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30 Best True-story-based Movies On Amazon Prime

They say art imitates life, especially in the case of movies that are based on a true story. Whether you’re interested in historical events or iconic biopics, here are the best true story-based movies and shows to stream now.

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1. The Intouchables , 2012

Genre : Comedy, Drama

Actor : Absa Diatou Toure, Alba Gaïa Kraghede Bellugi, Alba Gaïa Bellugi, Anne Le Ny, Antoine Laurent, Audrey Fleurot, Benjamin Baroche, Camila Samara, Caroline Bourg, Christian Ameri, Clotilde Mollet, Cyril Mendy, Dominique Daguier, Dorothée Brière, Elliot Latil, Émilie Caen, François Bureloup, François Caron, François Cluzet, Grégoire Oestermann, Hedi Bouchenafa, Ian Fenelon, Jean-François Cayrey, Jérôme Pauwels, Joséphine de Meaux, Joséphine de Meaux, Marie-Laure Descoureaux, Michel Winogradoff, Nicky Marbot, Omar Sy, Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, Pierre-Laurent Barneron, Renaud Barse, Salimata Kamate, Sylvain Lazard, Thomas Solivérès, Yun-Ping He

Director : Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache

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2. Love & Mercy , 2015

If you're a fan of the Beach Boys' legacy, or you want to find out more about Wilson, the person, this movie will give you what you need. It has been widely praised as being true to the facts – even by Bryan Wilson himself. But thanks, in part, to the incredible writing by Oscar-nominated Oren Moverman and the work of director Bill Pohlad, this is much more than a fact-based fictionalization of a famous musician's biography. It is a singularly convincing account of the artistic process and the effects of mental illness.

Love and Mercy tells the tale of two Bryan Wilsons: the first of a young and slightly square-looking musical pioneer in the 1960s, when Wilson was working on Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys' most ambitious and ground-breaking album. Paul Dano's performance here is nothing short of perfect. And, second, the tale of the tormented, middle-aged Bryan Wilson, played by John Cusack, during a time when he was under treatment for his deteriorating mental health in the late 1980s. The juxtaposition of these two very different people and the brilliant performances of Cusack and Dano will completely absorb you and change the way you look at things. A unique and beautiful film!

Genre : Drama, History, Music

Actor : Bill Camp, Brett Davern, Brian Wilson, Carolyn Stotesbery, Dee Wallace, Diana Maria Riva, Dylan Kenin, Elizabeth Banks, Erica Jenkins, Erik Eidem, Erin Darke, Fred Cross, Gary Griffin, Graham Rogers, Haylee Roderick, Jake Abel, Jeff Galfer, Jeff Meacham, Joanna Going, John Cusack, Johnny Sneed, Kenny Wormald, Max Schneider, Misha Hamilton, Nick Gehlfuss, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Ragon Miller, Tyson Ritter, Wayne Bastrup

Director : Bill Pohlad

Rating : PG-13

3. The Imposter , 2012

Genre : Crime, Documentary, Mystery

Actor : Adam O'Brian, Adam O' Brian, Adam O'Brian, Alan Teichman, Anna Ruben, Carey Gibson, Cathy Dresbach, Charlie Parker, Frederic Bourdin, Ivan Villanueva, Ken Appledorn, María Jesús Hoyos, Mary Twala, Nicholas Barclay

Director : Bart Layton

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4. 24 Hour Party People , 2002

Here’s a biopic that focuses on capturing the feel of the era it depicts, rather than all the facts — and is all the better for it. 24 Hour Party People takes the same punk approach to storytelling as its subjects did to music, playfully throwing off the dull constraints that often make based-on-a-true-story movies feel like uninspired celluloid translations of a Wikipedia page. 

In the film’s opening scene, Steve Coogan’s Tony Wilson breaks the fourth wall to address us directly and semi-spoil the movie’s ending. But it doesn’t matter, because the ride is so fun: we’re taken on an immersive trip through the heyday of the Manchester music scene: the births of Joy Division, New Order, the Happy Mondays, and Wilson’s Factory Records label and legendary Hacienda nightclub, an incubator for acid house and rave culture. The era’s hedonism is brought to life by the movie’s frenetic editing, documentary-style cinematography, and strobe-heavy visuals. For all its onscreen anarchy, though, the movie remarkably never feels loose or self-indulgent. Its irreverence is grounded by the ironic filter of the meta filmmaking, which frequently breaks the fourth wall to draw attention to its own conceits. A refreshing rejection of biopic tropes, but also a thrilling transportation into and evocation of the Madchester era.

Genre : Comedy, Drama, Music

Actor : Andy Serkis, Chris Coghill, Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Lestuzzi, Danny Cunningham, Darren Tighe, Dave Gorman, Elizabeth Kelly, Enzo Cilenti, Fiona Allen, Helen Schlesinger, John Simm, John Thomson, Kate Magowan, Keith Allen, Kenny Baker, Kieran O'Brien, Lennie James, Margi Clarke, Mark E. Smith, Martin Hancock, Naomi Radcliffe, Neil Bell, Paddy Considine, Paul Popplewell, Peter Gunn, Peter Kay, Ralf Little, Raymond Waring, Rob Brydon, Ron Cook, Rowetta, Sean Cernow, Sean Harris, Shirley Henderson, Simon Pegg, Smug Roberts, Steve Coogan, Toby Salaman, Tony Wilson

Director : Michael Winterbottom

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5. One Night in Miami... , 2020

This stagelike historical drama is about a meeting between Malcolm X, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Muhammad Ali, the night Ali became world champion and announced he became Muslim.

And here is the thing: Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali have been portrayed many times in film, but never with this much nuance. Their relationship with each other is often frictional and their relationship to their faith is recognizable: they're not always sure about it, and they take breaks.

Ali smuggles alcohol without Malcolm knowing, Malcolm is accused of being obsessed with celebrity (and later of colorism), Jim Brown is insecure about being an actor, and Sam Cooke wishes he wrote a Bob Dylan song.

Genre : Drama

Actor : Aaron D. Alexander, Alan Wells, Aldis Hodge, Ashley LeConte Campbell, Beau Bridges, Chris Game, Christian Magby, Christopher Gorham, Dave Pileggi, Derek Roberts, Dustin Lewis, Eli Goree, Emily Bridges, Hunter Burke, Jason Ament, Jeremy Anderson, Jeremy Pope, Joaquina Kalukango, John Curran, Kevin Reid, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lance Reddick, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Leslie Odom Jr., Mark Allan Stewart, Matt Fowler, Michael Imperioli, Nathan Siebring, Nicolette Robinson, Nola Epps, Pierce Lackey, Randall Newsome, Robert Stevens Wayne

Director : Regina King

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6. Honey Boy , 2019

There is so much power to this story based actor Shia Laboeuf’s life. As a kid, he lived with his father on the road during the filming of Even Stevens and other star-making roles. His dad was a war veteran who goes to bikers’ AA meetings and who had a brief acting career himself.  He was full of anger that made Laboeuf later suffer from PTSD, but which he was able to perceive in a fascinating way. 

Putting Laboeuf’s fame aside, this is an incredible movie on emotionally abusive parent-child relationships. It’s a universal story. With Shia Laboeuf as his father and Lucas Hedges as current-day Laboeuf. 

Actor : Al Burke, Ben Maccabee, Byron Bowers, Clifton Collins Jr., Craig Stark, Dorian Brown Pham, Eli Santana, FKA Twigs, Giovanni Lopes, Graham Clarke, Greta Jung, Kara C. Roberts, Kingston Vernes, Laura San Giacomo, Leana Chavez, Lucas Hedges, Ludwig Manukian, Maika Monroe, Martin Starr, Natasha Lyonne, Noah Jupe, Paulina Lule, Sandra Rosko, Shia LaBeouf

Director : Alma Har'el, Alma Har'el

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7. Women Talking , 2022

Not much happens in Women Talking, but what it lacks in action it more than makes up for in message. As the wronged women of an insular Christian colony decide whether they should leave or stay in their community, valuable points on each side are raised and debated fiercely. Are the men at fault or is there a bigger problem at hand? Is it sacrilegious to refuse forgiveness? Will leaving really solve anything? 

The women of this ultraconservative and anti-modern community may not know how to read or write, but years of toiling away on land, family, and faith have made them wise beyond their years, which makes their discussion all the more captivating and powerful. Relevant themes, coupled with director Sarah Polley’s poetic shots and the cast’s all-around stellar performances, make Women Talking a uniquely compelling and timeless watch.

Genre : Crime, Drama

Actor : August Winter, Ben Whishaw, Caroline Gillis, Claire Foy, Eli Ham, Emily Mitchell, Frances McDormand, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Kate Hallett, Kira Guloien, Liv McNeil, Lochlan Ray Miller, Marcus Craig, Michelle McLeod, Nathaniel McParland, Rooney Mara, Shannon Widdis, Shayla Brown, Sheila McCarthy, Vivien Endicott Douglas, Will Bowes

Director : Sarah Polley

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8. I'm Not There , 2007

I’m Not There is an unusual biopic in that it never refers to its subject, Bob Dylan, by name. Instead, Todd Haynes’ portrait of the singer mimics his constant reinvention by casting six separate actors to play as many reincarnations of the same soul. It’s an ingenious spin on a usually stale genre, one that liberates the film from the humdrum restrictions of a literal retelling of Dylan's life.

If there’s anyone who warrants such an inventive approach to biography, it’s Dylan, whose public and private personas are so numerous that it’s only by angling six different mirrors at him that Haynes can hope to catch some of his essence. Impressionistic editing toggles freely between these vignettes, each visually distinct: from the 11-year-old Woody Guthrie-obsessive (Marcus Carl Franklin) and the black-and-white Super 16mm-shot poet (Ben Whishaw) to the aging cowboy outlaw (Richard Gere), all by way of Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Cate Blanchett’s incarnations. To be sure, this is a somewhat challenging film, reflecting, in places, the enigmatic surrealism of Dylan’s lyrics and his refusal to be pinned down to one thing. But, as Blanchett’s embodiment says, “Mystery is a traditional fact,” and that’s no more true than of Dylan, making Haynes’ film a fascinatingly fitting spiritual biopic.

Genre : Drama, Music

Actor : Al Vandecruys, Alison Folland, Andrew Shaver, Andrew Simms, Angela Galuppo, Arthur Holden, Ben Whishaw, Benz Antoine, Bill Croft, Bob Dylan, Brett Watson, Bruce Greenwood, Cate Blanchett, Catherine Colvey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Christian Bale, Clarice Byrne, Craig Thomas, Daniel Richard Giverin, Danny Blanco Hall, David Cross, David Gow, Dennis St John, Dominic James, Don Francks, Emmanuel Schwartz, Eric Newsome, Eugene Brotto, Fanny La Croix, Garth Gilker, Gordon Masten, Graham Cuthbertson, Greg Kramer, Heath Ledger, Hélèna Laliberté, Holly Uloth, Ivan Freud, Jane Gilchrist, Jane Wheeler, Jason Cavalier, Jean-Loup Yale, Jennifer Rae Westley, Jesse Todd, Jessica Kardos, Jim James, Jodie Resther, Joe Cobden, Joey Burns, John Koensgen, Julianne Moore, Kathleen Fee, Kathryn Kostlivy, Kim Gordon, Kim Roberts, Kris Kristofferson, Kristen Hager, Kyle Gatehouse, Kyle Switzer, Larry Day, Leif Anderson, Leigh Ann Taylor, Lina Roessler, Lisa Bronwyn Moore, Lorne Brass, Maggie Castle, Marcus Carl Franklin, Marie-Julie Rivest, Mark Camacho, Matt Holland, Matthew Boylan, Matthew Harbour, Max Walker, Melantha Blackthorne, Michelle Williams, Mike Caruso, Nathalie Girard, Noel Burton, Patrick Costello, Paul Cagelet, Paul Johnston, Paul Spence, Pauline Little, Peter Friedman, Phyllis Gooden, Pier Paquette, Pierre Leblanc, Pierre-Alexandre Fortin, Richard Gere, Richard Jutras, Richard Robitaille, Richie Havens, Rob Burns, Roc LaFortune, Sharlene Royer, Shaun Balbar, Shawn Baichoo, Steve Godin, Susan Glover, Terry Haig, Thiéry Dubé, Tim Post, Trevor Hayes, Tyrone Benskin, Vito DeFilippo, Wyatt Bowen, Yolonda Ross

Director : Todd Haynes

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9. The Big Sick , 2017

A revelation of a movie, both in filmmaking and commercial success. While little-known abroad, it has made more than $42 million in US Box Office revenue out of a tiny $5 million budget. Kumail Nanjiani, stand-up comedian and star of the show Silicon Valley, tells his own story of romance with his now-wife Emily V. Gordon (who co-wrote the movie). Because it is based on a true story, and because it is the product of the love of both its writers and stars, this movie is incredibly heartfelt. It is also timely, addressing heavy themes such as identity, immigration, and family relationships. Not to mention it is absolutely hilarious. And it's produced by Judd Apatow. Trust me and go watch it.

Genre : Comedy, Drama, Romance

Actor : Adeel Akhtar, Aidy Bryant, Alison Cimmet, Andrew Pang, Anupam Kher, Bo Burnham, Celeste Arias, Charles Gould, David Alan Grier, Ed Herbstman, Holly Chou, Holly Hunte, Holly Hunter, Isabel Shill, Jack Corrigan, Jack O'Connell, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Jeremy Shamos, Keilly McQuail, Kerry Flanagan, Kuhoo Verma, Kumail Nanjiani, Kurt Braunohler, Lauren Patten, Lawrence Ballard, Linda Emond, Marilyn Torres, Matthew Cardarople, Mitra Jouhari, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Myra Turley, Rahul Bedi, Ray Romano, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Shana Solomon, Shenaz Treasury, Shunori Ramanathan, Sophia Muller, Spencer House, Susham Bedi, Vella Lovell, William Stephenson, Zach Cherry, Zenobia Shroff, Zoe Kazan

Director : Michael Showalter

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10. Beautiful Boy , 2018

Actor : Amy Aquino, Amy Forsyth, Amy Ryan, Anastasia Leddick, Andre Royo, Brandon James Cienfuegos, Carlton Wilborn, Cheska Corona, Christian Convery, David Mendenhall, Edward Fletcher, Jack Dylan Grazer, Julian Works, Justin Townes Earle, Kaitlyn Dever, Kue Lawrence, LisaGay Hamilton, Mandeiya Flory, Marypat Farrell, Maura Tierne, Maura Tierney, Minerva García, Nikki Snipper, Oakley Bull, Ricky Low, Seann Gallagher, Stefanie Scott, Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, Timothée Chalamet, Timothy Hutton, Tom Beyer, Zachary Rifkin

Director : Felix Van Groeningen

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11. The Resurrection of Jake The Snake , 2015

Genre : Documentary

Actor : Adam Copeland, Aurelian Smith Jr., Chris Jericho, Cody Hall, Dustin Runnels, Gene Okerlund, Jim Duggan, Jim Ross, Page Falkinburg Jr., Scott Hall, Steve Austin, Ted DiBiase Sr.

Director : Steve Yu

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12. The Man Who Sold His Skin , 2021

Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s new movie is about an arrogant European artist who tattoos a Syrian man's back, essentially turning the man's body into artwork. 

The man, as a commodity, is able to travel the world freely to be in art galleries, something as a simple human with a Syrian passport he couldn’t do. Seems unlikely? It’s based on a true story.

But Ben Hania is not really interested in the political statement aspect of this unlikely stunt. Instead, she looks at what this would do to a human-being, to the man's self-esteem, his relationships, and the turns his life takes. It's a fascinating movie.

Actor : Adrienne Mei Irving, Anissa Daoud, Christian Vadim, Darina Al Joundi, Fayçal Hassaĭri, Husam Chadat, Ichraq Matar, Ingo Brosch, Jacques Germain, Jan Dahdouh, Koen De Bouw, Marc de Panda, Monica Bellucci, Nadim Cheikhrouha, Najoua Zouhair, Patrick Albenque, Rupert Wynne-James, Yahya Mahayni

Director : Kaouther Ben Hania

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13. Selma , 2014

The award-winning third feature by director Ava DuVernay, Selma, was released around the 50th anniversary of the historically significant marches (Selma to Montgomery) that aided the civil rights movement's efforts to assure African-American citizens can exercise their constitutional right to vote, harassment-free. The film has been celebrated not only as an artwork, but also as a historiographically accurate one. While it features the role Martin Luther King Jr. played in the marches, it does not reduce the activists' effort and struggle to make it come to fruition. With her uncompromising directorial approach, DuVernay crafts a thrilling period film that has all the markers of a well-done genre feature, but uses its mechanisms to tell an emotionally potent story about both the peaceful marches and the nation-wide outcry resulting from the violence they were met with.

Genre : Drama, History

Actor : Alessandro Nivola, Andre Holland, Carmen Ejogo, Charity Jordan, Charles Black, Colman Domingo, Common, Corey Reynolds, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Dwyer, David Oyelowo, Dylan Baker, E. Roger Mitchell, Giovanni Ribisi, Greg Maness, Harry Belafonte, Haviland Stillwell, Henry G. Sanders, Jeremy Strong, Jim France, Jody Thompson, John Lavelle, Kent Faulcon, Lakeith Stanfield, Ledisi, Lorraine Toussaint, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Sheen, Michael Papajohn, Montrel Miller, Niecy Nash, Niecy Nash-Betts, Nigel Thatch, Omar J. Dorsey, Oprah Winfrey, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Sammy Davis Jr., Stan Houston, Stephan James, Stephen Root, Tara Ochs, Tessa Thompson, Tim Roth, Tom Wilkinson, Tony Bennett, Trai Byers, Wendell Pierce

Director : Ava DuVernay

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14. American Animals , 2018

This crazy heist movie is told in a very original way. Because it's based on a true story, the movie (with actors and a story) is sometimes interrupted by the people it's about. The opening scene even reads: "this movie is not based on a true story, it is a true story". Two friends decide to rob their local library from rare books worth millions. They're driven by money but also by wanting something different than their monotonous everyday lives in Kentucky. The need for a change is a big theme in this movie, but the story and the way it's told never cease to be breathtakingly thrilling. American Animals stars amazing actors like Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk), Evan Peters (Kick-Ass), and many more; but perhaps equally as notable is the director: Bart Layton, who is fresh from his amazing 2012 sleeper-hit The Imposter.

Genre : Crime, Documentary, Drama, Mystery

Actor : Al Mitchell, Ann Dowd, Barry Keoghan, Ben McIntire, Blake Jenner, Bobby Akers, Debby Handolescu, Dorothy Reynolds, Drew Starkey, Elijah Everett, Eric Borsuk, Evan Peters, Fedor Steer, Gary Basaraba, Gretchen Koerner, Jack Landry, Jane McNeill, Jared Abrahamson, Jason Caceres, JD Demers, Josh Jordan, Josh Royston, Karen Wheeling Reynolds, Kelly Borgnis, Kevin L. Johnson, Lara Grice, Lauran Foster, Marlo Scheitler, Pamela Bell Mitchell, Pamela Mitchell, Spencer Reinhard, Steven 'Trainset' Curtis, Udo Kier, Warren Lipka, Wayne Duvall, Whitney Goin, William Cowboy Reed

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15. Man on Wire , 2008

Man on Wire is a true technical masterpiece. You can almost feel the director telling the cameraman what angle to choose, or thinking about the questions that will generate the most resounding answers. However, this does not diminish the story this documentary tells one bit. It’s one that is glorious, riveting, and fun. It’s one where you feel like an insider to a world lived on and below wires, with high-stake risks. Hopefully the edge of your seat is comfortable, because this is where the movie will keep you till the very end.

Actor : Annie Allix, David Forman, Jean François Heckel, Jean-Louis Blondeau, Jim Moore, Mark Lewis, Philippe Petit

Director : James Marsh

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Best Biography Movies and TV Shows to Watch Now on Prime Video (Free)

Popular biography movies & tv shows.

Confronting A Serial Killer (2021)

Se llamaba Pedro Infante (2023)

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Gloria Trevi: Ellas soy yo (2023)

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Drama biography movies & tv shows, documentary biography movies & tv shows, history biography movies & tv shows, adaptation biography movies & tv shows, based on true story biography movies & tv shows, romance biography movies & tv shows, thriller biography movies & tv shows, mystery biography movies & tv shows, comedy biography movies & tv shows, war biography movies & tv shows.

The 16 Best Documentaries on Amazon Prime Video Right Now (July 2024)

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There’s something really captivating about watching a true story play out in front of you. Unlike a fictional narrative, documentaries don’t have neatly tied-up endings, and there is no guarantee of what’s to come. In summation: they feel like a more accurate representation of what the world is capable of: good and evil, nurturing and abandoning. Often, a documentary provides a way to dive deep into a story that hasn’t been fully explored previously, maybe even to get answers to long-existing questions once and for all. Here, we present some of the best documentaries on Prime Video, with options for all interest groups, from the typical true crime to the exploration of a long-forgotten band to girl power.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Prime Video , documentaries on Netflix , or documentaries on Hulu .

