The best movies on Amazon Prime Video (November 2024)
The best movies on Amazon Prime Video include You're Cordially Invited, The Calendar Killer, Blink Twice, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and more.
Amazon Prime, in its infinite wisdom, has yet to release its list of everything coming to Prime Video in February. Thatâs a problem because we canât identify whatâs new on Prime Video based only on the home page. So until the service gets back on schedule, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video may be tricky to find.
In the meantime, Prime Video has two movies climbing the film chart: a rom-com, Youâre Cordially Invited, and the German thriller, The Calendar Killer. You can catch these flicks and the rest of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video below. We update this list every Friday so you can get ready for the weekend with your top viewing options.
Need more recommendations? Weâve also put together guides to the best shows on Prime Video, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Netflix, the best new movies to stream, and the best movies on Disney+.
Recently added to Amazon Prime Video
You're Cordially Invited
r 2025
The Calendar Killer
2025
Blink Twice
r 2024
In the Land of Saints and Sinners
r 2023
Jurassic World
pg-13 2015
Unforgiven
r 1992
You're Cordially Invited (2025)
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Geraldine Viswanathan
Directed by
Nicholas Stoller
Watch on Amazon
Youâre Cordially Invited is a throwback rom-com involving Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, and an alligator⊠but youâll have to see the movie to learn how that last factor into the story. Ferrell plays Jim, the single father of Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan), a young woman who is about to get married in an exclusive venue. Or at least she would have, if Margot (Witherspoon) hadnât already booked a wedding for her younger sister, Neve (Meredith Hagner).
Margot tries to play peacemaker so that both weddings can go on as scheduled, but some hard feelings from Jim get in the way of everyoneâs happily ever after. Regardless, thereâs definitely a spark between Jim and Margot that might bring these two families closer than they expected.
The Calendar Killer (2025)
Genre
Crime, Thriller
Stars
Luise Heyer, Sabin Tambrea, Friedrich MĂŒcke
Directed by
Adolfo J. Kolmerer
Watch on Amazon
Today is the day that Klara (Luise Heyer) will die, thanks to the title character of The Calendar Killer. The serial killer has warned Klara that her number is up unless she murders her husband, Martin (Friedrich MĂŒcke). Perhaps the Calendar Killer believed Klara would be more open to the idea of killing Martin because heâs abusive to her, but sheâs not like him.
Klaraâs only lifeline is Jules (Sabin Tambrea), a volunteer at a crisis line for women needing help. Jules knows he may be Klaraâs best chance to live through the night, but the Calendar Killerâs deadline is rapidly approaching.
Blink Twice (2024)
Genre
Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat
Directed by
Zoë Kravitz
Watch on Amazon
Although she doesnât have an on-screen role in Blink Twice, Zoe Kravitz made her directorial debut with this movie. Naomi Ackie headlines the cast as Frida, a young woman who scores an exclusive invitation from billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) to visit his private island alongside her best friend, Jess (Alia Shawkat).
Frida and Jess are lavished with gifts and attention alongside the other female guests on the island. However, Frida notices that sheâs experiencing gaps in her memories. When Jess goes missing, Frida is the only one left who remembers her friend. Thereâs something sinister going on, and this may not be Fridaâs first time on Slaterâs private island.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners (2023)
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, CiarĂĄn Hinds
Directed by
Robert Lorenz
Watch on Amazon
Liam Neesonâs action thrillers are kind of a dime a dozen, but In the Land of Saints and Sinners is one of his best. Neeson plays Finbar Murphy, a World War II veteran living in Ireland during âthe Troublesâ in the â70s. To support himself, Finbar has started working for a crime boss, Robert McQue (Colm Meaney), as an assassin.
Finbar also befriends a younger contract killer named Kevin (Game of Thronesâ Jack Gleeson), but one of their mutual targets is the brother of Doireann McCann (Kerry Condon), a formidable woman who wonât back down from her revenge. Doireann is determined to avenge her brother, no matter who she has to kill to do it.
Jurassic World (2015)
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan
Directed by
Colin Trevorrow
Watch on Amazon
Jurassic World revived the Jurassic Park franchise with a simple idea: What if the dinosaur theme park was actually opened? The park in question is called Jurassic World, and itâs every bit as successful as the late John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) believed it would be.
