Last updated: April 1, 2020
In the world of streaming subscription services, there’s what’s become known as the “big three.” Netflix is still the biggest kahuna in the game, but Hulu and Amazon Prime are hot on its heels. Each service offers its own large selection of movies, with thousands of titles of various calibers included. Currently, Amazon Prime actually boasts the largest movie library of the three, but it could be argued that quantity isn’t nearly as important as quality.
25 of the very best movie titles offered on Amazon Prime can be found below, featuring a mix of blockbuster hits, award-winning critical darlings, hilarious comedies, bone-chilling horror movies, and more. The list below attempts to include something for everyone, and thankfully, Amazon Prime’s selection houses quite the robust grouping of worthwhile streaming choices.
Before the list begins proper, there are some important notes to be made. First the movies below are available to stream on Amazon Prime at the time of this writing. As movies expire, the list will be updated, and new great options will be added. Also, the 25 films below, while numbered for convenience, are not ranked. So the movie marked number one is not meant to necessarily be seen as superior to the movie at number 25.
24 Planes, Trains and Automobiles
While there are many iconic films set on or around holidays like Christmas, Halloween, and the 4th of July, one big occasion with less great movies than it deserves is Thanksgiving. Probably the most beloved of the bunch is 1987 comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles, written and directed by John Hughes. Steve Martin stars as Neal Page, a stressed out marketing executive who’s just trying to make it home to Chicago from New York City in time for the big day. Unfortunately, his attempts to do so keep getting intertwined with kind but bothersome salesman Del Griffith (John Candy). The two men’s misadventures form the crux of the film, and both leads are up to the task. it may not be November, but Planes, Trains and Automobiles is worth an Amazon Prime stream any time of the year.
23 Hereditary
Most horror films are full of obvious supernatural threats, whether they be vampires, ghosts, demons. or even the occasional sadistic leprechaun. Sometimes though, a horror effort comes along to reinforce that at the end of the day, the fear of losing a loved one is one that audiences can’t escape, even after the latest scary movie stops playing. One recent example of that type is 2018’s critically lauded (89% on Rotten Tomatoes) Hereditary, directed by Ari Aster, and starring Toni Collette as Annie, an emotionally scarred mom who finds her life spinning more and more out of control following the death of her own mother. Hereditary has become a bit divisive in horror circles, but it’s worth watching on Amazon Prime and judging for oneself.
22 The Graduate
Widely regarded as one of the greatest American films of all time, director Mike Nichols’ 1967 dramedy The Graduate earned seven Oscar nominations, winning Best Director. Based on a novel, The Graduate stars Dustin Hoffman – in arguably his signature role – as 21-year-old recent college grad Benjamin Braddock, who finds himself in an odd position when he’s seduced by an older woman – Anne Bancroft’s legendary Mrs. Robinson – and then falls for her daughter Elaine (Katherine Ross). To call The Graduate anything less than iconic would be an insult, and it’s a truly excellent addition to Amazon Prime’s library.
21 The Avengers
While the MCU has topped it many times over since, 2012’s The Avengers was Marvel Studios’ first big test, the culmination of Phase 1. Thankfully, the Joss Whedon-directed film passed with flying colors, giving birth to many moments that still remain iconic in superhero cinema. Seeing Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, and Black Widow all team up to face off with Loki and Thanos’ alien army was truly magical for Marvel fans, many of which had spent years hoping to see anything close to that on the big screen. The Avengers will probably become exclusive to Disney Plus eventually, but for now, it’s available on Amazon Prime.
20 Eighth Grade
The feature writing and directing debut of comedian Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade wowed many in 2018 with its very relatable, and often very frank depiction of what it’s like to be transitioning into one’s teenage years. Most movies and TV shows tend to depict childhood and young adulthood as this time full of nothing but fun and carefree idealism, but in reality, many people spend their youths battling social awkwardness, dealing with anxiety, and struggling to fit in. Fronted by a great lead performance from Elsie Fisher, and bolstered by one of the best speeches ever given from a parent to their child onscreen, Eighth Grade isn’t always easy to sit through, but it’s consistently rewarding. Another impressive offering from Amazon Prime.
19 Some Like It Hot
Those looking to watch a classic comedy on Amazon Prime need look no further than 1951’s Some Like It Hot, directed by Hollywood icon Billy Wilder, helmer of other golden age hits like Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star as two Chicago musicians forced to assume female identities to get out of town after witnessing a gangland murder. Both quickly notice the singer of their new all-female band, played by Marilyn Monroe near the height of her stardom. Some Like It Hot includes some moments that are problematic by today’s standards, but those willing to view it through a historical lens will still find plenty to enjoy.
