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 social distancing or a crowd 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.
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 quirky from serious dramas. There’s something for everyone on Amazon Prime Video.
1-Knives Out
The 2019 whodunnit mystery from writer-director Rian Johnson is both old school and modern, with an A-list cast that all look like they’re having a tremendously good time. The story starts with the death of wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) on the night of his 85th birthday. Famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called in to investigate it as a murder, with his family members as the prime suspects. Caught up in the action is Harlan’s nurse Marta (Ana de Armas). The case is full of twists, turns, and red herrings. But as well-plotted as the movie is, it’s really the distinctive characters that make it such a delightful experience.
2-Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
3-Annette
4-The Lighthouse
One of the more deeply weird, highly unsettling films in recent memory, this psychological horror-thriller comes from director/co-writer Robert Eggers, the mind behind The Witch.
Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson star as two lighthouse keepers who start to lose their sanity when a storm strands them on the remote island where they are stationed. Shot in black and white, The Lighthouse is gorgeously made, wonderfully acted … and it will totally f— with your head, which is why it’s one of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video.
Two men both named Thomas (Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson) are working as lighthouse attendants on a dislocated New England island, both struggling to maintain sanity and their grasp on reality itself.
Though this film is classified as horror, that is really only because of the tension created by masterful cinematography, a haunting soundtrack, and the stirring performances by Pattinson and Dafoe.
5-Midsommar
Midsommar is one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in recent memory, and it’s extremely not for everyone. A jarring tale of grief and being in a bad relationship, Midsommar tracks the life of psychology student Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh), whose family dies in a very gut-turning way. And so how does she pivot to calm herself? Well, she’s got this terrible boyfriend, whose bro buddies hate her, and they all go on a trip to Sweden for a festival that only happens every 90 years. And that is where everything goes very wrong. Cult practices, blood in broad daylight, and constant betrayals greet Dani at every turn. And since it’s an Ari Aster (Hereditary), it’s as beautifully shot as it is jarring.
6-One Night in Miami
A film based on true events follows four icons in their prime, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke, as they meet in Miami one historic night. As these figures come together in the mid-1960s, they discuss what their success and responsibility mean as they carry the weight of the world during the civil rights movement. In Regina King’s directorial breakout, we learn more about the struggle of civil rights in its time and how it has changed today. Boasting a handful of Oscar nominations this year, this film is a powerhouse of performance and information to take with you.
7-The Farewell
This warm and touching family dramedy stars Awkwafina as Billi, a young New Yorker who is devastated by the news that her beloved grandmother is dying. The entire family decides to hide the truth from Grandmother herself, but plans an impromptu wedding for Billi’s cousin so that they can gather together without her realizing it may be for the last time. The exceptional performances, particularly from Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen as grandma Nai Nai, make this family portrait rich and nuanced. The gorgeous meditation on the weird and wonderful bonds of blood makes it one of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video.