HBO Films (USA): 17

The Normal Heart (2014) is an American television drama film directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, based on his 1985 play of the same name. In the summer of 1981, Alexander ‘Ned’ Weeks, an openly gay writer from New York City, heads to Fire Island for his friend Craig Donner’s birthday celebration at a beach house. Other guests include Mickey Marcus and the charming Bruce Niles, who is now dating young and seemingly healthy Craig. However, while strolling on the beach, Craig suddenly feels lightheaded and falls down. Later, during his ...

Behind the Candelabra (2013), an American biographical comedy drama television film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Richard LaGravenese, is based on the book of the same name by Scott Thorson and Alex Thorleifson. In 1977, 18-year-old Scott, an animal trainer for movies, meets Hollywood producer Bob Black in a gay bar in Los Angeles. Encouraged by Black, he leaves his adopted home in search of better job opportunities. Black introduces him to Liberace, who ...

Clear History (2013) is a comedy TV film, directed by Greg Mottola. In 2003, Nathan Flomm (previously known as bearded and long-haired) was an opinionated and obnoxious business associate of Will Haney in San Jose, California. Haney’s company was preparing to launch a new electric car, which Flomm did not agree with being named ‘the Howard’ after Haney’s son (who was named after the hero of The Fountainhead, Howard Roark). After accepting a severance package and cutting ties with the company, Flomm’s life took an unexpected turn. The Howard became a massive success, causing Flomm to miss ...

Too Big to Fail (2011) is an American biographical drama that aired on HBO. Directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Peter Gould, the film was based on Andrew Ross Sorkin’s non-fiction book of the same name. It received multiple nominations at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. The plot revolves around the 2008 mortgage industry crisis and the sale of Bear Stearns to JPMorgan Chase with Federal guarantees. As news of this spreads, short sellers shift their focus to another investment bank, Lehman Brothers. Despite trying ...

The Pacific (2010) follows a U.S. Marine Corps squad during their campaign against the Japanese Empire in WWII. Created by the same team as Band of Brothers, it portrays the struggles of ordinary soldiers during war. This fast-paced series appeals to action enthusiasts, but also showcases the emotional bonds between Marines on the battlefield. However, unlike its ‘older brother’ Band of Brothers, The Pacific takes a unique approach by delving into the lives of soldiers who were chosen to return home and promote war bonds. Through this, it explores the journey of these men from initial excitement to eventual regret and even shame towards ...

The American television miniseries John Adams (2008) follows the political journey of U.S. president John Adams and his pivotal role in the establishment of the United States. Directed by Tom Hooper and starring Paul Giamatti as Adams, the series was adapted from David McCullough’s 2001 book of the same name by Kirk Ellis. Over seven episodes, HBO brought to life both the biopic of Adams and the first 50 years of America’s history. Garnering widespread critical ...

An American seven-part television miniseries titled Generation Kill (2008), aired on HBO from July 13 to August 24, 2008. It is an adaptation of Evan Wright’s book about his time as an embedded reporter with the US Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, developed for television by David Simon, Ed Burns, and Wright. The production was helmed by director Susanna White and producer ...

Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006), an American disaster drama TV miniseries, portrays the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Written by Abi Morgan and directed by Bharat Nalluri, it is a joint production of HBO and the BBC. Through intertwining plotlines, we witness the personal tragedies faced by various characters. The Carter family, consisting of Ian, Susie, and their six-year-old daughter Martha, desperately search for her after she was carried away by the tsunami. In addition, Kim Peabody and her son Adam also scour the destruction for Kim’s ...

In the drama film Last Days (2005), directed, produced, and written by Gus Van Sant, we witness a fictionalized portrayal of a musician’s final days, loosely based on Kurt Cobain. The central character, Blake, breaks out of a rehab facility and makes his way back home through the forest. After swimming through a lake and spending the night by a fire, he returns to his house and changes his clothes before wandering around with a shotgun in hand. Among his roommates – Scott, Luke, Asia, and Nicole – is Thadeus A. Thomas, who chats with him about advertising in the upcoming Yellow Pages book. Despite ...

The Fever (2004), a psychological drama produced by HBO Films and directed by Carlo Gabriel Nero, is based on the 1990 play of the same name by Nero and actor Wallace Shawn. The film centers on an unnamed urban sophisticate who experiences an existential crisis upon realizing the nature of world politics, economic exploitation, and shallow consumerism in her surroundings. In search for deeper understanding, she embarks on a journey to an unnamed third world country, which serves as an exotic location somewhere in Eastern ...

The biographical film, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004), is based on Roger Lewis’s book and follows the journey of English comedian, Peter Sellers. It begins with him walking up to a director’s chair, before the unseen live audience breaks into applause. In 1950s London, he is already a well-known performer on The Goon Show but struggles to make a mark in film. After a disappointing audition, he seeks comfort at home with his family but receives pushy advice from his overbearing mother Peg to ‘bite the hand that feeds you’. Inspired by her words, Peter taps into his talent for ...

Elephant (2003) is a gripping American psychological drama film by writer, director, and editor Gus Van Sant. Set in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon at Watt High School, the film delves into the aftermath of a school shooting, inspired by the infamous 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The story follows various high school students as they navigate their lives leading up to the tragic event. One student, John McFarland, has a turbulent relationship with his alcoholic father – evident when he takes over driving due to his father’s drunken state. Upon arriving late to school, John faces disciplinary action ...

Live from Baghdad (2002) is an American TV war drama film directed by Mick Jackson and co-written by Robert Wiener, based on his book of the same name. On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invade Kuwait City, prompting CNN to select Wiener and his team for coverage. At the Rome International Airport, Wiener meets his producer Ingrid Formanek before arriving in Baghdad on August 23 and settling into their rooms at the Al-Rasheed Hotel. However, they soon realize they are being monitored. Their first story focuses on a young British boy being held captive by Saddam Hussein. As ...

Band of Brothers (2001), an American war drama miniseries, is based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose’s 1992 non-fiction book of the same name. It was created and executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who had previously collaborated on the 1998 World War II film Saving Private Ryan. Across ten episodes, Band of Brothers follows Easy Company’s experiences during the war. These include their training at Camp Toccoa, participation in the Normandy landings, Operation Market Garden, ...

Gia (1998), an American biographical drama television film, follows the story of Gia Carangi, one of the first supermodels. A Philadelphia native, Gia moves to New York City in pursuit of her dream to become a fashion model. Upon her arrival, she catches the eye of influential agent Wilhelmina Cooper. With her striking demeanor and stunning looks, Gia quickly becomes a prominent figure in the modeling world. However, despite her success, she struggles with feelings of isolation, exacerbated by the loss of Wilhelmina. This leads her down a destructive path as she turns to drugs like cocaine and heroin to cope. Gia finds herself ...

The HBO film, The Tuskegee Airmen (1995), depicts the inspiring story of the first African-American combat pilots in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Directed by Robert Markowitz, the film follows Hannibal ‘Iowa’ Lee Jr. as he joins fellow flight cadet candidates Billy ‘A-Train’ Roberts, Walter Peoples III, and Lewis Johns on a train to Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon beginning their training, they are introduced to Colonel Noel Rogers and Major Sherman Joy, who each have their own perspectives on the cadets’ journey. While Rogers is optimistic and urges the cadets to prove ...

Citizen X (1995) is an American television film based on the true story of Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. The film follows detectives in the 1980s as they work to capture an unknown serial killer responsible for the murder of women and children. Despite bureaucratic obstacles, forensic specialist Viktor Burakov leads an eight-year hunt for the perpetrator after a body is discovered on a collective farm in 1982. As they continue their search, seven more bodies are found in nearby woods, all showing signs of mutilation and murder. In total, 53 lives were taken, with 52 victims under the age of 35. Burakov’s rise to ...