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Best movies on Amazon Prime Video in October 2024

The best movies on Amazon Prime Video to please audiences of every type

The best movies on Amazon Prime Video give you the grand cinematic experience right in the comfort of your own home. Why deal with a crowd or expensive snacks from the concession stand when a subscription to Amazon Prime comes with access to one of the best streaming services ?

Not only does an annual Prime subscription give you free two-day shipping, but you also get unlimited streaming of both licensed and original movies. That includes classic blockbusters and newer hits, as well as a bunch of hidden Prime Video features you may have missed . 

With thousands of titles at your fingertips, though, finding the best movies on Amazon Prime Video doesn't need to involve hours of scrolling. Our recommendations range from quirky comedies to chilling horror movies to serious dramas. 

We've also got tips for mastering Amazon's most popular streaming device, so check out our guide for how to use the Fire Stick . And, if you're heading abroad, you'll need an Amazon Prime VPN to access everything you pay for.

Best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now

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'Challengers' 

'lisa frankenstein' .

Tashi (Zendaya) is a former tennis player turned coach with a husband she's molded into a champion. However, when he finds himself in the middle of a losing streak, Tashi convinces hi to participate in a challenger event to build his skill and self-esteem once more. Tensions rise to a boiling point when Tashi's husband finds himself face-to-face with his former best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend, Patrick (Joshua O'Connor), on the opposite side of the net. Once a promising player himself, Patrick has since become a shell of his former self. The encounter between the two former friends and rivals sets the stage for some unexpected competition -- and romantic tension between the trio as well. 

Lisa (Kathryn Newton) is a young girl who's just started over at a new school after a bit of a tragedy. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a shocking secret: a reanimated corpse in the town cemetery (Cole Sprouse). The already struggling Lisa, who's having trouble making friends or fitting in, now has to keep her discovery a secret while caring for the corpse as her new acquaintance. And wait, what's that – romance in the air? This kitschy flick is perfect for Halloween with its '80s-inspired sass and Newton makes it a blast every step of the way. 

Watch now  

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is a man with anterograde amnesia after an attack that claimed his wife's life. Driven by the thirst for vengeance, Leonard navigates a fragmented reality, relying on tattoos, Polaroid photographs, and scribbled notes to unravel the mystery surrounding his wife's murder. The movie unfolds in a way that forces both Leonard and the audience to question the reliability of memory and the consequences of obsession. Director Christopher Nolan's carefully crafted puzzle will keep you guessing until the very end, though you'll be moved to the edge of your seat long before the credits ever roll. 

'Oppenheimer'

This massive blockbuster is a gripping biographical drama starring Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II. It dramaticizes Oppenheimer's role in developing the first atomic bomb and the moral dilemmas he faced throughout the process. As the project progresses, Oppenheimer grapples with the weight of his decisions and their potential consequences. Director Christopher Nolan's distinct storytelling style offers a fresh and compelling take on this pivotal moment in history, delving into the complexities of Oppenheimer's character and the ultimate impact of his work on the world – and war. 

'Role Play'

Emma (Kaley Cuoco) is a suburbanite with a deadly secret. Living a seemingly normal life with her husband Dave (David Oyelowo) and their two kids in New Jersey, she's the picture of a great wife and mom. Emma finds herself scrambling for an explanation when her secret life as an assassin is exposed. When another assassin (Bill Nighy) crashes date night with Emma in his crosshairs, she's forced to come clean. How's that for spicing up a seven-year marriage? - BV

Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is a struggling Oxford student who finds himself entwined in the world of his affluent classmate Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Invited to spend the summer at Catton's family's lavish Saltburn estate, Oliver soon finds himself mired in a realm of privilege and hidden agendas, where every kindness masks a potential betrayal. There’s also a deluge of scenes you may or may not have been spoiled on through TikTok already – so keep an eye out for those especially spicy moments. - BV

Hen (Saiorse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal) are a couple living a quiet, isolated life. Everything changes one day when an enigmatic stranger arrives, offering them a bewildering opportunity that threatens the very fabric of their relationship. With their partnership already on the verge of tatters, Junior is called to work on a space station. But his absence isn’t the real issue. It soon becomes about who – or what – is  replacing him while he's away. - BV

My Policeman

Don’t worry, darling – Harry Styles isn’t done making movies yet. His last film may have circled down the drain due to non-stop gossip (and poor reviews), but the former One Direction band member is still heading toward a film career. 

In My Policeman, he stars as a gay cop in 1950s Brighton. Tom Burgess is in the closet, though, married to teacher Marion (Emma Corrin, aka Princess Diana from The Crown). He has a secret affair with museum curator Patrick (David Dawson). Years later, the older version of Tom (Linus Roache) has a reunion with older Patrick (Ruper Everett) that is both unexpected and painful. - KW

Catherine Called Birdy

This passion project written and directed by Lena Dunham is an adaptation of Karen Cushman’s 1994 Newbery Medal-winning children’s book. Set in the 13th century, the medieval coming-of-age story follows Lady Catherine aka Birdy (Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey) as the sassy, smart daughter of financially-downturned nobles. 

Her father Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott) wants to sell her off to a wealthy husband, but the rebellious Birdy finds a way to evade almost all the suitors. Unfortunately, she’s betrothed to a rich man she calls Shaggy Beard (Paul Kaye) and she’ll have to resort to desperate measures to get out of the marriage. - KW

Thirteen Lives

Hollywood loves making melodramatic movies that rip from the headlines about real-life perilous events. Tom Hanks has starred in several of them (see: Sully, Captain Phillips). He is surprisingly not involved in Thirteen Lives, though it’s directed by frequent collaborator Ron Howard.

The survival flick chronicles the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue of a local junior football team and their coach, who were trapped by a heavy rainfall for 18 days. Their plight gained worldwide interest and drew international rescue teams. Viggo Mortenson stars as Richard Stanton and Colin Farrell is John Volanten, the divers who found them. They must race around the clock to extract the teens from the cave before the next monsoon hits. - KW

Don't Make Me Go

Six years after #StarringJohnCho went viral on social media, there is still a decided lack of movies and shows starring the insanely charismatic actor. Cho really deserves more headlining opportunities (the short-lived Cowboy Bebop series hardly counts), so it’s great to see him headlining this heartwarming road trip flick.

Max is a single dad who is diagnosed with a terminal illness. In an attempt to bond with his teen daughter Wally (Mia Isaac), he proposes a cross-country journey. Wally, who doesn’t know his secret, reluctantly agrees after being promised driving lessons. They head to New Orleans for Max’s college reunion, where he hopes to encounter Wally’s long-absent mother. - KW

All the Old Knives

Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton star in this tense thriller as spies and ex-lovers who play a smoldering cat-and-mouse game over dinner — shades of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Henry has been tasked by his CIA boss (Lawrence Fishburne) to look into an old case: a plane hijacking that ended with the deaths of everyone on board, including the terrorists. The disaster still haunts the CIA to this day, especially since they suspect a mole might’ve leaked info to the terrorist — and Celia is a prime suspect. Henry must wine and dine her to dig for the truth, but as the meal progresses, it begins to feel like one of them might not make it to dessert. 

I Want You Back

Breaking up is hard to do, which is why Peter (Charlie Day) and Emma (Jenny Slate) are scheming to get their partners back. After meeting randomly in their office building, they bond over the fact that both were unexpectedly dumped. 

Misery loves company, so when they see their exes Anne (Gina Rodriguez) and Noah (Scott Eastwood) have moved on with new people, they hatch a desperate plot to torpedo the new romances. Emma offers to seduce Logan, Anne's new boyfriend, while Peter attempts to befriend Noah and discourage him from pursuing Ginny (Clark Backo). What could go wrong? Everything! 

Book of Love

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Prime Video unveils this light, gentle rom-com about uptight English writer Henry (Sam Claflin) whose novel is a massive failure everywhere but Mexico. When he’s invited to take a promotional tour through the country, he meets the book’s translator, Maria (Verónica Echegui), who will be traveling with him. 

Soon, Henry discovers why his book is such a success in Mexico — Maria has rewritten it as an erotic novel. He’s furious, but also finds himself very attracted to her. You can probably guess how this story ends. 

The Tender Bar

Ben Affleck is in front of the camera and George Clooney is behind it for this adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist J. R. Moehringer’s memoir, which recounts his childhood in Long Island. The fatherless young J.R. (Daniel Ranieri, then Tye Sheridan) grows up sitting at the bar tended by his Uncle Charlie (Affleck). His financially-strapped mother (Lily Rabe) has big aspirations for him, and as J.R. struggles to achieve them, he returns to the bar again and again to receive Charlie’s support and advice.

As a director, Clooney has delivered a string of unmemorable films (The Midnight Sky, anyone? Suburbicon?), and The Tender Bar doesn’t exactly break the streak. But if you’re in the mood for a heartwarming, sweet story anchored by a terrific performance from Affleck, then this is your ticket.  

Being the Ricardos

There’s nothing Aaron Sorkin loves more than going behind the scenes of a television show. He did it with Sports Night, then again with the indulgent Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and most recently (and perhaps most egregiously) with The Newsroom. He’s back at it again in this movie about the stars of I Love Lucy. For the youths, that was a sitcom that aired on CBS in the 1950s. 

Nicole Kidman makes yet another transformation into the flame-haired Lucille Ball, while Javier Bardem plays her husband and creative partner Desi Arnaz. Several personal crises coalesce during one week of production, threatening to derail the show and the couple’s careers. 

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Benedict Cumberbatch is already getting awards season notice for The Power of the Dog, but that’s the only movie he’s in this fall. In this biopic, Cumberbatch stars as the eccentric artist Louis Wain, whose trippy, anthropomorphised paintings of cats helped transform the public perception of felines. His work is widely credited as starting the widespread adoption of cats as pets. 

The movie follows Wain from the late 1800s to the 1930s, as he seeks to unlock the “electrical” mysteries of the world. His ruminations lead his art to become more stylized and psychedelic, but also give him more insight into the love he shares with wife Emily (Claire Foy). Watch now

Adam Driver’s oeuvre can best be summed up as “extremely eclectic,” and this trippy dramedy falls right in. He plays a stand-up comedian named Henry McHenry (really) who falls in love with a world-renowned opera singer, Ann (Marion Cotillard). The passionate and glamorous couple soon have a daughter, Annette — portrayed by a wooden marionette puppet (yes, really). But as Ann travels the world singing, Henry's career begins to suffer and their marriage unravels. After a tragedy, Annette develops a mysterious ability that stuns her father and the world. 

Without Remorse

This feature-film spinoff from the Jack Ryan franchise tells the origin story of John Clark (Michael B. Jordan), a fan-favorite character in Tom Clancy's books. Before he's John Clark, he's John Kelly in the movie, which starts with the Navy SEAL successfully leading a top-secret op against former Russian soldiers. In retaliation, the group murders his pregnant wife and Kelly vows to avenge her. Kelly teams up with a fellow SEAL (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a shadowy CIA agent (Jamie Bell), but their mission ends up exposing a vast international conspiracy that threatens to trigger war between the U.S. and Russia. Kelly finds himself torn between personal honor and loyalty to his country as he and his allies try to avert disaster and reveal the powerful figures behind the conspiracy. 

Coming 2 America

Did we really need yet another sequel of a long-past movie? Probably not, but in these (still) pandemic times, I’m happy to see Eddie Murphy’s old gem unearthed and given a new shine. There’s some head-scratching retconning in Coming 2 America , but just wave it away. Murphy’s Prince Akeem, now king of Zamunda, returns to Queens to find his long-lost son Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler) because his country’s sexist policies won’t let any of his daughters inherit the throne. Lavelle and his mom (Leslie Jones) become the new fish out of water, as they travel to Zamunda for a very awkward family reunion. 

Sound of Metal

This powerful, affecting drama follows the journey of Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a metal drummer who begins to lose his hearing. It's a devastating development, because his entire identity is wrapped up in playing and listening to music. When he spirals into addiction, his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) checks him into a rehab center for the deaf, where he grapples with his new normal. Ahmed delivers a stunning performance in one of the best movies on Amazon Prime. 

Love and Friendship

Kate Beckinsale is at her most charming in this fizzy, crackling adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Lady Susan. The recently widowed lady uses those charms (and other, more wicked tactics) in a scheme to ensnare a rich new husband. Her plan is complicated by the fact that she's having an affair with a married man. It's a blast watching Beckinsale ratchet up her powers of flirtation as she pursues a clueless suitor. And Chloe Sevigny is perfect as Lady Susan's droll American friend. 

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Sacha Baron Cohen is back as his most (in)famous character — journalist Borat Sagdiyev of Kazakhstan. He's returning to America, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, to get close to President Donald Trump. Chaos, of course, ensues. This time, he's joined by daughter Tutar (Maria Bakalova), who he's offering as a bride to Vice President Mike Pence, then later to Rudy Giuliani. A scene involving the latter has sparked a ton of online chatter. 

The Big Sick

This delightful and nuanced romantic comedy is based on the real-life courtship of comedian Kumail Nanjiani and wife Emily V. Gordon. Nanjiani plays a version of himself, while Zoe Kazan takes on Emily's role. Their budding relationship is halted first by Kumail's expectation of an arranged marriage with a Pakistani woman of his parents' choice, then by Emily falling extremely ill. Kumail wants to win her back, but to do that, he first has to win over her parents (Ray Romano and Holly Hunter). We may know how it ends, but the journey to get there is worth watching. 

The Handmaiden

One of 2016's darkest, sexiest, most intense films, The Handmaiden tells the story of the devious Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) and the enterprising Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo) during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Fujiwara is a con artist who plans to milk a wealthy Japanese heiress for all that she's worth, while Sook-hee is a pickpocket whom he contracts to pose as, you guessed it, the heiress's handmaiden. But as Sook-hee grows closer and closer to the heiress, alliances shift and double-crosses become inevitable. The film doesn't pull any punches on violence or eroticism, but it doesn't shy away from a gripping story or complex characters, either. 

A highly anticipated remake of a classic 1977 Italian horror film, Suspiria stars Dakota Johnson as a young woman who joins a German dance company, only to find out that the whole operation is run by witches. (Don't you just hate it when that happens?) Seeing the supernatural drama unfold is one reason to watch this film; Tilda Swinton represents three others. In Suspiria, you get a triple-dose of Swinton: as a choreographer, a (male) therapist and one more role that might be a bit of a spoiler — but it's worth the buildup. Suspiria is one of those films that people tend to either love or hate, depending on their tolerance for weird gore and an outlandish tone. But it's better to get something unique than something that plays it safe. 

"Creed" is a sports drama movie that serves as a spinoff and sequel to the "Rocky" series. The movie centers around Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the illegitimate son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Despite never having known his famous father, Adonis is determined to forge his own path in the boxing world.

Adonis seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), his father's old rival and friend, to train him. Rocky, now retired and dealing with personal struggles, reluctantly agrees to mentor the young boxer. As Adonis trains under Rocky's guidance, he faces numerous challenges both inside and outside the ring . "Creed" actually received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, and its respectful continuation of the "Rocky" saga.   — AB  

"Pearl" is a psychological horror serving as a prequel to the earlier movie "X." The movie stars Mia Goth as Pearl, a young woman living on her family's isolated farm during the early 20th century. Pearl dreams of escaping her oppressive and mundane life to pursue stardom and a more glamorous existence. As the story unfolds, Pearl's desperation to break free from her circumstances drives her to increasingly dark and violent behavior. The film delves into her psychological unraveling, exploring themes of ambition, isolation, and madness.   — AB 

'The Holdovers'

Director Alexander Payne affectionately evokes the spirit of 1970s cinema with this snarky yet warm dramedy about a misanthropic classics teacher forced to chaperone a group of students over winter break. Set in 1970 New England, the movie stars Paul Giamatti as the perpetually grumpy Paul Hunham, who resents the privileged students he teaches at an elite boarding school.

When Hunham is assigned to supervise the “holdovers” who don’t go home for the holidays, he’s left on campus with student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), along with school cafeteria manager Marie Lamb (Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph). After other students leave, the three of them form an unlikely bond, in a story that is heartwarming without becoming sappy. The characters remain prickly and difficult while also coming to a deeper understanding of what connects them. - JB

'Beetlejuice'

It’s hard to believe that “Beetlejuice” is only the second feature film by director Tim Burton, because his signature goth-cute style is already in full effect in this enormously entertaining supernatural comedy. Michael Keaton gives one of his most memorable performances as the title character, an opportunistic ghost who seizes on the prospect of haunting the living when he’s summoned by a newly deceased couple.

Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin play the couple who are horrified by the new residents of their formerly cozy home and want them driven away, with Winona Ryder as the sullen teen daughter of those obnoxious new owners. “Beetlejuice” is a vibrant, funny, gorgeously designed movie that captures all of Burton’s strengths, defining one of cinema’s most distinctive aesthetics while telling a creative, engaging story. - JB

'No Country for Old Men'

The only Coen brothers movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture is one of their darkest films, and also one of their best . The Coens adapt Cormac McCarthy’s bleak novel about the devastating consequences that come for a hunter who discovers a case of money left behind after a drug deal gone bad. Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds himself the target of relentless hitman Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), and both are pursued by pragmatic Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones).

Bardem won a well-deserved Oscar for his bone-chilling portrayal of the psychopathic Chigurh, one of the most terrifying movie villains of all time. The Coens retain their deadpan sense of humor while bringing McCarthy’s harsh story of violence and cruelty to life onscreen.

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Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.

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The 22 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

In Recent years, Netflix and Apple TV+ have been duking it out to have the most prestigious film offerings, but some of the best movies are on Amazon Prime Video. The streamer was one of the first to go around picking up film festival darlings and other lovable favorites, and they’re all still there in the library, so if they flew under your radar the first time, now is the perfect time to catch up.

Our picks for the 16 best movies on Amazon Prime are below. All the films in our guide are included in your Prime subscription—no renting here. Once you’ve watched your fill, check out our lists for the best shows on Netflix and best movies on Disney+ if you’re looking for something else to watch. We also have a guide to the best shows on Amazon if that’s what you’re in the mood for.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more .

Killer Heat

When private investigator Nick Bali (Joseph Gordon-Levitt in peak gumshoe mode) is called out to a Greek island by wealthy Penelope Vardakis (Shailene Woodley) to investigate the suspicious death of her brother-in-law, Leo (Richard Madden), the first clue something is amiss is that her husband Elias is Leo’s identical twin (Madden again, unsurprisingly)—and he's acting very suspicious about the whole “dead brother” thing. Adapted from Norwegian author Jo Nesbø's short story “The Jealousy Man,” Killer Heat hits all the usual notes when it comes to modern noir thrillers—Bali butts heads with local police, uncovers secrets even his client doesn't want revealed, and gets too close to the case—meaning this murder mystery won't win any awards for originality, but for fans of the genre it's a fun, almost cozy outing. At a breezy 90 minutes, and packed with gorgeous location photography, it's a great way to see out the summer.

A larger-than-life biopic of “The King” from director Baz Luhrmann ( Moulin Rouge ), Elvis charts Presley's meteoric rise from impoverished childhood to becoming the biggest music artist in the world. While Luhrmann brings every hip-shaking sex scandal and thrilling performance to vivid life, the heart of the movie is the increasingly fractious relationship between Elvis and his notorious manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Austin Butler is remarkable as Elvis, turning in fantastic performances that'll leave you all shook up, while Tom Hanks offers an increasingly menacing, desperate take on Parker (just try to overlook the accent). Celebrating Presley's legacy without being overly fawning, this jukebox drama is a testament to Luhrmann's singular talents as a filmmaker.

Brittany Runs a Marathon

When Brittany (Jillian Bell) is told by her doctor to lose weight, she uses it as a reason to take control of her life. She starts by putting on a pair of trainers and challenging herself to run one block, which quickly escalates into deciding to run the New York City Marathon. First-time director Paul Downs Colaizzo based the story on the experiences of his friend, and highlights not only the benefits of running but also the pain. This film shows that no matter how bad things get, you can still get back up.

American Fiction

Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) is a successful professor of literature but a struggling author, his books constantly rejected for not being “Black enough.” After seeing fellow novelist Sintara Golden (Issa Rae) lauded for her pandering, stereotypical work, Monk pseudonymously pens a novel filled with every lazy trope and cliché he can imagine to lampoon the situation—but is horrified when it becomes an instant success. As a massive advance turns into a multimillion-dollar movie deal, Monk spirals as everyone from the public to his own family seems to love the deliberately offensive work. Based on Percival Everett's novel Erasure, American Fiction is a darkly satirical work with a wicked sense of humor—an all-too-rare modern comedy with something to say, fronted by one of the finest performances of Wright's career.

The Idea of You

The best rom-coms tend to succeed thanks to how unrealistic they are—the improbable meet-cute, the heightened emotions, the exaggerated gestures of affection, the dizzying spin of falling head over heels for someone. It's something The Idea of You perfectly nails as it charts the relationship between successful gallery owner Solène Marchand (Anne Hathaway) and global music superstar Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine)—who also happens to be 16 years her junior. It could so easily have been cheap scandal fodder—and that’s how it’s played in-universe when the paparazzi get wind of Hayes’ relationship with the “older woman”—but as the pair embark on a globe-trotting romance, the charismatic leads serve up enough genuine chemistry to sweep the audience up in the whirlwind of it all. It’s ultimately less “will they, won’t they?” and more “should they, shouldn’t they?” thanks to a well-handled awareness of the age gap (already narrowed from the source novel by Robinne Lee), but for fans of the genre, it’s a delight.

There’s been no shortage of controversy over director Doug Liman's update of the classic ’80s action flick, from arguments over its supposed cinematic release to its use of CGI for some aspects of its bone-crunching fight scenes. Step back from the real-world drama though, and this is a fun, turn-brain-off-now way to kill a lazy afternoon. Swapping in the Florida Keys for the original’s Missouri setting, and trading Patrick Swayze’s James Dalton for Jake Gyllenhaal’s brooding Elwood Dalton—now with a tortured past as a UFC fighter, of course—this still delivers a satisfying tale of one man clearing out local crime lords, one brutal fistfight at a time. It’s far from high art, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. If you’re still not sold, it’s worth noting that the 1989 original is also currently on Prime for you to compare and contrast.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Adapted from the stage play of the same name—which in turn was based on a true story—this joyful musical charts the journey of Jamie New (Max Harwood). Bullied at school for being gay, and estranged from his homophobic father, Jamie dreams of escape through the art of drag—and when he finds a mentor in retired drag performer Hugo Battersby (a scene-stealing Richard E. Grant), he's soon on his way to bringing his inner queen “Mimi Me” to life. Rooted in Sheffield, England, it's a tale that dances between themes of class and culture while celebrating the importance of self-expression and the liberating power of drag.

