3 swoon-worthy romantic movies to watch on HBO Max in May 2026 | Tech Radar

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3 swoon-worthy romantic movies to watch on HBO Max in May 2026

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Romance fans, you're in for a real treat this month. HBO Max has added a bunch of new movies to their library, and among them are three swoon-worthy stories you won't want to miss.

Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights leads the round-up, with the feature dividing audiences, including our streaming writer Jasmine Valentine, who said "if it was a spice, it would be flour" in her review. You can decide whether or not you agree now that it's streaming at home.

Here are the biggest romance movies on HBO Max in May.

HBO Max added the classic Wuthering Heights ahead of its new adaptation

7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more this weekend (May 1)

3 binge-worthy new HBO Max shows to stream in April 2026

Director: Jon M. Chu Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Michelle Yeoh Runtime: 121 minutes Age Rating: PG-13

Crazy Rich Asians is a personal favorite of mine so I was excited to see it on HBO Max this month.

The movie follows a Chinese American professor, Rachel, who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick and is shocked to discover that Nick's family is actually one of the richest families in the country. Rachel struggles to fit in and finds much of it overwhelming, making it the perfect setup for a good romantic comedy.

The costumes and sets are stunning too, naturally. It's a great bit of escapism.

Director: Emerald Fennell Cast: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes Runtime: 136 minutes Age Rating: R

Emerald Fennell is back with another controversial movie, but that's why you should check out Wuthering Heights for yourself. It's one of the most talked-about movies of the year, and whether you love it or hate it, it's one of HBO Max's biggest new additions.

Fennell's take on the iconic, intense, destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw is designed to "recreate the feeling of a teenage girl reading this book for the first time" and features music by Charli XCX, making it tailored for the modern era. Hey, it might just surprise you.

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Director: Greg Berlanti Cast: Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner, Katherine Langford, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. Runtime: 110 minutes Age Rating: PG-13

Love, Simon is one of the best teen romantic comedies out there, centering around a closeted teenage boy, Simon Spier, as he navigates life and school.

He's going through a turbulent time in his life as he is forced to balance his friends, family, and the blackmailer threatening to out him to the entire high school, while also attempting to discover the identity of the anonymous classmate whom he has fallen in love with online.

That's quite a lot, and makes for an excellent movie. It's widely considered a crowd-pleaser for a reason.

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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 Tech Radar 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.

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News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards
Unlock instant access to exclusive member features
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards