How many hours have we all lost to the endless streaming scroll? Aiming for a little kickback, you end up perusing title after title, intent on finding just the right movie, 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 catalogue in search of the best picks for an entertaining night in. Now, we've put together a wide-ranging list of the best movies streaming 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.
Editor's Note: This article was last updated on February 11.
- Just Added: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen | Run Time: 107 minutes | Genre: Comedy Drama
Cast: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Chris Thomas King, John Goodman
Three convicts escape prison and set off on an epic odyssey across 1930s Mississippi. In the process, they encounter strange women, a traveling musician, and a bunch of racists. That's just a brief summary of the plot of O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and it's all presented in the signature style of the Coen Brothers. Over the years, the filmmaking siblings have told many a tale that captures a sense of Americana, but perhaps none more so than this madcap adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. Coincidentally, neither Coen had read the actual book before they set about crafting this story, so apart from some loose parallels and similarities, there's really not all that much that this sort-of western shares with its classic Greek source material. There's plenty of humor, snappy dialogue, excellent performances by the leading trio of George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, and a perfect soundtrack. -- Remus Noronha
Shrek (2001)
Director: Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson | Run Time: 90 minutes | Genre: Animated Comedy
Cast: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, John Lithgow
It’s easy to forget just how big of a deal Shrek was when it hit theaters in 2001, but it was a very big deal. DreamWorks Animation challenged Pixar in the realm of CG animation with a more edgy, slightly more adult-oriented animated film—one in which parents would be laughing at jokes that went over their children’s heads. But at its core, Shrek works beautifully as a story of an outsider looking for acceptance, and love coming from unexpected places. It’s also just a really pretty and fun fairy tale in its own right, and while technology has advanced considerably in the two decades since its release, Shrek still holds up all these years later. – Adam Chitwood
About Time (2013)
Director: Richard Curtis | Run Time: 123 minutes | Genre: Fantasy Rom-Com
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Margot Robbie
The 2013 film About Time is not just an absolute gem of a romantic comedy, it’s also one of the best time travel movies ever made. Oh yeah, and it’s a total tearjerker. Written and directed by Love, Actually filmmaker Richard Curtis, the film stars Domhnall Gleeson as a young man who learns at the age of 21, from his father (Bill Nighy), that the men in their family have the ability to time travel. This comes in handy when he misses his chance with a charismatic American girl (Rachel McAdams) and goes back to the night they first met to start their relationship off right. But what begins as a delightful, grounded, and romantic romp soon turns emotional, as About Time slowly reveals itself to be a father-son story at heart. – Adam Chitwood
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry | Run Time: 108 minutes | Genre: Romantic Sci-Fi Drama
Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst
A playful yet profound musing on life and love, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindis the type of film that you’ll wish you could erase from your memory to experience it all over again for the first time. Itfeatures a career-best Jim Carrey as Joel, a neurotic man just coming off a breakup. He had been with Kate Winslet’s multifaceted and melancholy Clementine though, as relationships tend to do, things became more complicated. They have now not just split up but have also undergone a procedure that will remove any memory of their having even known each other. The film then becomes a journey through the memories of the relationship, the good and the bad, as Joel tries to cling to the love he still holds for Clementine before it is gone forever. A glorious collaboration between writer Charlie Kaufman and director Michel Gondry, it is in their meeting of minds that the film finds something wholly original yet enduringly connective. It is an experience that finds beauty in the inner mind with both wit and wisdom to make for one of the all-time great works of cinema to ever grace the screen. - Chase Hutchinson
Clue (1985)
Director: Jonathan Lynn | Run Time: 97 minutes | Genre: Black Comedy Mystery
Cast: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Lee Ving
