The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (December 2020)

Prime Jarmusch Movies

Paterson (2016)

Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch

Starring Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Barry Shabaka Henley, and Cliff Smith

Jim Jarmusch directs this off-beat drama about a man named Paterson who drives a bus in a town called Paterson. Few movies in recent memory recreate small-town America with as intricate of detail as Paterson does.

Paterson is a captivating film about society, poetry and the human spirit – and it’s a film that came across at the right time.

Amazon Prime Brings Classics

Charade (1963)

Written by Park Joo-suk, Directed by Yeon Sang-ho

Starring Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Jung Yu-mi, and Kim Su-an

Zombie movies have become a largely tired sub-genre due to a lack of innovation and a heavy reliance on cliches. But in 2016, Yeon Sang-ho breathed new life into the sub-genre with Train to Busan – one of the best zombie movies of the 21st century.

If you’re looking for a visceral action film that will also make your skin crawl, Train to Busan is a perfect fit.

Concert Classic on Prime

Stop Making Sense (1984)

Don’t Dance With the Devil

The Wailing (2016)

Directed by Na Hong-jin

Starring Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee

Na Hong-jin directs the film, which follows the events of a small village ravaged by a mysterious infection that causes people to kill their families.

The Wailing received a lot of critical acclaim when it came out in 2016 – and for good reason, the film is tense, thrilling, and tough to watch. Few horror films in recent years have stuck with me quite like The Wailing.

Movies About Movies

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Written by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr., Directed by Billy Wilder

Starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, and Lloyd Gough

“I’m ready for my close-up.” Billy Wilder’s timeless classic Sunset Boulevard is a moving story of life on and off the titular Sunset strip.

Gloria Swanson gives an all-time great performance in the picture as Norma Desmond, a relic star of the Silent era of Hollywood. All in all, Sunset Boulevard is a brilliant examination of celebrity obsession and the fading fanfare of the limelight.

Prime Action Movies

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

Written and Directed by Jia Zhangke

Starring Zhao Tao and Liao Fan

Ash is Purest White is a remarkably “modern” gangster movie from the mind of Jia Zhangke. Both Zhao Tao and Liao Fan give excellent performances in the roles of two combative lovers.

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of Ash is Purest White is its breathtaking cinematography, composed by Eric Gautier. Be warned though: Ash is Purest White may leave you speechless after the credits roll.

‘How Long Have We Been on this Rock?’

The Lighthouse (2019)

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Rocketman (2019)

Written by Lee Hall, Directed by Dexter Fletcher

Starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard

Taron Egerton gives a knockout performance portraying Elton John in Rocketman – a film that explores the highs and lows of Sir Elton’s tenure in the limelight.

The production design in Rocketman is incredible. Elton John is well known for his colorful costumes on and off the stage. The wardrobing department for the film did a great job of recreating some of his most iconic outfits.

Part biopic, part musical, but undoubtedly all Elton – Rocketman certainly shoots for the stars.

Best Comedies on Amazon Prime

Logan Lucky (2017)

Written by Rebecca Blunt, Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Riley Keough, Katie Holmes, and Daniel Craig

Logan Lucky is director Steven Soderbergh’s best film since his 2001 masterpiece Ocean’s Eleven. It makes sense why the film works so well – many of the themes of the Ocean’s franchise are expanded upon here in a new setting.

Aside from a strange last scene, Logan Lucky is a thrilling ride of robbery at the race-track.

Written by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Laudner, Based on The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starring Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Paul Lukas, and Dame May Whitty

The Lady Vanishes is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most underrated films. Over the years, it’s mostly been overshadowed by his more famous films, but those looking for a classic hidden gem will likely find a lot to love.

Margaret Lockwood stars in the film as a young woman who gets caught in the crossfire of international espionage. Looking back, it’s amazing how prescient the subject matter of the film was.

Written by Gavin O’Connor, Anthony Tambakis, and Cliff Dorfman

Starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, and Nick Nolte

Warrior was largely overshadowed by another fighting movie released around the same time – David O. Russell’s The Fighter. Both films were great, but the latter definitely stole a lot of the former’s thunder.

Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton star across one another in Warrior as two brothers competing at a mixed martial arts tournament and Nick Nolte received considerable praise for his performance in the role of the two fighter’s alcoholic father.

Written and Directed by Rian Johnson

Starring Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, and Toni Collette

No doubt one of the best movies of 2019, Knives Out proved that writer/director Rian Johnson may be better suited to make films outside of the Star Wars universe. Johnson does his best Agatha Christie impression with Knives Out, swapping out the famous fictional detective Hercule Poirot for Benoit Blanc.

Knives Out features a rock-star ensemble cast and a sharp script. A spiritual successor to Knives Out has officially been revealed, and Craig is slated to return in the starring role.

