This weekend on HBO Max, the highly anticipated The Last of Us premieres — and Velma and Central Intelligence are available to stream now.
HBO Max subscribers should clear their schedules this weekend because the streaming service has tons of movies and television shows to look forward to. Along with the animated series Velma, the post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us premieres on Sunday. On the unscripted side of the platform, Jason Momoa’s The Climb takes a big leap with adrenaline-rushing challenges. And for lovers of film, this weekend is all about comedy; Central Intelligence, Horrible Bosses 2 and Blended are all new highlights to check out. With all these options, it’s hard to think HBO Max doesn’t have its subscribers prepped for the weekend.
The Last of Us Is a Masterpiece in Video Game Adaptations
One of the most anticipated shows of 2023 is The Last of Us, adapted from the highly acclaimed video game of the same name. Since reviews have been rolling in, the series has received an astounding amount of positivity that may make it the first show to break the “video game curse.” The Last of Us takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where an infection destroys civilization and turns humans into cannibalistic and violent creatures.
Like the game, the series centers around a smuggler named Joel, who is tasked with transporting a young girl named Ellie, who is seemingly immune to the Cordyceps virus. On their journey across the apocalyptic United States, they encounter enemies of the infected and uninfected and must work together to survive. Many things are expected to happen that weren’t in the games. But showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have assured fans that these changes were necessary for high-quality entertainment that only HBO could produce. For fans of zombie franchises such as the recently ended The Walking Dead, The Last of Us is the show to latch onto.
Velma Puts an Adult Spin on the Sooby-Doo Character
Another show HBO Max subscribers are looking forward to this weekend is Velma, which focuses on the Scooby-Doo franchise character of the same name. The animated series will introduce an “adults-only” story that sees Velma, Shaggy, Daphne and Fred in a “love quadrangle.” While the franchise is known to appeal to kids with playful mysteries and appropriate stakes, Velma is taking a more literal approach to solving murder mysteries. From what’s been teased about the series, Velma and the gang will be solving an actual murder in her origin story.
Additionally, the show will dive into the topic of Velma’s sexuality and will depict her as LGBTQA. That will come after years of speculation that Velma always had a crush on Daphne and will continue the representation of her being gay or bisexual as she was in the recent Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!
Jason Momoa’s The Climb Gets the Heart Pounding
For those looking for adventure this weekend, The Climb is a good place to start. With legendary rock climber Chris Sharma, actor Jason Momoa hosts this unscripted competition series where amateur rock climbers are put to the test. The competition presents difficult mental and physical challenges, and whoever comes out on top is crowned the world’s best amateur climber. The first three episodes of this hair-raiser of a series will be available to stream on HBO Max this weekend, so viewers can live out their dreams of high-stakes rock climbing through the television.
Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson Are a Comedy Duo in Central Intelligence
Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam) have had some hilarious interview moments promoting the Jumanji films and DC League of Super-Pets. But it all started with the 2016 comedy Central Intelligence. The movie is proof that Hart and Johnson need to do more films together, as their personalities bounce off each other quite well. But apart from their endearing real-life interactions, Central Intelligence promises a fun ride that delivers chemistry, laughs and even a heartwarming story. Central Intelligence follows Hart and Johnson as two former high school classmates that are total opposites but are forced to go on the run when a terrorist intends to sell satellite codes.
Horrible Bosses 2 Gets Revenge Once Again
Another comedy movie on HBO Max this weekend is the 2014 film Horrible Bosses 2, which stars an ensemble cast of Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine and Christoph Waltz. The first Horrible Bosses movie saw a trio of employees attempting to murder their abusive bosses. The sequel sees this trio at it again after a millionaire investor screws them over on a business deal. In retaliation, the trio kidnaps the millionaire’s son to blackmail him to get their money back. While not as critically acclaimed as the first movie, Horrible Bosses 2 is irresistibly hilarious.
Blended Takes Two Families on a ‘Familymoon’
It’s undeniable that people love Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, and putting them together in a romantic comedy is pure gold. In the 2014 movie Blended, Sandler and Barrymore portray two single parents who wind up at the same African safari resort with their children after going on a blind date and never wanting to see each other again. Their family is put together at the resort for a “blended familymoon,” where they get together with other couples. While initially skeptical of this arrangement, the two parents find that the blind date doesn’t determine how their relationship will end up.
