Prime Picks: The Crème de la Crème of Amazon Prime Video Movies

In recent years, the streaming landscape has witnessed a fierce rivalry between Netflix and Apple TV+ in vying for the most prestigious film offerings. However, Amazon Prime Video quietly houses some of the best cinematic gems. As one of the early streamers to scout and acquire film festival favorites and other beloved movies, these titles remain accessible in its library, presenting an ideal opportunity for those who may have initially overlooked them.

Below are our curated selections of the top movies available on Amazon Prime. All these films are included in your Prime subscription, eliminating the need for rentals. Once you've satiated your viewing appetite, explore our lists of the best shows on Netflix and the best movies on Disney+ if you're seeking additional entertainment. We also have a guide to the best shows on Amazon for those in the mood for a different streaming experience.

1. Air

Today, Michael Jordan is an undisputed sports legend, and Nike Air Jordans continue to be a paragon of cool sneakers. Nevertheless, the scenario was quite different in 1984. Jordan was a rookie, and Nike was on the verge of shuttering its basketball shoe division. Enter Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a talent scout for the footwear company, who identified a rising star in North Carolina and believed he could turn the situation around. All he needed was to persuade others that Jordan was worth staking the company on. We're all familiar with the outcome, and fortunately, Air transcends a mere two - hour commercial for gym shoes. Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, and director Ben Affleck deliver robust performances. However, Viola Davis, in her portrayal of matriarch Deloris Jordan, steals the show with a magnetic and powerful, albeit somewhat under - utilized, turn. Alex Convery's script focuses on the people and personalities involved rather than the boardroom drama. In an era dominated by franchises and endless blockbusters, Air is a refreshing, character - centric film that is a rarity these days, making it all the more enjoyable.

2. American Fiction

Thelonious "Monk" Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) is a successful literature professor but a struggling author. His books are consistently rejected for not being "Black enough." After witnessing fellow novelist Sintara Golden (Issa Rae) gain acclaim for her pandering, stereotypical work, Monk pens a novel under a pseudonym, filled with every lazy trope and cliché he can conjure, to satirize the situation. To his horror, the novel becomes an instant success. As a substantial advance escalates into a multi - million - dollar movie deal, Monk spirals as everyone, from the public to his own family, seems to embrace the deliberately offensive work. Based on Percival Everett's novel Erasure, American Fiction is a darkly satirical piece with a wicked sense of humor. It's a rare modern comedy with a meaningful message, fronted by one of Wright's finest performances.

3. Heads of State

The cantankerous British prime minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and the action - movie - star - turned - US - President Will Derringer (John Cena) can't stand each other. Teaming up to survive after Air Force One is shot down over the Belarusian wilderness puts a significant strain on the Special Relationship. Fortunately for viewers, it results in one of the most hilarious and expertly choreographed action comedies in recent years. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is outstanding as the hard - nosed senior MI6 agent Noel Bisset, tasked with protecting the feuding world leaders from each other as well as a mounting terrorist threat. However, it's the prickly chemistry between the leads that truly drives the film. Cena is so perfectly obnoxious throughout that one can't help but wonder if Elba might genuinely loathe him. It's a throwback action flick at its best.

4. Deep Cover

When London police detective Billings (Sean Bean) encounters a dead - end in infiltrating criminal organizations, he turns to the only people he can trust: struggling improv actors. This outlandish concept is milked for maximum laughs by Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat, a comedian desperate for her big break, and Orlando Bloom as the unyielding method - acting Marlon. However, it's Ted Lasso's Nick Mohammed who steals every scene as the meek and awkward Hugh, an IT nerd who can't act but "yes, ands …" every increasingly farcical situation the trio finds themselves in. A peculiar blend of slapstick and Guy Ritchie - esque grit, Deep Cover fully commits to its premise.

5. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

The 1984 film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai is one of the wildest movies you've likely never seen. It's almost indescribable. Centered around Peter Weller's Dr. Buckaroo Banzai, a super - genius physicist, skilled neurosurgeon, high - flying test pilot, and beloved rock star, the film follows his battle with the evil Dr. Emilio Lizardo (John Lithgow) over the advanced "oscillation overthruster" that enables travel between dimensions. However, it's far stranger than that. Expect alien invaders, identical twins of long - lost lovers, Orville Welles, and mid - 1980s nuclear war paranoia, and that's just scratching the surface. This high - concept sci - fi flick bombed upon release (despite a phenomenal cast including Jeff Goldblum and Christopher Lloyd) but has since firmly established itself as a cult classic. Even Weller himself struggles to explain the film, but it's undeniably a unique experience.

6. Conclave

Arriving on Prime Video with impeccable timing, this parable about the election of a new pope makes for compelling viewing. When the pope passes away, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) initiates the process of hosting the papal conclave to select his successor. Given that the supreme pontiff holds one of the most powerful positions on Earth, the election is far from a dry Catholic procedure. As the choice narrows to four candidates, and no one is permitted in or out until a new pope is elected, tension escalates while power plays, blackmail, and long - buried secrets roil the Holy See. Based on the novel by Robert Harris and directed by Edward Berger (2022's All Quiet on the Western Front), Conclave is a meticulously researched and exquisitely shot drama, driven by magnetic performances from a cast including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.

7. Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time

Fair warning: As the culmination of 15 years of work by creator and director Hideaki Anno, and a follow - up to his classic 1995 TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, this is hardly an entry point for the notoriously complex mecha franchise. (Thankfully, Prime Video offers the entire movie saga, starting with Evangelion 1.11.) Nevertheless, securing the international rights for this long - awaited film from Japan's Studio Khara was a significant coup for Amazon. Thrice Upon a Time brings to a close the decades - long tale of traumatized teenage robot pilots forced to battle biblically accurate angels and, even worse, the twisted machinations of lead character Shinji's abusive father, Gendo. With bewilderingly beautiful animation, ample emotional heft, and an ending that surprised even long - time fans, this is a textbook example of how to conclude a series with a bang.

8. Challengers

Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name), Challengers delves into the intricate three - way relationship between tennis aces Tashi (Zendaya), Patrick (Josh O'Connor), and Art (Mike Faist). Told non - linearly, it alternates between the trio's disaffected present and their more optimistic, exciting past. It's an energetic and inventively shot sports movie, but the real tension lies in how the promise of Grand Slam glory (and an abundance of raging hormones, typical of a Guadagnino film) in their youth led to choices that reverberate into the present. Tashi has been forced to abandon the court after a horrific injury, her now - husband Art is stuck in a competitive rut, and Patrick hustles low - stakes games to get by, yet none of them have truly moved on.

9. My Old Ass

Aubrey Plaza's unstoppable rise continues in this intelligent, modern take on the coming - of - age dramedy. Written and directed by The Fallout's Megan Park, My Old Ass follows 18 - year - old Elliott (Maisy Stella) who, on the cusp of college and major life changes, celebrates her birthday by taking mushrooms with her friends. Mid - trip, she encounters … Elliott, age 39 (Plaza). However, things get truly trippy when she sobers up. Elliott starts receiving text messages from the future, warning her to avoid a boy named Chad. Equal parts hopeful and melancholic, and with powerful performances from both actors portraying an Elliott, this film beautifully captures the messy, joyful potential of youth and the nagging, wistful "what ifs?" that accompany age. It's a delight regardless of your age.

10. Brittany Runs a Marathon

When Brittany (Jillian Bell) is advised by her doctor to lose weight, she seizes it as an opportunity to take control of her life. She begins by putting on a pair of trainers and challenging herself to run one block, which quickly escalates into a decision to run the New York City Marathon. First - time director Paul Downs Colaizzo based the story on the experiences of his friend, highlighting not only the benefits of running but also the pain. This film demonstrates that no matter how dire the situation gets, one can always get back up.

11. The Idea of You

The best rom - coms often succeed due to their unrealistic elements: the improbable meet - cute, heightened emotions, exaggerated gestures of affection, and the dizzying experience of falling head over heels for someone. The Idea of You perfectly captures this as it charts the relationship between successful gallery owner Solène Marchand (Anne Hathaway) and global music superstar Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), who is also 16 years her junior. It could easily have devolved into cheap scandal fodder, as it is portrayed in - universe when the paparazzi catch wind of Hayes' relationship with the "older woman." However, as the pair embark on a globe - trotting romance, the charismatic leads generate enough genuine chemistry to draw the audience into the whirlwind of their relationship. Ultimately, it's less about "will they, won't they?" and more about "should they, shouldn't they?" thanks to a well - handled awareness of the age gap (already reduced from the source novel by Robinne Lee). For fans of the genre, it's a delight.

12. Saltburn

Oxford student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) struggles to fit in at the prestigious British university until he befriends the popular Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Handsome, rich, and from the landed gentry, Felix welcomes the awkward, socially invisible Oliver into his circle, eventually inviting him to spend the summer at the family estate, Saltburn. However, as Oliver ingratiates himself with the family, his obsession with Felix takes increasingly dark and deranged turns. Oscillating between black comedy and psychological thriller, writer and director Emerald Fennel (Promising Young Woman) frames the film in a 4:3 aspect ratio for a more intimate, almost voyeuristic viewing experience, intensifying its frequently unsettling moments. Since its 2023 release, Saltburn has sparked considerable debate, not least for its questionable handling of themes of class and social inclusion. It was one of the year's most divisive films but demands your attention.

13. The Burial

Courtroom dramas are seldom laugh - riots, but this tale of funeral home director Jeremiah O'Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) and his flamboyant lawyer Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) taking on a major player in America's "death care" system injects a dark sense of humor into an already grim subject. This is no comedy, though. Based on true events, director Maggie Betts' (The Novitiate) latest drama retells a real - life legal case that exposed massive inequality in funeral care and the systematic overcharging of Black communities. Foxx and Jones are in top form throughout, but it's Jurnee Smollett as Mame Downes, Gary's rival attorney who threatens to outshine him at every turn, whose performance threatens to steal the show. For a film about death, The Burial proves to be warmly life - affirming.