Every high school has its social hierarchy, and PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) are at the bottom of theirs. Known as the “ugly, untalented gays” even to the faculty, their only hope of getting with two of the school's most popular cheerleaders, Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) and Brittany (Kaia Gerber), is, err, setting up an all-girl fight club to teach them how to handle their cheating, disrespectful jock boyfriends. OK, it might sound like the set-up to some dodgy ’70s exploitation flick—and with an approach to violence that straddles the line between raucous and ridiculous, it's never a million miles removed from that—but Bottoms is far smarter and more subversive than its premise would suggest. Defying expectations at every turn, this is the queer, rage-filled, hilarious twist on the high school comedy you (probably) never knew you needed.

Oxford student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is having trouble fitting in at the prestigious British university—until he befriends the popular Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Handsome, rich, and born to the landed gentry, Felix brings the awkward, socially invisible Oliver into his circle, eventually inviting him to spend summer at the family estate, Saltburn. But as Oliver works his way into the family's graces, his obsession with Felix takes increasingly dark and deranged turns. Oscillating between black comedy and psychological thriller, writer and director Emerald Fennel ( Promising Young Woman ) frames the film in 4:3 aspect ratio for a tighter, almost voyeuristic viewing experience that makes its frequently unsettling moments even more uncomfortable. Having attracted plenty of debate since its 2023 release—not least for how it questionably navigates its themes of class and social inclusion— Saltburn was one of the year's most divisive films, but one that demands your attention.

Courtroom dramas are rarely laugh riots, but this tale of funeral home director Jeremiah O'Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) and his flashy lawyer Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) taking on a major player in America's "death care" system brings a dark sense of humor to already grim proceedings. This is no comedy though. Based on true events, director Maggie Betts' ( The Novitiate ) latest drama retells a real-life legal case that exposed massive inequality in funereal care and the way Black communities were being regularly overcharged. Foxx and Jones are in top form throughout, but it's Jurnee Smollett as Mame Downes, Gary's rival attorney who threatens to outpace him at every turn, whose performance threatens to steal the whole movie. For a film about death, The Burial proves warmly life-affirming.

A Million Miles Away

Charting the life of José Hernández, this biopic—based on Hernández's own book—mixes the aspirational with the inspirational as it follows its central figure's rise from, in his own words, migrant farm worker to the first Mexican-American astronaut. Michael Peña is in fine form as Hernández, painting a picture of a man almost myopically driven to reach space, no matter the cost, while Rosa Salazar impresses as his wife Adela, refusing to fade into the background even as she puts her own dreams on pause for José to chase the stars. In lesser hands, this could all be cloying—a twee tale of hard work and achieving the American Dream, with a dash of NASA promo material on the side, but director Alejandra Márquez Abella has her lens as focused on the small beauties of life here on Earth as the splendor and sheer potential of space. A rare delight.

Red, White, and Royal Blue

Look, this is clearly a “best film” by a highly specific metric—and that metric is “gloriously cheesy trash.” Adapted from Casey McQuinston's best-selling novel, this intercontinental rom-com charts the relationship between First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine), the "spare" to the British throne, going from rivals through to grudging respect, and ultimately groundbreaking romance. It's often ludicrous, including an inciting incident seeing the pair falling into a wedding cake, a tabloid-worthy tryst in a hotel room, and political intrigue surrounding Alex's mother, President Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman, vamping scenes with a bizarre “Texan” accent), but it's all just irresistibly wholesome and upbeat. Red, White, and Royal Blue is the movie equivalent of pizza—not good for you, but still delicious.

Shin Masked Rider

If you’re sick of cookie-cutter Hollywood superhero movies, then this ground-up reboot of one of Japan’s most beloved heroes deserves your attention. Helmed by Hideaki Anno ( Evangelion , Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman —“shin” meaning “new” or “true” in Japanese), this revamps the 1971 TV series Kamen Rider. Like that show, it follows motorcyclist Takeshi Hongo (Sosuke Ikematsu). Kidnapped by the terrorist organization S.H.O.C.K.E.R. and forcibly converted into a powerful cyborg, Hongo escapes before being reprogrammed as an agent of the group, instead using his newfound powers to take down its forces. However, unlike the original, Anno’s approach taps into the body horror of the core concept, while also challenging his characters—and audience—to hang onto their intrinsic humanity in the face of a world trying to dehumanize them. It’s more violent than you’d probably expect, often showing the grisly outcome of regular people getting punched by superpowered cyborgs and monsters, but never gratuitous. While those with some understanding of the source material will get more out of Shin Masked Rider , it’s an exciting outing for anyone looking for something a bit fresher from their hero movies.

Sure, nowadays Michael Jordan is a bona fide sports god, and Nike’s Air Jordan sneakers are still arguably  the court shoe—but that wasn’t the case back in 1984. Jordan was a rookie, and Nike was about to close down its basketball shoe division. Enter Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a talent scout for the footwear maker who has spotted a rising star in North Carolina who could turn everything around—he just needs to convince everyone else that Jordan is worth betting the company on. We all know how that panned out, so thankfully  Air is more than a two-hour advert for shoes. Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, and director Ben Affleck all deliver strong performances—only to be utterly eclipsed by Viola Davis in a magnetic and powerful, if somewhat underutilized, turn as matriarch Deloris Jordan—while Alex Convery’s script keeps the drama on the people and personalities involved, rather than the boardroom. In an age of franchises and endless blockbusters,  Air is the sort of character-focused film that rarely gets made anymore, and is all the more enjoyable for it.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Kazakh” TV reporter (even if he speaks Hebrew) travels back to the US, 14 years after his last feature-long escapade. This time Baron Cohen has brought his (Bulgarian-speaking) teenage daughter along, with the mission of giving her “as a gift” to some powerful American politicians—initially Mike Pence, then Rudy Giuliani. In classic Boratic fashion, the mockumentary follows the wacky duo on a cavalcade across Trump’s America, filming candid performances by unsuspecting characters ranging from QAnon believers to Republican activists to prim debutantes, all the way to Giuliani himself. Even the coronavirus pandemic, which struck America as the film was being shot, is subverted as a comedic plot point. Baron Cohen delivers, with the expected repertoire of shock gags and deadpanned verbal enormities, and he manages to land some punches at the expense of bigots, too. In contrast to its 2006 predecessor, many of the pranks and stunts here seem more aimed at eliciting the audience’s nervous laughter than at exposing America’s heart of darkness, but it remains a worthy—and funny—watch.

Shotgun Wedding

A raucous spin on the traditional romcom,  Shotgun Wedding lures viewers with a cliché setup—a ceremony on a tropical island, with hijinks courtesy of bickering in-laws—before exploding, literally, into an action escapade as the wedding party is taken hostage by violent pirates. If we’re being honest, it’s a little hammy and self-aware in places, but leads Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel are clearly having so much fun as bride and groom Darcy and Tom, whose special day turns into an often hilariously gory battle for survival, that it’s easy to be swept along for the ride. With a solid supporting cast, including the ever-entertaining Jennifer Coolidge as the mother of the groom stealing every scene she graces with her gloriously chaotic presence, this is a wedding worth RSVPing to.

Aisha (Anna Diop) is a Senegalese woman working as a nanny for a rich couple in New York City, hoping to earn enough to bring her son and cousin to join her in America. However, her future is at the mercy of her employers, who seem content to leave Aisha to raise their daughter, Rose, while often withholding her pay. As the stress of the power imbalance weighs on her, Aisha begins having strange dreams of drowning, worsened by her fears of abandoning her own child. The feature debut of director Nikyatu Jusu,  Nanny contrasts the horror of the immigrant experience in modern America with something darker, while swapping the expected tropes of hope and opportunity for a palpable sadness for culture and community left behind.  Nanny takes a slow-burn, psychological approach to its scares, but Diop is phenomenal throughout, and the meticulous pacing and gorgeous cinematography means every frame lingers.

Coming 2 America

Relying on nostalgia to carry new entries in long-dormant series can be risky business, but Eddie Murphy’s return to the role of Prince—now King—Akeem of Zamunda more than three decades after 1988’s Coming to America shows how to do it right. Drawn back to the US in search of a son he never knew he had, Akeem—and the audience—gets to reunite with familiar faces from the first film, before director Craig Brewer ( Hustle and Flow ) reverses the formula and tests the American characters with a trip to Zamunda. With a sharper, smarter, and more globally aware script than the original, Coming 2 America defies the odds to be a comedy sequel that stands up to the reputation of its predecessor.

Thirteen Lives

Director Ron Howard’s latest gathers a top-notch cast—including Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton—for a dramatization of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, where a Thai junior soccer team and their assistant coach were trapped in the flooded cave system. As an international effort mounts to save the children, the challenges of navigating miles of underwater caverns become ever more dangerous, and Howard masterfully captures every perilously claustrophobic moment of it. A nail-bitingly tense movie with some ingeniously shot aquatic scenes, Thirteen Lives is a testament to one of the most difficult rescues ever performed.

One Night in Miami …

Based on the play of same name, One Night in Miami follows four icons of culture, music, and sports—Malcolm X, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Muhammad Ali—at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a converging and pivotal point in their lives and careers. Meeting in a motel room in the wake of Ali’s—then still Cassius Clay—heavyweight victory over Sonny Liston in 1964, the four men discuss their roles in the movement and society as a whole, all while the audience knows the weight of history is bearing down on them. The close confines of much of the film reflect its theatrical roots, but this feature directorial debut from Regina King perfectly portrays the larger-than-life personalities of its cast. Kingsley Ben-Adir is on fire as Malcolm X, with Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., and Eli Goree—as Brown, Cooke, and Ali—all utterly magnetic.

Produced by Amazon, The Report is an engrossing depiction of the US Senate's investigation into the CIA's “enhanced interrogation” program—how it came to be, who knew about it, and how the CIA massaged the facts to support its efficacy. Adam Driver stars as Daniel Jones, the lead investigator who plowed an increasingly lonely path to the truth, battling against political resistance and CIA interference all the way. Driver is, as is his habit these days, superb, and the film's 82 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes is well earned.

Sound of Metal

Punk-rock drummer and recovering addict Ruben starts experiencing hearing loss, and it threatens to upend his entire life. Faced with an impossible choice between giving up his hearing or giving up his career, Ruben begins to spiral, until his girlfriend Lou checks him into a rehab center for the deaf, forcing him to confront his own behavior as much as the future he faces. Riz Ahmed is in spectacular form as the troubled Ruben, while Olivia Cooke’s turn as Lou, who suffers with her own demons, including self-harm, is riveting. Fittingly enough, Sound of Metal also features incredibly nuanced use of sound—and its absence—as director Darius Marder crafts one of the finest dramas in recent years.

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The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now

New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don’t have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We’ll do the heavy lifting. You press play.

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By Jason Bailey

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As Netflix pours more of its resources into original content, Amazon Prime Video is picking up the slack, adding new movies for its subscribers each month. Its catalog has grown so impressive, in fact, that it’s a bit overwhelming — and at the same time, movies that are included with a Prime subscription regularly change status, becoming available only for rental or purchase. It’s a lot to sift through, so we’ve plucked out 100 of the absolute best movies included with a Prime subscription right now, to be updated as new information is made available.

Here are our lists of the best TV shows and movies on Netflix , and the best of both on Hulu and Disney +.

‘Challengers’ (2024)

The first of the director Luca Guadagnino’s two 2024 releases is this “ fizzy, lightly sexy, enjoyable tease of a movie ,” detailing every ill-advised kiss and every strategic volley of a love triangle in the world of professional tennis. Zendaya is Tashi, a rising star who becomes the simultaneous object of desire for best friends and fellow tennis prodigies Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor) — though desire is a messy emotion, easily diverted and manipulated. Guadagnino shoots the tennis matches with thrilling, electric style, but the real fireworks happen off the court. (“ Air ” and “ Slap Shot ” are also set in the world of sports.) Watch it on Amazon

‘Ex Machina’ (2015)

Oscar Isaac (donning a bushy beard and tech-bro glasses) is part-affable and part-menacing as a Silicon Valley millionaire who invites an office contest winner (Domhnall Gleeson) to his isolated home. There, he shares some astonishingly realistic robot technology — in particular, a fascinating female model named Ava (Alicia Vikander). Written and directed by Alex Garland (“Annihilation,” “Civil War”), this is a throwback to an earlier era of science fiction, propelled by thoughtful examinations of morality and identity; our critic called it a “ slyly spooky futuristic shocker .” Watch it on Amazon

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The 73 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now (August 2024)

The latest laugher from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig has landed on Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video hasn't had a very interesting year with its slate of original movies, especially of late, but what has come to Prime Video this year has been solid, including the 2024 Oscar winner  American Fiction , which earned the Best Adapted Screenplay award along with four other nominations including Best Picture. But it's not just the prestige stuff here — Amazon's also got plenty of pulpier fare, like the Jake Gyllenhaal-starring remake of Road House , and the action comedy Jackpot! , the latest movie from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig. 

Just to let you know how we put this list together: In order to keep the list as relevant as possible, we're putting the most importance on new releases, Prime Video originals, and critics' favorites. But we're also adding our own personal spin on the list, with underrated gems we're recommending to our friends, classic favorites, and important selections that highlight diverse voices. We'll be updating the list regularly.

Last updated on Aug. 28; the most recent additions are at the top.

Disclaimer: When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

For fans of: Laughing at murder, other Paul Feig movies like Bridesmaids and Spy

John Cena and Awkwafina, JACKPOT!

Director: Paul Feig Stars:  Awkwafina, John Cena, Simu Liu, Machine Gun Kelly Genre:  Comedy, action Rating:  R Metacritic score:   41

Awkwafina and John Cena (how often do co-star names rhyme?) star in Jackpot! , which is essentially a comedy version of The Purge — Awkwafina wins the lottery, but she'll have to survive until midnight in order to claim her winnings. And that's not gonna be easy, since in this story it's perfectly legal for anyone to murder her and take the money themselves. So she teams up with a protection agent, played by John Cena, who will try to save her life in return for a cut. Jackpot isn't director Paul Feig's best film — he set an impossible standard for himself with stuff like Bridesmaids and Spy — but it is another warmly funny little action movie that's filled with energetic performances. - Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

For fans of:  Fantasy stuff, Tolkien vibes

Viggo Mortensen,  Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Director:  Peter Jackson Stars:  Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortenson, Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Billy BOyd, Dominic Monaghan, Christopher Lee Genre:  Fantasy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   91 for Fellowship of the Ring ,  87 for Two Towers ,  94 for Return of the King

As the second season of The Rings of Power finally arrives, it's the perfect time to revisit Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is one of the greatest adaptations of a novel in the history of cinema. Jackson's rendition of Frodo's quest to destroy the One Ring and end the tyranny of Sauron has been profoundly influential over the past two decades. This trilogy is at least partially responsible for the recent popular trend of films that carry a song-like rhythm — a la Denis Villeneuve's Dune movies or George Miller's Furiosa — and you can bet that these three films are going to be pillars of Hollywood filmmaking for a very long time. -Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

American Fiction

For fans of : Stories that break the fourth wall, quirky comedies with something to say, things that are good

Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Director: Cord Jefferson Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, John Ortiz, Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae Genre: Comedy, drama, satire Rating: R Metacritic score: 81

American Fiction  isn't the easiest movie to try to sum up in a blurb, but we'll do our best. Jeffrey Wright stars as a well-to-do Black author who attempts to satirize what he sees as stereotypcally acceptable "Black" literature, only for everybody to treat the result as a serious and sincere work that earns tons of acclaim — and from there, it gets weird. American Fiction plays like if Spike Lee's Bamboozled was given a Charlie Kaufman-esque, fourth-wall-breaking makeover, and it's impossible not to be enthralled by this flick. - Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

The Idea of You

For fans of : Swoony rom-coms with heart, Anne Hathaway mothering

Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway, The Idea of You

Director:  Michael Showalter Stars:  Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine Genre:  Romantic comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   68

You may have first heard of  The Idea of You  because of its male lead Hayes Campbell's ( Nicholas Galitzine ) uncanny resemblance to Harry Styles. Hayes sings in a wildly popular boy band, just like Styles did, and he too has a penchant for dating older women. But the film, based on Robinne Lee's book of the same name, deserves to be recognized apart from that comparison. To start, the chemistry between Galitzine's Hayes and  Anne Hathaway 's Solène Marchand is undeniable. Solène is a 40-year-old single mom who never imagined attending Coachella but finds herself in the VIP lounge for a meet-and-greet with August Moon — Hayes' group —thanks to her teenage daughter. And after she serendipitously walks into the 24-year-old lead singer's trailer, the two begin a whirlwind romance. The Idea of You  is a weightier film than some others in the genre because of how it dives into issues like the age-gap double standard and the obstacles to women in their 30s and 40s finding happiness. But for the most part, it feels like a light, breezy walk on the beach. - Kat Moon  [ Trailer ]

For fans of : Fist fights, Jake Gyllenhaal, highly kinetic action sequences

Jake Gyllenhaal, Road House

Director:  Doug Liman Stars:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnusson, Joaquim de Almeida, Post Malone, Conor McGregor Genre:  Action Rating:  R Metacritic score:   57

The original Road House  (starring Patrick Swayze and also included with Prime Video) became a cult classic after circulating on cable for years — it did OK at the box office and not so OK with critics when it was released in theaters in 1989. So it's not really that big of a concern that the new Road House , starring Jake Gyllenhaal, only got mixed reviews. Like that original film leaned on Swayze's charm to function, the new Road House is a delightful little action flick that leans heavily on Gyllenhaal's immense charisma, and ole Jakey G. is just as much fun as he always is. And while Conor McGregor isn't quite on Gyllenhaal's level in terms of his acting chops, he's got the exact right amount of screen presence and general menace to pretty much rule as a bad guy enforcer. This movie just works, even if we might wish they'd cooled it on the CGI a little bit. -Phil Owen   [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Fight clubs, high schools

Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott, Bottoms

Director:  Emma Seligman Stars:  Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Nicholas Galitzine Genre:  Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   74

This indie film came out in theaters last August, but unless you are a subscriber to MGM+, which you are not, it hasn't been available on your streaming subscriptions until recently. The premise — a high school sex comedy mixed with...  Fight Club !?!? — is truly deranged, but it somehow works as two teenage lesbians start a brutal women's self-defense club to give them the tools to beat up the football team. It satirizes as it pulverizes, challenging stereotypes while saying something meaningful between delivering haymakers.  Bodies Bodies Bodies '  Rachel Sennott  and  The Bear 's  Ayo Edebiri  star. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Action, cars, #family

Jason Momoa, Fast X

Director:  Louis Leterrier Stars:  Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel Genre:  Action Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   56

The Fast & Furious movies have been a pop culture mainstay for two decades, but all good things must come to an end. And Fast X is the beginning of the end for this franchise, starting us down the home stretch that will presumably end with Vin Diesel riding off into the sunset to meet up with Paul Walker in car heaven at the end of the next movie. We're not there yet, though, and we're grateful for that, because Jason Momoa's man-child of a villain is the most fun baddie this franchise has ever had. -Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Lifestyles of the rich and eccentric

Barry Keoghan, Saltburn

Director:  Emerald Fennell Stars:  Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike, Jacob Elordi, Richard E. Grant Genre: Drama, Comedy, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   61

If you saw  Promising Young Woman ,  Emerald Fennell 's polarizing (and, nevertheless, Oscar-winning) 2020 directorial debut, you already know that she's the kind of director who  really  likes making people talk. She's done it again, and to an even greater degree, with  Saltburn , her  Talented Mr. Ripley -esque salute to the aughts.  Barry Keoghan  stars as Oliver Quick, a poor Oxford student who gets drawn into the alluring world of the wealthy when he buddies up to Felix ( Jacob Elordi ), a classmate from an aristocratic family who takes pity on his less fortunate friend by inviting Oliver to spend the summer at his eccentric family's estate. Or  is  Oliver less fortunate? Come to find out the answer to that question, stay for a deliciously clueless performance from  Rosamund Pike . - Allison Picurro  [ Trailer ]      

Asteroid City

For fans of:  Well-framed shots, A-listers dressed oddly

Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks, Asteroid City

Director:  Wes Anderson Stars:  Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Steve Carell Genre:  Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   75

Every time  Wes Anderson  directs a new film, at least one critic inevitably calls it " the most Wes Anderson movie Wes Anderson has ever made ." That might actually be true of  Asteroid City , his latest. Anderson's quirky, dollhouse style is at an all-time high in this story that depicts the fateful events of a teen astronomy convention in a retrofuturistic version of 1955. The sprawling cast features perfectly droll performances from  Jason Schwartzman ,  Tom Hanks ,  Margot Robbie ,  Steve Carell , and more, while the meta narrative ( Asteroid City  is also the name of a televised play within the movie) adds zany texture. It often plays like a live-action cartoon, as Anderson's best movies tend to. - Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]       

Polite Society

For fans of:  Martial arts movies, sisters

Priya Kansara, Polite Society

Director:  Nida Manzoor Stars:  Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya Genre: Action, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   75

There's no movie that can't be punched up with a little martial arts aided by wires and pulleys,  Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon  style, right? This action comedy from  We Are Lady Parts  creator  Nida Manzoor  follows a young British-Pakistani woman who dreams of being a stuntwoman and has a sneaking suspicion that her sister's impending marriage to a hunk might mask her future in-laws' secretly terrible motives. Naturally, this leads to some Shaolin fight sequences, a plot that veers way off course yet still stays on brand with the nuttiness, and a delightful central story about the love between two sisters. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]       

Totally Killer

For fans of:  The '80s, time travel, maniacal masked murderers

Olivia Holt, Totally Killer

Director:  Nahnatchka Khan Stars:  Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen Genre: Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi Rating:  R Metacritic score:   63

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina 's Kiernan Shipka sticks with humorous horror in this original film from the reliable Nahnatchka Khan , the creator of Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 , Always Be My Maybe , and Fresh Off the Boat . Shipka's Jamie is a young woman who time travels back to 1987, right around the time her mom's friends were stalked and murdered by a mask-wearing maniac. So what does she do? She tries — with the help of the teenage version of her mom ( Olivia Holt ) — to stop the murders, despite any potential Back to the Future erasure of her existence that may happen. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]  

Sitting in Bars with Cake (2023)

For fans of:  Tragi-friend-coms, bawling

Odessa A'zion and Yara Shahidi, Sitting in Bars with Cake

Director:  Trish Sie Stars:  Odessa A'zion, Yara Shahidi, Ron Livingston, Bette Midler, and Martha Kelly Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   66

A pair of friends (A'zion and Shahadi) take cakes into bars as a way to get out in the world and break the ice with strangers, but their lives change when one gets a tragic diagnosis. This one's based on a true story and is being called a Beaches for today's kids, so you know what to expect: female friendship, some romance, and a lot of crying. This is for a specific audience; you know who you are! - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]        

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves  (2023)

For fans of:  Rooting for the creepy doll, satires on commercialism, Child's Play but better

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Director:  John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein Stars:  Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Action Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   72

Expecting a good time while watching the famous tabletop role-playing game come to life is hardly a roll of the dice. This movie is always entertaining, moving forward with a combination of adventure, action, humor, and decent special effects.  Chris Pine  plays a rogue on the run looking for some nerdy object (a magical helm, a tablet that can bring back the dead, some stuff like that, it doesn't matter), and he's accompanied by other D&D classes, like  Michelle Rodriguez 's barbarian,  Justice Smith 's sorcerer,  Sophia Lillis ' shapeshifting druid, and  Regé-Jean Page 's paladin. Its focus on fun means anyone can enjoy it, even those who don't know what a gelatinous cube is. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]        

M3GAN (2022)

Director:  Gerard Johnstone Stars:  Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald Genre: Science-fiction, Horror Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   72

AI will kill us all! But first it will be our best friend. On premise alone — M3GAN is about a lifelike toy doll prototype that goes to extreme lengths to protect its child owner — this 2022 film seems like stinky garbage, but the Blumhouse film wisely leans into the goofiness to become a sharp satire of technology and consumerism. The PG-13 rating also means it's good for young teens and older tweens, but there's an unrated version available if you want a little more blood.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Creed III (2022)

For fans of:  Boxing beefcakes

Michael B. Jordan, Creed III

Director:  Michael B. Jordan Stars:  Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad Genre: Drama Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   73

Michael B. Jordan stars in and directs the third movie to rise from the ashes of the Rocky franchise, this time following Adonis Creed (Jordan) as he prepares to fight his former childhood friend, Damian Anderson (Majors), years after an event changed both of their lives. Though not as acclaimed as the first two movies, it's still wildly entertaining, with bruising boxing sequences and a blistering performance from Jordan.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

For fans of:  Acting!