An ensemble cast, a strange invitation, and a murder in a mansion. No, it isn't Glass Onion, it's Clue. Featuring a mix of characters from the game and new ones created for the film, JonathanLynn's take on the classic mystery board game is one of those few game adaptations that actually succeed in translating the fun of the original article. Getting back to the plot, the film follows six strangers who converge at a secluded New England mansion. Each of them is given a pseudonym to mask their identity and they are all being blackmailed by a seventh guest, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving), who gives them all weapons (taken straight out of the board game) and suggests that they kill the butler, Wadsworth (Tim Curry). The lights go out and we, along with the guests, are launched into a wild ride full of murder and mayhem. The film was originally released with three different endings but luckily, the version on Prime Video combines all three. -- Remus Noronha
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Director: Steven Spielberg | Run Time: 128 minutes | Genre: Action-Adventure
Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott, Julian Glover, John Rhys-Davies
There's a certain reverence with which Indiana Jones fans talk about The Last Crusade, and with good reason. The third movie in the series, the film is arguably the best of the lot. Even though Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first film featuring Harrison Ford's whip-wielding archaeologist, The Last Crusade is the first film to actually reveal the character's origins, finally showing us how he got his penchant for whips, his fear of snakes, and even his nickname. It also introduces Indy's father, Henry Jones Sr., as played by the late acting legend Sean Connery. But make no mistake, this isn't just an origin story. The main plot of the movie follows Indy on a search for his missing father. In the process, he stumbles into the middle of a Nazi expedition to recover the Holy Grail. Soon, father and son embark on a race against time, trying to recover the mythical artifact before the Nazis can get their hands on it. Packed with tense action scenes the likes of which only director Steven Spielberg could conjure up and an exciting adventure full of exotic locations and deadly puzzles, this is a movie that lends itself to infinite rewatches. And if you do choose this film for your next movie night, know that you have chosen... wisely. — Remus Noronha
Apocalypse Now: Redux (2001)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Run Time: 202 minutes | Genre: War Drama
Cast: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms
Apocalypse Nowis a perfect film. It’s one of several immaculate adaptations by Francis Ford Coppola, who crafted The Godfather, The Outsiders, and Bram Stoker’sDracula (1992) for the screen. The soundtrack is killer, the narration is intimate, and the scale is remarkable. It’s as dark, vibrant, and inscrutable as Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, with character work that would influence greats to come, like Platoon. Loosely based on Heart of Darkness, Apocalypse Now puts the audience alongside Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen) on his mission up the Nung River in Cambodia. His mission is to terminate, with extreme prejudice, a former Green Beret Colonel, Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Kurtz is said to have slipped the slope of sanity and assembled a group of guerilla fighters loyal beyond fanaticism. Captain Willard must forsake his own inner conflict if he hopes to execute the mission tasked unto him by his country or risk becoming the man he’s been sent to kill. The Academy Award-winning film received an extended cut in 2001, 22 years after its initial release, that’s currently streaming on Prime Video. While Apocalypse Now: Redux slows the pace and cuts the tension, it’s still a version of one of the most technically proficient and suspenseful films of all time.
It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
Director: Frank Capra | Run Time: 131 minutes | Genre: Christmas Fantasy Drama
Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers
Widely regarded as one of the most influential films ever made, It's a Wonderful Life is a timeless classic. The story follows George Bailey (James Stewart), a down-on-his-luck banker who spends a lifetime putting the needs of others ahead of his own. Faced with absolute ruin one Christmas Eve, George resolves to commit suicide. However, thanks to the prayers of his loved ones, a guardian angel is sent to save George from this horrible fate. The angel, Clarence (Henry Travers) shows George what the world would be like if he was never born, leading him to a profound realization about the value of every kind deed. While It's a Wonderful Life is a Christmas movie through and through, it's a great watch no matter when you see it. The film presents a sentimental and touching portrait of a genuinely good man and the wonderful, wonderful life that he leads. Whether you're looking for a Holiday season watch or just a really good movie, It's a Wonderful Life is an experience everyone should have at least once. — Remus Noronha