However, the owners of Jurassic World just arenât satisfied with the ordinary dinosaurs. So they genetically engineered a more fearsome dino, the Indominus rex. When the creature inevitably gets loose, it causes havoc in the park and jeopardizes everyone there. Only Velociraptor expert Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Jurassic World operations manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) can put a stop to the Indominus rexâs rampage⊠if they can stay alive.
Unforgiven (1992)
Genre
Western
Stars
Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman
Directed by
Clint Eastwood
Watch on Amazon
Clint Eastwood made his name in Westerns, so itâs only fitting that the film that earned him an Oscar for Best Director was also a Western. Unforgiven is Eastwoodâs masterpiece as a filmmaker, and he cast himself in the lead as former outlaw William Munny. As a pig farmer, Munny isnât very successful at supporting his children. Thatâs why he reluctantly accepts a bounty alongside his friend, Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman), and a rookie bounty hunter who calls himself The Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett).
The target of this bounty is Quick Mike (David Mucci), a small man who scarred the face of a prostitute, Delilah Fitzgerald (Anna Thomson), when she laughed at him. Sheriff âLittleâ Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman) wouldnât let Delilah get her justice, and heâs more than willing to violently repel Munny or any other bounty hunter who is foolish enough to accept the assignment.
Focus (2015)
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro
Directed by
John Requa, Glenn Ficarra
Watch on Amazon
Focus is admittedly a movie thatâs reliant on the charms of its two stars. But we should all hope to be as charming as Will Smith and Margot Robbie are here. Smith plays Nicky Spurgeon, a con artist who is so impressed by Jess Barrett (Robbie) that he takes her under his wing and starts teaching her everything he knows.
Nicky is also falling hard for Jess and breaking his own personal rules while doing so. That leads to a messy breakup, but itâs far from the end of the story. When Nicky encounters Jess years later, she may be the only one standing in the way of landing the score of a lifetime. And heâs not sure which way sheâs going to fall.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Genre
Drama
Stars
Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore
Directed by
Paul Thomas Anderson
Watch on Amazon
Paul Thomas Anderson has made some great films in his career, but Boogie Nights may be the best movie of his career. Mark Wahlberg stars as Eddie Adams, a man who doesnât have any prospects until he comes under the guidance of porn producer Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds).
With Jackâs help, Eddie reinvents himself as porn superstar Dirk Diggler, one of the most successful adult actors of his era. Along with his friend and co-star, Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), Dirk thinks heâs going to rule the porn scene for the rest of the 1970s and 1980s. But even Dirk Diggler can only take so many drugs before the toll on his body canât be overcome. He wants to be a star, and his ambitions go beyond porn, but Dirk canât see that heâs heading for an epic fall.
The Fall Guy (2024)
Genre
Action, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Directed by
David Leitch
Watch on Amazon
Stunt man Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is burned out on Hollywood in The Fall Guy. Itâs hard to blame him after witnessing the injuries he suffers early in this movie. Unfortunately, Colt ruined his relationship with Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt) while he was torching his bridges to the entertainment industry. Nearly two years later, Colt reenters Jodyâs life when sheâs gotten the chance to direct her own movie.
Jody isnât exactly happy to see her ex again, but she needs her help. Her star, Tom Ryder (Kraven the Hunterâs Aaron Taylor-Johnson), has gone missing, and this is more than just an actor on an extended bender. Without Tom, there is no movie to be made, and Jodyâs career will be over before it starts. Thus, Colt is drawn into a bigger mystery as he tries to locate Tom and make amends with Jody.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff
Directed by
Michael Sarnoski
Watch on Amazon
Typically, alien invasion movies involve humanity putting up a fight. But in A Quiet Place: Day One, the battle is over before it even begins, as humans canât withstand an attack by sightless alien hunters. Sam (Lupita Nyongâo) witnessed the carnage herself while on a day out with her cat in the city.
Sam quickly realizes that her survival hinges on her ability to be quiet. Another survivor, Eric (The Fantastic Four: First Stepsâ Joseph Quinn), might be the last friend she ever makes. Sam and Eric must stick together if they want to escape New York City and evade the hunters now roaming the Earth.