Cate Blanchett, Tár

Director:  Todd Field Stars:  Cate Blanchett  Genre: Drama Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   92

Cate Blanchett's powerhouse performance and Todd Field's script and keen direction launched Tár into the discussions for best film of 2022, with many major prestigious film critics associations naming it their favorite. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and more at the Oscars (but didn't win any), further establishing it as a cinephile's favorite. As for what it's about, Blanchett plays an internationally renowned orchestra conductor whose career is disrupted by accusations of misconduct.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

She Said (2022)

For fans of:  Journalism, #MeToo stories

Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan, She Said

Director:  Maria Schrader Stars:  Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher  Genre: Drama Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   74

The two reporters — Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey — behind the New York Times investigation into the sexual abuse committed by film producer Harvey Weinstein are at the center of this award-winning drama based on the 2019 book of the same name. Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan star as Kantor and Twohey, who exposed one of the biggest names in Hollywood, caused a sea change in the entertainment industry, and ushered in one of the biggest social movements in history as #MeToo helped women come together against sexism and abuse.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

For fans of:  Sneakers, business deals, Michael Jordan's mom

Ben Affleck, Air

Director:  Ben Affleck Stars:  Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina Genre: Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   73

Ben Affleck 's film about Nike's seismic business decision to build a basketball shoe brand around some guy named Michael Jordan is a sharp look at the start of sports marketing and risky business endeavors that paid off. It's also kind of a Nike ad. But with a solid screenplay, some great acting by a tremendous cast, and Affleck's ability to blend comedy into corporate affairs, it's a... slam dunk.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Judy Blume Forever  (2023)

For fans of:   Superfudge , free speech

Judy Blume, Judy Blume Forever

Director:  Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok Stars:  Judy Blume Genre: Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   79

Beloved author Judy Blume is the star and focus of this documentary about her life as one of the most popular young adult fiction writers ever. Speaking with fans like Molly Ringwald, Samantha Bee, and Lena Dunham, Judy Blume Forever explores the impact she had on young women's lives and the closed-minded controversy surrounding her openness in writing about teenage sexuality.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Bros (2022)

For fans of:  Rom-coms updated for today

Billy Eichner and Luke MacFarlane, Bros

Director:  Nicholas Stoller Stars:  Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Bowen Yang, Debra Messing Genre: Comedy, Romance Rating:  R Metacritic score:   72

Billy Eichner wrote and plays the romantic lead of this well-reviewed gay rom-com, which sees a podcast host (Eichner) about to launch an LGBTQ+ museum in New York City when his already busy life is disrupted by another single gay man ( Luke Macfarlane ). Though both are wary of commitment, they are drawn together anyway.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

For fans of:  Speed, old people looking younger than you

Stream  Top Gun: Maverick  at home, thanks to Prime Video

Director:  Joseph Kosinski Stars:  Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise, and Tom Cruise Genre: Action, Drama Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   78

You've seen  Top Gun: Maverick  on the big screen, but have you seen it on your phone!?!? Relive all the intense IMAX action and dripping masculinity on your six-inch screen now that it's on Prime Video.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Shotgun Wedding (2023)

For fans of:  J-Lo, J-Du, J-Cool

Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, Shotgun Wedding

Director:  Jason Moore Stars:  Jennifer Jopez, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Coolidge Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance Rating:  R Metacritic score:   42

What makes a good movie anyway? Rave reviews from critics? Meaningful contributions to society? A talking dog? The Prime Video original movie Shotgun Wedding has none of that, but it does have Jennifer Lopez and the newest fan-favorite Jenny from the block, Jennifer Coolidge. And it has Jennifer Lopez fighting off pirates after they invade her wedding, leading to double crosses and comical violence. This isn't a good movie, but it is a Jennifer Lopez movie that can't be found anywhere else, so it's on the list.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Wildcat (2022)

For fans of:  Tough guys and cute kittens, weeping

Director:  Melissa Lesh and Trevor Frost Stars:  Harry Turner, Samantha Zwicker, an ocelot Genre: Documentary Rating:  R Metacritic score:   71

I don't have a bunch of tattoos, and I've never been to war, but I do love cats, which is enough for me to relate to this documentary about an Afghanistan War veteran whose PTSD drives him to the jungles of South America. There, he meets a nature conservationist running a wildlife refuge, where he bonds with an ocelot kitten. The young purr box helps him heal as he finds himself teaching it how to hunt, protecting it from humans threatening the environment, and finding something that doesn't judge him. This is for anyone who's ever had a furry friend. BRING A HANKIE!  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Nanny   (2022)

For fans of:  Horror, the melting pot

Anna Diop, Nanny

Director:  Nikyatu Jusu Stars:  Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Spector Genre: Horror Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   72

Thanks to new voices in Hollywood, we've become introduced a fresh, thrilling subgenre of film: immigrant horror stories. Most of them have been pretty good (Netflix's  His House  and  No One Gets Out Alive  use their unique perspective well), and that continues with  Nanny , the debut film from writer/director Nikyatu Jusu about an undocumented West African nanny caring for a New York couple's child and preparing for the arrival of her own child, whom she left behind. The horror comes when a strange presence threatens her reality. It's a visually impressive debut about family, societal issues, and gender.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Your Christmas or Mine?  (2022)

For fans of:  Shlocky holiday films, wacky in-laws

Asa Butterfield, Your Christmas or Mine?

Director:  Jim O'Hanlon Stars:  Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk, Daniel Mays, David Bradley Genre: Rom-com, Christmas Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:  n/a

Need some Christmas jolly? But also want some relationship folly? Try this British holiday film about a young man ( Asa Butterfield ) who can't bear to be apart from his girlfriend on Christmas, so he decides to surprise her at her family's house. Alas, she decided to do the same thing, so they end up spending the holiday with each other's families. It's not a Christmas classic, but it will do the trick if you're looking for a little tug of the heart.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]  

Good Night Oppy   (2022)

For fans of:  Human accomplishments, human connections, robots

Good Night Oppy

Director:  Ryan White Genre: Documentary Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   65

The closest thing we have to a real-life Wall-E is the Mars rover Opportunity, which landed on the Red Planet in 2004 for a 90-day mission but ended up operating for almost 15 years. This documentary film tells its story and the bond that the NASA operators formed with it, and will leave you wondering why you're crying over a robot throughout its wondrous 105 minutes. It's already won the Critics Choice Documentary Award for best feature, and it's got a real shot at an Oscar nomination at the 2023 Academy Awards.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

My Policeman   (2022)

For fans of:  Harry Styles

Harry Styles and Emma Corrin, My Policeman

Director:  Michael Grandage Stars:  Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, David Dawson, Linus Roache, Gina McKee, Rupert Everett Genre: Drama, Romance Rating:  R Metacritic score:   49

The British film My Policeman  is getting a wide range of reviews from critics and audience members alike, but don't let that stop you from rummaging through this period romance for clues about Harry Styles ' relationship with Olivia Wilde and who maybe spat on whom at the Don't Worry Darling movie premiere. Styles plays a British cop who is the pointy end in a love triangle that features his to-be wife ( Emma Corrin ) and a museum curator ( David Dawson ), with their messy love stuff played out over two timelines as they try to mend the past much later in life (with different actors). According to critics, the clandestine homosexual relationship in a time where we were far from progressive should be the fuel for this movie's engine, but the actors and woeful mood make this less enjoyable than your average sad love story.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]  

Torn Hearts   (2022)

For fans of:  Country music, mind games

Katay Sagal, Torn Hearts

Director:  Brea Grant Stars:  Katey Sagal, Abby Quinn, and Alexxis Lemire Genre: Horror, Thriller Rating:  Not Rated Metacritic score:   59

Brea Grant follows up her well-received 2022 black comedy horror 12 Hour Shift with this winky thriller about two aspiring female country music artists who see an opportunity to advance their careers with a visit to a reclusive music legend (Sagal). But what looks like a perfect match to record a new song turns into a series of mental and physical games that test just how far the two are willing to go for fame. Yep, a shotgun is involved.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]        

The Northman   (2022)

For fans of:  Drinking the blood of your enemies out of their skulls

Alexander Skarsgard, The Northman

Director:  Robert Eggers Stars:  Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Bang Genre: Drama, Action Rating:  R Metacritic score:   82

Robert Eggers' delightfully violent film set in Viking society was previously only streaming on Peacock, but whatever deals that were needed to bring it to Prime Video were dealt, and that's good news for you because  The Northman  is totally radical. Modern-day Viking  Alexander Skarsgård  stars as a prince out to avenge the death of his father, and he does so with both incredible patience and brutality. Eggers is one of the best filmmakers working today, and  The Northman  is another fine addition to his collection.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]       

Catherine Called Birdy   (2022)

For fans of: Medieval teen dramedies, House Mormont

Bella Ramsey, Catherine Called Birdy

Director:  Lena Dunham Stars:  Bella Ramsey, Andrew Scott, Billie Piper Genre:  YA Drama, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   75

Did you get word from the raven? Period pieces no longer have to be stuffy, boring slogs, and can now feature today's pop hits and Gen Z lingo while still putting their main characters in elaborate gowns and powdered wigs. Lena Dunham takes her turn unstuffing the old times with this film about a young lady ( Game of Thrones '  Bella Ramsey ) in 1290 England whose parents wish to marry her off in order to regain some medieval clout, so she schemes to sabotage their plans. She's precocious, see?  Billie Piper  and  Andrew Scott , both always delightful, also star.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Dog   (2022)

For fans of: Channing Tatum, dogs

Channing Tatum, Dog

Director:  Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin Stars:  Channing Tatum and a Belgian Malinois Genre: Drama, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   61

Putting Channing Tatum and a dog together in a road trip movie is all some people need to know to want to watch this movie, but it has the added surprise of sensitivity as it tells the story of an Army vet (Tatum) racing to his fallen friend's funeral with his friend's dog in tow. It's not a must-see, but it's an easy watch that will get your emotions going without taxing your brain too much.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

Samaritan   (2022)

For fans of:  Superheroes, Sylvester Stallone beating up  Robocop -type street crooks

Javon "Wanna" Walton and Sylvester Stallone, Samaritan

Director:  Julius Avery Stars:  Sylvester Stallone, Javon "Wanna" Walton, Dascha Polanco, Pilou Asbæk Genre:  Superhero, Action Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   45

This dark superhero movie was supposed to save the day in 2020, but a series of delays pushed it back to 2022 and onto Amazon Prime Video instead of theaters. Sylvester Stallone stars as a superhero named Samaritan who goes into hiding for 20 years until a young boy figures out who he is and encourages him to clean up the streets once again. Reviews are... not that great, but it's Stallone, you know? -Tim Surette [ Trailer | Review ]

The Lost City  (2022)

For fans of: Romancing the Stone, sweaty A-listers

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, The Lost City

Director:  Aaron Nee and Adam Nee Stars:  Channing Tatum, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Radcliffe, Brad Pitt Genre:  Adventure, Romance, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   60

This throwback adventure stars Sandra Bullock as a romance novelist who gets kidnapped by an evil billionaire ( Daniel Radcliffe ) who hopes she'll lead him to a secret treasure described in one her books. The vapid male model ( Channing Tatum ) who posed for her book covers decides to come to her rescue, and you can probably guess what happens next. It's a fun film for when you have two hours and a pint of ice cream to kill. Also, Patti Harrison is in it!  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]     

Thirteen Lives (2022)

For fans of: Ron Howard drama, real-life heroism, confined spaces

Thira "Aum" Chutikul and Viggo Mortensen, Thirteen Lives

Director:  Ron Howard Stars:  Viggo Mortenson, Collin Farrell, Joel Edgerton Genre:  Drama Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   66

Ron Howard  directs this thriller film about the 2018 Tham Luang Thai cave rescue of a boys soccer team and its coach by an international group of cave divers. It's one of three projects about the rescue, including National Geographic's already released (and excellent) documentary  The Rescue , which focused on the divers and the rescue efforts and is on Disney+, and Netflix's upcoming limited series  Tham Luang , which focuses on the rescuees. This film covers the whole shebang, with  Viggo Mortensen ,  Colin Farrell , and  Joel Edgerton  playing the heroes.  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]     

Licorice Pizza (2021)

For fans of: The '70s, first loves

Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza

Director:  Paul Thomas Anderson Stars:  Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   90

One of 2021's most cherished films is  Paul Thomas Anderson 's teen romance, which was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Set in 1973 in Southern California's San Fernando Valley, it follows a 15-year-old actor ( Cooper Hoffman ) and his budding relationship with an early-20s photographer's assistant ( Alana Haim ).  -Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]       

Anything's Possible  (2022)

For fans of: Queer teen romance, coming-of-age stories

Eva Reign and Abubakr Ali, Anything's Possible

Director:  Billy Porter Stars:  Eva Reign, Abubakr Ali, Renée Elise Goldsberry,  Genre:  Romance Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   65

The ridiculously talented  Billy Porter  makes his feature film directorial debut with this sweet high school coming-of-age story about a trans girl ( Eva Reign ) and the boy ( Abubkar Ali ) who musters up the courage to ask her out, even though he knows the drama it will cause at school. Important casting note: The inimitable  Renée Elise Goldsberry  is in this.  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ] 

Don't Make Me Go  (2022)

For fans of: Father-daughter tearjerkers, internet boyfriend John Cho

John Cho and Mia Isaac, Don't Make Me Go

Director:  Hannah Marks Stars:  John Cho, Mia Isaac, Kaya Scodelario, Jemaine Clement Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   60

If you have a condition that doesn't allow you to cry, this  John Cho  film may be the cure. Cho stars as a single dad who, after discovering he has a terminal illness (but not a terminal list), embarks on a road trip from California to New Orleans with his teenage daughter to attend his 20-year college reunion. Road trip movies are like totally metaphors, man. This one's about getting to the end and growing up. But be warned: A controversial twist ending has many beating their heads against the wall.  -Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

House of Gucci (2021)

For fans of: Glamour, excess, Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, House of Gucci

Director:  Ridley Scott Stars:  Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino Genre:  Drama, Crime Rating:  R Metacritic score:   59

House of Gucci , the extravagant crime drama that strutted through theaters late last year, is now on Prime Video. The movie, which tells the tragicomic story of how the Gucci family lost ownership of the fashion brand, is directed by  Ridley Scott  and stars  Lady Gaga ,  Adam Driver ,  Al Pacino , and  Jared Leto  doing the Jared Leto thing of being unrecognizable under layers of prosthetics. If you didn't venture out to see it in theaters, you can now watch it for free at home, where you can imitate Lady Gaga's Italian accent without offending anyone. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

Marry Me  (2022)

For fans of:  J. Lo, Owen Wilson's whole thing, Instagram Live

Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, Marry Me

Director:  Kat Coiro Stars:  Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Maluma, Michelle Buteau Genre:  Comedy, Romance, Music Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   51

There's no help for people who don't see the joy in Marry Me . It's a classic Jennifer Lopez rom-com, with J. Lo essentially playing herself — uh, sorry, playing Kat Valdez, a famous pop star who gets stood up by her fiancé (played by Maluma) on the night of their livestreamed hybrid concert/wedding (normal!) and picks a random regular Brooklyn dad (Owen Wilson) out of the audience to marry instead. And wouldn't you know it, they fall in love for real. But they live in two different worlds! Listen, I didn't say it broke the mold, I just said I had a good time watching it. -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ] 

No Time to Die  (2021)

For fans of:  Bond...  James Bond

Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas, No Time to Die

Director:  Cary Fukunaga Stars:  Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Ana de Armas, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw Genre:  Action, Adventure, Thriller Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   68

No Time to Die  is neither the best nor the worst Daniel Craig Bond movie, but it does mark his final appearance as the character, which makes it significant. It's a lengthy, stylish, occasionally inexplicable film that picks up after Bond has left active service with MI6 and is just trying to enjoy living a quiet life as a normal, extraordinarily handsome man. But you can't make a Bond movie about that, so it's all very quickly disrupted when the CIA recruits him to hunt down a mysterious and dangerous villain (Rami Malek).  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ] 

Emergency  (2022)

RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins, Emergency

Director:  Carey Williams Stars:  Sabrina Carpenter, Donald Elise Watkins, RJ Cyler Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   75  

This Amazon film will likely get lost in the noise of the high-profile releases, but do not let it slip by if you're a fan of party comedies. The indie film follows a pair of young Black college seniors (RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins) ready to let loose in a string of parties before spring break when they discover an unconscious white girl in their apartment, with no idea how she got there. Realizing the bad optics of the situation, they (and their Latino roommate) set out to return her to safety without their good intentions being misinterpreted. The movie  got great reviews  when it did the festival circuit earlier this year. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]     

All the Old Knives  (2022)

Thandiwe Newton and Chris Pine, All the Old Knives

Director:  Janus Metz Pederson Stars:  Thandiwe Newton, Chris Pine, Jonathan Pryce, Laurence Fishburne Genre:  Drama, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   63  

All the Old Knives  sounds like a  Knives Out  sequel set in a nursing home (that's a free idea for Rian Johnson), but it's actually a thriller starring  Chris Pine  and  Thandiwe Newton  as spies who are also ex-lovers. I have no complaints about that concept. Based on the novel of the same name by Olen Steinhauer, who wrote the film's screenplay, the movie follows Pine's Henry Pelham as his investigation into a CIA mole becomes entangled in his history with Newton's Celia.  Laurence Fishburne  and  Jonathan Pryce  also star. Pine promoted this one in a  series of to-die-for outfits . - Kelly Connolly  [ Trailer ]      

Master (2022)

Regina Hall, Master

Director:  Mariama Diallo Stars:  Regina Hall, Amber Gray, Zoe Renee Genre:  Drama/Horror Rating:  R Metacritic score:   67  

Regina Hall  gives one of the best performances of her career in this horror movie about racism in the vein of  Get Out . She plays a professor at a prestigious, predominately white New England university with a historical connection to the Salem Witch Trials and a legacy of racism that continues into the present. She, a Black first-year student ( Zoe Renee ), and another Black faculty member ( Amber Gray ) experience racism at the school as a literal haunting. It's an assured debut film from writer-director  Mariama Diallo  (a Yale graduate) that's adept at scares and social commentary.  -Liam Mathews  [ Trailer ]

Lucy and Desi (2022)

Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, Lucy and Desi

Director:  Amy Poehler (yes, that Amy Poehler) Stars:  Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz Genre:  Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   75  

Sure, Nicole Kidman played a great Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin 's biopic Being the Ricardos (also on Amazon), but have you seen Lucille Ball play Lucille Ball? Amy Poehler directs this documentary looking at the lives of I Love Lucy 's stars, both on set and at home. (Not to be confused with Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie , a 1993 documentary directed by Lucy and Desi's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, that is also on Amazon.) - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ] 

The Protégé  (2021)

Maggie Q and Michael Keaton, The Protégé

Director:  Martin Campbell Stars:  Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson Genre:  Action, Thriller, Crime Rating:  R Metacritic score:   48  

Look, if you tell me Maggie Q is starring in an action movie, I'm pretty much already on board. Here, she stars as a contract killer who vows to get brutal, bloody revenge on the people who killed her mentor ( Samuel L. Jackson ). Along the way, she becomes entangled in a game of cat and mouse with another ruthless criminal ( Michael Keaton ), and the two of them have such effortless chemistry it'll make you forget about the movie's shortcomings.  The Protégé  received middling reviews when it was released in theaters, but the fight scenes are well choreographed spectacles that make it the ideal watch when you want to turn your brain off. - Allison Picurro [ Trailer ] 

Book of Love  (2022)

Sam Claflin and Verónica Echegui, Book of Love

Director:  Analeine Cal y Mayor Stars:  Sam Claflin, Verónica Echegui Genre:  Comedy, Romance Metacritic score:   44  

In this silly, sweet romantic comedy, Sam Claflin plays the kind of character Hugh Grant would've played back in the '90s: an uptight British romance author who learns that his latest (and not very good) novel has become a huge hit in Mexico, spurring him to travel there for a book tour. He only realizes after he arrives that the Spanish version of his book has actually been rewritten into a much spicier story that's way more interesting than his original story, all thanks to Maria ( Verónica Echegui ), the woman who translated it. This is the kind of classic rom-com premise that I can't help being utterly endeared by.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ] 

I Want You Back (2022)

For fans of: Jenny Slate, Charlie Day, ill-advised schemes

Jenny Slate, Charlie Day,  I Want You Back

Director: Jason Orley Stars: Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, Scott Eastwood Genre: Comedy, Romance Rating: R Metacritic score: 62

It's a  Jenny Slate  rom-com; it's a  Charlie Day  rom-com; it's a combination Jenny Slate-Charlie Day rom-com! And that means it's actually funny.  I Want You Back pairs up two of Hollywood's most reliable chaos agents as a pair of strangers who bond over being recently dumped, then team up to win back their exes by destroying their new relationships. It's a solid romantic comedy that actually feels fresh, and who doesn't love a messy scheme? - Kelly Connolly [ Trailer ]

A Hero (2021)

For fans of: International films, twisty morality tales

Amir Jadidi, A Hero

Director: Asghar Farhadi Stars: Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Sahar Goldoost  Genre: Drama, Thriller Rating: PG-13 Metacritic score: 82