18 Fighting With My Family
When it was first announced that comic actor Stephen Merchant would direct a biopic about former WWE wrestler Paige (played by Florence Pugh) – who sadly was forced to retire young due to injury – most didn’t expect much. Those expectations were wrong, as Fighting With My Family – now on Amazon Prime – provided not only a fun inside look at the world of WWE and professional wrestling, but a dramatic, funny, portrait of a family that always stands by each other in the end, even if they disagree along the way. The fact that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shows up as himself doesn’t hurt either.
17 Blue Velvet
If one’s only exposure to director David Lynch is through the TV series Twin Peaks, they owe it to themselves to check out what may be Lynch’s best movie, now on Amazon Prime. Also starring Kyle MacLachlan, Blue Velvet in many ways inspired Twin Peaks’ colorful aesthetic, and its setting of a seemingly idyllic small town with horrors bubbling not far under the surface. The biggest of those horrors is violent madman Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper), a villain always seen taking hits off of a container of an unidentified gas. Like any Lynch film, it’s surreal, but it’s also more accessible than much of the director’s work.
16 The Cabin in the Woods
2012’s The Cabin in the Woods, directed by Drew Goddard, is a decidedly unique film. It’s both a deconstruction of and loving tribute to the many tropes and cliches that make the horror genre work, and while other films have done that before and since, few have managed the feat as well. It would be criminal to spoil the film’s twists for those unfamiliar, but suffice to say the ending sequence will leave any fan of horror grinning from ear to ear.
15 Platoon
While director Oliver Stone is most closely associated nowadays with his penchant for conspiracy theories and being outspoken politically, that doesn’t mean his films aren’t still by and large brilliant, and worth checking out on Amazon Prime. One of the best is 1986’s Platoon, which is based on Stone’s own experiences serving in the Vietnam War. The cast is loaded with talent, including Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, and even Johnny Depp in an early role. War truly is hell, and Platoon presents that reality more vividly than the vast majority of movies.
14 12 Angry Men
Hollywood loves itself a good courtroom drama, and the movie that solidified just how worthwhile they could be was 1957’s 12 Angry Men, ready to stream anytime on Amazon Prime. Directed by Sidney Lumet, 12 Angry Men’s story is simple, yet compelling. A group of jurors, forced to deliberate together for hours in the same room, must come to a unanimous verdict about the guilt or innocence of an 18-year-old accused of murder. Such classic film heavyweights as Henry Fonda, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, E.G. Marshall, and Lee J. Cobb star.
13 The Machinist
While Oscar-winner Christian Bale has become well-known for his ability to transform himself physically for roles in acclaimed films like The Fighter and Vice, one of Bale’s earliest transformations occurred for a film that didn’t even receive a wide theatrical release. However, that doesn’t mean 2004’s The Machinist isn’t worth watching on Amazon Prime. Directed by Brad Anderson, The Machinist stars Bale as Trevor Reznik, a man whose chronic insomnia issues have caused him to become horrifyingly emaciated. After Trevor causes an accident at work and loses his job, his mental state spirals downward fast. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Ironside also star.
Will Smith is the literal last man on Earth in I Am Legend, or so he thinks. An adaptation of Richard Matheson’s classic novel, I Am Legend stars Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, a virologist trying to develop a cure for the plague that turned most of the human population into monsters. Smith is tasked with carrying most of the film alone, and does so terrifically, demonstrating just how talented an actor he really is. While the ending is a bit weak, everything up until then is great, and worth checking out on Amazon Prime.
12 Clue
Clue, based on the board game long before that became a common thing to do, is almost the definition of a cult classic. At the time of its 1985 release, reviews from middling, and box office was almost nonexistent. Yet, in the decades since, Clue has become a favorite of many. Boasting a terrific cast – including such comic titans as Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Martin Mull, and Christopher Lloyd – and multiple endings, Clue offers a great option for Amazon Prime viewers who like their murder mysteries mixed with laughs.
11 To Kill a Mockingbird
Often cited as one of the greatest films of all time, director Robert Mulligan’s 1962 classic To Kill a Mockingbird is an adaptation of author Harper Lee’s equally acclaimed 1960 novel of the same name. Gregory Peck stars as Alabama lawyer Atticus Finch, a principled man who accepts the task of defending Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), a black man accused of raping a young white woman. Local racial tensions flare, leading to perhaps the quintessential courtroom drama, although To Kill a Mockingbird offers Amazon Prime viewers much more than just that.
Related: 20 Best Monologues In Movie History
10 Pretty in Pink
Writer/director John Hughes is generally considered the master of high school movies, and 1986’s Pretty in Pink is a prime example of his craft. Directed by Howard Deutch, and written by Hughes, Pretty in Pink stars Sixteen Candles’ Molly Ringwald as Andie, an outcast who ends up dating popular rich kid Blane (Andrew McCarthy), and endures social strife as a result. Many fans believe Andie really should’ve ended up with her charming best friend Duckie (Jon Cryer), but those who watch on Amazon Prime can make up their own minds.