Dark City (1998)
Genre
Mystery, Science Fiction
Stars
Rufus Sewell, William Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland
Directed by
Alex Proyas
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You may get Matrix dĂ©jĂ vu Dark City, even though it came out a year before the Keanu Reeves classic. John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up and knows something is wrong with the world. He just canât put his finger on it. John has been framed for murder by enigmatic strangers who can rewrite reality at their whim.
As John tries to reunite with his wife, Emma Murdoch (Jennifer Connelly), Inspector Frank Bumstead (William Hurt) pursues him as a possible serial killer. However, Frank isnât blind to things in his world that donât make sense. John may be Frankâs only real lead to figuring out whatâs happening to the people of the city.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Genre
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey
Directed by
Curtis Hanson
Watch on Amazon
The late Curtis Hanson redefined modern noir films with L.A. Confidential, his adaptation of James Ellroyâs novel of the same name. Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe both had breakout performances in this crime movie as Detective Lieutenant Ed Exley and Detective Bud White, respectively. As viewers quickly learn in the film, thereâs some bad blood between Exley and White, which is why theyâre anything but friends.
In the aftermath of the Nite Owl massacre in 1953, Exley, White, and Detective Sergeant Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) separately investigate different aspects of a vast criminal conspiracy. None of the detectives can get a full picture of whatâs happening without working together, but itâs going to take a lot to break the ice between White and Exley. Plus, the real criminals are closer than any of the suspects.
The Creator (2023)
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan
Directed by
Gareth Edwards
Watch on Amazon
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards broke his long hiatus between films to return to cinemas with The Creator. In this vision of the future, the world is divided over A.I. beings, which are embraced by the East and despised by Western nations. Sergeant Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) has lost a lot to this conflict, including family members, body parts, and his wife, Maya (Gemma Chan).
Taylor is drawn back into the war when he learns Nirmata, the inventor behind A.I.âs greatest achievements, has created a weapon that could lead to a decisive victory for the machines. Instead of a weapon, Taylor discovers that it resembles a young child, Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), which forces him to make a decision that will affect humanityâs entire future on Earth.
The Bikeriders (2024)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy
Directed by
Jeff Nichols
Watch on Amazon
The Bikeriders is loosely based upon the experiences of author Danny Lyon, a character portrayed by Mike Faist in this adaptation. But the film is largely reworked into an original story that focuses on three characters: Kathy (Jodie Comer), her lover, Benny (Austin Butler), and the leader of the Vandals Motorcycle Club, Johnny (Tom Hardy).
Johnny had high-minded ideals when he founded the club in the 1960s. Over the course of the next decade, Johnny and his friends are almost unrecognizable in what theyâre willing to do for the club. Despite Bennyâs love for Kathy, he keeps getting drawn back into Johnnyâs vision for the club, even when it may destroy him.
Red One (2024)
Genre
Comedy, Action, Fantasy
Stars
Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons
Directed by
Jake Kasdan
Watch on Amazon
Despite its inclusion on this list, Red One is not one of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video. Itâs a terrible movie, but itâs one of those films where you have to see it to appreciate just how bad it really is. Itâs the kind of flick people might throw candy canes at if it had regular midnight showings. Weirdly, it could be fun to watch it.
Dwayne âThe Rockâ Johnson continues his downward career trend as Callum Drift, the head of security for none other than Santa Claus (J. K. Simmons). When Santa gets kidnapped, Callum and his boss, Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu), forcibly recruit bounty hunter Jack OâMalley (Chris Evans) to help them find Saint Nick and save Christmas.
Knives Out (2019)
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Stars
Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas
Directed by
Rian Johnson
Watch on Amazon
Daniel Craig sheds his James Bond persona like a separate skin in Knives Out. Craig steps into the role of Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc, a man whose accent is just shy of Foghorn Leghorn territory. However, the voice somehow works for this comedic murder mystery. Ana de Armas has a standout turn as Marta Cabrera, the loyal housekeeper of a wealthy author, Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer).
After Harlan dies, his spoiled extended family is stunned to discover that his entire fortune has been left to Marta. The family does not know that Harlan was murdered. Plus, Marta is horrified to discover that the evidence points back to her just as Blanc begins his investigation.