The latest movie from Iranian filmmaker and two-time Oscar-winner Asghar Farhadi is this tense morality tale that's getting rave reviews from critics. It follows a man (Amir Jadidi) whose debt has landed him in jail, but a chance discovery of some gold coins while on furlough turns him into a national hero when he decides to return the bag of coins to its rightful owner. But beneath this seeming act of altruism lie questions of the man's true intentions.  -Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

Being the Ricardos (2021)

For fans of: Aaron Sorkin, backstage drama

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos

Director: Aaron Sorkin Stars: Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat Genre: Biography, Drama, History Rating: R Metacritic score: 60

Ever want to see Aaron Sorkin stuff the mouths of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with his wordy monologues? Sorkin wrote and directed  Being the Ricardos , a biopic following  I Love Lucy 's Ball and Arnaz during a critical moment in their careers when Ball was accused of being a communist and the gossip rags wondered if their relationship was on the fritz. Early reviews are middling, but the draw here is watching  Nicole Kidman  as Ball and  Javier Bardem  as Arnaz, accompanied by  J.K. Simmons ,  Tony Hale ,  Alia Shawkat  ( Arrested Development  reunion!), and  Nina Arianda . - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

Encounter (2021)

For fans of: Aliens, bugs, aliens that look like bugs

Lucian-River Chauhan, Riz Ahmed, and Aditya Geddada, Encounter

Director: Michael Pearce Stars: Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Rory Cochrane, Janina Gavankar Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Rating: R Metacritic score: 57

Riz Ahmed  follows up his Oscar-nominated turn in last year's  The Sound of Metal  with this paranoid sci-fi thriller that looks like a mix of  Take Shelter  and  War of the Worlds . Ahmed plays Malik Khan, a decorated Marine who takes his two sons and goes AWOL to protect them from an alien threat – and military operatives who are trying to make sure the secret of that threat doesn't get out. It comes from writer-director Michael Pearce, who made the excellent 2017 psychological thriller  Beast , so you can bet there will be some gut-punching twists and some meaty material for Ahmed to work with. The supporting cast includes  Octavia Spencer ,  Janina Gavankar , and  Rory Cochrane .  -Liam Mathews   [ Trailer ]

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)

For fans of: Benedict Cumberbatch, cats

Benedict Cumberbatch and Toby Jones, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Director: Will Sharpe Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones Genre: Biography, Drama, History Rating: PG-13 Metacritic score: 63

Benedict Cumberbatch  plays the eccentric late 19th and early 20th century artist Louis Wain, known for his cat portraits, who falls for his sisters' governess ( Claire Foy ), in this fanciful biographical drama. Reviews for the film have been polite but rarely glowing — which is to be expected from a film created and directed by the dark and whimsical Will Sharpe ( Flowers ) — but it's got Benedict Cumberbatch and cats, so there are a lot of very online people who will certainly love it. Plus,  Olivia Colman  narrates. - Kelly Connolly [ Trailer ]

Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2021)

For fans of: Musicals, sweet coming-of-age stories

Max Harwood, Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Directors: Dan Gillespie Sells, Jonathan Butterell, and Tom MacRae Stars: Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, Sarah Lancashire, Richard E. Grant, Ralph Ineson, Sharon Horgan Genre: Biography, Drama, Comedy, Musical Rating: PG-13 Metacritic score: 62

This stage-to-screen musical film is destined to set your heart aflame -- provided you aren't a hateful malcontent -- as it tells the story of a 16-year-old high schooler's journey against bullying and toward realizing his dream to become a drag queen. It's been reviewed positively with critics likening it to  Billy Elliott , and is exactly the feel-good salve you're desiring. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Big Sick (2017)

For fans of: Pre-Marvel Kumail Nanjiani, heartfelt rom-coms

Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick

Director: Michael Showalter Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano, Holly Hunter Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance Rating: R  Metacritic score: 86

This romantic comedy is based on the actual love story between  Kumail Nanjiani  and his wife, Emily V. Gordon. Nanjiani plays the fictionalized version of himself while  Zoe Kazan  plays the fictionalized version of Emily, whose sudden diagnosis with adult-onset Still's disease — and the coma she falls into — throws a major wrench into their burgeoning relationship. While Kumail and Emily's story is undoubtedly the thing that drives  The Big Sick ,  Ray Romano  and  Holly Hunter , who play Emily's parents, are the movie's grounding forces. You'll probably walk away from this mostly wishing they could adopt you.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Cinderella (2021)

For fans of: Pop songs, using the phrase "so bad it's good"

Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Cabello, Cinderella

Director: Kay Cannon Stars: Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Pierce Brosnan Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Family, Musical Rating: PG Metacritic score: 41

Did we need another  Cinderella  re-telling? Probably not, but here's this movie anyway. In this latest version,  Camila Cabello  plays the fairy tale heroine, now going by simply "Ella," as an aspiring fashion designer with big dreams the traditional society she lives in just isn't ready for. She gets help from her fairy godparent ( Billy Porter ), pushes back against her evil stepmother ( Idina Menzel ), and belts out a lot of classic pop tunes you already know, because this confounding movie is also a jukebox musical. If all of that doesn't turn you off, you're definitely ready for  Cinderella , girlboss edition. It's not "good," per se, but the baffling choices will certainly make you laugh. This could be a new camp classic in the making.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Annette (2021)

For fans of: Adam Driver, creepy puppet babies, A Star Is Born

Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, Annette

Director: Leos Carax Stars: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg, Devyn McDowell Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical Rating: R Metacritic score: 67

If you care at all about film festivals, you've probably already heard of  Annette , but if you haven't, listen carefully: This is a musical where  Adam Driver , speaking in an even lower register than usual, plays Henry, a stand-up comedian who falls in love with  Marion Cotillard 's Ann, an opera singer. Their relationship declines after the birth of their mysteriously prodigious daughter Annette (who is played, confoundingly, by a puppet), and from there it becomes  A Star Is Born  by way of  Marriage Story , but with a touch of surrealism. It's a fast-paced, hallucinatory rollercoaster that is certainly not for everyone, but will definitely have you walk away reeling.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

For fans of: Sequels, the way Borat says "my wiiiiife"

Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Director: Jason Woliner Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova Genre: Comedy Rating: R Metacritic score: 68

It's hard not to be wary when a beloved character is resurrected for a second go-around years later, but  Borat Subsequent Moviefilm  (full title  Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan ) is the rare sequel that works.  Sacha Baron Cohen  returns as Kazakh journalist Borat, and the international fame he's racked up since the first film has hurt more than helped his home country. In an attempt to redeem Kazakhstan, he returns back to America with the hopes of delivering a gift to former President Donald Trump (this movie was released right before the 2020 election, which does admittedly give some of the jokes a ten-second expiration date), but more compelling than all of that is Borat's legitimately sweet relationship with his daughter, Tutar (Maria Bakalova, who absolutely earned the Oscar nomination she received for her performance), who accompanies him on his mission, much to his chagrin. Honestly, the  Rudy Giuliani stuff  is the least interesting thing about this movie. It's good! Wa wa wee wa indeed.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Get Duked! (2019)

For fans of: Trainspotting, psychedelics

Director:  Ninian Doff Stars:  Eddie Izzard, Kate Dickie, Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja, Rian Gordon, Lewis Gribben Genre:  Action, Horror, Comedy, Music Rating:  R Metacritic score:   69

This 2019 British black comedy film will easily remind you of Danny Boyle's bonkers classic  Trainspotting , and it should: three Scottish teens with a knack for partying and doing drugs get into trouble. In  Get Duked! , they're joined by a do-gooder and wander the Highlands to win the Duke of Edinborough Award, a survival challenge that turns boys into men, but they get stuck in the middle of a hunt-or-be-hunted situation with  Eddie Izzard  playing a psycho with a sniper rifle. Believe it or not, it gets weirder from there. Hilarious, ridiculous, and packed with social commentary, this would be regular viewing in weed smoke-filled dorm rooms of the late-'90s. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Handmaiden (2016)

For fans of: Deception, but in a sexy way

Director:  Chan-wook Park Stars: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong Genre:  Drama, Thriller, Romance Rating:  Not rated Metacritic score:   84

The Handmaiden  is one of those movies where every character is scamming another character, resulting in an exciting, dramatic thriller. It starts out as a film about a Korean con man ( Ha Jung-woo ) who devises a pan to seduce a Japanese heiress ( Kim Min-hee ) out of her inheritance. He enlists the help of a pickpocket ( Kim Tae-ri)  to act as the heiress' maid and confidant, tasking her with encouraging marriage between the two. Things begin to get more dangerous as deeper relationships develop in the messy, intertwined trio, which is all I want to say without actually spoiling the plot's genius twists. What you should know going in is that this movie was directed by  Park Chan-wook , who gave us the brutal, bloody  Oldboy , so you should expect some gruesome imagery.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Jolt (2021)

For fans of: Kate Beckinsale violently brutalizing goons

Kate Beckinsale, Jolt

Director:  Tanya Wexler Stars:  Kate Beckinsale, Bobby Cannavale, Laverne Cox, Stanley Tucci, Jai Courtney Genre:  Action, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   48

Kate Beckinsale could have coasted in her career and played a lonely single mom who gets wooed by a hunk in various rom-coms, but thank god she's decided to be a butt-kicking action hero instead. In  Jolt , she plays a woman with a unique condition that you'll only find in movies: If she doesn't electroshock herself with a custom-made harness, she loses her temper and starts to beat the sh-- out of everyone. Let's just say she doesn't always get the jolt she needs in time... a lot. There's also a scene in which she throws babies, and there are many swift kicks to the groin. Dumb fun, good time. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Late Night (2019)

For fans of: Comedies about going to work, Emma Thompson wearing suits

Director:  Nisha Ganatra Stars:  Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Max Casella, Hugh Dancy Genre:  Comedy, Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   70

Mindy Kaling  and  Emma Thompson  star in this extremely sweet-hearted movie, written by Kaling, about a talk show host (played by Thompson) whose popularity is waning as she ages. To help freshen up her writers' room and stop the network from replacing her, she hires a new, inexperienced writer (Kaling). Some of the jokes and job responsibilities admittedly delve a little too far into the inside baseball territory — a lot of importance is placed on Kaling's character becoming co-monologue writer, for example — but overall,  Late Night  is a fun movie about the lengths women have to go to in order to be taken seriously in their careers.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

One Child Nation (2019)

For fans of: Learning about history without opening a book

One Child Nation

Directors:  Nanfu Wang, Zhang Lynn Genre:  History, Documentary Rating:  R Metacritic score:   85

This award-winning documentary will teach you all about a painful chapter in China's history via the one-child policy, which lasted from 1979 to 2015. Real people who lived through such a devastating period speak on their experiences, and the film delves into the damaging effects of government propaganda. Interestingly,  One Child Nation  is given a personal touch by co-director Nanfu Wang, who weaves stories of her own experience as a new mother in with the documentary's overall narrative.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

One Night in Miami... (2020)

For fans of: Historical figures, monologues

Director:  Regina King Stars:  Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr. Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   83

Directed by  Regina King  and based on a play by Kemp Powers,  One Night in Miami...  tells a dramatized account of a 1964 meeting between Malcolm X ( Kingsley Ben-Adir ), Muhammad Ali ( Eli Goree ), Sam Cooke ( Leslie Odom Jr. ), and Jim Brown ( Aldis Hodge ). They spend the night in a Miami hotel room together and end up arguing for a good portion of it, about X's belief that Cooke has sold out by pandering to white audience with his music, and Ali's, referred to in the film as Cassius Clay, decision to convert to Islam and change his name. It's an interesting movie that succeeds in peeling back the curtain on four pretty untouchable cultural icons, revealing more about their anxieties, inner lives, and ambitions than the average biopic would.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Pink: All I Know So Far (2021)

For fans of: P!nk, acrobatics, good music

Director:  Michael Gracey Genre:  Biography, Music, Documentary Rating:  Not rated Metacritic score:   60

What do you know about Pink? (Or, sorry, P!nk, as she apparently prefers to be addressed.) You're probably aware she has the voice of an angel, and that she really, really loves singing while performing aerial tricks, but you might not know much beyond that. This documentary is a highly personal look into her life as a mother. Expect a lot of very sweet scenes of her carting her young children around on tour, some emotional behind the scenes interviews, and to be blown away by her sheer vocal range. It's a fun watch for Pink devotees and new fans alike.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Small Axe (2020)

For fans of: Social justice stories, period pieces

Director:  Steve McQueen Stars:  John Boyega, Letitia Wright, Michael Ward, Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Sheyi Cole, Kenyah Sandy Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic scores:   90 ,  95 ,  84 , 77 ,  87

Small Axe  is peak prestige television in that it's not actually television at all, but instead it's an anthology collection of five films directed by  Steve McQueen . Every installment focuses on London's West Indian community in the years between 1969 and 1982, and each stars a great group of actors that includes  John Boyega ,  Letitia Wright ,  Jack Lowden , and more. The stories don't overlap, but they all do a beautiful job of building out the world, and deal with issues and themes that impact the community, like police brutality, education, and what it means to be part of British society as a person of West Indian descent. On one hand, yes, five films is a lot to ask of viewers, but on the other, it just so happens that McQueen is an incredible director with a strong vision and every one is worth your time. If you only want to try one, give "Lovers Rock," a romance centered around a reggae house party, a spin.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Sound of Metal (2020)

For fans of: Heavy metal band t-shirts, being emotional

Director:  Darius Marder Stars:  Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci Genre:  Drama, Music Rating:  R Metacritic score:   82

I am of the opinion that  Riz Ahmed  gave the best performance of 2020 as a heavy metal drummer losing his hearing in  Sound of Metal , and he very correctly earned an Oscar nomination for it. As Ruben, he explores the emotional trauma of sudden deafness — literally, as it plays out in the film, one minute he can hear perfectly, and the next everything is muffled — and the importance of finding community as he goes to live in a rural home for deaf recovering addicts in order, run by Joe (Paul Raci, also rightfully Oscar-nominated for his work). The way the film utilizes sound design is nothing short of incredible, and most notably, director Darius Marder cast many actual Deaf actors who help bring the story to life.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Suspiria (2018)

For fans of: Witches, dancers, witchy dancers, Tilda Swinton

Director:  Luca Guadagnino Stars:  Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth Genre:  Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror Rating:  R Metacritic score:   64

Luca Guadagnino  directs this remake of the 1977 Dario Argento horror classic.  Dakota Johnson  stars as Susie, a seemingly fresh-faced dancer who travels from Ohio to Berlin to study at an elite dance academy and is quickly named head dancer. As  Suspiria  unfolds, and as more students and teachers are found dead or go missing entirely, and it becomes increasingly clear that something very sinister and supernatural is going on underneath the surface. Also,  Tilda Swinton  plays three roles, and for one of them she gets to dress up as an old man. It's kooky, it's campy, and it's also very, very scary.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Sylvie's Love (2020)

For fans of: Tessa Thompson, period romance

Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha,  Sylvie's Love

Director:  Eugene Ashe Stars: Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha Genre:  Drama, Romance, Music Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   74

If sweeping romance is your thing,  Sylvie's Love  should be your next watch. Set in New York City in 1962,  Tessa Thompson  stars as Sylvie, an aspiring TV producer who strikes up a summer romance with a saxophonist (Nnamdi Asomugha) who works at her father's record store. Life eventually drags them apart, and they both go on without each other for a while, only to reunite years later to find that their connection remains just as strong.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Tomorrow War (2021)

For fans of: Independence Day , action broken up with passable humor

Chris Pratt, Keith Powers, and Sam Richardson, The Tomorrow War

Director:  Chris McKay Stars:  Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J. K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson Genre:  Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, War Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   45

A muscly and brainy  Chris Pratt  stars as a scientist who, along with thousands of others, is zapped 30 years into the future to help future soldiers fight an alien invasion and save the human race. Yeah, if that insane logline doesn't turn you off then you should enjoy this popcorn flick that doesn't take itself too seriously — as evidenced by the many one-liners from comedians  Sam Richardson , Mike Mitchell , and Mary Lynn Rajskub — but doesn't skimp on hours of soldiers unloading clips into grotesque aliens. It'll remind you of  Starship Troopers  without that sharp commentary.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Uncle Frank (2020)

For fans of: Road trips, Paul Bettany's American accent

Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, and Peter Macdissi, Uncle Frank

Director:  Alan Ball Stars:  Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   58

This movie is a little bit like if someone tried to update  Little Miss Sunshine  and focus primarily on Steve Carell's character, but in a good way. Beth ( Sophia Lillis ) moves from her small North Carolina hometown to good ol' New York City, and immediately crashes into her favorite uncle's life. She finds out that Frank ( Paul Bettany ) is gay and has been living with his boyfriend Wally ( Peter Macdissi ) for years, while successfully keeping it a secret from the rest of their family. And because this is a movie, the secret is of course put in jeopardy when Frank's father dies and he, Beth, and Wally embark on a road trip to attend the funeral.  Uncle Frank balances its comedic and dramatic moments well, and your heart will ache during the flashbacks to Frank's adolescence, where he was first confronted with his family's homophobia. Plus, an always perfect  Judy Greer  co-stars.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Intimate portraits of '80s icons

Val Kilmer, Val

Directors:  Leo Scott, Ting Poo Genre:  Documentary Rating:  R Metacritic score:   73

Val Kilmer gets the autobiographical treatment in this intimate documentary about his life and career. Kilmer lends his own home movies he's taken over the years to the film — which includes videos from the set of  Batman Forever , and footage of younger versions of Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon just hanging out — and provides a look at his struggle with throat cancer, from which he's still recovering and has left him using a prosthesis in order to speak. It's more revealing than the standard celebrity doc.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Vast of Night (2019)

For fans of: That '80s and '90s sci-fi feel, first-time directors making a huge splash

Sierra McCormick, The Vast of Night

Director:  Andrew Patterson Stars: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz Genre:  Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   84

This 2019 science-fiction film from director Andrew Patterson is one of the best directorial debuts of the last decade, with Patterson's keen eye able to bring to life a small town experiencing strange phenomena from the sky. Featuring some  truly incredible continuous shots featuring hundreds of extras  and  one of my favorite intimate cinematic scenes featuring just one person on screen ,  The Vast of Night  is a film school student's dream that follows a young switchboard operator and a disc jockey in 1950s New Mexico trying to find the source of unidentified sounds, and it's an entrancing thriller from the opening shot to the closing seconds. - Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

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The 30 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now

This list is regularly updated as movies rotate on and off of Amazon Prime Video . *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.

Amazon has a little bit of everything on their streaming service, but they don’t have an interface that makes it particularly easy to find any of it. They also love to rotate out their selection with reckless abandon, making it hard to pin down what’s available when you want to watch a movie. It’s the kind of digital minefield that demands a guide. That’s where we come in! This regularly updated list will highlight the best films currently on Prime Video, free for anyone with an Amazon Prime account, including classics and recent hits. There’s truly something here for everyone, starting with our pick of the week.

This Week’s Critic’s Pick

The age of innocence.

Year:  1993 Runtime:  2h 12m Director:  Martin Scorsese

Every time some troll claims that Scorsese only makes violent mob movies, they should be forced to watch this masterpiece, a period romance adapted from the 1920 novel by Edith Wharton. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Newland Archer, a wealthy New Yorker who is going to marry a woman named May (Winona Ryder) when he meets the unforgettable Countess Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). Sumptuously made and perfectly added, it’s one of the best films of a very good year.

How We Pick Our Films

Critic Brian Tallerico watches and writes about movies and TV every day. To curate this list, he dives into Prime Video’s catalogue to surface acclaimed, surprising, or otherwise noteworthy titles — using his taste and a lifetime of cinema study as his guide, instead of whatever the algorithm happens to be pushing. After triple-checking to make sure they’re still available, he watches each, organizes them by category, then writes his recommendation. We highlight more than just Oscar winners or popcorn flicks: These films present interesting ideas, made an impact on cinema, and changed our culture. Read on to find something to watch.

*After Yang

Year:  2022 Runtime:  1h 35m Director:  Kogonada

What a beautiful movie this is. Colin Farrell stars in a near-future tale in which androids are more common. When one dies, it feels like a member of the family is gone, almost like losing a child. Farrell’s character tries to fix Yang, discovering what’s important about life along the way. It also contains a gorgeous score by Ryuichi Sakamato.

Year: 1981 Runtime: 1h 47m Director: Brian De Palma

Brian De Palma’s best film stars John Travolta as a sound effects technician who is out recording sounds one night when he thinks he hears something terrifying. De Palma’s films often riff on Hitchcock, and this is his Rear Window , taking the voyeuristic elements of that film and applying them to a deeply cynical but brilliant study of violence, politics, and sex in the early 1980s.

*Born on the Fourth of July

Year: 1989 Runtime: 2h 24m Director: Oliver Stone

The director of the Best Picture-winning Platoon returned to Vietnam era with a very different film that’s more about coming home than going to war. Tom Cruise gives one of the best performances of his career as Ron Kovic, an average American kid forced into combat, who came home paralyzed and in a country that had no idea what to do with its veterans. It’s a very moving drama that landed eight Oscar nominations, including Cruise’s first, and won a second trophy for Oliver Stone.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Year: 1977 Runtime: 2h 14m Director: Steven Spielberg

There are a bunch of ‘70s and ‘80s classics on Amazon Prime (and on this list), but this is one of the best, a Steven Spielberg classic that may not get the same attention as his franchise starters but has held up as well as any of his most beloved films. This is probably a movie you haven’t seen since you were a kid. It plays differently if you’re now an adult. Trust us.

*Donnie Darko

Year: 2001 Runtime: 1h 53m Director: Richard Kelly

It’s a mad world in Richard Kelly’s sci-fi hit starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, and Jena Malone. Darko made almost nothing in theaters but developed a loyal following on the home market, becoming one of the more acclaimed sci-fi films of the ‘00s. Join in the conversation that seems to constantly surround this film (and maybe Kelly will be encouraged to make another one soon — he hasn’t directed in over a decade).

Fitzcarraldo

Year: 1982 Runtime: 2h 37m Director: Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog set out to make a movie about a man who was insane enough to try and move a steamship over land from one river to another and Herzog himself was insane enough to actually try and replicate it. The result is a film that’s mesmerizing in its detail and blatant in its study of power gone mad, both in the narrative and the filmmaking. Watch Burden of Dreams after – a great doc about the crazy making of this film. (It’s on Prime too.)

House of Games

Year:  1987 Runtime:  1h 41m Director:  David Mamet

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet made his directorial debut with this insanely clever thriller starring Lindsey Crouse and Joe Mantegna. Crouse plays a therapist who becomes fascinated with the life of a con, played by Mantegna, but Mamet always keeps his full hand hidden, only revealing the complexities and brilliance of his script one card at a time.

