Subscribers of Prime Video have some great movies available right now on the streaming service. Prime Video has become a serious competitor to streaming giants like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, benefiting from the large existing user base of the Prime delivery service. While Prime Video’s original movie offerings have been somewhat underwhelming, the service boasts an impressive catalog of acquired titles, featuring a mix of blockbuster hits, Oscar-winning critical darlings, and some overlooked gems.
There is something for everyone in the collection of the best movies of Prime Video with all sorts of genres covered. Those looking for laughs can check out the hilarious comedy Bridesmaids. Those in the mood for some scares have the modern horror masterpiece Let the Right One In to watch. Raiders of the Lost Ark can deliver some thrills to subscribers courtesy of cinematic hero Indiana Jones. These exciting titles are available along with plenty more that boast stars like Denzel Washington and Reese Witherspoon as well as directors like Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg. Every type of movie experience is available with the best movies on Prime Video.
The Vast Of Night (2019)
The Vast of Night is one of the most overlooked movies on Prime Video right now and deserves to find a bigger audience. Inspired by the movies of Steven Spielberg, it follows Fay and Everett, two young locals of a small town in 1950s New Mexico. While going about their nightly duties, a switchboard operator and radio DJ stumble upon a potential encounter with extraterrestrials. The movie is a gripping yet simple story elevated by some impressive filmmaking, including one of the most stunning one-shot sequences ever created.
Suspiria (2018)
2018’s Suspiria was inspired by an Italian horror film of the same name, directed by Dario Argento. The movie on Prime Video tells the story of a dance company that’s slowly taken over by an evil force. The Suspiria remake makes notable changes to the original and may not hold up to it in terms of composition; however, it is an aesthetically pleasing slow-burn horror movie. Reviews of the Suspiria reboot were polarizing, but it is worth a watch for any fans of aesthetically elegant and female-led horror movies.
Clue (1985)
With the rise in popularity of the murder mystery comedy, thanks to Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building, Clue is now being recognized as one of the best movies on Prime Video. The ensemble cast recreates the classic board game as a dinner party turns into a hunt for a killer after the host is murdered. With tongue-in-cheek humor and terrific performances, led by Tim Curry as the eccentric butler, Clue is a hilarious comedy from beginning to end. Also, the mystery is solid enough that there are three different endings to Clue to please audiences.
Fences (2016)
Denzel Washington directed and starred in this adaptation of August Wilson’s play Fences. It is the story of the father of a working-class Black family in 1950s Pittsburgh who deals with the secrets he keeps from his wife, the disconnect with his own son, and his own sense of being overlooked. It is a faithful adaptation that serves as a platform for some powerhouse acting. Washington himself gives another commanding performance, but the show is stolen by Viola Davis in her Oscar-winning performance as the heartbreaking yet incredibly strong wife to this complicated man.
Witness (1985)
While Harrison Ford’s work in franchises like Indiana Jones and Star Wars get most of the attention, his brilliant work in movies like Witness should not be overlooked. Ford stars as Detective John Book who attempts to protect a young boy who witnesses a murder carried out by a corrupt cop. When Book and the boy are targeted, they hide out in the boy’s Amish community where Book forms a bond with the boy’s mother. Much more than a fish-out-of-water story, Witness manages to be a gripping crime thriller and a stirring romantic drama with one of Ford’s best performances.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
With plenty of interest in the upcoming Netflix take on The Talented Mr. Ripley, audiences may also want to revisit the acclaimed 1999 version of the story. Matt Damon stars as the titular Ripley, an aimless young man in 1950s New York who is hired to retrieve the spoiled son of a millionaire from Italy only to become dangerously enamored with the man’s lavish lifestyle. Damon is haunting as the complex protagonist and he is surrounded by a stellar supporting cast that includes Oscar winners Gwenyth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as well as Jude Law in a breakout role.
Sorry To Bother You (2018)
Sorry To Bother You is one of the most original and wild movies in recent memory while also packing some brilliant social commentary. LaKeith Stanfield stars as a young Black man in a dire financial situation who takes a job as a telemarketer. After adopting his “white voice” to be more effective, he finds himself on a sudden rise to success. The movie is a surreal and often hilarious experience from writer-director Boots Riley. It is also a satire that dissects some very relevant topics surrounding race in America. Along with the laughs and ideas, Sorry to Bother You‘s twists will leave viewers shocked.
Heathers (1988)
One movie that has come back in terms of popularity is the 1988 dark comedy Heathers. The Prime Video movie tells the story of Veronica (Winona Ryder) attending Westerberg High School which is notorious for its cliques- and all of the popular girls are named Heather. Heathers takes a turn once a body count hits the teen film. Heathers was a smash hit with audiences and carries on its legacy today through a musical and a Heathers TV show — which was unfortunately canceled after only one season.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Joel and Ethan Coen have yet another gem in the comedy-crime-drama-musical O Brother, Where Art Thou? Filled with plenty of colorful Coen Brothers characters, this acclaimed film set during the Great Depression is loosely based on Homer’s The Odyssey. It follows three convicts played by George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson on a quest to find a hidden fortune. The movie is endlessly hilarious with the Coen Brothers’ unique sense of humor working exceptionally well for the dusty odyssey. However, one of the biggest surprises of the movie is its soundtrack of folk music which went on to become a surprise success.