Abigail (2024)
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir
Directed by
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Watch on Amazon
Screamâs Melissa Barrera reunites with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett for Abigail, a film that is very much unlike her previous genre movies. Barrera plays Joey, a military veteran who has hit hard times. Thatâs why she agreed to work with Frank (Dan Stevens) and a group of other criminals to kidnap a young girl named Abigail (Alisha Weir).
Joey tries to form a connection with Abigail to assure the young girl that she will remain safe before learning that the latter is the daughter of a dangerous crime lord, Kristof Lazaar (Matthew Goode). However, the greatest threat to the kidnappers is Abigail herself, because sheâs more than she appears to be. When Abigail strikes, itâs lethal.
My Old Ass (2024)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White
Directed by
Megan Park
Watch on Amazon
Singer Maisy Stella makes her feature film debut in My Old Ass as Elliott, opposite Agatha All Alongâs Aubrey Plaza as Elliott. Confused yet? So is the younger Elliott! Somehow â and it may be due to some hallucinogenic mushrooms â the older Elliot has come back from the future to give her younger self a warning. And the warning is simply to stay away from a guy named Chad.
When young Elliott meets Chad (Percy Hynes White) shortly thereafter, she realizes that her encounter with her older self may have been real. She canât understand why old Elliot tried to warn her away, because Chad awakens a side of Elliott that sheâs never felt before. Even running away from Chad doesnât seem to diminish his interest in her or her growing feelings for him.
Canary Black (2024)
Genre
Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars
Kate Beckinsale, Rupert Friend, Saffron Burrows
Directed by
Pierre Morel
Watch on Amazon
You can tell that Canary Black has been on the shelf for a while since it has the late Ray Stevenson in one of his final roles. But itâs also a showcase for Kate Beckinsale to get back into her action heroine mode, which sheâs been doing for about two decades now. Beckinsale plays Avery Graves, a CIA operative who has kept her husband, David Brooks (Rupert Friend), in the dark about who she really is and what her job entails.
When terrorists kidnap David, they blackmail Avery into retrieving a file called Canary Black that could lead to an attack on her country. Stevenson plays Averyâs mentor and boss, Jarvis Hedlund, and even heâs not sure he can trust her when she goes rogue. But if Avery canât find a way out from under the terroristsâ control, she may lose everything she holds dear.
Monkey Man (2024)
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Dev Patel, Sikandar Kher, Pitobash
Directed by
Dev Patel
Watch on Amazon
Dev Patel made his directorial debut with Monkey Man, a film in which he also stars as the main character. And despite the title, Patelâs character doesnât actually transform into a monkey or even go by that name. The audience only knows him as Kid, a man who will do anything to get his revenge on Rana Singh (Sikandar Kher), the corrupt police chief who murdered his mother.
Kid does wear a monkey mask when heâs in the ring for an underground fighting circuit. However, his real disguise is pretending to be an ordinary waiter at a high-end brothel so he can rise through the ranks and get close enough to assassinate Rana no matter what his vengeance costs him.
Terrifier 2 (2022)
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fullam
Directed by
Damien Leone
Watch on Amazon
Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is back for another round of terror in Terrifier 2. Some evil entity has resurrected Art yet again, and he goes on another rampage. A teenager named Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) is haunted by dreams of Art and sheâs convinced that her late father knew how to stop the clown once and for all.
Art must sense the same thing, since he kidnaps Siennaâs brother, Jonathan (Elliott Fullam), and terrorizes their family. Now, Sienna has to save her brother, but first, she must live through her encounter with Art.
IF (2024)
Genre
Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski
Directed by
John Krasinski
Watch on Amazon
For his first directorial effort after helming the initial Quiet Place films, John Krasinski went in a completely different direction with the more family-friendly IF. That title is also the abbreviation for Imaginary Friends, all of whom are creatures that defy realityâs conventions. A young girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) doesnât initially know what to think when she encounters IFs like Blue (Steve Carell) and Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge).
