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

Prime Action Movies

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

The Mission: Impossible films are everything big-budget cinema should be; fast-paced, well-made and invigorating to watch. After over twenty years in the role of Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise has shown no signs of slowing down.

In addition, Henry Cavill (and his infamous mustache) does a great job of supporting the action with a great performance.

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 by the late great Ennio Morricone, it’s cinematography has undoubtedly inspired generations of filmmakers.

Prime Jarmusch Movies

Paterson (2016)

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.

Movies About Movies

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Don’t Dance With the Devil

The Wailing (2016)

Horror Runs in the Family

Hereditary (2018)

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.

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Steven Spielberg has directed more than a few Sci-Fi classics over the years, but for my money’s worth, I’d say that Close Encounters of the Third Kind is the best of them all (save for Jurassic Park).

Few movies before or since have inspired such a boundless spirit of pursuit for the stars like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Meta-Biopic Movies on Amazon Prime

Honey Boy (2019)

Few American celebrities are as polarizing in the limelight as Shia LaBeouf. At just 14 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.

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 Christopher Nolan’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.”

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.

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Rocketman (2019)

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.

‘How Long Have We Been on this Rock?’

The Lighthouse (2019)

Director Robert Eggers made a name for himself with his 2015 film The Witch. His second feature, The Lighthouse, proved that he wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. Much can be said about Eggers’ decision to shoot the film in a square 19:16 aspect ratio, but what he does put in the frame is often brilliant.

Robert Pattinson and Willem DaFoe star in the film and both give excellent performances. The Lighthouse is a movie that demands repeat viewings and close attention to detail.

Amazon Prime Brings Classics

Charade (1963)

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)

Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense is a documentary feature that showcases the legendary Talking Heads concert of the same name.

The film is filled with frenetic energy from start to finish. Few “concert films” feel as realistic as Demme’s classic Stop Making Sense.

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.

True Stories on Prime

The Report (2019)

Warrior was largely overshadowed by another fighting movie released around the same time, David O. Russell’s The Fighter. Both films are 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.

Amazon Movies Literally

The Lost City of Z (2016)

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.

Best Comedies on Amazon Prime

Logan Lucky (2017)

Critical Darlings on Prime

The Farewell (2018)

Beach Boys on Amazon

Love and Mercy (2015)

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. 

Gus Van Sant Drama

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

Joaquin Phoenix stars in Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot as the late cartoonist John Callahan, who was paralyzed after a car accident at the age of 21. The film was written and directed by Gus Van Sant in 2018.

Jonah Hill, Jack Black, and Rooney Mara all give excellent performances in supporting roles. 

Amazon Movies Get Dark

You Were Never Really Here (2016)

Orson Welles on Amazon Prime

The Stranger (1946)

Coen Brothers on Amazon Prime

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

Megamind (2010)

The Robert Pattinson renaissance is in full swing, evident by his starring roles in films like Good Time, The Lighthouse, and yes, High Life. If you’re expecting High Life to be anything like Pattinson’s early works, you’re in for a rude surprise.

High Life is an intimate sci-fi story with a brilliant plot. Sadly, the film never quite finds its footing. But still, due to some brilliant cinematography and a great performance from Pattinson, High Life is worth checking out.

Gripping Dramas on Amazon

Manchester by the Sea (2017)

It’s no wonder why Casey Affleck won the Oscar for Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea — it’s an engrossing, nuanced, and impactful performance. It's a tragedy that doesn't overstay its welcome or overstep its bounds.

Affleck isn’t the only stellar actor that holds up Manchester by the Sea though. The film is also supported by great performances from Lucas Hedges and Michelle Williams.

B&W Will Never Die

Cold War (2018)

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 leading performances.

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

Mel Gibson’s Mayan-era epic 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.

If you’re looking to journey back into the past, all the way to 16th century Mesoamerica, Apocalypto may be the movie for you.

Familiar, Formulaic, but Fun

Creed II (2018)

Although it isn’t quite as good its 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.

Amazon Prime Originals

The Big Sick (2017)

Classic Movies on Amazon Prime

The African Queen (1952)