Election (1999)
More than a decade after playing the iconic high school slacker Ferris Bueller, Matthew Broderick returns to the high school movie genre for a very different role. He plays Jim, a teacher who is constantly bothered by an overachieving student named Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) and makes plans to bring her down. The dark comedy is a sharp and original look at different personality types in high school. From Election‘s grounded and cynical ending to Witherspoon’s brilliant performance, the small movie has become a cult classic over the years and still holds up well.
50/50 (2011)
There would seem to be some subjects that don’t make for good comedies, however, 50/50 proves it can be done with the right approach. The movie stars Joseph Gordon Levitt as a young man who discovers he has a rare form of cancer that gives him a 50 percent chance of survival. The movie then takes an honest and sometimes humorous look at how his life changes, the struggles he faces, and the uncertainty of his future. It is an incredibly hard tone to balance and 50/50 often jostles between moments of laugh-out-loud humor and heartbreaking sadness which makes for a very unique movie experience.
Inside Man (2006)
Along with being one of Spike Lee’s best movies, Inside Man was also his most mainstream effort. The thriller revolves around a heist carried out by a group of well-organized criminals who take bank employees and customers hostage. Denzel Washington plays a detective negotiating with the criminals while gradually discovering that this bank robbery is not as it seems. Lee constructs a tense and entertaining thriller while also adding a nice bit of humor. It is also elevated by a tremendous supporting cast that includes Jodie Foster, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willem Dafoe, and Clive Owen as the leader of the criminals.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
The road trip crime drama Thelma & Louise is another movie that successfully balances several different tones while making icons out of the two titular characters. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis play those two friends who, after killing a man who tried to assault one of them, go on the run with the police on their trail. Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie is an exciting ride with humor and heart in the story all leading up to one of the most famous movie endings of all time. The movie is also notable as the breakout role for Brad Pitt as a charming bank robber the women meet along the way.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Among the many great comedies on Prime Video, Bridesmaids is one of the most popular. Kristen Wiig stars as Annie, a struggling single woman who’s asked to be the maid of honor for her best friend (Maya Rudolph). In the era of male-led comedies like The Hangover, it was very refreshing to get a comedy that allowed girls to get in on some of the R-rated mayhem. That being said, this is a movie that will make everyone laugh thanks to a hilarious script and some wonderful supporting performances especially Melissa McCarthy in an outrageous role that earned her an Oscar nomination.
Shrek (2001)
The Shrek franchise is revitalized with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish so it might be a perfect time for fans to be reminded of the brilliance of the original movie. Shrek follows the titular ogre living an isolated life in his swamp when he is tasked with going on a mission to save a princess. The movie takes great joy in its deconstructing of fairy tale tropes while creating some of the most memorable DreamWorks characters of all time. It is no surprise Shrek became the first movie to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Let The Right One In (2008)
Though some horror fans might be tired of the vampire subgenre, Let the Right One In proves there are still brilliant stories to be told. The Swedish movie follows a lonely and bullied young boy who strikes up a friendship with an unusual girl. Hailed by the likes of John Carpenter as a modern horror masterpiece, Let the Right One In holds incredible tension throughout thanks to stunning direction from Thomas Alfredson. The pool sequence in this movie goes down as one of the best horror movie moments of the 21st century.
The Handmaiden (2016)
Master filmmaker Park Chan-wook delivered one of his greatest movies with the complex and riveting The Handmaiden. The South Korean movie follows a young woman who is hired to serve as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress only to become involved in a nefarious plot against the woman. Chan-wook is a filmmaker who has a unique ability to play with different genres and tones, never losing the balance between them yet creating something totally unique. The Handmaiden is sometimes a beautiful romance movie but can also be a nail-biting thriller at times. It is a tightrope walk that is pulled off expertly leading to the movie’s international acclaim.
The Big Sick (2017)
Before becoming a Bollywood MCU hero in Eternals, Kumail Nanjiani made the jump to leading man status with his Oscar-nominated The Big Sick. Loosely based on the story of Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon (and written by them), the unique romantic-comedy stars Nanjiani as a Muslim comedian who falls for a young woman (Zoe Kazan). However, an unexpected complication changes their relationship in some big ways. The movie is a fresh and hilarious new take on the romantic comedy with a personal story that comes to life with humor, heart, and honesty.
The small indie movie Sound of Metal managed to strike a chord with a lot of people and earn six Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. Riz Ahmed is sensational as Ruben, a heavy metal drummer who loses his hearing and has to come to terms with being deaf. Sound of Metal‘s grounded characters and its emotional journey will catch viewers by surprise. It is a moving story about the destructive paths some people go on and the changes they need to make to live a better life.
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Julia Roberts won an Oscar for her performance in the titular role in the legal drama Erin Brockovich. Based on a true story, Erin is a single mother struggling to provide for her children when she forces her way into a job with a lawyer (Albert Finney). From there, she begins to investigate allegations against a local chemical company and lead one of the biggest class action lawsuits in American history. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the movie is a stirring and inspirational legal drama with a winning performance from Roberts at its center.