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Director: Ridley Scott | Run Time: 129 minutes | Genre: Road Crime Comedy-Drama
Cast: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Brad Pitt, Michael Madsen
When he’s not doing science fiction, Ridley Scott has eclectic tastes. 1991’s Thelma & Louise is exhibit A. The story of a pair of female fugitives—played by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in the title roles, respectively—is a movie about friendship. Mistreated by the men in their lives, these gals decide to take a road trip one day, but when a drunk tries raping Thelma outside a bar, and Louise shoots and kills him, they opt to run from the law. It’s a fresh spin on the road movie, considering its lead characters and the reason they’re on the move. In spite of the catalyst for their fleeing and, ultimately, how this movie ends, the tone is generally light, fun, and funny. It is not tongue-in-cheek, however. In that, the stakes are high, the tension palpable. These ladies are affable, though taking inspiration from them would be ill-advised. Its most indelible moments, outside of the closing minute, are those featuring a young Brad Pitt as a hitchhiking cowboy. — Brendan Michael
Hellraiser (1987)
Director: Clive Barker | Run Time: 93 minutes | Genre: Horror
Cast: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, and Ashley Laurence
Clive Barker’sname has become synonymous with the horror genre, just as his first feature-length film Hellraiser has become a symbol for leather-wearing, sadomasochistic, pain-worshippers. Both descriptors are fitting, though there’s so much more to Barker’s original 1987 film than mere fetishism. There’s a deep mythology here, a rather original one that started with Barker’s novella “The Hellbound Heart” and was carried on in numerous sequel films, comic books, novels, video games, and more. And it all started with Hellraiser, a film that explores the linked sensations of pain and pleasure on a number of levels. The main players are Larry Cotton and his second wife Julia, who cheated on him with his brother Frank shortly after they were married. This sets up one of the most bizarre yet rich mythologies in cinema history: Julia’s obsession with Frank continues well after his death and is rejuvenated when Frank himself is resurrected. However, Frank needs fresh blood to return to his full health, blood that Julia is happy to supply by luring men back to Frank’s abandoned childhood home and sacrificing them. And yet, as horrible as this is, it’s mundane compared to the arrival of the Cenobites, beings from another dimension obsessed with carnal experiences elucidating the extremes of pain and pleasure. Their design and presence is fantastic in the truest sense of the word and the practical effects on display here are just as terrifying today as they were in 1987. If you haven’t seen the original or any of the sequels, Hellraiser is the perfect place to start. If you’re not careful, this movie will tear your soul apart. – Dave Trumbore
Candyman (2021)
Director: Nia DaCosta | Run Time: 91 minutes | Genre: Horror
Cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Colman Domingo, Vanessa Williams, Tony Todd
Legacy horror sequels, now there's a fad that's really tricky to get right. Whenever filmmakers attempt one, it can either be a valuable addition to the canon that elevates the whole or a horrible cash grab that'll be hated by fans. Nia DaCosta's Candyman is most definitely the former. The 2021 film is the fourth in the series and quite possibly the best, going further than even the 1992 original. With brilliant performances by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, and Colman Domingo, as well as a gripping script penned by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, and DaCosta, the movie takes the Candyman myth and breathes new life into it. Abdul-Mateen II plays Anthony McCoy, an artist with a past tied to the events in 1992. As he seeks out inspiration for his art, he is introduced to the legend of the Candyman, which sets him on a dangerous path. There's a sense of intense foreboding to the story, not because it makes you afraid of potential jumpscares or gore but because right from the beginning, you can see where the story is going and you really hope you're wrong. Candyman is a tragedy but also a new origin story, one that ties together all the past origins of the Candyman with an important message about racial discrimination, systemic violence, and the power of stories to help the oppressed fight back against their oppressors. There are levels to this movie, never just about gentrification or violence or even Candyman the myth. Peele and DaCosta actually manage to turn narrative and storytelling into a supernatural force of vengeance. But don't let us spoil it for you, check out the movie yourself. Fair warning though, you're going to be thinking about this film long after the credits roll. -- Remus Noronha
The Northman (2022)
Director: Robert Eggers | Run Time: 136 minutes | Genre: Period Action Drama