King of New York

Year:  1990 Runtime:  1h 43m Director:  Abel Ferrara

The amazing Abel Ferrara directed this crime epic that oozes with style. Three decades after its release, it’s still one of the most cited films of this kind of its era. One of the main reasons for that is the cast. Christopher Walken leads the way as the legendary drug lord Frank White, but the whole ensemble here is amazing, including Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Steve Buscemi, and Giancarlo Esposito.

Year: 1999 Runtime: 1h 28m Director: Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh directs a searing performance by Terence Stamp in his thriller about a Brit who comes to California trying to find his missing daughter, and those who may be responsible for hurting her. Soderbergh rarely missteps and The Limey is one of his most underrated films, a perfectly paced angry shout of a movie that matches its captivating leading man.

Year: 1986 Runtime: 2h 1m Director: Michael Mann

Believe it or not, this Michael Mann flick isn’t regularly available for streaming subscribers, so take this chance while you can to watch one of the best from a masterful American director. Adapting Red Dragon by Thomas Harris, this is actually the first cinematic iteration of Hannibal Lecter, played here by future Succession Emmy winner Brian Cox. William Petersen is great as Will Graham, the role that Hugh Dancy would play many years later in the NBC series. This one is tense, and truly terrifying.

Year: 2001 Runtime: 1h 53m Director: Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan announced himself to the world with this Sundance thriller that really reshaped the indie and eventually the blockbuster landscape. Guy Pearce gives one of his best performances as a man with such severe memory loss that he has to use his body to remind himself of the details he needs to solve a mystery. It’s still so clever and riveting.

Oppenheimer

Year: 2023 Runtime: 2h 58m Director: Christopher Nolan

One of the biggest and best movies of 2023 has been doing a victory lap on the streaming services following its Oscar win for Best Picture. Of course, one of the draws of Nolan’s brilliant examination of the development of the atomic bomb was the way it played on Imax screens around the world. It’s best viewed large, loud, and in a one 3-hour chunk. So don’t break this one up and don’t watch it on your phone. Give yourself over to one of the most truly cinematic experiences of the decade.

Passion Fish

Year: 1992 Runtime: 2h 15m Director: John Sayles

The brilliant writer/director John Sayles delivered one of his most beloved films in this 1992 drama about a soap opera star (Mary McDonnell) who has been paralyzed after being hit by a cab. She returns to her family home, where she crosses paths with a nurse (Alfre Woodard) who refuses to give up on her. It’s moving in a way that feels genuine, never manipulative.

Year: 1987 Runtime: 1h 54m Director: Oliver Stone

Oliver Stone’s deeply personal and powerful film about the Vietnam War remains his best work, winning the filmmaker an Oscar for Best Director and nabbing Best Picture too. It stars Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, and Willem Dafoe in a story that cast a light on morality in wartime in a way that hadn’t really been seen before. It’s still incredibly moving stuff, and it always will be.

Year:  1960 Runtime:  1h 48m Director:  Alfred Hitchcock

Often on lists of the best movies ever made, Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller undeniably changed the genre forever. With its drastic POV shift and stunning mid-film murder, no one had ever seen a movie that played with structure like this one before. It’s still a riveting piece of work, a movie in which one can find new tricks and joys with every single viewing. It’s a masterpiece.

Requiem for a Dream

Year: 2000 Runtime: 1h 41m Director: Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky adapted Hubert Selby Jr.’s novel of the same name into one of the most harrowing films about addiction that has ever been made. Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Marlon Wayans, and Jennifer Connelly star in a film that looks at four different spirals into drug abuse and the horrors that can often come with it. The performances are unforgettable, but it’s the incredible visual confidence that Aronofsky displayed in only his second film that makes this such a riveting experience.

Saving Private Ryan

Year: 1998 Runtime: 2h 49m Director: Steven Spielberg

War movies haven’t gone anywhere, a prominent part of film history from its early days through 1917. There are certain tentpoles in that history of war movies that feel like game changers, and one came in 1998 when Steven Spielberg returned to World War II to tell a different story of history, reminding everyone in the world about the sacrifices that were made that day, and the obligation we all have to make them worthwhile.

Taxi Driver

Year: 1976 Runtime: 1h 48m Director: Martin Scorsese

One of Martin Scorsese’s early masterpieces, Taxi Driver is the wildly influential story of a man pushed off the edge of sanity, featuring a fearless performance from a young Robert De Niro. Few movies from this era are cited more than this one, and it’s not just because it touches on themes that remain timeless but that it does so in such a riveting, harrowing way. It’s unforgettable and the rare perfect film that holds up every single time you watch it.

High Tension

Year: 2005 Runtime: 1h 29m Director: Alexandre Aja

This movie is bonkers. Directed by Alexandre Aja (and sometimes called Switchblade Romance ) it stars Cecile de France and Maiwenn as two young woman who go to a secluded farmhouse, where they’re attached by a serial killer. The twist ending to this brutal film will likely either make it or break it for you. Note: Shudder also added a few other French Horror Wave films, including Inside and Martyrs —both essential for horror fans, neither for the faint of heart.

Year: 1979 Runtime: 1h 29m Director: Don Coscarelli

Another low-budget flick that produced an empire, Don Coscarelli’s totally bonkers 1979 film isn’t as much an influential genre classic as it is kind of unlike anything before or since. Who can forget the first time they saw Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man, one of the best horror characters of his era? The crazy plot here is secondary to the unforgettable imagery and style. There’s a reason it spawned four sequels and has a very loyal cult following 40 years later.

Bottle Rocket

Year:  1996 Runtime:  1h 31m Director:  Wes Anderson

Made for almost nothing in the heart of Texas by an unknown young man named Wes Anderson, this 1996 comedy changed the indie landscape. Not only did it launch Anderson’s career, it introduced the world to the Wilson brothers, Owen and Luke. It’s a great film, and one that Martin Scorsese even named as one of the ten best films of the 1990s.

Year: 1996 Runtime: 1h 34m Director: Joel Coen

Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1996 masterpiece is only one of the best films ever made, a story of violence and redemption in the great American North. The Coens won Best Original Screenplay and Frances McDormand took her first Oscar home for playing the unforgettable Marge Gunderson, a Minnesotan cop who gets entangled in a car salesman’s deeply inept foray into the criminal world.

Year: 1989 Runtime: 1h 43m Director: Michael Lehmann

Talk about a movie ahead of its time. Coming-of-age teen comedies were never quite as wonderfully cynical before this movie about four teenage girls whose lives are upended by the arrival of a new kid, played by Christian Slater. More than just seeking to destroy the damaging cliques at his new school, Slater’s character has plans for something a little more permanent in this comedy that really shaped the teen genre for years to come.

The Holdovers

Year: 2023 Runtime: 2h 13m Director: Alexander Payne

Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph were Oscar-nominated for this phenomenal comedy (and Randolph won!), which was exclusive to Peacock but has now escaped out to Prime Video. The ‘70s-set story of a boarding school over holiday break already feels like a comedy classic, a movie that people will be watching, especially around the end of the year, for generations to come.

Year: 2000 Runtime: 2h 34m Director: Russell Crowe

The first Best Picture winner of the new millennium was one of the most beloved period action films of all time. Russell Crowe gives his most iconic performance as a Roman general named Maximus, who watches his family murdered and his life destroyed by a vicious ruler named Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Forced into slavery, Maximus must become a gladiator, competing in arenas until he can achieve his ultimate revenge.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Year: 1967 Runtime: 2h 58m Director: Sergio Leone

Is this Sergio Leone’s best movie? It might be. It’s arguably his most influential, changing the landscape of the Western in ways that are still being felt a half-century later. Clint Eastwood plays “The Good,” Lee Van Cleef plays “The Bad,” and Eli Wallach plays “The Ugly.” It’s even better than you remember.

Interstellar

Year: 2014 Runtime: 2h 49m Director: Christopher Nolan

The most underrated film from the director of The Dark Knight and Oppenheimer remains this 2014 sci-fi epic, a film that’s better if you approach it as an emotional journey instead of a physical one. Matthew McConaughey gives one of the best performances of his career as an astronaut searching for a new home for mankind, and realizing all that he left behind to do so. It’s a technical marvel with some of the most striking visuals and best sound design of Nolan’s career.

*The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Year: 2001-2003 Runtime: Various Director: Peter Jackson

The Oscar-winning franchise by Peter Jackson bounces around the streaming services with alarming regularity, now finding its way to Prime Video for an indeterminate amount of time. Watch the entire saga of Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and the rest of the Fellowship while you can.

Reservoir Dogs

Year: 1992 Runtime: 1h 39m Director: Quentin Tarantino

Maybe you’ve heard of it? One of the only Quentin Tarantino flicks on Prime Video right now is his first effort, a movie that announced a major new talent as much as any debut of the ‘90s. Remarkably, unlike a lot of ‘80s and ‘90s debuts, Reservoir Dogs works just as well today. It would arguably be an even bigger hit if it came out in 2024. That’s how much QT influenced the form for three decades and counting after its release.

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The 46 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now (October 2024)

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How many hours have we all lost to the endless streaming scroll? Aiming for a little kickback, you end up perusing all the good movies on Prime Video, intent on finding just the right one, ultimately unsure what to choose in the face of overwhelming options. Fret not: The Collider staff did all that scrolling for you, scanning through the catalog in search of the best picks for an entertaining night in. We've put together a wide-ranging list of the best movies on Prime Video right now.

What's more, we'll be updating the list regularly with additional picks, so you won't run out of viewing material any time soon. The list spans genres, decades, and ratings, so there should be a little something for everyone, but if you can't find what you're looking for below (and you're a multi-platform streamer), be sure to check out our picks for the best TV shows and best movies on Netflix .

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Prime Video.

Editor's note: This article was updated October 2024 to include House of Spoils.

‘House of Spoils’ (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 80% | imdb: 5.6/10.

House of Spoils (2024)

From Night Swim to Speak No Evil , production company Blumhouse has had a strong 2024. Now, they have just one project left to arrive this year, with Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy ’s House of Spoils debuting on Prime Video. The film follows Ariana DeBose ’s chef, who opens her first-ever restaurant and is immediately greeted by the nightmares of the highest level of the culinary profession. Add this to the haunting by the spirit of the previous owner, and you have a recipe for hell’s kitchen. Spooky, tense, and full of frights, House of Spoils makes for the perfect Halloween treat on a dark and gloomy October night. - Jake Hodges

Watch on Prime Video

‘Challengers’ (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 88% | imdb: 7.2/10.

Challengers

Luca Guadagnino ’s reputation continues to grow, as does the list of his iconic movies. One such movie released in 2024 is Challengers , a tense romantic drama following the lives of former best friends Patrick ( Josh O’Connor ) and Art ( Mike Faist ) as they grow apart alongside Patrick’s former lover and Art’s wife, Tashi ( Zendaya ). From the outside looking in, Challengers looks to be a sports drama, but, alas, the tennis is merely a gorgeous metaphor for the fast-paced, often tactical match played between Patrick and Art. Looking on from the crowd as a coach is Tashi, playing the two men against each other to feed her own ego. Bolstered by a score for the ages from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross , Challengers is an indulgent, worthwhile experience. - Jake Hodges

‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ (1987)

Rotten tomatoes: 92% | imdb: 7.6/10.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

This classic ‘80s comedy from the legendary John Hughes stars John Candy and Steve Martin as an unlikely pair who must battle severe weather and cancellations to try and get home for Thanksgiving. With one impatient and world-weary and the other bursting with energy, bad jokes, and, terrible advice, hilarity ensues in one of the decade’s best comedies. Hughes was the master of dragging tender relationships from side-splitting slapstick, with Planes, Trains and Automobiles a perfect example of this. As time edges toward the Thanksgiving season, this is a must-have on any watchlist, especially considering the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from the iconic Kevin Bacon . - Jake Hodges

‘Election’ (1999)

Rotten tomatoes: 92% | imdb: 7.2/10.

Co-written and directed by the brilliant Alexander Payne — the man behind the awards darlings Sideways and, more recently, The Holdovers — Election is the story of the academic champion Tracy Flick ( Reese Witherspoon ) and her campaign for class president that seems destined to win. The only person who stands in her way is teacher Jim McAllister ( Matthew Broderick ), who fashions his own candidate to try and beat her. Enormously fun and brilliantly quotable, Election feels like Veep if it were a teen comedy. Full of startling pace and full-throttle cynicism, this is a genre-defining piece of work that sets the tone for Payne’s remarkable subsequent filmography. - Jake Hodges

‘In the Heights’ (2021)

Rotten tomatoes: 94% | imdb: 7.3/10.

In the Heights

This beaming musical from director John M. Chu is set in the titular neighborhood of Washington Heights, a community based in the north of Manhattan. The film follows the journey of bodega owner Usnavi ( Anthony Ramos ), a young man with a dream for a better future. Alas, he must look after his elderly neighbor and remain restrained by the shackles of his home. But perhaps all he needs is to realize just how special ‘home’ is. Bolstered by some toe-tapping musical numbers perfect to put a smile on your face, In the Heights is a feel-good hit with a penchant for moments of touching drama. Unlike other movie musicals, In the Heights doesn’t try to become a Broadway show, instead using its film medium to enhance the central story. - Jake Hodges

‘Drive-Away Dolls’ (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 63% | imdb: 5.4/10.

Drive-Away Dolls

Directed by Ethan Coen from a screenplay he co-wrote with Tricia Cooke , Drive-Away Dolls marks Coen’s first narrative film without his brother Joel Coen and his second solo directorial work. Set in 1999, Drive-Away Dolls follows the story of two best friends, Jamie and Marian, who embark on a spontaneous road trip from Philadelphia to Tallahassee, Florida, searching for a fresh start. But the trip and their plans quickly go awry when they find a group of clumsy criminals on their tail. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Vishwanathan star as Jamie and Marian, leading an ensemble cast that includes Beanie Feldstein , Colman Domingo , Pedro Pascal , Bill Camp , Matt Damon , and C. J. Wilson in important supporting roles. Though the film received mixed reviews from critics, it has been praised for the performances and on-screen chemistry of Qualley and Vishwanathan. With hilarious situations, psychedelic sequences, and plenty of heart, Drive-Away Dolls is a fun, exciting road trip comedy full of crazy adventures and dark humor.

‘Lisa Frankenstein’ (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 52% | imdb: 6.1/10.

Lisa Frankenstein

This spooky twist on the coming-of-age genre sees the titular Lisa ( Kathryn Newton ) start life at a new school following a tragic event. Struggling to fit in despite her sister’s best efforts, Lisa accidentally becomes the holder of a deadly secret: A corpse in the local cemetery has come to life. A wonderful mix of drama and comedy, Lisa Frankenstein is an endearing tale that warms hearts whilst also chilling bones. The plot itself has surprises galore, handing this tale of reviving the dead a refreshing, life-giving twist. Newton is superb among a memorable ensemble cast, with this a juicy addition to your Halloween watchlist. - Jake Hodges

‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017)

Rotten tomatoes: 79% | imdb: 6.7/10.

Atomic Blonde

Directed by the ever-brilliant David Leitch , Atomic Blonde follows Charlize Theron ’s Agent Lorraine Broughton, a talented Intelligence Service agent with the world at her feet. Ready to attempt her toughest mission yet, Lorraine must travel to Berlin and into the thick of international spy warfare with her life very much on the line. Fun, frantic, and full of action, Atomic Blonde is everything you could want from a Leitch movie — minus endless laughs. Theron is captivating throughout, with an equally talented ensemble managing to match her infectious energy. Fast-paced and sometimes risque, Atomic Blonde has something for everyone. - Jake Hodges

‘Polite Society’ (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 91% | imdb: 6.6/10.

Polite Society

Written and directed by Nida Manzoor , Polite Society is a heist movie like you’ve never seen before. The flick follows Ria Khan ( Priya Kansara ), a young woman with a desperate desire to save her sister Lena ( Ritu Arya ) from marriage. With the help of her friends, Ria hatches an ambitious scheme to restore peace to her family, but will all go to plan? An endearing, hilarious amalgamation of modern families, Polite Society is a neat balance of both entertainment and education. For those aware of Manzoor’s We Are Lady Parts , the heartfelt chaos of Polite Society will come as no surprise but be certainly welcomed. Wild and wonderful, Polite Society is a heartwarming, worthwhile way to spend 105 minutes. - Jake Hodges

‘The Magnificent Seven’ (2016)

Rotten tomatoes: 64% | imdb: 6.9/10.

The Magnificent Seven

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Wenk , The Magnificent Seven is a 2016 Western action film inspired by the eponymous 1960 film, which was, in turn, a remake of Akira Kurosawa ’s Seven Samurai (1954). Set in 1879, The Magnificent Seven follows Sam Chisolm, a famous U.S. Marshal warrant officer who sets his sights on a corrupt industrialist controlling the Old West town of Rose Creek, planning a deadly face-off alongside an eclectic group of gunslingers. Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington stars as Chisolm, leading an ensemble cast that includes Chris Pratt , Ethan Hawke , Vincent D'Onofrio , Lee Byung-hun , Manuel Garcia-Rulfo , Martin Sensmeier , and Peter Sarsgaard in major roles. The Magnificent Seven premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, with praise for the film’s casting, action pieces, and background score by composer James Horner . The film went on to find moderate success at the box office as well. The highlight of the movie is Denzel Washington, whose characterization of Sam Chisolm has been favorably compared to the 1960 film’s Chris Adams and real-life African-American lawman Bass Reeves .

‘The Beekeeper’ (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 71% | imdb: 6.4/10.

The Beekeeper

Directed by David Ayer , The Beekeeper stars action icon Jason Statham as the titular beekeeper, Adam Clay. However, these are not normal beekeepers and are, in fact, highly-trained agents in a classified program. With vengeance on his mind following a tragedy, Clay uses his unlikely set of skills to stop at nothing to hunt and kill those responsible. What you see is what you get with The Beekeeper , and it is all the better for it. The movie is an action fan's dream, a thrill ride with gutsy one-liners and explosive set pieces. Statham is as Statham-esque as he has ever been in a role designed meticulously for his best assets and is surrounded by an ensemble that equally understands the assignment. For a popcorn flick to throw on and simply enjoy, The Beekeeper is a perfect choice. - Jake Hodges

'I Am: Celine Dion' (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 100% | imdb: 8.0/10.

I Am: Celine Dion

A 2024 documentary film directed by Irene Taylor , I Am: Celine Dion explores the life and career of iconic Canadian singer Celine Dion . Besides Dion's personal life and her many accomplishments, the film also talks about her battles with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological condition. A soundtrack for the film was also released, which includes 13 essential hits and seven original score tracks. Unlike most documentaries about contemporary musicians, I Am: Celine Dion has received amazing reviews from critics for the honesty with which it portrays its subject. Instead of being just another PR exercise, the documentary provides a raw behind-the-scenes look at the legendary singer and her struggle with a debilitating but little-known illness. The film is also a big hit with audiences, becoming Prime Video’s number one most-watched movie at the time of its release. Moving and inspirational, I Am: Celine Dion is the story of a star many recognize but whose personal struggles very few truly know about.

'Oppenheimer' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 8.3/10.

Oppenheimer

One-half of 2023’s biggest double feature, Christopher Nolan ’s Oppenheimer is a biopic about the man behind the atomic bomb, flicking between the moments that informed his choices and the consequences he faced after them. Most likely the most successful movie of 2023 by several metrics, Oppenheimer is a marvel of cinema, showcasing the very best in modern filmmaking technology. It isn’t just a fascinating technical piece, though, with an Academy Award-winning Cillian Murphy and many others delivering captivating performances thanks to a sometimes bombastic but always considered script. Considering his incredible catalog, it’s hard to call this Nolan’s magnum opus, but there is certainly a fair argument to make such a claim. - Jake Hodges

'Pearl' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 92% | imdb: 7.0/10.

Co-written and directed by Ti West , this award-winning horror follows the titular Pearl ( Mia Goth ), a young woman for whom living on her parents’ farm and caring for her father is proving loveless. Living perpetually on the edge, Pearl decides to take the leap and pursue stardom, but what ungodly consequences might her leaving safety have? As A24 projects are famous for, nothing is simple in Pearl . From the soundtrack to the performances, each detail has been meticulously designed to feel off-kilter, with Goth perfectly encapsulating that erratic unease in her performance. A prequel to the 2022 slasher X , the two make for one killer of a double feature. - Jake Hodges

'Tangerine' (2015)

Rotten tomatoes: 96% | imdb: 7.1/10.

One of the most innovative movies of the 2010s, Tangerine follows Sin-Dee ( Kitana Kiki Rodriguez ), a woman returning to Tinseltown after 28 days away. With Christmas on the horizon, her holiday spirit is crushed after learning that the love of her life has cheated on her, which sets Sin-Dee on a mission to track him down at any cost. On its surface, Tangerine is already an immersive and gorgeous flick that oozes style and substance. However, when learning that the entire project was shot on the iPhone 5s, it becomes a masterpiece. Indulgent and inventive, Tangerine is early proof of the genius of its creator, Sean Baker , with the most recent Cannes Film Festival seeing the filmmaker pick up the Palm d’Or for his movie Anora . - Jake Hodges

'Fast X' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 56% | imdb: 5.8/10.

The remarkable 10th installment in one of the 21st century’s biggest franchises, Fast X follows the family-loving Dom Toretto ( Vin Diesel ), who will do anything to protect his family, going to eye-catching lengths to protect them, all whilst actually using the word “family” 56 times. Hitting every box on the checklist of Fast and Furious movies, Fast X is a wild ride from start to finish, punctuated by eye-popping action sequences and enough explosions to win a war. Featuring a who’s who of modern-day action heroes, from Jason Statham to Jason Momoa (as well as other people not called Jason), Fast X is the perfect popcorn action flick for anyone with even a slight taste for the franchise. - Jake Hodges

'American Fiction' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 7.5/10.

American Fiction

Based on Percival Everett ’s 2001 novel Erasure , American Fiction is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Cord Jefferson in his feature directorial debut. The movie stars Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist whose attempt at satirizing stereotypical "Black" books is mistaken for serious literature. The movie boasts a talented ensemble cast, featuring Tracee Ellis Ross , Issa Rae , Sterling K. Brown , John Ortiz , Erika Alexander , Leslie Uggams , Adam Brody , and Keith David . American Fiction premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received critical praise and won the People's Choice Award. The movie has received several awards and nominations, including the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It’s a smart, witty piece of storytelling that’s been named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the American Film Institute. Jeffrey Wright delivers a delightful and committed performance as he navigates the many turns of this insightful yet absurdly humorous journey. For fans of sharp, clear-eyed satire, American Fiction is a movie with a lot to say and a great way of saying it.

'The Holdovers' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 97% imdb: 7.9/10.

