After Just 3 Days, New R-Rated Mystery Thriller With Harry Potter Star Becomes HBO Max’s Top Movie In America

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A recently released mystery thriller starring a famous actor from the Harry Potter films has quickly become one of the most popular shows on streaming platforms.

In the 2025 thriller Dead of Winter, Emma Thompson plays Barb, a woman journeying through the snowy landscape of northern Minnesota. When she witnesses a teenage girl being kidnapped, Barb realizes she’s the only one who can help, despite being stranded without cell service and far from civilization. The film, directed by Brian Kirk, also features Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, Laurel Marsden, and Gaia Wise.

As of February 23, Dead of Winter is the no. 1 movie among the Top 10 Movies Today in America on HBO Max, following its streaming release on February 20. It has overtaken the psychological dark comedy If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, featuring Rose Byrne’s Oscar-nominated performance, which was at no. 1 for a few weeks. It is also ahead of Masterminds, The Smashing Machine, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

The film Dead of Winter, which received a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, first premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in August 2025. It had a limited release in theaters the following month. While Gregory Nussen of ScreenRant only gave the film a 4/10 score, he praised the performances of Thompson and Greer, stating their scenes together almost redeem the movie.

The movie’s biggest stars are likely attracting audiences, including the leads from Much Ado About Nothing and 13 Going on 30. Judy Greer is also well-known for her roles in Tomorrowland and Ant-Man, and recently appeared in The Long Walk and The Last Thing He Told Me. Emma Thompson is a legendary actress with a long and acclaimed career on stage and in films like Howards End, The Remains of the Day, and Sense and Sensibility.

The Harry Potter films were known for casting many of Britain’s best actors in the adult roles. Emma Thompson first appeared in 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as Sybill Trelawney, the somewhat eccentric divination teacher at Hogwarts, and went on to be in two more films in the series.

While not considered a top film in Emma Thompson’s career, Dead of Winter is generally seen as a solid thriller. Critics agree that Thompson’s performance elevates what would otherwise be a typical thriller, and many genre fans are now finding and enjoying it on streaming platforms.

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2026-02-23 19:20