HBO and Max have movies in all genres, and this week’s selections of underrated movies clearly illustrate that fact. From Harley Quinn to Willy Wonka, the streaming platform features iconic characters that have made us laugh, smile and cry for years.
The three movies below could all be considered underrated for different reasons.
Birds of Prey was, unfortunately, an underappreciated box-office bomb despite its solid reviews. He’s Just Not That Into You did well in theaters but didn’t quite achieve “classic rom-com” status. And Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has always been a fan favorite, but remakes and prequels have buried it over the past few decades.
Here’s the Watch With Us breakdown on why you should watch these three underrated movies in June 2025.
‘Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)’ (2020)This criminally overlooked film set the stage for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, which in turn paved the way for the DC renaissance that we’re all hoping will begin with this summer’s Superman. Birds of Prey is a vibrant, exciting movie that’s as stylish, colorful and chaotic as its lead character, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).
Recently dumped by the Joker, the psychiatrist-turned-clown-themed criminal soon realizes that she ticked off quite a few bad guys while under the Joker’s protection. Now flying solo, she soon finds herself in the crosshairs of psychotic crime lord Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). As she goes on the run, she encounters Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez).
The women form a reluctant team, and their chemistry is as reactive onscreen as the bubbling vats of the Ace Chemicals plant that Harley crashes her car into. If you enjoyed The Suicide Squad but skipped this movie, check out Birds of Prey — you might be surprised by how well the pair go together.
‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ (2009)Looking for love can be very frustrating, as any single person will know. There’s often one person who’s way more invested in a relationship than the other — which can lead to tension, awkwardness and even breakups. He’s Just Not That Into You features a large ensemble cast of interconnected characters who are all experiencing this phenomenon.
The impressive ensemble cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Kevin Connolly. Tying them all together is Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), a hopeless romantic who is constantly pursuing emotionally unavailable men. Alex (Justin Long), an aloof bartender, takes pity on Gigi and starts giving her advice about how to read signals from men — but his knowledge might not be as foolproof as he thinks it is.
Everyone can find something to relate to in this sprawling rom-com that reminds us not to settle for someone who’s just not that into it. After all, the film seems to say, the right person will go all in.
‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)
Wonka, the musical Willy Wonka origin story starring Timothée Chalamet, was a huge hit in 2023 — and there’s apparently a sequel already in the works. If you’re a fan of the enigmatic chocolatier, don’t forget to revisit the 1971 movie that started it all.
Gene Wilder is delightful in this candy-coated confection of a film, which introduced us to songs like “Pure Imagination” and established an Oompa Loompa theme song that would get stuck in people’s heads for generations to come. It’s a worthy tribute to the world of Roald Dahl, although it sands off some of the naughtier edges of the original novel. The visuals hold up surprisingly well, and Wilder’s performance is simply iconic.
