Stream It Before It’s Gone: Michael B. Jordan’s Underrated Superhero Gem Is Leaving HBO Max
Michael B. Jordan’s breakout found-footage superhero thriller Chronicle is leaving HBO Max this month—stream the electrifying tale of three teens who stumble into powers as one spirals into darkness before it’s gone.
If you're a fan of scrappy superhero origin stories and haven't caught Chronicle yet, you might want to move fast. The cult favorite found-footage flick from 2012 — yeah, the one where Michael B. Jordan first got to show off his future blockbuster chops — is about to disappear from HBO Max. Let me break down what makes this one worth your time, plus why its post-release story got messy in ways only Hollywood can pull off.
The Countdown: Leaving HBO Max Soon
First thing's first: Chronicle leaves HBO Max on April 30, 2026. You've got some time, but not forever. If you missed it the first (or second) time around, you might want to add it to your list before it vanishes.
What the Hell is Chronicle?
Chronicle starts out as a teen drama, winds up as a low-key (but actually pretty dark) superhero origin story, and frames the whole thing through shaky camcorder footage. The setup? Three high school guys — Andrew, Matt, and Steve — stumble on some weird glowing cave thing in the woods. Boom: instant telekinetic powers.
At first, everyone treats their new abilities like a party trick. But as you might guess, things go sideways fast, thanks mostly to Andrew, whose home life and bullying issues tip him over the edge once he gets a little too much power.
Nuts and Bolts: Who Made It, Who's In It
- Director: Josh Trank (his first feature, which makes the later drama even spicier)
- Writers: Trank and Max Landis — Trank had the idea, Landis helped shape it into a script, Fox bought it
- Main cast:
- Michael B. Jordan as Steve
- Dane DeHaan as Andrew
- Alex Russell as Matt
- Michael Kelly, Ashley Hinshaw, Bo Petersen, and Anna Wood round out the cast
A Quick Timeline
Shot for $12 million, Chronicle premiered at France's Gérardmer Film Festival in January 2012 and hit U.S. theaters a week later. For a movie that arrived when 'found footage' was already feeling played out, it seriously overperformed — raking in about $127 million worldwide. Critics lapped it up, too. The Rotten Tomatoes score is still impressive: 85% critics, 72% audience.
The Sequel Saga: A Hot Mess, Explained
The movie's success? Naturally, the studio wanted a sequel. But here's where it gets weird: Josh Trank — who helped birth the whole thing — wanted absolutely nothing to do with continuing the story. He's been blunt about it, saying:
'I made it difficult for them to set up meetings. I was dodgy about stuff. I did a lot of shitty things. Because I really didn't ever want to see Chronicle 2 happen. That was my worst nightmare.'
Despite his resistance, Fox eventually tried to reboot the idea as a female-led sequel back in 2021. But, as of now, that reboot has gone absolutely nowhere. (Not surprising. Studios sure don’t know when to let a one-hit wonder stay special.)
The Takeaway
Chronicle might not be the most original thing you'll ever see, but it's one of the rare movies from its era that punches above its weight — part teen drama, part 'what if Superman was actually miserable' story, and featuring an early, magnetic Michael B. Jordan performance for good measure. Catch it on HBO Max before it disappears (again).