Fortunately, Beaâs neighbor, Cal (Ryan Reynolds), can see IFs. Itâs his job to help them find new children to befriend after their previous kids were separated from them. Bea gets roped into helping Cal, but her solution to the IF problem is even more bold than his. Yet, itâs still going to take a lot of work to pull off, imaginary or not.
Challengers (2024)
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor
Directed by
Luca Guadagnino
Watch on Amazon
You may have to pay close attention to Challengers, because the story doesnât take place in chronological order. Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a rising tennis star romantically drawn to two other players on the pro tour: Patrick Zweig (Josh OâConnor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist).
Both young men want Tashi for themselves, but only one of them is willing to play dirty to get her. Even when one of them wins Tashiâs heart, it doesnât end the romantic entanglement between this trio as their lives unfold and intersect over several years. Ultimately, the battle between these two men is going to come back to the place where it all began: on the tennis court.
Colette (2018)
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Denise Gough
Directed by
Wash Westmoreland
Watch on Amazon
Keira Knightley adds another daring performance to her credits in the title role of Collette, a biopic about the famous French author Gabrielle Colette. In the late 19th century, Collette marries Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West), who encourages her to write. And by âencourages,â we mean that he steals credit for her work and literally imprisons her to make her write another hit.
Collette turns out to be a natural writer, but rebuilding her life and reputation proves to be difficult after Henry takes everything that she created. However, the real story of the film isnât about Colletteâs fall; itâs about her rise and her ability to reinvent herself.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Family
Stars
Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Harvey Guillén
Directed by
Joel Crawford
Watch on Amazon
In the long wait between Shrek movies, Antonio Banderasâ Puss in Boots has been keeping the franchise alive. But in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, time is almost up for the title character. Puss relies on his nine lives to survive the epic adventures. And now that Puss is on his very last life, heâs truly scared about his potential fate â so much so that he abandons his identity and tries to live as a normal cat.
However, Puss learns that there may be a way to restore his lost lives if he can find a magical wishing star. Puss isnât the only one looking for the star, nor the only one who desperately needs what it can offer him. This quest reunites Puss with his ex-fiancĂ©e, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault), and forces him to reevaluate what he really wants.
Snack Shack (2024)
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Conor Sherry, Gabriel LaBelle, Mika Abdalla
Directed by
Adam Rehmeier
Watch on Amazon
Snack Shack is a coming-of-age comedy set in 1991. A.J. Carter (Conor Sherry) and his friend, Moose Miller (Gabriel LaBelle), are 14-year-olds whose schemes to get money almost always backfire on them. At least until they hit upon the idea of running the local Snack Shack for the summer.
Their bond of friendship is tested when A.J. meets Brooke, his attractive new neighbor. Because Moose makes the first move on Brooke, this creates tension between him and A.J., who isnât willing to simply back off. As Brooke begins to reciprocate A.J.âs feelings, his friendship and lucrative partnership with Moose may come crashing down.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Genre
Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama, Horror
Stars
John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.
Directed by
Dan Trachtenberg
Watch on Amazon
The first Cloverfield movie was anything but subtle, and its found-footage format may have given some viewers vertigo. Thereâs none of that in 10 Cloverfield Lane, a largely standalone sequel that works as both a thriller and a sci-fi story. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Michelle, a woman who finds herself locked in an underground bunker by Howard Stambler (John Goodman).
Howard claims that he saved Michelleâs life after the outside world was poisoned in a sudden attack. Emmett DeWitt (John Gallagher Jr.), the only other person in the bunker, backs up Howardâs account. Michelle doesnât trust either man, and she needs to see for herself. But she may not like what she finds waiting for her outside âŠ
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
Genre
Comedy, Horror, Romance
Stars
Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano
Directed by
Zelda Williams
Watch on Amazon
What kind of a world are we living in when a young woman canât resurrect her ideal man without being compared to one of the most famous mad scientists in literary history? The title character of Lisa Frankenstein isnât even a real Frankenstein! That said, Lisa (Kathryn Newton) does show an amoral side of her personality after she accidentally resurrects the Creature (Cole Sprouse). Sheâs been looking for love in all the dead places, and now that sheâs found it, Lisa isnât going to let him go.
After being dead for over a century, the Creature is missing a few parts. And Lisa is more than willing to kill a few people to get what her newfound lover needs to be a complete man again. She just canât outrun the consequences of her murderous actions for long.
