7 Movies USC Students Should Watch With Their Free Max Subscription

By Avery Thunder

As some consider me to be a “film person” – which mainly stems from my parents showing me a lot of old movies when I was younger – people occasionally ask me for film recommendations. Since USC conveniently supplies us with free Max, to make up for all the money they take from us, here’s a list of some of my favorite movies on Max. Additionally, since I was once in SCA, some of these are pretentious and annoying choices! You can add them to your Letterboxd and proceed to act better than everyone else, you have my blessing. 

1. Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

An uniquely hilarious horror film, Bodies Bodies Bodies stars some well-known Gen Z/Gen Z adjacent actors like Pete Davidson (SNL), Rachel Sennot (Bottoms), and Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give, The Hunger Games). It follows a group of friends vacationing in a remote cabin, where hostility is high from the beginning. When the crew decides to play a game of Bodies Bodies Bodies – a make-believe murder game where the players try to identify the killer – a mix of pre-founded distrust, drugs, and growing tensions result in a deadly turn, where secrets are revealed, lives are lost, and friendships are destroyed. This is a film for enjoyers of Jennifer’s Body and Bottoms. The humor is definitely modern, but the writers do a remarkable job of keeping it from being cringy. Since its release, it has become a bit of a contemporary cult classic. It’s not too scary but incredibly funny and will leave you wondering if at least one of the characters is based off of someone you know.

2. Casablanca (1942)

Beginning as a particularly well written piece of wartime propaganda, Casablanca is a must-watch. Starring Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the film follows a man who is reunited with the love of his life and her husband, as they attempt to flee Casablanca to continue fighting the Nazis. It's a deeply tragic and beautiful story, full of desperation, longing, and melancholy, with one of the best scores ever written. Bogart and Bergman have timeless romantic chemistry, even 80+ years later. Even though I watched this around five years ago, I still think about it weekly. This is a film for anyone and everyone – besides, it's worth watching just for the amount of pop culture references you’ll understand afterwards. 

3. Four Weddings & a Funeral (1994)

My favorite rom-com of all time, Four Weddings & a Funeral is the story of a serial monogamist (Hugh Grant) and the stunning but elusive woman (Andie MacDowell) he meets at his friend’s wedding. Despite his intense love for her, he can never seem to get the timing right, no matter how many times fate pushes them together at random. Hugh Grant is a relatable disaster in this film, somehow managing to do the wrong thing in virtually every situation. Every character is as charming as they are flawed, with all of their problems being painfully human and keeping their relevance today. I would recommend this to lovers of When Harry Met Sally, as I think the two rival each other for best ending scene in a rom-com.

4. In The Heights (2021)

A musical!? Yes, a musical. Everyone seems to be scared of them, but I bet your favorite movie when you were a kid was a musical. Plus, In The Heights is a particularly good musical. Adapted from a Tony-winning Broadway musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda – before Hamilton – and directed by John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked), this film is full of catchy, heartbreaking, and inspiring numbers. It stars the incredibly talented and increasingly popular Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera who have phenomenal romantic and musical chemistry. The story follows a bodega owner and his family as they navigate the increasing gentrification in their New York neighborhood. It is definitely a top three musical for me, and although stage musicals often fail when they’re put on screen, this film surpasses expectations. I would characterize it as a mix between Rent and West Side Story, beautifully covering both love and life, without neglecting either. 

5. Civil War (2024)

The most recent pick on this list, Civil War came out earlier this year. Starring the magnificent Kirsten Dunst and up-and-comer Cailee Spaeny, the film follows a group of journalists as they travel through the United States during a modern day civil war. The film is beautifully shot, with one of the main aspects – conflict photography – greatly contributing to the cinematography. The story is compelling without being cheesy, as you might imagine at first glance. It is absolutely terrifying and thrilling in certain moments, while being heartbreaking and thought provoking in others. Additionally, it does an excellent job of being a movie that takes place during a war, rather than a war movie. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys action films mixed with some introspection.

6. The Strangers (2008)

By far the scariest movie on this list, The Strangers is inspired by real events. Although not receiving the highest of ratings, it has made its way into cult classic territory in recent years. The story takes place in a remote vacation home, where all horror movies start, as a couple is terrorized by three masked tormentors. Starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, this film goes in a more subtle direction within the horror genre, using the score and cinematography to elicit an unsaid and unsettling eeriness, with less of a reliance on gore or jumpscares. For lovers of the horror genre or those who are just getting into it, this film will have you double checking your locks when you’re done with it.

7. The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

My personal favorite depiction of Batman, The LEGO Batman Movie is as stupid as it is funny. With countless TikTok sounds being taken from it, this film has endless quotability and rewatchability. The story follows Batman, who has become increasingly reclusive with his vigilante lifestyle. However, when the new police chief is instated, and she decides to clean up the streets, without Batman’s help, he is left without meaning and searching for a purpose. The film features favorites like Robin, who Bruce accidentally adopts, and the Joker, who is furious that Batman won’t admit he is his greatest enemy. I’d recommend this to people who love superhero films, and those who hate them, because this film does an excellent job of mocking the genre. It’s worth watching and then watching again.