Meta-Biopic Movies on Amazon Prime

Honey Boy (2019)

Written by Shia LaBeouf, Directed by Alma Har’el

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe, and FKA Twigs

Few American celebrities have had as polarizing of a time in the limelight as Shia LaBeouf. At just fourteen years old, LaBeouf accrued national fame for starring in the Disney Channel original series Even Stevens. In the near two decades since, LaBeouf has starred in blockbuster hits like Transformers, but has also struggled mightily with alcohol abuse and arrests.

One such arrest led to court-ordered rehab, where LaBeouf wrote the autobiographical script for Honey Boy; an unflinchingly intimate story of familial turmoil, love and the effect of stardom.

Written by Richard Linklater and Darryl Ponicsan, Based on Last Flag Flying by Darryl Ponicsan, Directed by Richard Linklater

Starring Steve Carrell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne

Is there any filmmaker in the world who’s slept on more than Richard Linklater? It’s not hyperbole to say that he’s made four or five of the best films of the past 30 years.

But even after all his success, Linklater’s name is rarely mentioned in the same breath of Tarantino, Nolan, or Paul Thomas Anderson. Last Flag Flying is one of Linklater’s most recent features and stars Steve Carrell, Laurence Fishburne, and Bryan Cranston as three marines united due to tragedy.

Written by Sergio Donati and Sergio Leone, Directed by Sergio Leone

Starring Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale, and Jason Robards

There aren’t many movies that have had more of an impact on today’s filmmakers than Sergio Leone’s spaghetti western classic Once Upon a Time in the West.

Although Once Upon a Time in the West is perhaps most well-known today for its musical score composed by the late great Ennio Morricone, it’s cinematography has undoubtedly inspired generations of filmmakers.

Amazon Prime Movies

The Farewell (2018)

Written and Directed by Lulu Wang

Starring Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, and Zhao Shu-zhen

The Farewell is largely based on a true story from the life of writer/director Lulu Wang, in which her family hides their grandmother’s medical illness from her.

Awkwafina is terrific starring in the film as Billi, a character who serves as a conduit for Wang’s experiences. 

Familiar, Formulaic, but Fun

Creed II (2018)

Written by Juel Taylor and Sylvester Stallone, Directed by Steven Caple Jr.

Starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, and Tessa Thompson

Although it wasn’t quite as good the 2015 franchise reboot Creed, Creed II is sure to scratch that “Rocky” itch for fans of the series. Michael B. Jordan does a good job in the lead role of Adonis Creed, the son of series favorite Apollo Creed.

Forty-two years after the release of the original Rocky, Sylvester Stallone returned to co-write the screenplay and act in Creed II.

Horror Runs in the Family

Hereditary (2018)

Written and Directed by Ari Aster

Starring Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd, and Gabriel Byrne

Ari Aster’s directorial debut Hereditary marked the debut of an exciting new voice in American cinema. The film is not perfect; in many ways, it’s far from it. But if you’re willing to suspend disbelief and roll with the genre tropes, you’ll find a good amount to like in Hereditary.

Hereditary quickly became A24’s highest grossing film upon release and has garnered a cult-following with horror fans.

Written by Joe Talbot and Rob Richert, Directed by Joe Talbot

Starring Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Tichina Arnold, Rob Morgan, and Danny Glover

The Last Black Man in San Francisco was a product of a successful crowdfunding campaign, started by director Joe Talbot and writer/actor Jimmie Fails. In 2017, Plan B Entertainment bought into the hype and further funded the project.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco received rave reviews from critics upon release for its timely story and great performances.

Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, and Tom Hardy

Christopher Nolan’s Inception is a mentally stimulating movie about the journey into the subconscious. It’s been ten years since the release of Inception, and we’re still talking about its unforgettable ending to this day. If you want to read more about the film’s iconic cliffhanger, check out our article on the Inception ending explained.

Christopher Nolan is famous for making movies that play with our brains, but Inception gave new meaning to the term “cerebral cinema.”

Gripping Dramas on Amazon

Manchester by the Sea (2017)

Written by Mel Gibson and Farhad Safinia, Directed by Mel Gibson

Starring Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Sérbulo, and Dalia Hernández

Mel Gibson’s Mayan-era epic Apocalypto has benefitted from some great critical analysis in the fourteen years since release. Many historians and anthropologists have cited the film as one of the most accurate depictions of Mayan culture in cinema history.

Apocalypto is a visceral adventure film that’s told entirely in the Yucatec Maya Language.

Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

Love and Mercy (2015)

Written by Michael Alan Lerner and Oren Moverman, Directed by Bill Pohlad

Starring Paul Dano, John Cusack, Elizabeth Banks, and Paul Giamatti

Love and Mercy is a nuanced portrait of the life of Beach Boys’ mastermind Brian Wilson. Paul Dano and John Cusack portray Wilson in the film in a dual-role; and both actors do an excellent job.