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
Genre
Music, History, Drama
Stars
Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton
Directed by
Reinaldo Marcus Green
Watch on Amazon
Bob Marley: One Love is a music biopic that takes place late in the life of reggae superstar Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir). After Bob and his wife, Rita Marley (The Marvels actress Lashana Lynch), narrowly survive an assassination attempt in his native Jamaica, it sends him into a creative tailspin that threatens to derail his dreams.
Before Bob can resume his message of peace, he has to face his own inner demons and work out his issues with Rita. Bob Marley didnât have a lot of time in this world, but the film shows that he made the most of what he had and left a lasting legacy of music behind.
The Beekeeper (2024)
Genre
Action, Crime, Thriller
Stars
Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi
Directed by
David Ayer
Watch on Amazon
If youâre looking for a movie with Oscar buzz, The Beekeeper isnât one of those films. But it is a Jason Statham action flick that lives up to everything you may expect to see from it. Statham plays Adam Clay, a former member of a secretive organization called the Beekeepers and an actual beekeeper.
Adam is content in his retirement until his friend and landlady, Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad), is taken for everything she has by scammers. Eloise commits suicide rather than live with the shame of having allowed her charity foundation to be robbed of millions. Adam vows revenge, and his bloody path of retribution puts him on opposite sides of the CIA and his former colleagues in the Beekeepers.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon
Directed by
Christopher Nolan
Watch on Amazon
The best movie of 2023 is now the best movie on Prime Video. Director and screenwriter Christopher Nolan will have a hard time topping the flick that finally won two Oscars for him. Because Oppenheimer not only lived up to the hype, itâs the kind of film that will likely endure for decades to come.
Cillian Murphy gives an Oscar-winning performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who was instrumental in putting together the team that built the atomic bomb. Nolanâs narrative jumps back and forth to different years in Oppenheimerâs life, including an attempt by Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) to destroy his reputation. Yet nothing will hit Oppenheimer harder than the full weight of the atomic destruction that he unleashed upon the world.
Mean Girls (2024)
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho
Directed by
Arturo Perez Jr., Samantha Jayne
Watch on Amazon
Mean Girls isnât just a remake of the 2002 film, itâs also an adaptation of the 2017 Mean Girls musical. Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles from the original movie, but the leading part of Cady Heron features rising star Angourie Rice as she steps into Lindsay Lohanâs shoes. Lohan even has a cameo in the film, which you should be able to spot if you keep your eyes open near the end.
Cady has never gone to an actual school before, since sheâs been homeschooled her entire life. Once she finally enrolls in North Shore High School, Cady is initially accepted by the Plastics, the titular mean girls. When the Plastics inevitably turn on Cady, she hatches a scheme to take them down from within. And she might just lose herself along the way.
American Fiction (2023)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Jeffrey Wright, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander
Directed by
Cord Jefferson
Watch on Amazon
American Fiction casts The Batman Part Twoâs Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Thelonious âMonkâ Ellison, a college professor and a novelist whose books sell very poorly. Monk is also upset that another writer, Sinatra Golden (Issa Rae), has found massive success while seemingly pandering to Black stereotypes. So Monk writes his own novel as a satire of Goldenâs books before submitting it for publication.
Much to Monkâs surprise and horror, his satire is embraced by the publisher and the general public. The satire of the piece goes unnoticed, as the book becomes so popular that it starts taking over Monkâs life, even though he made sure that his real name wasnât listed as the author. But once the book is out and Hollywood comes knocking, it may be too late.
The Idea of You (2024)
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars
Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin
Directed by
Michael Showalter
Watch on Amazon
The irony of the premise of The Idea of You is that the romantic entanglement of SolĂšne Marchand (Eileenâs Anne Hathaway) with boy band lead singer Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) would probably be more of a fantasy for SolĂšneâs daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), than for SolĂšne herself. But one unplanned encounter between SolĂšne and Hayes soon leads to several others.
There is an age gap between SolĂšne and Hayes that does come up in the film, but the bigger issue between them is the celebrity gap. As long as Hayes is a world-famous musician, he and SolĂšne may never be able to enjoy a normal romance without being hounded by the press.