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke
The Northman echoes a very old narrative premise, following in a long line of stories ranging from Shakespeare's Hamlet to Disney's The Lion King. But what Robert Eggers does with his age-old story turns it into something exceptionally fresh. On the face of it, The Northman is a revenge story, following a prince who lost his kingdom as he sets out to avenge his murdered father, save his kidnapped mother, and kill the usurper who took away his birthright. And if that's all you're looking for, you would be satisfied. However, that's not all there is to this tale. Depending on how you look at it, The Northman can be interpreted as the struggle between man as an animal and man as a civilized being. You can also see it as a reminder that we are all doomed to our fates, no matter how much we may want to escape them. And by the end of it all, there is a feeling you may get that this act of vengeance, as grand and bloody as it is, is only a footnote in a history that stretches endlessly back and forth through time. As for what's actually seen on screen, Jarin Blaschke's cinematography is spectacular, especially when we get to the movie's fiery final battle. Alexander Skarsgård unleashes his inner beast like never before, Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a haunting performance, and Nicole Kidmanplays what may just be one of her most complicated characters yet. Don't sleep on this Viking tale, it's easily one of the best movies to grace our screens in 2022. -- Remus Noronha
The Courier (2021)
Director: Dominic Cooke | Run Time: 111 minutes | Genre: Historical Spy Drama
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan, Jessie Buckley, Angus Wright
For most people, Benedict Cumberbatch is either Sherlock Holmes or Doctor Stephen Strange. Yes, the actor has made quite a name for himself in major franchise movies but to limit him to those roles would be to ignore some of the best performances Cumberbatch has given over the course of his stellar career. Whether it's his not-entirely-historical take on Alan Turing in The Imitation Gameor the complex rancher he plays in The Power of the Dog, Benedict Cumberbatch has shown that he has the chops to play intricate, well-written characters with real and complicated lives. In The Courier(originally titled Ironbark), the actor takes on the role of Greville Wynne, a real-life British businessman who was recruited by intelligence officers to serve as a messenger, communicating with a valuable Soviet spy in Moscow. Unlike most spy dramas, The Courier is more concerned with the harsh realities of being a Cold War spy than the good vs evil narrative that you usually see in the genre. The fact that the story is based on true events just makes you feel even more for the movie's two protagonists, as played brilliantly by Cumberbatch and co-star Merab Ninidze. This movie is a must-watch for fans of spy fiction and period stories, especially those interested in knowing more about the behind-the-scenes operations that kept the nukes from falling during the volatile Cold War years. — Remus Noronha
The Lost City (2022)
Directors: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee | Run Time: 112 minutes | Genre: Romantic Adventure Comedy
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe
Not to be confused with another similarly titled entry on this list, The Lost City is a hilarious romantic adventure comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. A surprise summer hit, the movie stars Bullock as a reclusive writer who is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire and forced to hunt for a long-lost treasure. She also receives some unexpected help in this endeavor from her cover model, played by Tatum. The movie's two leads have excellent chemistry, with Bullock playing the embittered novelist and Tatum the enthusiastic himbo to absolute perfection. The Lost City also stars the ever-delightful Daniel Radcliffe as the movie's villain, a role that the Harry Potter actor plays with charm and cartoonish evil. It's a fun popcorn movie that's perfect for a night in, and the experience is raised to a whole other level by a Brad Pitt cameo that's easily one of the actor's best comedic performances in recent times.— Remus Noronha
House of Gucci (2021)
Director: Ridley Scott | Run Time: 158 minutes | Genre: Biographical Crime Drama
Cast: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Al Pacino
If you're looking for a straight-up biographical film, then House of Gucci is probably not for you. Well, sure, the Ridley Scott movie follows the romance between Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci and shows how it rocked the iconic fashion brand the film is named after. But the real fun of watching House of Gucci is in the performances by its star-studded cast. From Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani to Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci, there are so many great and campy characters who bring a ton of energy to this film. Though the movie received rather lackluster reviews, it has managed to find its fans who regard it a misunderstood camp classic. — Remus Noronha
