on the app. HBO seems committed to bringing a great deal of programming to the new platform, with HBO Max exclusives helping to bring something of the prestige television world to the streaming service.

Benefits

The biggest benefit of HBO Max is getting access to a very wide range of movies and television shows. Not only will you get everything that's available on HBO, but you'll also get plenty of programming from networks like The CW and Cartoon Network. HBO has also brought over all of the movies and original series from the DC Universe app, which means that you'll also get access to a host of exclusive superhero shows that can't be seen anywhere. This, coupled with the announcement that the bulk of WB's films will premiere first on HBO Max this year, makes this an app that's very hard to pass up.

Pros and Cons

HBO Max looks and feels a lot like a legitimate Netflix competitor. Though the interface might still need a little work, it's arguably already better than what's offered by some of its competitors that got into the space before them. Being able to control your viewing experience directly from the app is also a very nice feature, one that makes the mobile version of HBO Max feel less like a 'light' version of the streaming app and more like a viable option for users.

The downside to HBO Max is that the bulk of the content only comes from WB or from affiliated studios. This gives users access to a tremendous amount of material, of course, but it means that this app is far from a one-stop service. This is very much the kind of movie app that you're going to use in conjunction with other streaming services rather than on its own, which makes the relatively high price point of $14.99 per month a bit higher than many would like to see.

Conclusion

HBO Max is a must-have for those who love to stream movies. It has a surprisingly deep catalog and a number of exclusives, so it makes sense as a good replacement for a traditional cable HBO subscription. Though the content only comes from a select number of studios and there are still some issues with getting a number of otherwise-expected films onto the service, HBO Max is already coming out of the gate strong. Where it will really shine this year, though, is with the exclusive streaming films - at less than the cost of two movie tickets, a monthly subscription makes sense if you're planning to see those films at all.