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Prime Video.

Editor's note: This article was updated July 2024 to include I Am: Celine Dion.

‘I Am: Celine Dion’ (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 100% | imdb: 7.9/10.

I Am: Celine Dion

Canadian balladeer Celine Dion is a titan of vocals who can’t be tied down to one genre, and I Am: Celine Dion is a documentary that dives head-first into her life to explore her legacy, her process, and her struggle with a neurological disease. Dion gives fans a view into her recording sessions and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the meticulousness that goes into planning her spectacular shows. These high highs are contrasted with a raw and vulnerable look into the hidden struggles she goes through while managing her Stiff-Person Syndrome. This film is both a celebration of her career and an inspirational reminder that one’s passions can help one through their darkest times.

Watch on Prime Video

'Lucy and Desi' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 94% | imdb: 7.7/10.

Lucy and Desi (2022)

Capturing the highs and the lows of the lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lucy and Desi is a documentary done with care by Amy Poehler . Starting from their early days as a new couple in Hollywood through the height and crazy of I Love Lucy to the end of their lives, the documentary is an honest look at one of TV's favorite couples. From their own personal struggles to the struggles they faced in the industry, particularly Desi as a Cuban living in America, Lucy and Desi never leans into sensationalism or melodramatics, instead it relies on the star power of its subjects to propel the doc forward. With audio clips directly from Lucy and Desi, it's an intimate look at their lives, one that humanizes them beyond their television personas. For lovers of Lucy and Desi, this is a can't miss. — Therese Lacson

'Judy Blume Forever' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 95% | imdb: 7.7/10.

Judy Blume Forever

Judy Blume Forever is an ode to the author who broke the rules and empowered generations of young people. The documentary features interviews with fans as well as the trailblazer herself as she reflects on her journey. Captured by directors Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok , the film honors the way Blume’s books allowed readers to explore concepts of sexuality, adolescence, and change without shying away from criticism and censorship. Judy Blume Forever welcomes celebrities like Molly Ringwald , Samantha Bee , and Lena Dunham to share the impact a single prolific novelist has had on their lives, careers, and understanding of themselves. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Prime Video\

'Wildcat' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 92% | imdb: 8.7/10.

Directed by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya Hawke, Wildcat is based on the true story of Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor as she is diagnosed with lupus. While struggling to come to terms with her condition, she sets out to make a mark in the writing world before her life is taken by the same illness that killed her father.

Wildcat is a raw journey into the Amazon directed by Trevor Frost and Melissa Lesh . After being medically discharged, Harry Turner , a young English veteran, travels to a remote and scenic area in an attempt to rest, recharge, and recover from PTSD. While exploring the Amazon jungle, Turner meets scientist Samantha Zwicker and a baby ocelot who changes his life. Wildcat is more than a nature documentary, as it explores the interconnectivity of the planet. With a riveting story, gorgeous landscapes, and tons of cat content, Wildcat is a beautifully inspiring and touching film about healing . – Yael Tygiel

'The Sound of 007' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 78% | imdb: 7.4/10.

The Sound of 007

Revolving around an iconic franchise like the James Bond series, The Sound of 007 allows filmmaker Mat Whitecross to explore the history behind some of the most memorable movie theme songs. The Sound of 007 is a journey for the senses, traveling through generations of music, beginning with the genesis of Dr. No ’s unforgettable theme from the 1962 film. Featuring interviews from actors of the franchise, including Daniel Craig , The Sound of 007 also shines a spotlight on No Time To Die ’s Academy Award-winning song from modern music maven Billie Eilish . – Yael Tygiel

'Good Night Oppy' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 87% | imdb: 7.7/10.

Good Night Oppy

Angela Bassett ( Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ) narrates Good Night Oppy , the documentary film from Ryan White that reveals an incredible true story of strength, smarts, and convictions. Good Night Oppy spends time with NASA engineers and scientists as they create the adorable exploration rover named Opportunity, which was sent on a three-month mission to Mars, only to survive for 15 years. Featuring interviews with NASA employees, as well as footage from the original mission, Good Night Oppy dives into the far reaches of our solar system with an uplifting message and exciting adventure. – Yael Tygiel

'Dior and I' (2014)

Rotten tomatoes: 84% | imdb: 7.2/10.

Following the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as the new artistic director at the iconic brand, Dior and I shows both the challenges and triumphs of working in the fascinating, high-pressure world of high fashion. In addition to giving us an exclusive look at truly breathtaking designs, the documentary allows us to meet the people who make it all possible. Runway fans are sure to be instantly captivated by the portrait of Simons and his team as well as insight into the traditions of this unique business. – Taylor Gates

'Generation Wealth' (2018)

Rotten tomatoes: 46% | imdb: 6.6/10.

Generation Wealth

Generation Wealth had the prestigious honor of being the opening night documentary at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival – and for good reason. It explores an age-old question that we all still struggle to answer: Can money buy happiness? The general consensus is, of course, no, but it’s much more complicated than that, and this documentary shows it. Behind all of the glitz and glamour, there’s a bleak, melancholic tone that pervades. Come for the luxury – the designer clothes, mansions, and jets – and stay for the riveting character study of the world’s ultra-wealthy. - Taylor Gates

'Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father' (2008)

Rotten tomatoes: 94% | imdb: 8.5/10.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

A gut-wrenching story that tries to offer a man's son the opportunity to discover who his dad was after his brutal murder. Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne documents the life of his best friend, Andrew Bagby, after his murder, trying to piece together the clues that lead to his death while also celebrating Andrew's life. Dear Zachary is beloved among the true-crime documentary community for being honest, heart-felt, infuriating, and devastating. Kuenne scrapbooks Andrew's life in a way that only a best friend can, and the documentary eventually pushed a lawmaker to introduce "Zachary's Bill" to the Parliament of Canada, helping to protect children in bail hearings and custody disputes. For those interested in true crime, this one can not be missed. Available through Amazon Prime subscription. — Therese Lacson

'Lorena' (2019)

Rotten tomatoes: 83% | imdb: 7.3/10.

Lorena details an absolutely shocking story of a 1993 assault. This four-part docuseries follows the lives of Lorena and John Bobbitt. Lorena was arrested after she cut off her husband John's penis. Lorena accused John of domestic violence and marital rape, and, unsurprisingly, the story soon became consumed by the news media. Directed by Joshua Rofé , Lorena investigates the case and the media storm that turned the story into the butt of many jokes. The docuseries uses archive footage to shine a spotlight on the shameful coverage of the case and might leave you feeling frustrated and enlightened. — Therese Lacson

'The Imposter' (2012)

Rotten tomatoes: 95% | imdb: 7.5/10.

The Imposter

How does a con man at the age of 20 fool an entire family into thinking he is their missing 13-year-old son? Bart Layton documents the compelling 1997 case of Frédéric Bourdin in The Imposter . The Imposter begins as a tale about the missing case of Nicholas Barclay but it soon dives into Bourdin's life as a con man, revealing how he was able to target the weaknesses of families and play on their desperation with his manipulation. Layton's documentary is an exciting piece of work because he speaks not only to the Barclay family but to Bourdin himself about the con and how he was able to pull it all off.