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Director: Martin Scorsese | Run Time: 179 minutes | Genre: Crime Comedy-Drama
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill, and Cristin Milioti
You know how there are a lot of movies out there about the dark side of fame and money, usually with rock stars, actors, or entrepreneurs as the subject. Well, Jordan Belfort is an entrepreneur of sorts. The Wolf of Wall Street is a biopic based on Belfort's 2007 memoir of the same name. It's also a crazy ride filled with drugs, corruption, and ridiculous antics. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Belfort and Jonah Hill as his right-hand man and business partner Donnie Azoff. The film chronicles Belfort's rise and fall as the most ruthless stockbroker on Wall Street, using every dirty trick in the book and inventing some new ones along the way. — Remus Noronha
No Time to Die (2021)
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga | Run Time: 163 minutes | Genre: Spy Action Drama
Cast: Daniel Craig, Jeffrey Wright, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas
The final story in the Daniel Craig era of James Bond films, No Time to Die is not the best Bond movie ever. But that's not to say it isn't a great movie, it's just that it's got really strong competition. While all the Craig movies have been known for their emotional narratives, No Time to Die is a genuine rollercoaster of emotions leading to a bittersweet ending that's going to take some recovering from. And the action! The movie is packed with plenty of action, including a really well-choreographed chase sequence. Rami Malek's villainous character is kind of a let-down, considering the actor's talent, but this film is still a must-watch for every 007 fan out there. — Remus Noronha
Emergency (2022)
Director: Carey Williams | Run Time: 105 minutes | Genre: Satirical Comedy Drama
Cast: RJ Cyler, Donald Elise Watkins, Sebastian Chacon, Sabrina Carpenter
On a very surface level, Emergency is a classic college comedy about three friends having a wild night. Step a little deeper and you'll find a gripping satire about the way the world judges young people of color and the anxieties that judgment generates in its victims. Sean, Kunle, and Carlos are perfectly normal college students who just want to go out partying, with a goal to hit seven frat parties in one night. Unfortunately, their night goes off the rails when they find an unconscious (and underaged) white woman in Carlos' house. Now, the smart thing to do would be to call the police but unfortunately, as men of color, the three friends are more than a little worried about how the whole incident would be perceived by the cops. And so begins a crazy adventure with an escalating series of painful incidents. It's a biting piece of satire with great performances and a very, very relevant story in our times. — Remus Noronha
A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
Director: John Krasinski | Run Time: 97 minutes | Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Horror Thriller
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou
2018's A Quiet Place is regarded as one of the most unique horror films of the last decade so you can imagine how impressive it is when we say that the movie's 2021 sequel A Quiet Place II is perhaps even better. The post-apocalyptic movie picks up where the first film left off and expands the world of the franchise in exciting new ways. Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe are back as the Abbott family, with Djimon Hounsou and Cillian Murphy entering the world as exciting new characters. Blunt and Simmonds are brilliant once again as the mother-daughter duo and Murphy's performance shows exactly why he's one of the best actors working in the industry right now. With tense thrills and a better understanding of the franchise's monsters, this is a horror movie sequel that's a truly worthwhile watch.-- Remus Noronha
Troop Zero (2019)
Directors: Bert & Bertie | Run Time: 94 minutes | Genre: Family Comedy Drama
Cast: Viola Davis, Mckenna Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps, Allison Janney
This is a movie for every little girl with a dream. Inspired by the play Christmas and Jubilee Behold The Meteor Shower by Lucy Alibar, the plot follows a misfit girl called Christmas Flint from rural Georgia, where ambitions are big but opportunities small. But Christmas has the spirit of her namesake and she won’t back down from her dream of going to space. When her Birdie Scout troop gets a chance to be recorded by NASA for the Voyager Golden Record, Christmas and her friends get together to fulfill their once-in-a-lifetime chance. Set in 1977, Troop Zero has all the retro ingredients that you want from a movie, plus brilliant performances by the star-studded cast. The movie is funny, colorful, and heartwarming, all at the same time. -- Remus Noronha