The Holdovers

The Holdovers is a comedy-drama film set primarily in a New England boarding school in the 1970s. The movie was directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson . Paul Giamatti stars as curmudgeonly classics teacher Paul Hunnam, who is forced to spend the holidays chaperoning a handful of students with nowhere to go. His stuffy world opens up as he forms a bond with the recently bereaved school cafeteria manager, Mary Lamb ( Da’Vine Joy Randolph ), and a bright but troubled student, Angus Tully ( Dominic Sessa ). The Holdovers premiered at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival and received near-universal acclaim. Named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute, the movie has won several accolades, including the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s heartbreaking performance. Full of beautiful, emotional performances, the film almost feels like the inverse of Dead Poets Society , with a student helping a teacher learn to find his place in the world. Though a Christmas movie in setting, The Holdovers is a film that’s sure to become a perennial favorite.

'The Idea of You' (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 83% | imdb: 6.5/10.

The Idea of You

Based on Robinne Lee ’s 2017 novel of the same name, The Idea of You is a rom-com starring Anne Hathaway as a single mom who finds an unexpected romance with the lead singer of a boy band, played by Nicholas Galitzine . The film was directed by Michael Showalter , who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jennifer Westfeldt . The Idea of You premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, where it received largely positive reviews from critics. The movie has been hailed as a return to the classic romantic comedy mold, with compelling performances from its leads and a solid story. Anne Hathaway is, predictably, the highlight of the film, delivering a delightful performance and sharing great on-screen chemistry with Galitzine. Overall, The Idea of You is a funny, feel-good film that packs plenty of laughs and emotion but still finds the space to say some important things about love, life, and self-discovery.

'The Miseducation of Cameron Post' (2018)

Rotten tomatoes: 76% | imdb: 6.6/10.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Based on the 2012 novel by Emily M. Danforth , The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a coming-of-age drama set in the 90s that stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a teenager sent to a gay conversion therapy center. The movie was directed by Desiree Akhavan , who also co-wrote the screenplay with Cecilia Frugiuele . The film also stars John Gallagher Jr. , Sasha Lane , Forrest Goodluck , Marin Ireland , and more. The Miseducation of Cameron Post premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to largely positive reviews. Critics have praised the humor, intelligence, and compassion that the movie brings to its timely and all-too-real subject. Moretz delivers a brilliant performance in the lead role, and Akhavan’s direction of the film is flawless. Perhaps the greatest triumph of The Miseducation of Cameron Post is the way the movie truthfully explores painful, tragic realities of life while still finding the joy in human connections that get you through the hurt.

The 26 best Prime Video movies to stream in October 2024

Looking for the best Prime Video movies around? TechRadar's entertainment experts have got you covered

• How we choose

If you're looking for the best Prime Video movies, this guide is for you. Below you'll find our pick of the top films, both original and licensed from other studios, that you can stream right now on Amazon 's Prime Video platform.

Anyone can watch all of the best Prime Video movies if they have an Amazon Prime subscription. It's well worth it because with such an impressive library of films that's updated every month – check out everything new on Prime Video in September for the latest – there's plenty of choice so make sure to check our list of new Prime Video movies for more.

With such an impressive slate of content, it's no surprise why Prime Video is one of the best streaming services around today, especially when seeing its growing library of best Prime Video shows , too. Read on for our selection of the best Prime video movies.

Best action movies on Prime Video

Thirteen lives.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 147 minutes Main cast: Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, and Tom Bateman Director: Ron Howard RT score: 85%

Thirteen Lives follows the real-life story of a group of boys and their soccer coach who were stuck in a cave in Thailand back in 2018 due to flooding. Yes, we all know how the predicament ends (it ends well, don’t worry). But that doesn’t stop this story from being incredibly compelling. Which is why we’ve already recommended Thirteen Lives as one of our Prime Video movies of the day. The now famous rescue mission is very well adapted in this film by famous director Ron Howard ( A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Splash ), who retells the deeply gripping story about the power of working together and holding onto hope against all odds.

• Watch Thirteen Lives on Prime Video now
• Watch the Thirteen Lives trailer on YouTube

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 143 minutes Main cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Bérénice Marlohe Director: Sam Mendes RT score: 92%

For anyone who hasn’t been keeping count, Skyfall is the 23rd instalment in the iconic James Bond series of movies. It’s directed by Sam Mendes ( American Beauty, 1917 ) and offers the expected blend of espionage, action and quippy one-liners that makes Bond films so entertaining. Skyfall revitalized the Bond saga and took an interesting turn, venturing into the relationship between Bond and M. In Skyfall we also meet a chilling new villain, Raoul Silva (played by Javier Bardem), whose personal vendetta adds some psychological weight to the story. Stunning locations, from Shanghai to the Scottish Highlands, are incredible to watch unfold on screen, and Adele provides a haunting and beautiful theme song. Skyfall is well worth watching if you haven’t caught up on the more recent Bond flicks (it's worth seeing where it ranks in our best Daniel Craig 007 movies guide, too). Alternatively, indulge in a whole Bond saga re-watch, in which case you’ll need our how to watch the Bond movies in order guide.

• Watch Skyfall on Prime Video now
• Watch Skyfall 's trailer on YouTube

Top Gun: Maverick

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 131 minutes Main cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, and Monica Barbaro Director: Joseph Kosinski RT score: 96%

It was Q2 2022 when Top Gun: Maverick landed in theaters and wowed many with its box office performance. Now, the movie is available to watch at home thanks to Prime Video (it's also available on Paramount Plus ). You'll want to check it out, too. Maverick is an action-packed, fast-paced movie with impressive special effects, top-class performances and top-tier set-pieces that had my jaw on the floor. Its story is a little formulaic at times, but it’s nonetheless well worth a watch. If you loved the original Top Gun movie you’ll love this one, too. It’s just as fun, exciting, and edge-of-your-seat tense as the first. You won’t be able to take your eyes off Tom Cruise’s electric performance as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and, as mentioned, there are top performances from its younger stars, too, especially Miles Teller as Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw. Read our exclusive chats with director Joseph Kosinki about the mind-boggling number of cameras used on set and how the film got the green light in the most Tom Cruise way possible .

• Watch Top Gun: Maverick on Prime Video now
• Watch Top Gun: Maverick 's trailer on YouTube

Best animated movies on Prime Video

Teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem.

Age rating: PG Runtime: 100 minutes Main cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph, John Cena, and Seth Rogen Director: Jeff Rowe RT score: 95%

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a modern and fresh spin on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story many of us already know and love about a group of turtles transformed into sassy teen mutants. In telling the stories of the popular heroes in a half shell, it manages to appeal to older fans who will tune in for the franchise’s legacy while serving up a new slice of mythos. Visually, this movie is a real treat, with a unique style of animation that's incredibly fun to watch. Combine that with a fantastic voice cast including new talent and well-known names, as well as lots of genuinely funny writing and I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem could be one of the the best films in the TMNT franchise, and a must-watch for the whole family. Although Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is technically available to watch through Prime Video, it's only available to stream using the Paramount Plus channel add-on. If you enjoy the movie, you'll be happy to learn there's a sequel on the way and Paramount Plus is gearing up to launch a new series called Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set in the same universe.

• Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem on Prime Video now
• Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 's trailer on YouTube

Ghost in the Shell

Age rating: R Runtime: 83 minutes Main cast: Atsuko Tanaka, Maaya Sakamoto, Akio Otsuka, and Iemasa Kayumi Director: Mamoru Oshii RT score: 95%

Ghost in the Shell goes down as one of the best anime of all time and is based on the manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow. The neo-noir cyberpunk animation is set in 2029 and follows Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg public-security agent, who sets out to find an enigmatic hacker known as the Puppet Master and stop them from brain hacking. While the visuals and soundtrack are stunning, the narrative explores important themes of identity in a high-tech world. Unfortunately the 2017 movie starring Scarlett Johansson in the main role wasn't as big of a hit as its predecessor.

• Watch Ghost in the Shell on Prime Video now
• Watch Ghost in the Shell 's trailer on YouTube

Best comedy movies on Prime Video

Age rating: R Runtime: 91 minutes Main cast: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, and Nicholas Galitzine Director: Emma Seligman RT score: 90%

At first glance, Bottoms may seem like it's going to be a typical American high school movie, but it doesn't take long to realize this is refreshing absurdist comedy that's delightfully weird and incredibly fun to watch – fans of Booksmart will love it. It follows the story of PJ and Josie, two girls at Rockbridge Falls High School who are unpopular, lesbians and desperately pining for the affection of cheerleaders Isabel and Brittany. They end up hatching a plan that involves setting up a self-defense club. If you're looking for a fun but smart film, Bottoms is it. I'm expecting great things from this fresh young cast, especially Rachel Sennott who plays PJ and co-wrote Bottoms with director Emma Seligman ( Shiva Baby ).

• Watch Bottoms on Prime Video now
• Watch Bottoms ' trailer on YouTube

The Big Sick

Age rating: R Runtime: 120 minutes Main cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher, Zenobia Shroff, and Adeel Akhtar Director: Michael Showalter RT score: 98%

Here’s a cool fact about The Big Sick : it’s written by writer, producer, and podcast host Emily V. Gordon, plus actor, comedian and screenwriter Kumail Nanjiani (the duo are married), and is inspired by their real-life relationship. It’s a story about an interracial couple, played by Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan, who have to deal with cultural differences when Emily becomes seriously ill. It’s a funny and heartfelt movie, and feels fresher and smarter than a lot of more recent rom-coms. Critics and cinephiles agreed, too, with it being chosen by American Film Institute as one of the top 10 films of the year when it came out in 2017. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

• Watch The Big Sick on Prime Video now
• Watch The Big Sick trailer on YouTube

Best drama movies on Prime Video

Age rating: PG Runtime: 119 minutes Main cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith Director: John G. Avildsen RT score: 92%

Rocky is a classic sports drama that’s an incredibly fun and uplifting watch whether you’ve seen it many times already or you’re introducing the film to your kids. The movie tells the inspiring story of Rocky Balboa, an underdog boxer from Philadelphia, played by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone's portrayal of Rocky has been highly praised over the years for being both gritty and touching. Directed by John G. Avildsen, the film follows Rocky's journey from a small club fighter to earning a shot at the world heavyweight championship. Rocky is so widely loved because of its heartfelt story, iconic training montages and powerful performances, all set to a rousing score that’ll have you pumping your fists in the air just like Rocky. It’s a timeless tale of hope and resilience. It's no surprise that we picked Rocky as one of our must-watch Prime Videos of the day, but in the meantime check out how to watch the Rocky movies in order.

• Watch Rocky on Prime Video now
• Watch Rocky 's trailer on YouTube

Age rating: R Runtime: 112 minutes Main cast: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, and Viola Davis Director: Ben Affleck RT score: 93%

Air is best described as a sports drama, which follows the story of the ground-breaking partnership between Nike and Michael Jordan, leading to the creation of the iconic Air Jordan brand. Directed by Ben Affleck, he also stars alongside Matt Damon, Viola Davis, and Jason Bateman. Air explores the behind-the-scenes negotiations and the visionary marketing strategies that enabled Nike to revolutionize the sneaker industry. As well as providing a surprisingly compelling story about sports and business history, I like this movie for its sharp dialogue, stellar performances, and insightful portrayal of real-life events that shaped modern sports marketing. It's easy to see why Air was selected as one of our best Prime Video movies of the day.

• Watch Air on Prime Video now
• Watch Air 's trailer on YouTube

Age rating: R Runtime: 126 minutes Main cast: Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollett, and Alan Ruck Director: Margaret Betts RT score: 92%

Set in 1995, The Burial is loosely based on the true story of Jerry O'Keefe, played here by Tommy Lee Jones. O'Keefe is a struggling funeral home owner facing financial difficulties who agrees to a contract with a man called Raymond Loewen of the Loewen Group to help him make ends meet. But Loewen doesn't see their agreement through, and a bitter battle ensues. What follows is a riveting story that sees Jerry hiring a man called Willie E. Gary to help him (Jamie Foxx), a bold and showy personal injury layer. Both Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx have been praised for their contrasting performances, making an unexpected legal team that take the story on some unexpected twists and turns. Like me, if you enjoy high-stakes courtroom dramas with two fantastic leads, The Burial is a must-watch.

• Watch The Burial on Prime Video now
• Watch The Burial trailer on YouTube

Sound of Metal

Age rating: R Runtime: 120 minutes Main cast: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Mathieu Amalric, Chris Perfetti, and Michael Tow Director: Darius Marder RT score: 97%

Riz Ahmed shines in the lead role of Sound of Metal , a thoughtful and provocative movie about grief, addiction, and identity. He plays Ruben, a metal drummer who begins to experience hearing loss. He’s told to eliminate loud noises, but continues to perform, worrying that his career, relationship, and life as he knows it could soon be over. Sound of Metal a challenging watch at times, but one of the best Prime Video movies as it's also deeply moving and introspective. You’ll need to be in a certain mood to watch it, but when you do, you’ll be blown away. A crowd-pleasing flick that was nominated for numerous Academy Awards in 2019, winning in the Best Sound and Best Film Editing categories. Easily one of the best Prime Video movies around. It's certainly true that the Oscar-winning movie "will teach you how to hear without listening."

• Watch Sound of Metal on Prime Video now
• Watch Sound of Metal's trailer on YouTube

One Night in Miami...

Age rating: R Runtime: 110 minutes Main cast: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., and Lance Reddick Director: Regina King RT score: 98%

One Night in Miami comes from Regina King, who makes her directorial debut. The story is based on a 2013 stage play of the same name – written by filmmaker and playwright Kemp Powers – which itself is inspired by a real meeting that took place in February 1964 at the Hampton House in Miami. During that supposed event, Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr) gathered to celebrate Ali’s title win against Sonny Liston. Events unfold over the course of a single night as the legendary quartet talk about power, race, discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement, and the culture of the era. I think it's one of the best Prime Video movies around and, when it was first released, was nominated for several Academy Awards.

• Watch One Night in Miami... on Prime Video now
• Watch One Night in Miami...'s trailer on YouTube

Manchester by the Sea

Age rating: R Runtime: 137 minutes Main cast: Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams, and Kyle Chandler Director: Kenneth Lonergan RT score: 96%

Manchester by the Sea is a heavy movie. It’s about a depressed and grief-stricken man who needs to care for his teen nephew after his brother dies. Understandably, then, it focuses on themes of guilt, responsibility, and families. It’s masterfully told and beautifully acted by Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in the lead roles. The film received critical acclaim, winning Academy Awards for Best Actor for Affleck and Best Original Screenplay, and was considered one of the best films of 2016 by most critics.

• Watch Manchester by the Sea on Prime Video now
• Watch Manchester by the Sea' s trailer on YouTube

Age rating: R Runtime: 93 minutes Main cast: Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe, FKA Twigs, and Maika Monroe Director: Alma Har'el RT score: 95%

Honey Boy is loosely based on actor Shia LaBeouf’s childhood and his relationship with his father – the title of the movie coming from his nickname as a kid. LaBeouf wrote the screenplay and also stars in it but, rather than play himself, he portrays his father. It follows the troubled relationship between 12-year-old Otis, who is finding some success as a TV star, and his abusive father, who signs himself up as Otis' guardian. LaBeouf allegedly wrote the script as a form of therapy when he was in rehab. For that reason, it’s a difficult watch and feels very raw. Strangely, though, it’s oddly therapeutic for the viewer, too. At its core, this is a movie about a man’s struggles to understand himself and forgive himself, as well as his past trauma.

• Watch Honey Boy on Prime Video now
• Watch Honey Boy' s trailer on YouTube

Best fantasy movies on Prime Video

Dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves.

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 134 minutes Main cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, and Hugh Grant Directors: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein RT score: 91%

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves "nails what Marvel movies fail at" according to our Prime Video movie of the day article. You don't have to know or care about the game Dungeons & Dragons to enjoy this fun romp of a movie as it follows bard Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) and barbarian Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez) who rally a crew of unlikely heroes to steal an ancient relic and have to fight off evil forces. This fantasy epic has action-packed sequences, lovable characters, and provides an enchanting world that would appeal to both newcomers and fans. It's an easy watch for the whole family.

• Watch Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on Prime Video now
• Watch Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' trailer on YouTube

The Spiderwick Chronicles 

The Spiderwick Chronicles  both mesmerized and terrified me when I first watched it at the cinema in 2008. It's been more than 16 years since then, but its left a long-lasting impression. The movie is based on the children's fantasy books by Holly Black, which chronicle the adventures of  twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace (Freddie Highmore) at the Spiderwick Estate, which is overrun by magical creatures, such as goblins, ogres, fairies and trolls, trying to find a special book that has the power to destroy humanity. It may sound like a fantasy adventure but there's a lot of depth to the film, as it tackles themes like divorce, abandonment, fractured relationships and grief. If you love fantasy movies, then you'll absolutely enjoy this tale of monsters, magic and mayhem.

• Watch The Spiderwick Chronicles  on Prime Video now
• Watch The Spiderwick Chronicles trailer

Best horror movies on Prime Video

Totally killer.

Age rating: R Runtime: 103 minutes Main cast: Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Charlie Gillespie, Julie Bowen, Nathaniel Appiah, and Liana Liberato Director: Nahnatchka Khan RT score: 87%

Totally Killer is best described as a comedy horror, which pays tribute to 80s-era slasher movies and time travel films. It follows the story of Jamie (played by Kiernan Shipka) whose mother is murdered by the Sweet 16 Killer who went on a murdering spree 35 years earlier. Jamie travels back in time (naturally) to find her mother and catch the killer back during his original spree. It's a homage to legendary movies from both sci-fi and horror, like Back to the Future and Scream . Yes, it sounds like a bonkers mash-up of genres, but I promise that although it's not winning any awards, it's an incredibly fun watch nonetheless.

• Watch Totally Killer on Prime Video now
• Watch Totally Killer 's trailer on YouTube

Age rating: R Runtime: 98 minutes Main cast: Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, Morgan Spector, and Rose Decker Director: Nikyatu Jusu RT score: 91%

Prime Video's horror debut Nanny is getting the praise it deserves as it joins the likes of His House and The Conjuring 2 for their high Rotten Tomatoes ratings. Nanny definitely goes down as one of the best horror movies and became the first horror film to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Nanny follows Aisha (Anna Diop), a nanny who works in New York City for a wealthy family. She hopes her job will help her earn enough money to bring her son and cousin over from Senegal. However, she soon starts seeing terrifying visions and starts fearing for her and Rose's safety, the young girl she cares for. It refrains from the classic horror clichés by using interesting African folktale symbols and imagery to put a sinister twist on the American dream. As TechRadar's resident horror fan writes: "The director has made a big first impression and I hope she continues to deliver psychological horror hits further down the line."

• Watch Nanny on Prime Video now
• Watch Nanny 's trailer on YouTube

Best romance movies on Prime Video

Música.

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 91 minutes Main cast: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, and J.B. Smoove Director: Rudy Mancuso RT score: 96%

When we picked Música as one of our Prime Video movies of the day, we said it’ll “warm your heart without being so sugary it'll rot your teeth”. This fresh and fun story is a romance with a twist. It’s about a man called Rudy who is “tortured by music”, which means he can hear it wherever he goes. His unusual skills are shown on screen as everyday scenarios burst into life as musical performances. One of the more recent picks in our best Prime Video movies guide, Música takes its inspiration from main star Rudy Mancuso’s experience of synesthesia, a neurological condition in which senses can merge and overlap – so Mancuso can see and feel the shapes of music. The rest of the story is described as “true-ish” and is about what happens when Rudy meets, and almost instantly falls for, Isabella (Camila Mendes). Expect a high energy and fun love story with plenty of music along the way that had me dancing around my living room.

• Watch Música on Prime Video now
• Watch Música 's trailer on YouTube

The Idea of You

Age rating: R Runtime: 116 minutes Main cast: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, and Reid Scott Director: Michael Showalter RT score: 81%

Anne Hathaway starring as the romantic lead? Count me in. I've always been a fan of the Oscar-winning star in The Devil Wears Prada and Love & Other Drugs, so when I saw that she had finally made her return to the romance genre, I was all in. As I said in my Prime Video movie of the day article, " The Idea of You arguably crowns Anne Hathaway as the queen of romantic comedy" and it couldn't be more true. Based on Robinne Lee’s 2017 novel of the same name, Hathaway stars as divorcee Solène Marchand, a 40-year-old art gallery owner who falls in love with 24-year-old boy band member Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine). However, when their age gap relationship faces harsh public scrutiny, Solène is forced to decide whether she wants to continue living the dream. The Idea of You is a refreshing and beautiful take on a traditional romance story with the message that it's never too late to find love as a single woman in your 40s, even when Solène thought it wouldn't happen again.

• Watch The Idea of You on Prime Video now
• Watch The Idea of You's trailer on YouTube

Best sci-fi movies on Prime Video

The vast of night.

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 90 minutes Main cast: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz, Gail Cronauer, Bruce Davis, Greg Peyton, and Mark Banik Director: Andrew Patterson RT score: 92%

The Vast of Night is a 2019 sci-fi mystery set in 1950s New Mexico. It’s loosely based on real events, including the Kecksburg UFO incident – an unidentified fireball being spotted in the sky – and the Foss Lake disappearances, which saw a group of teens and adults mysteriously go missing. The film follows young switchboard operator Fay Crocker (played by Sierra McCormick) and radio DJ Everett Sloan (Jake Horowitz) who discover an audio frequency that they think could be extra terrestrial. It’s an engrossing thriller that’s lo-fi and yet shows a lot of film-making skill.

• Watch The Vast of Night on Prime Video now
• Watch The Vast of Night's trailer on YouTube

10 Cloverfield Lane

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 105 minutes Main cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr., Suzanne Cryer, and Bradley Cooper Director: Dan Trachtenberg RT score: 90%

10 Cloverfield Lane is one of the most tense, heart-pounding movies I've seen in a long time. Despite first watching it years ago, the sci-fi horror is still etched in my brain and had me on the edge of my seat even though the majority of the movie takes place in one setting. The second movie in the Cloverfield franchise, 10 Cloverfield Lane follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who wakes up in an underground bunker after a car crash with two men claiming that an attack has the world outside is uninhabitable. More horrifying secrets are uncovered and it becomes a desperate fight to escape with the twists and turns leaving your head in a spin.

• Watch 10 Cloverfield Lane on Prime Video now
• Watch 10 Cloverfield Lane's trailer on YouTube

Best thriller movies on Prime Video

Oppenheimer.