'Stories We Tell' (2012)

Stories We Tell

Sarah Polley crafts one of the best documentaries of the 2010s with the alluring Stories We Tell . The film is autobiographical as Polley explores the secrets of her own family and examining her parents in all their complex humanity. It’s a stunning work of memoir and memory with some stunningly creative approaches to unwinding the story of her parentage. This clearly wasn’t an easy story for Polley to tell, but she bravely moves forward with a daughter’s love and a filmmaker’s eye. The film’s only downside is that after you finish, you’ll wish that Polley would keep tackling documentaries because she clearly is a master of the format. – Matt Goldberg

'Val' (2021)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 7.6/10.

What if you devoted your life to acting and then disease took that away from you? What would you be left with? Would it just be your body of work or would you yearn to keep creating no matter what? That's the beautiful question at the center of the lovely Val Kilmer documentary, Val . While the documentary does explore some of Kilmer's most notable cinematic work including Top Gun , Batman Forever , The Doors , and others thanks to the wealth of video footage Kilmer took over the years, the heart of the film is where Kilmer is now after having his voice ravaged by throat cancer. Rather than a simple story of perseverance, we get Kilmer's own words through his videos and narration provided by his son Jack Kilmer , who sounds a lot like his father. Val is a unique look at an actor who never really craved movie stardom but instead artistic expression and how that expression carries on after tragedy. - Matt Goldberg

'Time' (2020)

Rotten tomatoes: 98% | imdb: 6.8/10.

Time is the astonishing chronicle of Fox and Rob Rich, who were convicted of armed robbery, and while Fox was given a reduced sentence, Rob was sentenced to sixty years. Through home video footage and Garrett Bradley’ s work, we see Fox persevering to free her husband and the father of her children from a system that delights in the mass incarceration of black men. What Time does so astonishingly well is it shows how these draconian sentences punish not only the convicted, but everyone around them. There’s a ripple effect, and to say, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time,” is a glib and heartless way to look at how a justice system should operate. While Fox’s crusade is at times inspiring, it’s also damning towards a system and a country that would behave in such a callous manner in the first place. - Matt Goldberg

'The Witness' (2015)

Rotten tomatoes: 90% | imdb: 7.0/10.

The Witness

In 1964 Kitty Genovese was murdered in Kew Gardens, Queens as 38 people witnessed her screams without taking action. Over 50 years later, it’s a story that still haunts New York and stands as a reminder to take action. The Witness focuses greatly on Kitty’s younger brother Bill Genovese, who also acted as executive producer, and was 16 at the time of Kitty’s murder. He goes over headlines, trial transcripts, and police records to determine exactly what happened that day so many years ago. It’s an emotional and powerful story about life, family, and death.

'One Child Nation' (2019)

Rotten tomatoes: 98% | imdb: 7.5/10.

One Child Nation

You may be vaguely aware of China’s “One Child” policy that ran from 1979 to 2015, but Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang ’s harrowing documentary delves into the wide-reaching ramifications of the policy. The high cost of totalitarianism yields a nation of people who felt they had no choice but to submit to the government’s cruelty in favor of a policy that was created out of fear of over-population. While some may argue that it was a necessary evil, One Child Nation looks at how much evil had to happen, from mass infanticide to forced sterilization to baby trafficking to family separation. As Wang points out, while some may see this as the opposite of America where abortions are largely outlawed as opposed to carried about by the government, it’s just different ways of the government depriving women of autonomy over their bodies. It would be comforting to think of the one-child policy as something that happened “over there” and “in the past”, but One Child Nation makes its ramifications immediate and unforgettable. - Matt Goldberg

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6 Best Biopics On Amazon Prime, You Can’t Miss

A biographical film or Biopic is a film where the story is told based on the real-life experiences of an Individual. This particular genre of film making has become a popular one, and over the years, we have seen many directors try out their hand at biopic films, and while many have succeeded in doing, others have failed, as making a biopic can be a jarring task for the director.

It has to be historically accurate and must stay true to the real-life experience of the individual, but must have enough drama so that the viewers are engaged. It’s a fine art of balancing the drama and the historical accuracy, and very few seem to have mastered it. In this article, we will be taking a look at the Best Biopics You can watch on Amazon Prime right now.

Best Biographies On Amazon Prime

Into the wild.

WATCH  NOW ON AMAZON PRIME

Wolf Of Wallstreet

The Theory Of Everything

WATCH NOW ON AMAZON PRIME

12 Years a Slave

A Beautiful Mind

Loving Vincent

Also Read: Best Biopics On Netflix

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The 73 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now (August 2024)

The latest laugher from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig has landed on Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video hasn't had a very interesting year with its slate of original movies, especially of late, but what has come to Prime Video this year has been solid, including the 2024 Oscar winner  American Fiction , which earned the Best Adapted Screenplay award along with four other nominations including Best Picture. But it's not just the prestige stuff here — Amazon's also got plenty of pulpier fare, like the Jake Gyllenhaal-starring remake of Road House , and the action comedy Jackpot! , the latest movie from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig. 

Just to let you know how we put this list together: In order to keep the list as relevant as possible, we're putting the most importance on new releases, Prime Video originals, and critics' favorites. But we're also adding our own personal spin on the list, with underrated gems we're recommending to our friends, classic favorites, and important selections that highlight diverse voices. We'll be updating the list regularly.

Last updated on Aug. 28; the most recent additions are at the top.

Disclaimer: When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

For fans of: Laughing at murder, other Paul Feig movies like Bridesmaids and Spy

John Cena and Awkwafina, JACKPOT!

Director: Paul Feig Stars:  Awkwafina, John Cena, Simu Liu, Machine Gun Kelly Genre:  Comedy, action Rating:  R Metacritic score:   41

Awkwafina and John Cena (how often do co-star names rhyme?) star in Jackpot! , which is essentially a comedy version of The Purge — Awkwafina wins the lottery, but she'll have to survive until midnight in order to claim her winnings. And that's not gonna be easy, since in this story it's perfectly legal for anyone to murder her and take the money themselves. So she teams up with a protection agent, played by John Cena, who will try to save her life in return for a cut. Jackpot isn't director Paul Feig's best film — he set an impossible standard for himself with stuff like Bridesmaids and Spy — but it is another warmly funny little action movie that's filled with energetic performances. - Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

For fans of:  Fantasy stuff, Tolkien vibes

Viggo Mortensen,  Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Director:  Peter Jackson Stars:  Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortenson, Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Billy BOyd, Dominic Monaghan, Christopher Lee Genre:  Fantasy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   91 for Fellowship of the Ring ,  87 for Two Towers ,  94 for Return of the King

As the second season of The Rings of Power finally arrives, it's the perfect time to revisit Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is one of the greatest adaptations of a novel in the history of cinema. Jackson's rendition of Frodo's quest to destroy the One Ring and end the tyranny of Sauron has been profoundly influential over the past two decades. This trilogy is at least partially responsible for the recent popular trend of films that carry a song-like rhythm — a la Denis Villeneuve's Dune movies or George Miller's Furiosa — and you can bet that these three films are going to be pillars of Hollywood filmmaking for a very long time. -Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