Many people know The Beach Boys as the symbol for 1960’s surf-rock, but few know what was going on behind the scenes during the group’s meteoric rise. Love and Mercy shows the making-of and the fallout of one of the greatest albums ever made: Pet Sounds.

Written and Directed by Joss Whedon, Based on The Avengers by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johannson, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Hiddleston

Avengers assemble: your favorite Marvel superheroes are now available to view on Prime. At the time of its release, The Avengers was the biggest movie in the world. This was before Star Wars came back, and long before “the greatest superhero team-up film” Avengers: Infinity War was released.

The Avengers screenplay laid the groundwork for bringing together the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it will forever be regarded as one of the most important commercial films ever made.

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

Megamind (2010)

Written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish, Based on The Adventures of Tintin and The Secret of the Unicorn by Hergé, Directed by Steven Spielberg

Starring Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, and Daniel Craig

The Adventures of Tintin marked a massive collaboration between some of modern cinema’s brightest minds, including Steven Spielberg (director), Peter Jackson (producer), Steven Moffat (writer), Edgar Wright (writer), and Joe Cornish (writer).

Despite all of the talent associated with it, The Adventures of Tintin never quite came together perfectly. That’s not to say it was bad by any means, it just didn’t live up to the lofty expectations.

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

Cold War (2018)

Written by Paweł Pawlikowski, Janusz Głowacki, and Piotr Borkowski, Directed by Paweł Pawlikowski

Starring Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot, Borys Szyc, Agata Kulesza, Cédric Kahn, and Jeanne Balibar

Paweł Pawlikowski's post World-War II epic Cold War is a stunning picture about two lovers entangled in a changing society. Both Joanna Kulig and Tomasz Kot deliver excellent performances in the leading roles.

Cold War uses black and white cinematography to immersive effect, which creates a strong tone and visual style.

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

The Report (2019)

Best Free Movies on Amazon Prime

The Stranger (1946)

Written by Anthony Veiller and Decla Dunning, Uncredited Writing From John Huston and Orson Welles, Based on a Story by Victor Trivas

Starring Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson, and Loretta Young

The Stranger was one of Orson Welles’ last works before he was exiled from Hollywood and moved to Europe. As with most Orson Welles pictures, his fingerprints are over the production; he served as director, lead actor and co-writer of The Stranger.

There aren’t many movies of the World-War II era that stand up to the test of time as well as The Stranger. The Stranger is one of Welles’ best films and was one of his only majorly successful films at the box office.

Amazon Movies Get Dark

You Were Never Really Here (2016)

Amazon Prime Originals

The Big Sick (2017)

Amazon Movies Literally

The Lost City of Z (2016)

Written and Directed by James Gray, Based on The Lost City of Z by David Grann

Starring Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, and Tom Holland

The Lost City of Z is a greatly enjoyable film for anyone who loves a good adventure. Charlie Hunnam stars in the picture as British explorer Percy Fawcett, a determined spirit who sacrifices nearly anything at the cost of finding the famed lost city of Z.

In many ways, Indiana Jones is the fictional successor to the true story of The Lost City of Z.

Coen Brothers on Amazon Prime

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, Bryce Dallas Howard, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Brendan Gleeson

M. Night Shyamalan is a filmmaker whose works, perhaps unfairly, have come to be expected to always have a major twist. We’ve seen twists used effectively in some of his movies, like The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, and not so effectively, like in The Happening – but perhaps no other of his features hinge so sharply on its twist than The Village.

The Village features a “love it or hate it” twist that has been making audiences either applaud or roll their eyes for more than 15 years.

Written by John Michael Hayes, Based on To Catch a Thief by David Dodge, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starring Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams, Charles Vanel, and Brigitte Auber

To Catch a Thief makes great use of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly’s natural chemistry. The film follows the pair as they engage in a metaphorical game of cat and mouse across the French Riviera.

If you’re looking for one of Alfred Hitchcock’s darker works, To Catch a Thief isn’t it. This is a mostly breezy rom-com with elements of thriller mixed in.

Classic Movies on Amazon Prime

The African Queen (1952)

Written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson, Directed by Wes Anderson

Starring Danny Glover, Anjelica Huston, Gene Hackman, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Luke Wilson

Wes Anderson has directed some great movies over the years, but many consider his 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums his greatest work to date. Tenenbaums follows the story of an upper-class family and three child prodigies who grow up to become characteristic versions of themselves.

The Royal Tenenbaums is just as colorful as you might expect, but lurking behind the color is a fraught subtlety that’s rarely explored in his pictures.

Gus Van Sant Drama

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018)