In recent years, Max has emerged as one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world. Originally named HBO Max, the streaming service has an extraordinary catalog of movies and TV shows. However, in recent times, Max has gained widespread popularity among the viewers of non-fiction cinema or documentaries.
The streamer has a plethora of documentaries based on several themes, such as true crime, sports, music, and more. But it can be really hard to choose one and embark on this fascinating journey. So, we have hand-picked a few documentaries that released in 2023 to make your task easy. A lot of these documentaries talk about the society we live in and its members. And they surely provide a new perspective on several issues.
Let’s dig in and get to know more about the Best Documentaries of 2023 on HBO Max.
Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning
The gruesome murder of Carol Stuart in 1989 stunned the entire nation. Initial investigation revealed that an unknown assailant allegedly murdered Carol and attacked her husband, Charles Stuart. However, as the investigation progressed, the authorities soon got to know that Charles was responsible for his wife’s death. Max’s expertly crafted documentary talks about the case in a detailed manner and explains how Charles tried to save himself by accusing an African-American man of the crime. The police didn’t even question Charles and started arresting young African-American men, creating paranoia in the entire community.
‘Murder in Boston’ is a captivating crime story and courageously explores racial tensions. Undoubtedly, it is one of the Best Documentaries of 2023 on HBO Max.
Great Photo, Lovely Life
How would you react if you got to know that one of your family members committed heinous crimes? Well, you would like to know more about it, and that’s what Amanda Mustard does in ‘Great Photo, Lovely Life.’ The spine-chilling documentary sees Mustard investigating the multiple sexual assault crimes committed by her grandfather, William “Bill” Flickinger. One of the most haunting aspects of the documentary is how brutal it is and doesn’t shy away from showing the evilness of a man. Flickinger had no remorse for what he did and even blamed the victims for everything that happened to them. But the most intriguing aspect of the documentary is that it doesn’t encourage you to judge people around Flickinger even when what you see on the screen makes you angry.
It is a heart-wrenching story about how cruel this world can be.
Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God
The discovery of Amy Carlson’s corpse in April 2021 sent shockwaves among her followers. Popularly known as ‘Mother God,’ Carlson created an alleged religious group, Love Has Won, and taught the followers several things. Her followers believed she was a reincarnation of Jesus Christ. However, in April 2021, the authorities found her mummified body decorated with Christmas lights. After her death, several former members of the group came forward and described the group as a “cult.” The HBO Max documentary chronicles the journey of Amy Carlson and how she became the ‘Mother God.’ It also showcases how people blindly started following a person who managed to create a false identity.
Most importantly, this documentary is unbiased and doesn’t necessarily add sensationalism to make it more effective.
Last Stop Larrimah
Although HBO Max is filled with exciting documentaries, none of them is as exhilarating as ‘Last Stop Larrimah.’ The documentary follows the disappearance of a resident in Larrimah, Australia, that caused a lot of stir. The investigation began, and soon, the entire town became a suspect. The film is one of the wackiest documentaries you will ever get a chance to watch and is a prime example of a black comedy. Apart from that, it also explores how Australians live and the country’s rugged wildness.