The Holdovers (2023)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Directed by
Alexander Payne
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Itâs a little early for Christmas movies, but The Holdovers may become a holiday tradition. Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, an unpopular and curmudgeonly teacher at Barton Academy boarding school in 1970. Hunham is forced to spend his Christmas vacation as a chaperone for the students who donât have anywhere to go for the holidays.
Despite himself, Hunham starts empathizing and bonding with one of his students, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), as well as Barton cafeteria manager, Mary Lamb (DaâVine Joy Randolph), who is grieving over the loss of her son. Through them, Hunham rediscovers his compassion, even though it may cost him whatâs left of his teaching career.
The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
Genre
Horror
Stars
Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill
Directed by
David Gordon Green
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Fifty years after the events of the original Exorcist, demons strike again in The Exorcist: Believer. Two young girls, Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine West (Olivia OâNeill), have fallen prey to evil, and their parents are at a loss as how to handle their possession.
Angelaâs father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), eventually finds help in the form of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a woman who has made herself an expert in the field of demonic possession since her daughter, Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), suffered the same ordeal decades earlier. But no amount of preparation is sufficient in the face of the unrelenting evil that has the two children in its grasp.
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Pierre Coffin, Steve Carell, Russell Brand
Directed by
Kyle Balda
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Minions: The Rise of Gru is the origin story of Despicable Meâs main character, Gru (Steve Carell), but probably not in the way that you expect. In the 1970s, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and the rest of the Minions (Pierre Coffin) have all latched on to Gru as their new master. Gru himself has ambitions of being the biggest supervillain in the world so he can join the Vicious 6.
Unfortunately for Gru, his attempts to join the most notorious gang of bad guys spectacularly backfires, which turns his idols in the Vicious 6 into his deadliest enemies. To defeat them, Gru and the Minions will have to turn to the Vicious 6âs former leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu
Directed by
Jeff Rowe
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The TMNT have been reinvented numerous times over the last four decades. But the unique thing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is that it focuses on them as believable teenagers. Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), and Raphael (Brady Noon) may be ninja turtles, but what they really want are some human friends who are their own age.
Despite the disapproval of their adoptive father, Splinter (Jackie Chan), the turtles meet and befriend a human girl, April OâNeil (Ayo Edebiri). The turtles also believe that they can win over humanity if they become heroes. However, their first real test is Superfly (Ice Cube) and his army of mutants. And even the TMNT are outnumbered and outmatched against them.
The Other Zoey (2023)
Genre
Romance, Drama, Comedy
Stars
Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux
Directed by
Sara Zandieh
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The Other Zoey is not a remake of the Sandra Bullock rom-com While You Were Sleeping. But romantic comedy fans may notice some similarities between the two. Josephine Langford stars as Zoey Miller, a high school student who is definitely not the girlfriend of soccer star Zach MacLaren (Drew Starkey), whose girlfriend is also named Zoey (Maggie Thurmon).
When Zach suffers a head injury that gives him partial amnesia, he mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend, and his doctors warn her not to upset him with the truth. So Zoey carries on the deception and gets closer to Zach on a lavish vacation. At the same time, Zoey also feels attracted to Zachâs cousin, Miles Maclaren (Archie Renaux), who shares many of her views about love and life. So, which guy does Zoey really want? Youâll have to watch the film to find out.
Role Play (2023)
Genre
Crime, Romance, Action
Stars
David Oyelowo, Kaley Cuoco, Bill Nighy
Directed by
Thomas Vincent
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Emma (The Flight Attendantâs Kaley Cuoco) and Dave Brackett (David Oyelowo) are just about as happy as a couple could be in Prime Videoâs Role Play. The Bracketts have two children and a beautiful home in a New Jersey suburb. What theyâre lacking is the passion in the bedroom that they used to have before starting a family.
For their anniversary, Dave and Emma take a trip to New York and indulge in some role play. That turns out to be a mistake when Bob Kellerman (Bill Nighy) blows Emmaâs cover and exposes her as an international assassin. Now, Emma has to use her skills to protect her family and keep her marriage to Dave intact.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Peter Cullen
Directed by
Steven Caple Jr.