14. A Million Miles Away

This biopic, based on José Hernández's own book, charts his life, blending the aspirational with the inspirational as it follows his rise from, in his own words, a migrant farm worker to the first Mexican - American astronaut. Michael Peña delivers a fine performance as Hernández, depicting a man almost single - mindedly driven to reach space, regardless of the cost. Rosa Salazar impresses as his wife Adela, refusing to fade into the background even as she puts her own dreams on hold for José to pursue the stars. In less capable hands, this could have been a cloying tale of hard work and achieving the American Dream, with a touch of NASA promotional material. However, director Alejandra Márquez Abella focuses her lens on both the small beauties of life on Earth and the splendor and potential of space. It's a rare delight.

15. Red, White, and Royal Blue

Admittedly, this is a "best film" by a highly specific metric: "gloriously cheesy trash." Adapted from Casey McQuinston's best - selling novel, this intercontinental rom - com charts the relationship between First Son Alex Claremont - Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine), the "spare" to the British throne, evolving from rivals to grudging respect and ultimately a groundbreaking romance. It's often ludicrous, featuring an inciting incident where the pair falls into a wedding cake, a tabloid - worthy tryst in a hotel room, and political intrigue surrounding Alex's mother, President Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman, hamming it up with a bizarre "Texan" accent). However, it's all irresistibly wholesome and upbeat. Red, White, and Royal Blue is the movie equivalent of pizza - not necessarily good for you, but still delicious.

16. Shin Masked Rider

If you're weary of formulaic Hollywood superhero movies, then this ground - up reboot of one of Japan's most beloved heroes merits your attention. Helmed by Hideaki Anno (Evangelion, Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman - "shin" meaning "new" or "true" in Japanese), it revamps the 1971 TV series Kamen Rider. Like the original show, it follows motorcyclist Takeshi Hongo (Sosuke Ikematsu). Kidnapped by the terrorist organization S.H.O.C.K.E.R. and forcibly transformed into a powerful cyborg, Hongo escapes before being reprogrammed as an agent of the group, instead using his new - found powers to take down its forces. However, unlike the original, Anno's approach delves into the body horror of the core concept while challenging his characters - and the audience - to retain their intrinsic humanity in the face of a world attempting to dehumanize them. It's more violent than expected, often depicting the grisly consequences of regular people being punched by superpowered cyborgs and monsters, but never gratuitously so. While those with some knowledge of the source material will derive more from Shin Masked Rider, it's an exciting offering for anyone seeking something fresher in hero movies.

17. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Fourteen years after his last feature - length escapade, Sacha Baron Cohen's "Kazakh" TV reporter (despite speaking Hebrew) returns to the US. This time, Baron Cohen brings his (Bulgarian - speaking) teenage daughter along, with the mission of "gifting" her to some powerful American politicians - initially Mike Pence, then Rudy Giuliani. In classic Borat style, the mockumentary follows the zany duo on a cross - country journey across Trump's America, filming candid performances by unsuspecting characters ranging from QAnon believers to Republican activists to prim debutantes, all the way to Giuliani himself. Even the coronavirus pandemic, which struck America during filming, is subverted as a comedic plot point. Baron Cohen delivers with the expected repertoire of shock gags and deadpan verbal absurdities, managing to land some blows at the expense of bigots. In contrast to its 2006 predecessor, many of the pranks and stunts here seem more aimed at eliciting nervous laughter from the audience rather than exposing America's inner darkness, but it remains a worthy - and funny - watch.

18. Nanny

Aisha (Anna Diop) is a Senegalese woman working as a nanny for a wealthy couple in New York City, hoping to earn enough to bring her son and cousin to the US. However, her future depends on her employers, who seem content to leave Aisha to raise their daughter, Rose, while often withholding her pay. As the stress of the power imbalance takes its toll, Aisha begins having strange dreams of drowning, exacerbated by her fears of abandoning her own child. The feature debut of director Nikyatu Jusu, Nanny contrasts the horror of the immigrant experience in modern America with something darker, replacing the expected tropes of hope and opportunity with a palpable sadness for the culture and community left behind. Nanny takes a slow - burn, psychological approach to scares, but Diop is outstanding throughout, and the meticulous pacing and gorgeous cinematography ensure that every frame lingers.

19. Coming 2 America

Relying on nostalgia to rejuvenate long - dormant series can be a risky endeavor, but Eddie Murphy's return to the role of Prince - now King - Akeem of Zamunda more than three decades after 1988's Coming to America shows how to do it right. Drawn back to the US in search of a son he never knew he had, Akeem - and the audience - gets to reunite with familiar faces from the first film. Director Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow) then reverses the formula, testing the American characters with a trip to Zamunda. With a sharper, smarter, and more globally aware script than the original, Coming 2 America defies the odds to