Age rating: R Runtime: 180 minutes Main cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr. Director: Christopher Nolan RT score: 93%

Oppenheimer is a difficult watch. There’s no getting around it. That’s because the movie follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who became known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” Directed by Christoper Nolan (Interstellar, The Dark Knight trilogy, Dunkirk ), the film gives viewers a tense and meditative portrayal of Oppenheimer’s contribution to the Manhattan Project during World War II, along with the personal dramas and moral dilemmas he was forced to confront at the same time. The film boasts stellar performances with Emily Blunt as Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer's wife, and Florence Pugh as love interest Jean Tatlock. But Cillian Murphy is outstanding in the lead role, playing Oppenheimer with presence and a simmering unease. Oppenheimer’s intricate storytelling combined with breathtaking visuals and a chilling score make it a must-watch and deserving of a place in our best Prime Video movies guide. It's no wonder why our reviewer went to see Oppenheimer four times in the cinema in 70mm film on the largest IMAX screen in the UK; and in 70mm film in the largest IMAX in the US.

• Watch Oppenheimer on Prime Video now
• Watch Oppenheimer 's trailer on YouTube

Age rating: R Runtime: 119 minutes Main cast: Adam Driver, Corey Stoll, Jon Hamm, Linda Powell, and Annette Bening Director: Scott Z. Burns RT score: 82%

The Report is a gripping and, at times, hard to watch political thriller that follows the story of the investigation into the CIA’s use of torture following 9/11. Directed by Scott Z. Burns, Adam Driver plays Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones, who is tasked with leading up the investigation. The movie focuses on the moral and ethical challenges faced by those in charge of uncovering the grim realities of the US government’s actions. Driver is excellent in the lead role, with a strong supporting cast, including Annette Bening and Jon Hamm. It's an intense but thought-provoking movie, which is why The Report was chosen as one of our top Prime Video movies of the day.

• Watch The Report on Prime Video now
• Watch The Report trailer on YouTube

12 Angry Men (1997)

Age rating: PG-13 Runtime: 117 minutes Main cast: Jack Lemmon, James Gandolfini, Edward James Olmos, and George C. Scott Director: William Friedkin RT score: 93%

12 Angry Men is a remake of the 1950s film about social justice and the way bias and group-think can so easily influence us all. This 1997 version follows the same story about a group of 12 jurors. One of the jurors (played by Jack Lemmon) is the only one stopping the conviction of the alleged murderer that the men have been called to judge. But, over the course of the film, more and more people agree with Jack. The 1957 version didn’t really need to be remade, as it’s such a classic. But director William Friedkin ( The Exorcist, The French Connection ) did a fantastic job creating a fresh take on the gripping story, as did the star-studded cast, including James Gandolfini and Edward James Olmos alongside Lemmon.

• Watch 12 Angry Men (1997) on Prime Video now
• Watch 12 Angry Men 's (1997) trailer on YouTube

Gangs of Lagos

Age rating: R Runtime: 124 minutes Main cast: Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi, Iyabo Ojo, and Chike Director: Jade Osiberu RT score: 82% (Audience)

Gangs of Lagos tells the tale of Obalola and the lives of his friends, Gift and Ify, as they grow up on the busy and chaotic streets of Isale Eko, a neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria. A film centered on family, friendship and betrayal, while also exploring the impact of violence and politically-affiliated gang culture in Nigeria, Gangs of Lagos isn't an easy Sunday afternoon watch – especially when you consider that it's based on true stories from Isale Eko. It's also the first Amazon movie to be made in Africa; the pioneering flick being the first of many upcoming international projects.

• Watch Gangs of Lagos on Prime Video now
• Watch Gangs of Lagos' trailer on YouTube

How we choose the best Prime Video movies

To help you find the best Prime Video movies for you, we've selected our favorites from the most highly-rated films available on the platform. Why only the most highly-rated? Because Amazon's paid for streaming service is known for having the biggest movie library out of all the best streaming services , so we had to narrow down the list somehow.

Each movie in this list has been included because it has a Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics of 80% or higher. Of course, review aggregate sites like Rotten Tomatoes, MetaCritic and IMDb aren't always reliable, which is why every movie has to also be personally recommended by one of the streaming team members: Matt Bolton, Amelia Schwanke, Tom Power, Lucy Buglass and Grace Morris.

We've included epic fantasy, tense drama, family classics, high octane action and much more in this list, with a mix of originals and licensed content. There's a movie for everyone in this guide.

For more Prime Video-based coverage, read our guide on all of the new Prime Video movies to arrive this month. Alternatively, see how much a Prime Video subscription costs or read our best Prime Video shows guide.

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Becca is a contributor to TechRadar, a freelance journalist and author. She’s been writing about consumer tech and popular science for more than ten years, covering all kinds of topics, including why robots have eyes and whether we’ll experience the overview effect one day. She’s particularly interested in VR/AR, wearables, digital health, space tech and chatting to experts and academics about the future. She’s contributed to TechRadar, T3, Wired, New Scientist, The Guardian, Inverse and many more. Her first book, Screen Time, came out in January 2021 with Bonnier Books. She loves science-fiction, brutalist architecture, and spending too much time floating through space in virtual reality. 

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The best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now

From comedies like Bridesmaids to medieval epics like The Northman, there's plenty to choose from on the streamer.

New month, new streaming titles to recommend. If you're scrolling through a seemingly endless list of movies on Prime Video with no idea what to watch, you're not alone.

Fear not though, for we have now crafted a list of films to give a try if you find yourself exploring the offerings on Amazon Prime Video. The choices range from riotously funny, to borderline incomprehensible (in a good way), all the way toward the more deeply disturbing, if that's what you're into.

Given how the platform does regular monthly updates, our list may be forced to swap films in and out, so bookmark this for future reference — we're keen on providing new recommendations each month.

Almost Famous (2000)

This warm ode to the magic of '70s rock & roll is like that one treasured album from your favorite band's catalog: It will transport you to a specific time and place, no matter how many years it's been since you've listened to it. Cameron Crowe 's semi-autobiographical tale of a young rock journalist who tags along with the fictional band Stillwater may not have been a box-office success, but time has been very kind to the film, decades later. — Kevin Jacobsen

Watch Almost Famous on Amazon Prime Video (via MGM+)

EW grade: A– ( read the review )

Talent: Patrick Fugit , Billy Crudup , Frances McDormand , Kate Hudson , Jason Lee , Anna Paquin , Fairuza Balk, Noah Taylor , Philip Seymour Hoffman

Related reading: Watch Patrick Fugit's adorable audition video for Almost Famous

The Big Sick (2017)

Having producer Judd Apatow and director Michael Showalter in your corner are both great, but the deeply personal script written by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon (which got the married pair an Oscar nomination) is what makes the movie. The film finds a way to cover arranged marriages, mysterious illness, comedian growing pains, and more, all while providing laugh after laugh. — Marcus Jones

Watch The Big Sick on Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: N/A

Talent: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan , Ray Romano , Holly Hunter

Related reading: The Big Sick writers Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani remembered their first date differently

Bridesmaids (2011)

At a time when raunchy, gross-out comedies were mostly reserved for men, Bridesmaids proved that women could do it even better. Telling the story of Annie ( Kristen Wiig ), a woman experiencing financial hardship who struggles with the pressures of being her best friend's ( Maya Rudolph ) maid of honor, the film spoke to the complexities of female friendship while providing its fair share of hearty belly-laughs. — K.J.

Watch Bridesmaids on Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: A ( read the review )

Talent: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne , Melissa McCarthy , Ellie Kemper , Wendi McLendon-Covey , Chris O'Dowd , Rebel Wilson , Matt Lucas , Michael Hitchcock , Jon Hamm

Related reading: 'We didn't want to wallow in grossness': An oral history of Bridesmaids

Bumblebee (2018)

After some sequels that were a bit difficult to sit through, a strong case had to be made for the existence of another Transformers movie. Thankfully, this reboot delivers with much help from a winning performance by Hailee Steinfeld . Rather than go full maximalist space opera like his predecessor Michael Bay , director Travis Knight opts for a movie rooted in humor and '80s nostalgia. — M.J.

Watch Bumblebee on Amazon Prime Video via Paramount+

EW grade: B+ ( read the review )

Talent: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena , Pamela Adlon

Related reading: How Bumblebee saves Transformers with a retro-powered journey to the past

Cyrano (2021)

Peter Dinklage earned Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations for one of his first starring roles post- Game of Thrones . The Joe Wright -directed musical tells the classic story of Cyrano de Bergerac, who expresses his love for Roxanne ( Haley Bennett ) by having another man pass off Cyrano's love letters as his own. The tender film also boasts Oscar-nominated costumes. — K.J.

Watch Cyrano on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr. , Ben Mendelsohn

Related reading: Peter Dinklage delivers devastating 17th-century diss poem in Cyrano clip

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

What would the implications be if you were able to erase someone from your mind — literally? Writer Charlie Kaufman ponders this among other philosophical questions in this sci-fi dramedy about exes who go about this experimental procedure, only to find themselves drawn to each other all over again. It's one of the most unconventional, emotional love stories in modern cinema. — K.J.

Watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Jim Carrey , Kate Winslet , Kirsten Dunst , Mark Ruffalo , Elijah Wood , Tom Wilkinson

Related reading: The real story behind the orange hoodie in Eternal Sunshine

Funny Girl (1968)

While it gained a second wind through all the times it was referenced on the show Glee , this William Wyler-directed movie musical is most known as the project that made Barbra Streisand an icon. She earned a Best Actress Oscar for playing Fanny Brice , the real-life comedian with a voice as smooth as butter, rip-roaring through songs like "Don't Rain on My Parade." — M.J.

Watch Funny Girl on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif , Anne Francis

Related reading: See Lea Michele take on her 'role of a lifetime' in first Funny Girl footage

His Girl Friday (1940)

Adapted from the play The Front Page — which has had multiple Broadway revivals — this Howard Hawks -directed film is one of the foundational examples of screwball comedy. As a newspaper editor trying to prevent his star reporter ex-wife from remarrying, Cary Grant provides snappy back and forth banter with Rosalind Russell that has helped shape the dynamics of many a romantic comedy. — M.J.

Watch His Girl Friday on Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: B– ( read the review )

Talent: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy

Related reading: 20 'classic' movies you call overrated

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Why wait for the holidays to watch a movie this iconic? The Frank Capra-directed film is another one that brings on the waterworks with its tale of a suicidal man who's shown the positive impact he has left on the world. It also has an ending that is the best PR that bells have ever received. — M.J.

Watch It's a Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: A+ ( read the review )

Talent: Jimmy Stewart , Donna Reed , Lionel Barrymore

Related reading: It's A Wonderful Life is No. 1 on EW presents: The top 10 holiday movie moments

Licorice Pizza (2021)

Paul Thomas Anderson revisits 1970s Los Angeles with this hangout movie about an aimless, 25-year-old (Alana Haim) who forms an unlikely relationship with a spirited 15-year-old entrepreneur (Cooper Hoffman). The duo meets a series of eccentric characters while trying to figure out what they want in life, serving as a dual coming-of-age story. The film earned three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. — K.J.

Watch Licorice Pizza on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn , Tom Waits , Bradley Cooper , Benny Safdie

Related reading: Watch Elizabeth Olsen get caught in a lie praising Danielle Haim's acting in Licorice Pizza

Love & Friendship (2016)

One of the more beloved adaptations of Jane Austen in recent years, Love & Friendship centers on Lady Susan and her exploits as a matchmaker in 18th-century Britain. Kate Beckinsale shines in the lead role, an enterprising woman who will do whatever it takes to get her way. The film was directed by Whit Stillman , who helmed such critically-acclaimed classics as Metropolitan (1990) and The Last Days of Disco (1998). — K.J.

Watch Love & Friendship on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Kate Beckinsale, Xavier Samuel, Emma Greenwell, Morfydd Clark , Jemma Redgrave, Tom Bennett, James Fleet, Justin Edwards, Jenn Murray, Stephen Fry , Chloë Sevigny

Related reading: Love & Friendship : Kate Beckinsale found her full Austen power

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

This understated character drama won Oscars for star Casey Affleck and writer-director Kenneth Lonergan . Affleck plays Lee, a janitor living with grief over past traumas, and whose brother's death leads him to taking in his teenage nephew, Patrick ( Lucas Hedges in a breakout performance). Have tissues ready for a rip-your-heart-out scene with Michelle Williams as Lee's ex-wife. — K.J.

Watch Manchester by the Sea on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Lucas Hedges, Kyle Chandler , Matthew Broderick , Gretchen Mol

Related reading: Manchester by the Sea : Casey Affleck, Kenneth Lonergan on their special relationship

The Northman (2022)

The Northman is what happens when the director of such indie horror favorites as The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019) gets a $70 million budget. Robert Eggers brings the tale of Amleth — the direct inspiration for Shakespeare's Hamlet — to the big screen as only he can, with blood, guts, and some of the most striking visuals you'll see in years. Nothing can prepare you for the epic showdown at the crater of a volcano. — K.J.

Watch The Northman on Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: B ( read the review )

Talent: Alexander Skarsgård , Nicole Kidman , Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy , Gustav Lindh, Ethan Hawke , Björk , Willem Dafoe

Related reading: The Northman director breaks down the finale's nude volcano brawl

One Night in Miami (2020)

One Night in Miami , based on the 2013 play of the same name, centers on the real-life meeting between Malcolm X , Cassius Clay, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown in February 1964. Directed by Regina King , the film imagines the conversation they would have had, covering numerous social issues of the time — including Black entertainers in a white-dominated business, Clay's conversion to Islam as he changed his name to Muhammad Ali , and Malcolm X's own crisis of faith — creating a fascinating meditation on how some of the most influential Black leaders may have considered their place in society. — K.J.

Watch One Night in Miami on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge , Leslie Odom Jr.

Related reading: Leslie Odom Jr. on crafting his show-stopping, Oscar-nominated performance in One Night in Miami

Paterson (2016)

Jim Jarmusch 's muted indie drama finds beauty and poetry in the ordinary. Adam Driver plays the title role, a bus driver living a monotonous life who escapes through writing poems as he observes the world around him. A far cry from his animalistic Girls character or his scenery-chewing work in the Star Wars franchise, Paterson allows Driver to stretch as an actor, playing an everyday man full of untapped potential. — K.J.

Watch Paterson on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Barry Shabaka Henley, Cliff Smith, Chasten Harmon, William Jackson Harper , Masatoshi Nagase

Related reading: NYFF 2016: Adam Driver says that parallel parking a bus is easier than writing poetry

Short Term 12 (2013)

Is this indie following a young residential treatment facility employee an easy watch? Not at all. But the tearjerker has become part of the origin story for some of Hollywood's most exciting new entertainers, including its writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton , who went on to direct Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel Studios. — M.J.

Watch Short Term 12 on Amazon Prime Video via Freevee

Talent: Brie Larson , John Gallagher Jr. , Rami Malek , LaKeith Stanfield , Kaitlyn Dever

Related reading: After Captain Marvel and Bohemian Rhapsody , it's time to revisit Short Term 12

Sound of Metal (2020)

A heavy metal drummer's worst nightmare comes true when he experiences sudden hearing loss — and never gets it back. Thus begins a difficult journey for Ruben ( Riz Ahmed ), who must learn to adapt to a new way of living in the world while also battling his inner demons. Told with sensitivity, with Oscar-winning sound design that gives hearing viewers an approximation of deafness, the film offers an unforgettable experience. — K.J.

Watch Sound of Metal on Amazon Prime Video

Talent: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke , Paul Raci , Lauren Ridloff , Mathieu Amalric

Related reading: Riz Ahmed on his ASL-learning, punk-drumming performance in Sound of Metal

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The best movies on Amazon Prime Video (September 2024)

Amazon Prime Video’s movie lineup is largely stagnant until early next week, when the first of the month arrives. Fortunately, Prime Video has a deep library of films to draw upon, including the very family-friendly film, Paddington 2 , as well as an early Halloween present for horror fans: Drag Me to Hell .

Some of the other recent arrivals may play more broadly, including the ’80s-set comedy Everybody Wants Some!! , the bio-drama Collette , and DreamWorks Animation’s  Puss in Boots: The Last Wish , which is a very well-made animated flick. But those are just a few options on our list of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video below. Remember to return every Friday morning, as we keep this list up-to-date with the latest films.

We’ve also put together guides to the best shows on Prime Video , the best movies on Hulu , the best movies on Netflix , the best new movies to stream , and the best movies on Disney+ .

Editor’s Pick

Paddington 2 (2017).

Paddington 2 was once one of the rare films to score 100% on Rotten Tomatoes until some nincompoop gave it a bad review that dragged it down to 99%. Regardless, this sequel is almost as beloved as Paddington Bear (Ben Whishaw) himself. His adoptive family, Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins), and their children, Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), love and adore Paddington.

He’s got a good life for a talking bear, until Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) frames Paddington for stealing a rare book. As the Browns struggle to prove his innocence, Paddington’s positive attitude actually makes his fellow prisoners love him as well. Yet even Paddington can give into moments of despair when his case seems hopeless.

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• Best streaming devices for 2024: Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and more

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) faces a moral dilemma early in director Sam Raimi’s horror flick Drag Me to Hell . Christine can either grant an old woman, Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver), an extension of her mortgage, or she can angle for a promotion by refusing to help. Unfortunately for Christine, she made the wrong choice because Sylvia is well-versed in the ways of curses, and she places one on the younger woman who cost the old woman her home.

Christine is soon haunted by demonic visions and attacked by unseen forces that will physically drag her to Hell in three days if she doesn’t break the curse. However, she may have to bend her morals even further to escape her dark fate.

Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

Richard Linklater wrote and directed Everybody Wants Some!! (complete with two exclamation points). Although this college baseball-themed comedy struck out at the box office, it received fantastic reviews, and it may get to cult status. The cast alone deserves a second look for bringing Glen Powell , Wyatt Russell, Tyler Hoechlin, and Zoey Deutch together.

Blake Jenner leads the cast as Jake Bradford, a college freshman pitcher for the baseball team in 1980. Jake moves into a house with other players and quickly learns that baseball is more of a hobby for the team. Getting drunk and hooking up with women is their real sport. Jake does form a real potential romance with a girl named Beverly (Deutch), but keeping that connection alive may be challenging on this team.

Colette (2018)

Keira Knightley adds another daring performance to her credits in the title role of Collette , a biopic about the famous French author Gabrielle Colette. In the late 19th century, Collette marries Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West), who encourages her to write. And by “encourages,” we mean that he steals credit for her work and literally imprisons her to make her write another hit.

Collette turns out to be a natural writer, but rebuilding her life and reputation proves to be difficult after Henry takes everything that she created. However, the real story of the film isn’t about Collette’s fall; it’s about her rise and her ability to reinvent herself.

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Jake Gyllenhaal may have a dual role in Nocturnal Animals , but Amy Adams dominates the narrative in the movie. Two decades after her marriage to Edward Sheffield (Gyllenhaal) fell apart, Susan Morrow (Adams) is contacted by her ex when he sends her an advance copy of his novel — which shares the name of the film.

As Susan’s personal life and second marriage fall apart in the present, she finds herself drawn to the dark story of Edward’s novel. In the novel, Gyllenhaal also plays Tony Hastings, a man whose wife, Laura ( Isla Fisher ), and daughter, India (Ellie Bamber), were raped and murdered when he couldn’t protect them. When given the chance for revenge, Tony might not have it in him to avenge their deaths.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

In the long wait between Shrek movies, Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots has been keeping the franchise alive. But in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish , time is almost up for the title character. Puss relies on his nine lives to survive the epic adventures. And now that Puss is on his very last life, he’s truly scared about his potential fate — so much so that he abandons his identity and tries to live as a normal cat.

However, Puss learns that there may be a way to restore his lost lives if he can find a magical wishing star. Puss isn’t the only one looking for the star, nor the only one who desperately needs what it can offer him. This quest reunites Puss with his ex-fiancée, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault), and forces him to reevaluate what he really wants.

Snack Shack (2024)

Snack Shack is a coming-of-age comedy set in 1991. A.J. Carter (Conor Sherry) and his friend, Moose Miller (Gabriel LaBelle), are 14-year-olds whose schemes to get money almost always backfire on them. At least until they hit upon the idea of running the local Snack Shack for the summer.

Their bond of friendship is tested when A.J. meets Brooke, his attractive new neighbor. Because Moose makes the first move on Brooke, this creates tension between him and A.J., who isn’t willing to simply back off. As Brooke begins to reciprocate A.J.’s feelings, his friendship and lucrative partnership with Moose may come crashing down.

Election (1999)

“Do it, Mister M, do it!” You’ll have to actually watch Election to understand why that line is so funny in context. This film is a satiric masterpiece starring Matthew Broderick as Jim McAllister, a high school teacher who is infuriated by his overachieving student, Tracy Flick ( Reese Witherspoon ). Because Tracy had an affair with his colleague and friend without suffering repercussions, Jim becomes obsessed with costing her the election forpresident of the student government.

Jim recruits a popular football player, Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), to run against Tracy. However, this inadvertently spurs Paul’s adoptive sister, Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell), to run as well on a platform of abolishing student government that makes her the new favorite. But Jim just can’t leave things alone, and he risks his own career and marriage to see Tracy fail.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Peter Jackson’s three-film adaptation of The Hobbit may not be as universally loved as his Lord of the Rings trilogy, but these films are still head and shoulders above the vast majority of fantasy films. In the first movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , Sherlock ’s Martin Freeman steps into the title role as a young Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit whose life is upturned by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen)

For reasons of his own, Gandalf is accompanying a group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield II (Richard Armitage) who want to reclaim their lost kingdom from Smaug, the dragon who stole it from them decades earlier. Gandalf convinces Bilbo to accompany the dwarves on their quest, which sets off an epic adventure that will transform Middle-earth and sets the stage for everything that comes after.

The Crow (1994)

You may have heard that there’s a remake of The Crow  out in theaters. Feel free to ignore it, like most of America already has. The only version of The Crow worth seeing is the first one, starring the late Brandon Lee as Eric Draven. One of the reasons this film has so much power is that we know it’s the role of a lifetime for Lee, and also his last since he died in an on-set shooting accident.

That’s why it feels almost cathartic to see Eric rise from his grave with supernaturally imbued powers to avenge his murder and the death of his fiancée, Shelly Webster (Sofia Shinas). As the Crow, Eric is nearly unstoppable, and he’s hunting down the men responsible for his loss. Unfortunately for Eric, his enemies have correctly guessed that the crow that accompanies him is the source of his power. The villains also still target Sarah (Rochelle Davis), a young girl who may be the only person alive Eric still cares about.

Drive-Away Dolls (2024)

Coen brothers movies are typically better with both brothers, but Ethan Coen has to make due on his own in Drive-Away Dolls, a road trip rom-com that doubles as a crime film. Margaret Qualley stars as Jamie, a promiscuous lover whose infidelity has driven her girlfriend away. That’s why Jamie impulsively decides to accompany her friend, Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), on an impromptu trip.