American Fiction

For fans of : Stories that break the fourth wall, quirky comedies with something to say, things that are good

Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Director: Cord Jefferson Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, John Ortiz, Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae Genre: Comedy, drama, satire Rating: R Metacritic score: 81

American Fiction  isn't the easiest movie to try to sum up in a blurb, but we'll do our best. Jeffrey Wright stars as a well-to-do Black author who attempts to satirize what he sees as stereotypcally acceptable "Black" literature, only for everybody to treat the result as a serious and sincere work that earns tons of acclaim — and from there, it gets weird. American Fiction plays like if Spike Lee's Bamboozled was given a Charlie Kaufman-esque, fourth-wall-breaking makeover, and it's impossible not to be enthralled by this flick. - Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

The Idea of You

For fans of : Swoony rom-coms with heart, Anne Hathaway mothering

Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway, The Idea of You

Director:  Michael Showalter Stars:  Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine Genre:  Romantic comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   68

You may have first heard of  The Idea of You  because of its male lead Hayes Campbell's ( Nicholas Galitzine ) uncanny resemblance to Harry Styles. Hayes sings in a wildly popular boy band, just like Styles did, and he too has a penchant for dating older women. But the film, based on Robinne Lee's book of the same name, deserves to be recognized apart from that comparison. To start, the chemistry between Galitzine's Hayes and  Anne Hathaway 's Solène Marchand is undeniable. Solène is a 40-year-old single mom who never imagined attending Coachella but finds herself in the VIP lounge for a meet-and-greet with August Moon — Hayes' group —thanks to her teenage daughter. And after she serendipitously walks into the 24-year-old lead singer's trailer, the two begin a whirlwind romance. The Idea of You  is a weightier film than some others in the genre because of how it dives into issues like the age-gap double standard and the obstacles to women in their 30s and 40s finding happiness. But for the most part, it feels like a light, breezy walk on the beach. - Kat Moon  [ Trailer ]

For fans of : Fist fights, Jake Gyllenhaal, highly kinetic action sequences

Jake Gyllenhaal, Road House

Director:  Doug Liman Stars:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnusson, Joaquim de Almeida, Post Malone, Conor McGregor Genre:  Action Rating:  R Metacritic score:   57

The original Road House  (starring Patrick Swayze and also included with Prime Video) became a cult classic after circulating on cable for years — it did OK at the box office and not so OK with critics when it was released in theaters in 1989. So it's not really that big of a concern that the new Road House , starring Jake Gyllenhaal, only got mixed reviews. Like that original film leaned on Swayze's charm to function, the new Road House is a delightful little action flick that leans heavily on Gyllenhaal's immense charisma, and ole Jakey G. is just as much fun as he always is. And while Conor McGregor isn't quite on Gyllenhaal's level in terms of his acting chops, he's got the exact right amount of screen presence and general menace to pretty much rule as a bad guy enforcer. This movie just works, even if we might wish they'd cooled it on the CGI a little bit. -Phil Owen   [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Fight clubs, high schools

Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott, Bottoms

Director:  Emma Seligman Stars:  Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Nicholas Galitzine Genre:  Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   74

This indie film came out in theaters last August, but unless you are a subscriber to MGM+, which you are not, it hasn't been available on your streaming subscriptions until recently. The premise — a high school sex comedy mixed with...  Fight Club !?!? — is truly deranged, but it somehow works as two teenage lesbians start a brutal women's self-defense club to give them the tools to beat up the football team. It satirizes as it pulverizes, challenging stereotypes while saying something meaningful between delivering haymakers.  Bodies Bodies Bodies '  Rachel Sennott  and  The Bear 's  Ayo Edebiri  star. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Action, cars, #family

Jason Momoa, Fast X

Director:  Louis Leterrier Stars:  Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel Genre:  Action Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   56

The Fast & Furious movies have been a pop culture mainstay for two decades, but all good things must come to an end. And Fast X is the beginning of the end for this franchise, starting us down the home stretch that will presumably end with Vin Diesel riding off into the sunset to meet up with Paul Walker in car heaven at the end of the next movie. We're not there yet, though, and we're grateful for that, because Jason Momoa's man-child of a villain is the most fun baddie this franchise has ever had. -Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Lifestyles of the rich and eccentric

Barry Keoghan, Saltburn

Director:  Emerald Fennell Stars:  Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike, Jacob Elordi, Richard E. Grant Genre: Drama, Comedy, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   61

If you saw  Promising Young Woman ,  Emerald Fennell 's polarizing (and, nevertheless, Oscar-winning) 2020 directorial debut, you already know that she's the kind of director who  really  likes making people talk. She's done it again, and to an even greater degree, with  Saltburn , her  Talented Mr. Ripley -esque salute to the aughts.  Barry Keoghan  stars as Oliver Quick, a poor Oxford student who gets drawn into the alluring world of the wealthy when he buddies up to Felix ( Jacob Elordi ), a classmate from an aristocratic family who takes pity on his less fortunate friend by inviting Oliver to spend the summer at his eccentric family's estate. Or  is  Oliver less fortunate? Come to find out the answer to that question, stay for a deliciously clueless performance from  Rosamund Pike . - Allison Picurro  [ Trailer ]      

Asteroid City

For fans of:  Well-framed shots, A-listers dressed oddly

Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks, Asteroid City

Director:  Wes Anderson Stars:  Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Steve Carell Genre:  Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   75

Every time  Wes Anderson  directs a new film, at least one critic inevitably calls it " the most Wes Anderson movie Wes Anderson has ever made ." That might actually be true of  Asteroid City , his latest. Anderson's quirky, dollhouse style is at an all-time high in this story that depicts the fateful events of a teen astronomy convention in a retrofuturistic version of 1955. The sprawling cast features perfectly droll performances from  Jason Schwartzman ,  Tom Hanks ,  Margot Robbie ,  Steve Carell , and more, while the meta narrative ( Asteroid City  is also the name of a televised play within the movie) adds zany texture. It often plays like a live-action cartoon, as Anderson's best movies tend to. - Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]       

Polite Society

For fans of:  Martial arts movies, sisters

Priya Kansara, Polite Society

Director:  Nida Manzoor Stars:  Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya Genre: Action, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   75

There's no movie that can't be punched up with a little martial arts aided by wires and pulleys,  Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon  style, right? This action comedy from  We Are Lady Parts  creator  Nida Manzoor  follows a young British-Pakistani woman who dreams of being a stuntwoman and has a sneaking suspicion that her sister's impending marriage to a hunk might mask her future in-laws' secretly terrible motives. Naturally, this leads to some Shaolin fight sequences, a plot that veers way off course yet still stays on brand with the nuttiness, and a delightful central story about the love between two sisters. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]       

Totally Killer

For fans of:  The '80s, time travel, maniacal masked murderers

Olivia Holt, Totally Killer

Director:  Nahnatchka Khan Stars:  Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen Genre: Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi Rating:  R Metacritic score:   63

