I Saw the TV Glow and Civil War are coming to Max in September but only one is my favorite movie of 2024

Kirsten Dunst's Lee Smith looks off to her right in Alex Garland's near-future war movie Civil War
(Image credit: A24)

A24 fans will be eating well in September when two new movies from the indie powerhouse arrive on Max. So, if you didn't manage to catch either of the new movies when they played in theatres or have been desperately waiting for a streaming release date to be announced, then I have good news. 

The movies are Civil War, which will be added to the streamer's library on September 13, closely followed by I Saw the TV Glow a week later on September 20. While neither film is one of the five new A24 movies that I can't wait to watch in 2024, I'm still very excited for their release on one of the best streaming services.

The release date announcement was confirmed via Max's official X (formerly Twitter) account, where the streamer wrote: "More A24 hits are coming to Max. #CivilWar begins streaming September 13 and #ISawTheTVGlow begins streaming September 20, exclusively on Max."

Max has received some criticisms from subscribers recently, though, with fans left disappointed about the Tokyo Vice cancellation and a price hike right before the House of the Dragon season 2 premiere, so hopefully these new additions might get the streaming service back in people's good books.

We've also had updates for big shows like The Penguin in recent months, which also has a September release date, so it could be a big month for the HBO streamer. Keep an eye out on our new Max movies, best Max movies and best Max shows lists for more recommendations.

Which of these two movies do I seriously recommend?

Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine sitting in front of a TV

(Image credit: A24)

To stop leaving you in suspense, it's I Saw the TV Glow that I really think you should watch when it arrives on Max. A24 has such a massive library now, no bad thing, but it does mean it's harder to stand out and make a statement when the studio is producing hit after hit.

So I'm pleased to report that I Saw the TV Glow is one of the most unique movies I've watched all year, possibly even beyond that. Here, a classmate introduces teenager Owen (Justice Smith) to a mysterious late-night TV show called The Pink Opaque, which slowly causes his view of reality to crack. 

Not only is it a stunning exploration of identity and the true self, but it's got some really cool cheesy, low budget visuals with some excellent set design, lighting and overall vibes. It's hard to explain without giving the game away but it's definitely a thought-provoking watch. 

You might also like

Lucy Buglass
Senior Entertainment Writer

Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd. 

Read more
A close up of Hugh Grant's Mister Reed in Heretic
5 new Max movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
Divine G looking at his fellow theater group performers in Sing Sing
6 Max movies and shows I’m most excited to watch in March, from A24 horrors to an offbeat Adult Swim animation
Everything new on Max in January 2025
Sebastian Stan stares into the lens in A Different Man
We Live In Time is Max’s #1 most-watched movie – here are 7 more powerful A24 films with over 91% on Rotten Tomatoes
Colman Domingo staring into the frame in A24's Sing Sing
Everything new on Max in March 2025
Rick and Chelsea stand together in The White Lotus season 3
Everything new on Max in February 2025
Latest in HBO Max
The Righteous Gemstones
Max's #4 most-watched show is The Righteous Gemstones – here are 3 more great comedies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
The cast of The Parenting
The Parenting is Max's #1 most-watched movie but it has frightening reviews – here are 3 better horror films with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
Y2K cast looking shocked
Y2K has a streaming release date on Max, so you can witness the technology uprising at home
A collage of Ellie and Joel in The Last of Us season 2
The Last of Us season 2's new trailer teases a huge showdown between Bella Ramsey's Ellie and Pedro Pascal's Joel, but the big moment I'm waiting for is still being held back
ER doctors, including Dr. Michael "Robby" Rabinavitch (Noah Wyle) attend to a patient in The Pitt
Max's #2 show The Pitt has left viewers breathless – here are 3 more medical dramas with over 85% on Rotten Tomatoes to get your heart pounding
A piece of paper with the words 'an HBO Original film' on it next to a pile of snow
Jesse Armstrong’s next HBO Original sounds like another Succession-style satire starring Steve Carrell and Jason Schwartzman
Latest in News
A man holds a smartphone iPhone screen showing various social media apps including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Instagram and X
Ofcom cracks down on UK tech firms, will issue sanctions for illegal content
Google Chromecast 2
Google rolls out another Chromecast bug fix for users who factory-reset their devices
A Starfew Valley theme on Wear OS
Someone made a Stardew Valley theme for Wear OS and it's perfect
PS5 Pro feature
New Playstation studio is helmed by veteran Call of Duty dev and has been 'working away in the shadows'
3d rendering of a submarine power cable on the seabed
Subsea internet cables can now ‘listen’ for sabotage using irregular pulses of light
Google Pixel 9 front and back
The Google Pixel 9a has gone up for sale and it’s not even out yet