Club Benefits
HBO Max just added "Pillion" to the streaming service on June 5, and when I tell you this is a must-watch, I'm not exaggerating. I went to the screening for this movie largely on a whim, and when I walked out of the theater, I was debating whether or not I had seen the best movie of the year.
My British friends reading this will be interjecting at this point, crying out that this is a 2025 movie. And they would be technically correct. In the U.K., this unconventional romantic comedy was released in November 2025 after winning awards at Cannes earlier that year. But for those of us across the pond, "Pillion" didn't hit theaters until February 6.
But whether or not this movie is a 2025 movie or a 2026 movie is irrelevant. What matters is that you need to stream it now that it's on HBO Max.
It stars former "Harry Potter" supporting actor Harry Melling in a BDSM relationship with a biker leather daddy played by Alexander Skarsgård, and their chemistry is undeniable. Perhaps coincidentally, it's arrived on HBO Max just in time for Pride Month, but you don't need to be in the LGBTQ+ community to connect with "Pillion." Yes, it's got plenty of men engaging in gay BDSM sex. But this dark rom-com is really a universal love story about commitment, devotion, jealousy and unrequited love. That makes it an accessible story for anyone.
Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, watching dozens of movies a year, so you know what's worth going to the theater for and spending your hard-earned money on.
What is 'Pillion' about?
As I mentioned briefly, "Pillion" stars Melling as Colin, a timid gay man who is struggling through a mundane life. That all changes, though, when he gets picked up by the objectively handsome Ray (Skarsgård) at a local pub. They go on a "date" not long after, and soon find themselves in a BDSM relationship with Colin as the submissive and Ray as the Dom.
Now, I used quotes around the word "date" in that synopsis, because their first encounter is walking their dogs briefly until Ray takes Colin into an alleyway and then forces (consensually) him to perform oral sex on Ray until completion. At that point, the date ends.
As you can see, the movie definitely doesn't hide that it's about a gay sadomasochistic relationship. But it's clear from watching this movie that the introverted Colin is happy to have someone show him the time of day. That's a universal romantic theme. You don't need to be a timid gay man or a domineering biker to understand the feeling that Colin is feeling.
Ray, for what it's worth, seems not to know what he wants either. As assured as he seems in this movie, you can argue he’s not a great Dom in this sub/dom relationship. He intentionally tries to make Colin jealous at one point, which is, once again, a very conventional theme in love and romance.
While their relationship is messy at times, though, it's still beautiful. These two, though they struggle to show it, deeply care for each other. Ray may deny that he can be a typical partner, but you can see from the complex range of emotions that Skarsgård displays through the film that he does still feel things. And that leads to an undeniable chemistry between the two that makes this film a must-watch, even if they sometimes deny it themselves.
Verdict: 'Pillion' is a must-watch in general, not just for Pride Month
As I alluded to earlier, I don't think it's a coincidence that "Pillion" has arrived just in time for Pride Month. And while I strongly believe this is a universal story, I understand that it still won't be for everyone or every situation. If you're not into romantic comedies, then this movie probably won't change that. Melling and Skarsgård engaging in graphic sex also obviously doesn't make sense for a family movie night — never watch it around your parents.
But I promise, if you can convince yourself that there's something in this movie you can connect with, then you'll be rewarded with an incredible love story and an excellent movie. Melling and Skarsgård on screen together are electric and putting on the best performances of their careers. They fully slip into their roles and you'll quickly believe you're watching these characters, Colin and Ray, not the actors portraying them.
So make sure you stream "Pillion" this Pride month, or at least sometime before it leaves HBO Max. I've seen 27 new releases this year, and this movie is currently third on my list. It's right up there with "Project Hail Mary" and "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," albeit a very different movie. Make the time to watch it.
Stream "Pillion" now on HBO Max
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok.
More from Tom's Guide