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina 's Kiernan Shipka sticks with humorous horror in this original film from the reliable Nahnatchka Khan , the creator of Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 , Always Be My Maybe , and Fresh Off the Boat . Shipka's Jamie is a young woman who time travels back to 1987, right around the time her mom's friends were stalked and murdered by a mask-wearing maniac. So what does she do? She tries — with the help of the teenage version of her mom ( Olivia Holt ) — to stop the murders, despite any potential Back to the Future erasure of her existence that may happen. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]  

Sitting in Bars with Cake (2023)

For fans of:  Tragi-friend-coms, bawling

Odessa A'zion and Yara Shahidi, Sitting in Bars with Cake

Director:  Trish Sie Stars:  Odessa A'zion, Yara Shahidi, Ron Livingston, Bette Midler, and Martha Kelly Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   66

A pair of friends (A'zion and Shahadi) take cakes into bars as a way to get out in the world and break the ice with strangers, but their lives change when one gets a tragic diagnosis. This one's based on a true story and is being called a Beaches for today's kids, so you know what to expect: female friendship, some romance, and a lot of crying. This is for a specific audience; you know who you are! - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]        

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves  (2023)

For fans of:  Rooting for the creepy doll, satires on commercialism, Child's Play but better

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Director:  John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein Stars:  Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Action Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   72

Expecting a good time while watching the famous tabletop role-playing game come to life is hardly a roll of the dice. This movie is always entertaining, moving forward with a combination of adventure, action, humor, and decent special effects.  Chris Pine  plays a rogue on the run looking for some nerdy object (a magical helm, a tablet that can bring back the dead, some stuff like that, it doesn't matter), and he's accompanied by other D&D classes, like  Michelle Rodriguez 's barbarian,  Justice Smith 's sorcerer,  Sophia Lillis ' shapeshifting druid, and  Regé-Jean Page 's paladin. Its focus on fun means anyone can enjoy it, even those who don't know what a gelatinous cube is. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]        

M3GAN (2022)

Director:  Gerard Johnstone Stars:  Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald Genre: Science-fiction, Horror Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   72

AI will kill us all! But first it will be our best friend. On premise alone — M3GAN is about a lifelike toy doll prototype that goes to extreme lengths to protect its child owner — this 2022 film seems like stinky garbage, but the Blumhouse film wisely leans into the goofiness to become a sharp satire of technology and consumerism. The PG-13 rating also means it's good for young teens and older tweens, but there's an unrated version available if you want a little more blood.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Creed III (2022)

For fans of:  Boxing beefcakes

Michael B. Jordan, Creed III

Director:  Michael B. Jordan Stars:  Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad Genre: Drama Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   73

Michael B. Jordan stars in and directs the third movie to rise from the ashes of the Rocky franchise, this time following Adonis Creed (Jordan) as he prepares to fight his former childhood friend, Damian Anderson (Majors), years after an event changed both of their lives. Though not as acclaimed as the first two movies, it's still wildly entertaining, with bruising boxing sequences and a blistering performance from Jordan.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

For fans of:  Acting!

Cate Blanchett, Tár

Director:  Todd Field Stars:  Cate Blanchett  Genre: Drama Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   92

Cate Blanchett's powerhouse performance and Todd Field's script and keen direction launched Tár into the discussions for best film of 2022, with many major prestigious film critics associations naming it their favorite. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and more at the Oscars (but didn't win any), further establishing it as a cinephile's favorite. As for what it's about, Blanchett plays an internationally renowned orchestra conductor whose career is disrupted by accusations of misconduct.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

She Said (2022)

For fans of:  Journalism, #MeToo stories

Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan, She Said

Director:  Maria Schrader Stars:  Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher  Genre: Drama Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   74

The two reporters — Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey — behind the New York Times investigation into the sexual abuse committed by film producer Harvey Weinstein are at the center of this award-winning drama based on the 2019 book of the same name. Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan star as Kantor and Twohey, who exposed one of the biggest names in Hollywood, caused a sea change in the entertainment industry, and ushered in one of the biggest social movements in history as #MeToo helped women come together against sexism and abuse.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

For fans of:  Sneakers, business deals, Michael Jordan's mom

Ben Affleck, Air

Director:  Ben Affleck Stars:  Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina Genre: Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   73

Ben Affleck 's film about Nike's seismic business decision to build a basketball shoe brand around some guy named Michael Jordan is a sharp look at the start of sports marketing and risky business endeavors that paid off. It's also kind of a Nike ad. But with a solid screenplay, some great acting by a tremendous cast, and Affleck's ability to blend comedy into corporate affairs, it's a... slam dunk.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Judy Blume Forever  (2023)

For fans of:   Superfudge , free speech

Judy Blume, Judy Blume Forever

Director:  Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok Stars:  Judy Blume Genre: Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   79

Beloved author Judy Blume is the star and focus of this documentary about her life as one of the most popular young adult fiction writers ever. Speaking with fans like Molly Ringwald, Samantha Bee, and Lena Dunham, Judy Blume Forever explores the impact she had on young women's lives and the closed-minded controversy surrounding her openness in writing about teenage sexuality.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Bros (2022)

For fans of:  Rom-coms updated for today

Billy Eichner and Luke MacFarlane, Bros

Director:  Nicholas Stoller Stars:  Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Bowen Yang, Debra Messing Genre: Comedy, Romance Rating:  R Metacritic score:   72

Billy Eichner wrote and plays the romantic lead of this well-reviewed gay rom-com, which sees a podcast host (Eichner) about to launch an LGBTQ+ museum in New York City when his already busy life is disrupted by another single gay man ( Luke Macfarlane ). Though both are wary of commitment, they are drawn together anyway.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

For fans of:  Speed, old people looking younger than you

Stream  Top Gun: Maverick  at home, thanks to Prime Video

Director:  Joseph Kosinski Stars:  Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise, and Tom Cruise Genre: Action, Drama Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   78

You've seen  Top Gun: Maverick  on the big screen, but have you seen it on your phone!?!? Relive all the intense IMAX action and dripping masculinity on your six-inch screen now that it's on Prime Video.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Shotgun Wedding (2023)

For fans of:  J-Lo, J-Du, J-Cool

Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, Shotgun Wedding

Director:  Jason Moore Stars:  Jennifer Jopez, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Coolidge Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance Rating:  R Metacritic score:   42

What makes a good movie anyway? Rave reviews from critics? Meaningful contributions to society? A talking dog? The Prime Video original movie Shotgun Wedding has none of that, but it does have Jennifer Lopez and the newest fan-favorite Jenny from the block, Jennifer Coolidge. And it has Jennifer Lopez fighting off pirates after they invade her wedding, leading to double crosses and comical violence. This isn't a good movie, but it is a Jennifer Lopez movie that can't be found anywhere else, so it's on the list.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Wildcat (2022)

For fans of:  Tough guys and cute kittens, weeping

Director:  Melissa Lesh and Trevor Frost Stars:  Harry Turner, Samantha Zwicker, an ocelot Genre: Documentary Rating:  R Metacritic score:   71

