The Best Movies Coming to Netflix, Hulu, Prime and Max in September 2023

Guys, we’re almost there. October is just around the corner.

We at Polygon celebrate horror all year round, but Halloween is a special time of year and we’re excited to celebrate it with you. But first, some business: There are some great movies leaving streaming services at the end of September, and you should catch them before they’re gone.

Want a nice classic? Netflix got you. What about comedy breaking sides? Go to Prime. And Netflix, Max and Hulu have modern classics for you…whether you’re looking for fast-paced medieval action or the unique voice of Wes Anderson.

Here are the best movies to watch before they leave streaming services at the end of September.

Editor’s Choice

Rocky

Image: MGM Home Entertainment

Year: 1976
Genre: Sports drama
Lead time: 2 hours
Director: John G. Avildsen
Throw: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers
Quitting Netflix: October 1

I really didn’t watch Rocky Until recently. With release Creed IIII felt inspired to finally go back and explore the origins of the series.

Finally sitting up and looking, I realized what an unforced error my hesitation had been. Rocky “This is one of the greatest sports films I’ve ever seen, not because of what it says about boxing per se, but because of what it says about why the sport matters at all.” for someone. It is a love letter to the oppressed and disillusioned working class of people who are too often ignored and ignored by their own society.

Rocky it’s much more than a “boxing movie.” This is the story of how the American dream itself is the inextricable sum of all the failed hopes, missed opportunities, dangerous mistakes and inevitable heartbreaks that precede it. This is an unapologetically serious story about the stubborn but undeniable persistence of hope in the face of adversity, about choosing to believe in yourself when no one else does, except those who stand closest to you in your darkest moments. It’s not just about boxing; it’s about the life-changing power of simply deciding to take your shot in this life. Question: What shot are you going to take? — Toussaint Egan

Watch on Netflix

Miami Vice

Image: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Year: 2006
Genre: Crime thriller
Lead time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Director: Michael Mann
Throw: Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Gong Li
Quitting Netflix: October 1

Over the course of his long and distinguished career, Michael Mann has created a number of acclaimed cinematic films, such as his 1995 symphonic crime drama. Heat – one of my favorite films. But no other film in his oeuvre is more quintessentially “core Mann” than Miami Vicea feature-length adaptation of the 1984 crime drama series directed by Mann and starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas.

The plot couldn’t be further from the point. This is the real heart Miami Viceenduring appeal: it’s simply unlike any other crime drama of the era. Mann’s experimentation with digital photography provides a level of uncanny realism with landscapes of crushed brown and black textures and a bleached white beachscape. It’s a crime drama that exudes a sense of cool in its own right, a grand experiment that has gained a cult following and is overrated as one of the director’s finest. To sum it up, Miami Vice it’s the atmosphere. -YOU

Watch on Max

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Image: Warner Bros.

Year: 2017
Genre: Fantasy action adventure
Lead time: 2 hours 6 minutes
Director: Guy Ritchie
Throw: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou
Leaving Max: September 30

Visually excellent adaptation of Arthur, Legend of the Sword it is unlike any other, for better or for worse. After the first siege, which might as well have been called Lord of the Rings: King Arthur, giant war elephants and all, baby Arthur was left an orphan. Growing up on the streets, Arthur develops into the typical Guy Ritchie tough guy protagonist (medieval version), but is haunted by nightmares about his parents’ deaths. When he pulls Excalibur out of the stone… well, you know, it’s King Arthur.

With sharp, frantic editing, thrilling use of speed builds in climactic scenes and a stunning score, the film has a palpable personality, but that also means this adaptation is definitely not for everyone. The script is a mess, cobbled together from many previous unproduced attempts at making an Arthur film, but what really makes the film remarkable is that it pushes the boundaries of digital filmmaking, including some of the best editing sequences in recent Hollywood history. If you want to have fun with a stunning visual feast, give Legend of the Sword to the factory —Pete Wolf

Watch it on Hulu

Grand Budapest Hotel

Image: Fox Searchlight Photography

Year: year 2014
Genre: Wes Anderson
Lead time: 1h 39m
Director: Wes Anderson
Throw: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan
Leaving Hulu: September 29

One of Wes Anderson’s best works. Grand Budapest Hotel It’s equally moving as a coming-of-age story, a raucous ensemble comedy, and a confrontation between the director and his distinctive style.

The film is set in a luxury hotel in a fictional country and follows the trials and tribulations of an attentive concierge (Ralph Fiennes), his lobby staff (Tony Revolori), and the hotel’s many guests and employees. Meanwhile, the fascist regime grows and spreads around them.

With a large cast highlighted by Anderson regulars giving some of their best performances (including Willem Dafoe as a sinister hitman and Harvey Keitel as a prison gang leader), the film is easy to enjoy. Grand Budapest Hotel as one of the best examples of the director’s special approach to filmmaking. But there’s a deeper thought here for those willing to look for it: Anderson’s style often evokes a romanticization of the past, but the past was far from romantic for everyone. Grand Budapest interacts directly with this, bringing the horror of fascism directly into this nostalgic setting. —PV

Watch on Prime

Apartment

Image: United Artists

Year: 1960
Genre: Romantic drama
Lead time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Director: Billy Wilder
Throw: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray
Leaving Prime: September 30

Apartment often considered one of the greatest films ever made. This reputation is well deserved.

Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon) allows his company executives to use his apartment for extramarital affairs. He thinks this will help him advance his career at the large insurance company where he works. Although he gains some material benefits from his job, the real result is that he is increasingly taken advantage of by his superiors, leaving Bud unable to sleep in his own bed or have access to his own home. Things quickly change when Bud falls in love with the building’s elevator operator (Shirley MacLaine) and wants to regain control of his life.

This is a sincere and funny romantic comedy, and director Billy Wilder skillfully balances the combination of corporate fatigue and newfound love with the outstanding comedic abilities of the actors. Apartment is one of those films that everyone should watch at least once. —PV

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