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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rolls back the clock to 1994 and follows a young man, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), who is so desperate to provide for his family that he agrees to steal a car. Unfortunately for Noah, the car turns out to be Mirage (Pete Davidson), one of the Autobots hiding on Earth. And while Mirage is eager to make friends with Noah, Autobot leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is not as trusting.
Thanks to a discovery made by museum research intern Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback), she and Noah are drawn into the Autobotsâ war with the Terrorcons, who want to bring the planet-killing Transformer Unicron (Colman Domingo) to Earth. In order to save the world, Noah and Elena will have to help the Autobots find the Maximals and their leader, Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman).
A Good Person (2023)
Genre
Drama
Stars
Florence Pugh, Morgan Freeman, Molly Shannon
Directed by
Zach Braff
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Dune: Part Two star Florence Pugh sheds all aspects of her MCU Black Widow role as a broken young woman in A Good Person. Zach Braff wrote and directed the film, which casts Pugh as Allison, a woman who was once engaged to her high school boyfriend, Nathan (Chinaza Uche). But shortly after her engagement, Allison causes a car accident that claims the lives of Nathanâs sister, Molly (Nichelle Hines), and her husband, Jesse (Toby Onwumere).
One year later, Allison is attempting to kick her addiction to painkillers when she reunites with Nathan and Mollyâs father, Daniel (Morgan Freeman). As Daniel attempts to forgive Allison, they reenter each otherâs lives and she tries to make amends with Ryan (Celeste OâConnor), the daughter that Molly and Jesse left behind.
Memento (2000)
Genre
Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
Directed by
Christopher Nolan
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Christopher Nolan made his name in Hollywood with Memento, a brilliantly twisted story that is told out of order. L.A. Confidentialâs Guy Pearce stars as Leonard Shelby, a man who is out to avenge the murder of his wife. The problem is that Leonard canât make any new long-term memories, which is why his body is covered with tattoos designed to lead him to his wifeâs killer.
Every face Leonard sees is the face of a stranger, so each time he meets Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano), heâs unsure of who he can trust. And everyone who knows about Leonardâs condition takes advantage of it, including Leonard himself.
Totally Killer (2023)
Genre
Horror, Comedy
Stars
Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen
Directed by
Nahnatchka Khan
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Amazon Studiosâ Totally Killer seems to welcome comparisons to Back to the Future, and itâs one of the more unique blends of sci-fi, comedy, and horror. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrinaâs Kiernan Shipka stars as Jamie, a teenager who is very familiar with the story about how her mom, Pam (Julie Bowen), survived the Sweet Sixteen Killer 35 years ago. Itâs something that Jamie has heard about many times in her life.
When the Sweet Sixteen Killer returns in the present, Jamie finds herself transported back in time to 1987, when her much younger mother (Olivia Holt) was apparently one of the mean girls in school. Yet if Jamie canât protect Pam in the past then she may not have a future to go home to.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith
Directed by
John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
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The D&D franchise got a fresh start on the big screen with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which casts Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez as a pair of close friends, Edgin Darvis and Holga Kilgore, respectively. After being betrayed by their former friend, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), Edgin and Holga escape prison and plot to reunite with Edginâs daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman).
After reconnecting with a sorcerer of dubious talent, Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), Holga and Edgin recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis) to help them rob Fitzwilliam in the heist of a lifetime to force him from power. However, they soon find that Forge is involved with a plan that threatens everyone in Neverwinter, and only Edginâs group can stop it from happening.
Creed III (2023)
Genre
Drama, Action
Stars
Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors
Directed by
Michael B. Jordan
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Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut with Creed III, which theoretically could work as the end of the Rocky movies. At this point in his life, Adonis âDonnieâ Creed (Jordan) has pretty much done everything he wanted in boxing, so he retires to spend more time with his wife, Bianca Taylor-Creed (Tessa Thompson), and their daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent).
Unfortunately for Donnie, the good times end when his former friend, Damian âDiamond Dameâ Anderson (Jonathan Majors), renters his life. Years ago, Dame was sent to prison, and it was largely Donnieâs fault. Now that Dame is back, heâs going to push Donnie until he gets the chance for payback in the ring. And this may not be a fight that Donnie can win.