Unfortunately for the women, their rental car wasn’t meant for them. And once they look at the briefcase left in the trunk, they find themselves with something that can bring down Sen. Gary Channel (Matt Damon) and other prominent figures. Additionally, Jamie and Marian are oblivious to the danger they’re in as criminals hunt them down to retrieve the briefcase.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

The first Cloverfield movie was anything but subtle, and its found-footage format may have given some viewers vertigo. There’s none of that in 10 Cloverfield Lane , a largely standalone sequel that works as both a thriller and a sci-fi story. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Michelle, a woman who finds herself locked in an underground bunker by Howard Stambler (John Goodman).

Howard claims that he saved Michelle’s life after the outside world was poisoned in a sudden attack. Emmett DeWitt (John Gallagher Jr.), the only other person in the bunker, backs up Howard’s account. Michelle doesn’t trust either man, and she needs to see for herself. But she may not like what she finds waiting for her outside …

Jackpot! (2024)

A mere six years in the future, California’s lottery rules have changed in Jackpot! Katie (Awkwafina) discovers this the hard way when she wins a life-changing amount of money… and suddenly finds that complete strangers are trying to kill her. Under the rules of the lottery, anyone who kills Katie before sundown can claim all of her winnings for themselves.

Noel (John Cena) could have been like everyone else. Instead, he pledges to help Katie live through the end of the day if she’ll share some of her winnings with him. Yet even with Joel on her side, the odds are stacked against Katie living long enough to collect her money.

Paddington (2014)

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who hates Paddington Bear ( James Bond movie series star Ben Whishaw), but the Paddington movie does find someone: Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman). Beautiful on the outside, and spitefully evil within, Millicent hates animals and makes it her mission to kill and stuff Paddington once she learns he’s in London.

Fortunately, Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins), and their children, adore Paddington and treat him like a member of the family. Yet even the Browns can’t protect Paddington from Millicent’s malevolence by themselves. Fortunately for Paddington, he also has a knack for getting out of trouble.

One Fast Move (2024)

Prime Video has had some success using the cast from Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in its YA films. Now it’s Archie’s turn, as Riverdale ’s leading man, KJ Apa, headlines One Fast Move as Wes Neal, a young man with a dream and a lot of abandonment issues. After getting drummed out of the military, Wes seeks out his estranged father, Dean (Eric Dane), to get his help in becomming a motorcycle racer.

A local bike shop owner, Abel (Edward James Olmos), does his best to keep this father-and-son reunion on track. Wes also finds potential love with Camilia (Maia Reficco), but their mutual secrets may drive them apart.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Rings of Power season 2 is coming soon, which is why the Lord of the Rings trilogy is back on Prime Video. Over two decades later, there still hasn’t been a better fantasy trilogy than this one directed by Peter Jackson. There’s no better place to start than the first film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring .

Decades after the events of The Hobbit , the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) suspects that the dark lord Sauron has returned, and if he regains his One Ring, then the world is doomed. It falls to a young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and a fellowship of eight others to protect the Ring during a perilous journey to destroy its power once and for all. This film is visually arresting and emotionally moving like few others.

Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

What kind of a world are we living in when a young woman can’t resurrect her ideal man without being compared to one of the most famous mad scientists in literary history? The title character of Lisa Frankenstein isn’t even a real Frankenstein! That said, Lisa (Kathryn Newton) does show an amoral side of her personality after she accidentally resurrects the Creature (Cole Sprouse). She’s been looking for love in all the dead places, and now that she’s found it, Lisa isn’t going to let him go.

After being dead for over a century, the Creature is missing a few parts. And Lisa is more than willing to kill a few people to get what her newfound lover needs to be a complete man again. She just can’t outrun the consequences of her murderous actions for long.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Thirty years ago, the legend of Quentin Tarantino began with Pulp Fiction . Although this wasn’t Tarantino’s directorial debut, it was the film that made him famous. Pulp Fiction ’s nonlinear storytelling may be disorienting at times, but the cast of characters in this crime comedy are unforgettable. The hit men, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson); the washed-up boxer, Butch Coolidge (Butch Coolidge); the crime lord, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), and his wife, Mia (Uma Thurman); all have their own memorable roles to play.

Tarantino’s dialogue is especially good in this flick, as are his esoteric music choices and the film’s stylized violence. Even after three decades of imitators, nothing has come close to replicating what Tarantino pulled off here.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

If you’re looking for high-caliber action, then Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning  is the film for you. Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have made the last few Mission: Impossible movies into events, and this may be the beginning of the end for Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt.

This time, Ethan and his IMF team are going up against The Entity, a sentient AI that the world’s governments are scrambling to control. Only Ethan realizes that it has to be destroyed, but The Entity itself has other plans. It exerts its influence in the real world through Ethan’s old foe, Gabriel (Esai Morales). And an enigmatic thief named Grace (Haley Atwell) may hold the key to stopping The Entity dead in its tracks.

Bob Marley: One Love (2024)

Bob Marley: One Love is a music biopic that takes place late in the life of reggae superstar Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir). After Bob and his wife, Rita Marley ( The Marvels  actress Lashana Lynch), narrowly survive an assassination attempt in his native Jamaica, it sends him into a creative tailspin that threatens to derail his dreams.

Before Bob can resume his message of peace, he has to face his own inner demons and work out his issues with Rita. Bob Marley didn’t have a lot of time in this world, but the film shows that he made the most of what he had and left a lasting legacy of music behind.

My Spy: The Eternal City (2024)

Perhaps a better name for this film would be My Spy Kid , since that captures the tone of the movie more than My Spy: The Eternal City . In the first film, Sophie (Chloe Coleman) had to blackmail CIA agent J.J. ( Dune: Part Two ‘s Dave Bautista) to give her spy lessons. Now, he’s firmly entrenched in her life as both her surrogate father and her trainer. Except 14-year-old Sophie’s no longer sure she wants to be a spy.

After J.J. is roped into serving as a chaperone on Chloe’s school trip to Europe, the duo uncover a plot that may lead to the destruction of the Vatican. And it’s time for Sophie to put everything she’s learned from J.J. to good use when the fate of the world is potentially on the line.

Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black (2024)

Although Divorce in the Black is ostensibly a drama and a thriller, writer and director Tyler Perry’s latest film has several moments that play as unintentional comedy. Meagan Good stars as Ava, the wife of Dallas (Cory Hardrict), a man she married over the objections of her parents.

And wouldn’t you know it, but Ava’s parents were right all along. Dallas treats Ava like dirt and she’s still stung when he files for divorce from her. The good news for Ava is that being newly single gives her a chance to possibly find love with Benji (Joseph Lee Anderson). However, Dallas still feels like he owns Ava, even when he’s the one who initiated their split. And Dallas isn’t going to be happy when he learns that Ava is moving on.

Gladiator (2000)

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator earned multiple Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Picture. Maybe the upcoming sequel, Gladiator 2 , can replicate that feat? Russell Crowe had the role of his career as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a general who is the favorite of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) — so much so that the emperor wants to pass on his power to Maximus so Rome can be a republic again.

Marcus’ insane son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), ensures that never comes to pass by murdering his father and Maximus’ family, and having Maximus attacked and left for dead. When Maximus is subsequently sold into slavery, he becomes a gladiator and fights his way to the top in the hope of getting his revenge on Commodus.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Evil Dead Rise  is neither as ambitious nor as good as the 2013 Evil Dead reboot. But for a horror film that was originally meant to go direct-to-streaming on Max, it’s very entertaining. Lily Sullivan stars as Beth, a guitar technician who is facing a major life change before visiting her sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), and her three kids: Danny (Morgan Davies), Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and Kassie (Nell Fisher).

On the same night as Beth’s visit, Danny discovers a strange book and disturbing recordings hidden away below the parking structure of their apartment building. Soon enough, Danny accidentally unleashes the Deadites, who in turn possess Ellie. With Ellie irrevocably transformed into something evil, it falls to Beth to protect her family. However, Ellie is relentless, and she has plenty of other people that she can kill before turning her attention to her kids and her sister.

The Beekeeper (2024)

If you’re looking for a movie with Oscar buzz, The Beekeeper isn’t one of those films. But it is a Jason Statham action flick that lives up to everything you may expect to see from it. Statham plays Adam Clay, a former member of a secretive organization called the Beekeepers and an actual beekeeper.

Adam is content in his retirement until his friend and landlady, Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad), is taken for everything she has by scammers. Eloise commits suicide rather than live with the shame of having allowed her charity foundation to be robbed of millions. Adam vows revenge, and his bloody path of retribution puts him on opposite sides of the CIA and his former colleagues in the Beekeepers.

Space Cadet (2024)

Space Cadet is a Legally Blonde -like comedy starring Emma Roberts as Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a young woman who gave up on her dreams of becoming an astronaut a long time ago. But Rex gets her second chance when she writes a heartfelt letter to NASA, which is intercepted and greatly embellished by her friend, Nadine (Poppy Liu), to make her look like a viable candidate.

Suddenly, Rex has a path forward if she can get through astronaut training before the deception is discovered. She is really good with people and has great leadership skills, but Rex’s lack of technical knowledge may keep her grounded if she can’t overcome it.

Oppenheimer (2023)

The best movie of 2023 is now the best movie on Prime Video. Director and screenwriter Christopher Nolan will have a hard time topping the flick that finally won two Oscars for him. Because Oppenheimer not only lived up to the hype bit it’s the kind of film that will likely endure for decades to come.

Cillian Murphy gives an Oscar-winning performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who was instrumental in putting together the team that built the atomic bomb. Nolan’s narrative jumps back and forth to different years in Oppenheimer’s life, including an attempt by Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) to destroy his reputation. Yet nothing will hit Oppenheimer harder than the full weight of the atomic destruction that he unleashed upon the world.

The Grey (2012)

There came a day when Liam Neeson ran out of asses to kick, so he took on some wolves in The Grey . That may sound like an unfair fight in Neeson’s favor, especially since his character, John Ottway, is handy with a sniper riffle. But the wolves have a few advantages over John and his co-workers, especially when a plane crash strands them in the Alaskan wilderness with little hope of rescue.

The wolves are patient, and this is their territory. They know just when to strike to whittle John’s party down one-by-one. And if John is going to make it out of this ordeal alive, then he’ll have to come to terms with his own mortality before he can face the wolves.

Mean Girls (2024)

Mean Girls isn’t just a remake of the 2002 film, it’s also an adaptation of the 2017 Mean Girls musical. Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles from the original movie, but the leading part of Cady Heron features rising star Angourie Rice as she steps into Lindsay Lohan’s shoes. Lohan even has a cameo in the film, which you should be able to spot if you keep your eyes open near the end.

Cady has never gone to an actual school before, since she’s been homeschooled her entire life. Once she finally enrolls in North Shore High School, Cady is initially accepted by the Plastics, the titular mean girls. When the Plastics inevitably turn on Cady, she hatches a scheme to take them down from within. And she might just lose herself along the way.

Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall is easily the most beloved James Bond movie of the modern era, and a high point of Daniel Craig’s time as 007. After nearly getting killed in the field, Bond attempts to retire from MI6 before a terrorist bombing draws him back into the fold. It quickly becomes clear that Bond is far from recovered from his injuries, but M (Judi Dench) still takes him back because of the threat that Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) represents to the nation and the world.

Raoul is also closely linked to M’s past, and Bond is going to have to face his own inner demons before he can take on Silva directly. It all leads to a final showdown at Bond’s ancestral home, Skyfall.

American Fiction (2023)

American Fiction casts The Batman Part Two ’s Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a college professor and a novelist whose books sell very poorly. Monk is also upset that another writer, Sinatra Golden (Issa Rae), has found massive success while seemingly pandering to Black stereotypes. So Monk writes his own novel as a satire of Golden’s books before submitting it for publication.

Much to Monk’s surprise and horror, his satire is embraced by the publisher and the general public. The satire of the piece goes unnoticed, as the book becomes so popular that it starts taking over Monk’s life, even though he made sure that his real name wasn’t listed as the author. But once the book is out and Hollywood comes knocking, it may be too late.

The Idea of You (2024)

The irony of the premise of The Idea of You is that the romantic entanglement of Solène Marchand ( Eileen ‘s Anne Hathaway) with boy band lead singer Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) would probably be more of a fantasy for Solène’s daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), than for Solène herself. But one unplanned encounter between Solène and Hayes soon leads to several others.

There is an age gap between Solène and Hayes that does come up in the film, but the bigger issue between them is the celebrity gap. As long as Hayes is a world-famous musician, he and Solène may never be able to enjoy a normal romance without being hounded by the press.

The Holdovers (2023)

It’s a little early for Christmas movies, but The Holdovers may become a holiday tradition. Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, an unpopular and curmudgeonly teacher at Barton Academy boarding school in 1970. Hunham is forced to spend his Christmas vacation as a chaperone for the students who don’t have anywhere to go for the holidays.

Despite himself, Hunham starts empathizing and bonding with one of his students, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), as well as Barton cafeteria manager, Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who is grieving over the loss of her son. Through them, Hunham rediscovers his compassion, even though it may cost him what’s left of his teaching career.

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

Fifty years after the events of the original Exorcist , demons strike again in The Exorcist: Believer . Two young girls, Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine West (Olivia O’Neill), have fallen prey to evil, and their parents are at a loss as how to handle their possession.

Angela’s father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), eventually finds help in the form of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a woman who has made herself an expert in the field of demonic possession since her daughter, Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), suffered the same ordeal decades earlier. But no amount of preparation is sufficient in the face of the unrelenting evil that has the two children in its grasp.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

Minions: The Rise of Gru is the origin story of Despicable Me ’s main character, Gru (Steve Carell), but probably not in the way that you expect. In the 1970s, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and the rest of the Minions (Pierre Coffin) have all latched on to Gru as their new master. Gru himself has ambitions of being the biggest supervillain in the world so he can join the Vicious 6.

Unfortunately for Gru, his attempts to join the most notorious gang of bad guys spectacularly backfires, which turns his idols in the Vicious 6 into his deadliest enemies. To defeat them, Gru and the Minions will have to turn to the Vicious 6’s former leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin).

Road House (2024)

In this remake of the popular 1989 movie starring Patrick Swayze, Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Elwood Dalton as a former UFC fighter who has fallen on some hard times. Road House  gives Elwood a chance for redemption when Frankie (Jessica Williams) recruits him to be the bouncer at her bar, which shares its name with the title of the film.

Elwood’s fighting skills go a long way towards keeping order at The Road House, much to the anger of a local mobster, Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen). Elwood took care of Brandt’s regular goons with ease, but he’ll have a much harder time handling Knox, an enforcer for Brandt who is played by an actual UFC fighter, Conor McGregor.

Road to Perdition (2002)

About two decades before he starred in The CW’s Superman & Lois series, Tyler Hoechlin appeared in a much darker comic book adaptation, Road To Perdition . Tom Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a mob hitman during the Great Depression who is forced to go on the run shortly after his son, Michael Sullivan Jr. (Hoechlin), witnesses his father and Connor Rooney (future James Bond Daniel Craig) murder another local crime figure.

Connor is also the son of a mob boss, John Rooney (Paul Newman), who favors Michael Sr. over his own flesh and blood. That’s why Connor had Michael’s wife and other son murdered, before ordering an assassin, Harlen Maguire (Jude Law), to track down Michael and Michael Jr. before they can make new lives for themselves.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

The TMNT have been reinvented numerous times over the last four decades. But the unique thing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem  is that it focuses on them as believable teenagers. Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), and Raphael (Brady Noon) may be ninja turtles, but what they really want are some human friends who are their own age.

Despite the disapproval of their adoptive father, Splinter (Jackie Chan), the turtles meet and befriend a human girl, April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri). The turtles also believe that they can win over humanity if they become heroes. However, their first real test is Superfly (Ice Cube) and his army of mutants. And even the TMNT are outnumbered and outmatched against them.

The Other Zoey (2023)

The Other Zoey is not a remake of the Sandra Bullock rom-com While You Were Sleeping . But romantic comedy fans may notice some similarities between the two. Josephine Langford stars as Zoey Miller, a high school student who is definitely not the girlfriend of soccer star Zach MacLaren (Drew Starkey), whose girlfriend is also named Zoey (Maggie Thurmon).

When Zach suffers a head injury that gives him partial amnesia, he mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend, and his doctors warn her not to upset him with the truth. So Zoey carries on the deception and gets closer to Zach on a lavish vacation. At the same time, Zoey also feels attracted to Zach’s cousin, Miles Maclaren (Archie Renaux), who shares many of her views about love and life. So, which guy does Zoey really want? You’ll have to watch the film to find out.

Fast X (2023)

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) couldn’t be happier when Fast X begins, since he’s got his family together and his life in order. What Dom doesn’t have is a clue that Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) — the son of one of Dom’s dead enemies — is out for revenge. When Dante strikes, no one is safe. Dom’s wife, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), their son, Brian Marcos (Leo Abelo Perry), their team, and even their old adversary, Cipher (Charlize Theron), are all open targets.

In short order, Dante destroys the team’s reputation and hurts the people Dom cares about most. And Dante is only getting started, as the real suffering hasn’t begun yet.

Role Play (2023)

Emma ( The Flight Attendant ‘s Kaley Cuoco) and Dave Brackett (David Oyelowo) are just about as happy as a couple could be in Prime Video’s Role Play . The Bracketts have two children and a beautiful home in a New Jersey suburb. What they’re lacking is the passion in the bedroom that they used to have before starting a family.

For their anniversary, Dave and Emma take a trip to New York and indulge in some role play. That turns out to be a mistake when Bob Kellerman (Bill Nighy) blows Emma’s cover and exposes her as an international assassin. Now, Emma has to use her skills to protect her family and keep her marriage to Dave intact.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rolls back the clock to 1994 and follows a young man, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), who is so desperate to provide for his family that he agrees to steal a car. Unfortunately for Noah, the car turns out to be Mirage (Pete Davidson), one of the Autobots hiding on Earth. And while Mirage is eager to make friends with Noah, Autobot leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is not as trusting.

Thanks to a discovery made by museum research intern Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback), she and Noah are drawn into the Autobots’ war with the Terrorcons, who want to bring the planet-killing Transformer Unicron (Colman Domingo) to Earth. In order to save the world, Noah and Elena will have to help the Autobots find the Maximals and their leader, Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman).

Asteroid City (2023)

When it comes to Wes Anderson movies, you can always bet that they will be emotionally moving and deeply weird. Asteroid City  is no exception, and it seems to take place in a world all of its own. Jason Schwartzman stars as a newly widowed father, Augie Steenbeck, who has brought his children to the annual Junior Stargazer convention. Despite the fact that Augie is still mourning his late wife, he is immediately drawn to Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson), an actress who brought her daughter, Dinah (Grace Edwards) to the event.

Dinah also strikes up a relationship with Augie’s son, Woodrow (Jake Ryan), and it’s not the only romance brewing in town. But there’s something incredible happening at this year’s Junior Stargazer event, and it may change the world forever.

A Good Person (2023)

Dune: Part Two star Florence Pugh sheds all aspects of her MCU Black Widow role as a broken young woman in A Good Person . Zach Braff wrote and directed the film, which casts Pugh as Allison, a woman who was once engaged to her high school boyfriend, Nathan (Chinaza Uche). But shortly after her engagement, Allison causes a car accident that claims the lives of Nathan’s sister, Molly (Nichelle Hines), and her husband, Jesse (Toby Onwumere).

One year later, Allison is attempting to kick her addiction to painkillers when she reunites with Nathan and Molly’s father, Daniel (Morgan Freeman). As Daniel attempts to forgive Allison, they reenter each other’s lives and she tries to make amends with Ryan (Celeste O’Connor), the daughter that Molly and Jesse left behind.

Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan made his name in Hollywood with Memento , a brilliantly twisted story that is told out of order. L.A. Confidential ’s Guy Pearce stars as Leonard Shelby, a man who is out to avenge the murder of his wife. The problem is that Leonard can’t make any new long-term memories, which is why his body is covered with tattoos designed to lead him to his wife’s killer.

Every face Leonard sees is the face of a stranger, so each time he meets Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano), he’s unsure of who he can trust. And everyone who knows about Leonard’s condition takes advantage of it, including Leonard himself.

The Burial (2023)

Amazon Studios’ The Burial is based on a real story that happened in 1995. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), the owner of his family’s funeral home business, made a handshake deal with Raymond Loewen (Bill Camp), the head of the Loewen Group. However, Loewen failed to hold up his end of the deal, which left O’Keefe no other choice but to take him to court.

O’Keefe turns to a successful lawyer, Willie E. Gary ( The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ‘s Jamie Foxx), to represent him in the case. And despite their numerous differences, O’Keefe and Gary form a bond and an unusual friendship as they battle Loewen in court.

Totally Killer (2023)

Amazon Studios’ Totally Killer seems to welcome comparisons to Back to the Future , and it’s one of the more unique blends of sci-fi, comedy, and horror. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ’s Kiernan Shipka stars as Jamie, a teenager who is very familiar with the story about how her mom, Pam (Julie Bowen), survived the Sweet Sixteen Killer 35 years ago. It’s something that Jamie has heard about many times in her life.

When the Sweet Sixteen Killer returns in the present, Jamie finds herself transported back in time to 1987, when her much younger mother (Olivia Holt) was apparently one of the mean girls in school. Yet if Jamie can’t protect Pam in the past then she may not have a future to go home to.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

The D&D franchise got a fresh start on the big screen with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , which casts Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez as a pair of close friends, Edgin Darvis and Holga Kilgore, respectively. After being betrayed by their former friend, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), Edgin and Holga escape prison and plot to reunite with Edgin’s daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman).

After reconnecting with a sorcerer of dubious talent, Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), Holga and Edgin recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis) to help them rob Fitzwilliam in the heist of a lifetime to force him from power. However, they soon find that Forge is involved with a plan that threatens everyone in Neverwinter, and only Edgin’s group can stop it from happening.

Creed III (2023)

Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut with Creed III , which theoretically could work as the end of the Rocky movies. At this point in his life, Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Jordan) has pretty much done everything he wanted in boxing, so he retires to spend more time with his wife, Bianca Taylor-Creed (Tessa Thompson), and their daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent).

Unfortunately for Donnie, the good times end when his former friend, Damian “Diamond Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), renters his life. Years ago, Dame was sent to prison, and it was largely Donnie’s fault. Now that Dame is back, he’s going to push Donnie until he gets the chance for payback in the ring. And this may not be a fight that Donnie can win.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Top Gun: Maverick is the most popular movie of 2022 and one of biggest blockbusters in years. And after cleaning up at the box office, the Top Gun sequel is coming in for a landing on Prime Video. Tom Cruise reprises his role as Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a test pilot-turned-instructor who doesn’t quite have the same fire that he had in the ’80s.

While teaching the next generation of Top Gun pilots, Maverick also finds himself in conflict with one of his students, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his late friend, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. However, Maverick and his pilots will need to find common ground as they are drawn into a new mission with high stakes and breathtaking flying sequences.

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