Max Steel

Max Steel has built a real following in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Philo and Starz Apple TV Channel among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 854 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Ben Winchell's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Max Steel is worth clearing space for. Max Steel treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. The adventures of teenager Max McGrath and alien companion Steel, who must harness and combine their tremendous new powers to evolve into the turbo-charged superhero Max Steel. Ben Winchell and Josh Brener lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2016. The world-building is meticulous enough to sustain multiple rewatches, with details early on that only make sense later. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Max Steel genuinely rewarding. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch for Ben Winchell in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.