9 Changing Lanes
Back before Ben Affleck played Batman and Samuel L. Jackson started playing Nick Fury, the two heavyweight actors went head-to-head in 2002’s Changing Lanes, now on Amazon Prime. Affleck plays Gavin, a hotshot Wall Street lawyer who accidentally gets into a car crash with Jackson’s Doyle, a mild-mannered insurance salesman. Gavin leaves the scene of the crime, and from then on, the two men set out to ruin the other’s lives.
8 Leave No Trace
One of the most critically acclaimed films of 2018, director Debra Granik’s Leave No Trace is a recent addition to Amazon Prime, and one worth checking out. Leave No Trace is the story of Will (Ben Foster) and his daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie), who begin the film living inside a public park in Portland, Oregon. The pair spends most of their time isolated, but after they’re discovered and arrested by police, Will and Tom are forced to try and adjust to life within normal society. Tom finds herself being won over by the charms of a standard American life, but Will’s war-induced PTSD won’t allow him to change so easily.
7 The Disaster Artist
Every consummate film fan knows that sometimes a movie can be so bad that it’s entertaining. An incredibly inept production can still be a work of art that came from good intentions and a passion for the project, and sometimes that shines through the screen, even if the movie in question objectively stinks. One such film is 2003’s The Room, directed by and starring the notoriously eccentric Tommy Wiseau. Tommy is quite a character, so much so that 2017’s acclaimed The Disaster Artist turned his story into a genuinely good film, and a great Amazon Prime pick. James Franco stars as Wiseau, and appropriately, directed The Disaster Artist as well.
6 Captain America: The First Avenger
The movie that ultimately set the stage for the aforementioned 2012 Avengers film, Captain America: The First Avenger will probably also migrate to Disney+ exclusively at some point, but for now, Amazon Prime customers can still enjoy it. Chris Evans stars in the role that made him a household name, World War II-era youth Steve Rogers, who becomes the titular superhero as the result of an experiment. Pure of heart and always seeking justice, Steve was the perfect choice to become Captain America, and take the fight to the likes of the evil Hydra. Sadly, it would take many decades to finally get that dance he wanted with Peggy Carter.
5 Highlander
While not exactly a critical darling, 1986’s Highlander is most definitely a cult classic, and has gone on to spawn an enduring franchise of both films and TV shows. In director Russell Mulcahy’s original film, Christopher Lambert stars as Connor MacLeod, the titular immortal warrior. Trained to fight by the extravagantly named Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez (Sean Connery), MacLeod knows he’ll eventually have to participate in “The Gathering,” in which all immortals fight to the death, only being killed by decapitation. Opposing Connor is The Kurgan (Clancy Brown). Boasting a rocking theme song by Queen, Highlander is a great addition to the Amazon Prime library.
4 Bone Tomahawk
Horror crosses over with many other genres, the most common being sci-fi and comedy. Less common is the horror/western mashup, but one of the best example of that combo is 2015’s Bone Tomahawk, directed by S. Craig Zahler. Sporting an impressive 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, Bone Tomahawk never got a wide release in theaters, making its streaming run on Amazon Prime the first opportunity many will have had to see it. Like, From Dusk Till Dawn, Bone Tomahawk makes a sharp left turn into horror country, and exactly how it does so is best left unspoiled. The terrific cast includes names like Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins.
3 Hellraiser
Any dedicated horror fan has surely had their soul torn apart multiple times by Hellraiser‘s Pinhead (Doug Bradley) by this point. Director Clive Barker (adapting his own novella) crafted one of the most enduring tales of terror to come out of the 1980s, spawning one of the longest-running horror franchises out there as well. Hellraiser may only have a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s a certified classic of the genre, and needs to be watched by anyone who enjoys a good fright flick. Direct sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II is also part of Amazon Prime’s roster.
2 It’s a Wonderful Life
There are certain movies that just about everybody associates with Christmas. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Home Alone. The Santa Clause. For the less jolly out there, Silent Night, Deadly Night. Arguably the most iconic Christmas movie in history though is director Frank Capra’s 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Quite possibly the most uplifting film about suicide ever made, It’s a Wonderful Life stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man whose attempted death is foiled by his guardian angel. George is then shown just how much worse the lives of those around him would be if he was never born, a premise that’s since been ripped off endlessly. Christmas might be many months away, but it’s always a wonderful time to watch It’s a Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime.
1 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
One of the most acclaimed westerns of all time, 1967’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is the final installment in legendary Italian director Sergio Leone’s famous “Dollars Trilogy,” and is now available on Amazon Prime. Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach star as the titular trio of characters, who all end up searching for a stash of hidden gold coins based on separate clues, leading to an ultimate showdown, complete with cinema’s most iconic Mexican standoff.