I don't have a bunch of tattoos, and I've never been to war, but I do love cats, which is enough for me to relate to this documentary about an Afghanistan War veteran whose PTSD drives him to the jungles of South America. There, he meets a nature conservationist running a wildlife refuge, where he bonds with an ocelot kitten. The young purr box helps him heal as he finds himself teaching it how to hunt, protecting it from humans threatening the environment, and finding something that doesn't judge him. This is for anyone who's ever had a furry friend. BRING A HANKIE!  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Nanny   (2022)

For fans of:  Horror, the melting pot

Anna Diop, Nanny

Director:  Nikyatu Jusu Stars:  Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Spector Genre: Horror Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   72

Thanks to new voices in Hollywood, we've become introduced a fresh, thrilling subgenre of film: immigrant horror stories. Most of them have been pretty good (Netflix's  His House  and  No One Gets Out Alive  use their unique perspective well), and that continues with  Nanny , the debut film from writer/director Nikyatu Jusu about an undocumented West African nanny caring for a New York couple's child and preparing for the arrival of her own child, whom she left behind. The horror comes when a strange presence threatens her reality. It's a visually impressive debut about family, societal issues, and gender.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Your Christmas or Mine?  (2022)

For fans of:  Shlocky holiday films, wacky in-laws

Asa Butterfield, Your Christmas or Mine?

Director:  Jim O'Hanlon Stars:  Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk, Daniel Mays, David Bradley Genre: Rom-com, Christmas Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:  n/a

Need some Christmas jolly? But also want some relationship folly? Try this British holiday film about a young man ( Asa Butterfield ) who can't bear to be apart from his girlfriend on Christmas, so he decides to surprise her at her family's house. Alas, she decided to do the same thing, so they end up spending the holiday with each other's families. It's not a Christmas classic, but it will do the trick if you're looking for a little tug of the heart.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]  

Good Night Oppy   (2022)

For fans of:  Human accomplishments, human connections, robots

Good Night Oppy

Director:  Ryan White Genre: Documentary Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   65

The closest thing we have to a real-life Wall-E is the Mars rover Opportunity, which landed on the Red Planet in 2004 for a 90-day mission but ended up operating for almost 15 years. This documentary film tells its story and the bond that the NASA operators formed with it, and will leave you wondering why you're crying over a robot throughout its wondrous 105 minutes. It's already won the Critics Choice Documentary Award for best feature, and it's got a real shot at an Oscar nomination at the 2023 Academy Awards.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

My Policeman   (2022)

For fans of:  Harry Styles

Harry Styles and Emma Corrin, My Policeman

Director:  Michael Grandage Stars:  Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, David Dawson, Linus Roache, Gina McKee, Rupert Everett Genre: Drama, Romance Rating:  R Metacritic score:   49

The British film My Policeman  is getting a wide range of reviews from critics and audience members alike, but don't let that stop you from rummaging through this period romance for clues about Harry Styles ' relationship with Olivia Wilde and who maybe spat on whom at the Don't Worry Darling movie premiere. Styles plays a British cop who is the pointy end in a love triangle that features his to-be wife ( Emma Corrin ) and a museum curator ( David Dawson ), with their messy love stuff played out over two timelines as they try to mend the past much later in life (with different actors). According to critics, the clandestine homosexual relationship in a time where we were far from progressive should be the fuel for this movie's engine, but the actors and woeful mood make this less enjoyable than your average sad love story.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]  

Torn Hearts   (2022)

For fans of:  Country music, mind games

Katay Sagal, Torn Hearts

Director:  Brea Grant Stars:  Katey Sagal, Abby Quinn, and Alexxis Lemire Genre: Horror, Thriller Rating:  Not Rated Metacritic score:   59

Brea Grant follows up her well-received 2022 black comedy horror 12 Hour Shift with this winky thriller about two aspiring female country music artists who see an opportunity to advance their careers with a visit to a reclusive music legend (Sagal). But what looks like a perfect match to record a new song turns into a series of mental and physical games that test just how far the two are willing to go for fame. Yep, a shotgun is involved.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]        

The Northman   (2022)

For fans of:  Drinking the blood of your enemies out of their skulls

Alexander Skarsgard, The Northman

Director:  Robert Eggers Stars:  Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Bang Genre: Drama, Action Rating:  R Metacritic score:   82

Robert Eggers' delightfully violent film set in Viking society was previously only streaming on Peacock, but whatever deals that were needed to bring it to Prime Video were dealt, and that's good news for you because  The Northman  is totally radical. Modern-day Viking  Alexander Skarsgård  stars as a prince out to avenge the death of his father, and he does so with both incredible patience and brutality. Eggers is one of the best filmmakers working today, and  The Northman  is another fine addition to his collection.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]       

Catherine Called Birdy   (2022)

For fans of: Medieval teen dramedies, House Mormont

Bella Ramsey, Catherine Called Birdy

Director:  Lena Dunham Stars:  Bella Ramsey, Andrew Scott, Billie Piper Genre:  YA Drama, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   75

Did you get word from the raven? Period pieces no longer have to be stuffy, boring slogs, and can now feature today's pop hits and Gen Z lingo while still putting their main characters in elaborate gowns and powdered wigs. Lena Dunham takes her turn unstuffing the old times with this film about a young lady ( Game of Thrones '  Bella Ramsey ) in 1290 England whose parents wish to marry her off in order to regain some medieval clout, so she schemes to sabotage their plans. She's precocious, see?  Billie Piper  and  Andrew Scott , both always delightful, also star.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]      

Dog   (2022)

For fans of: Channing Tatum, dogs

Channing Tatum, Dog

Director:  Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin Stars:  Channing Tatum and a Belgian Malinois Genre: Drama, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   61

Putting Channing Tatum and a dog together in a road trip movie is all some people need to know to want to watch this movie, but it has the added surprise of sensitivity as it tells the story of an Army vet (Tatum) racing to his fallen friend's funeral with his friend's dog in tow. It's not a must-see, but it's an easy watch that will get your emotions going without taxing your brain too much.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

Samaritan   (2022)

For fans of:  Superheroes, Sylvester Stallone beating up  Robocop -type street crooks

Javon "Wanna" Walton and Sylvester Stallone, Samaritan

Director:  Julius Avery Stars:  Sylvester Stallone, Javon "Wanna" Walton, Dascha Polanco, Pilou Asbæk Genre:  Superhero, Action Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   45

This dark superhero movie was supposed to save the day in 2020, but a series of delays pushed it back to 2022 and onto Amazon Prime Video instead of theaters. Sylvester Stallone stars as a superhero named Samaritan who goes into hiding for 20 years until a young boy figures out who he is and encourages him to clean up the streets once again. Reviews are... not that great, but it's Stallone, you know? -Tim Surette [ Trailer | Review ]

The Lost City  (2022)

For fans of: Romancing the Stone, sweaty A-listers

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, The Lost City

Director:  Aaron Nee and Adam Nee Stars:  Channing Tatum, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Radcliffe, Brad Pitt Genre:  Adventure, Romance, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   60

This throwback adventure stars Sandra Bullock as a romance novelist who gets kidnapped by an evil billionaire ( Daniel Radcliffe ) who hopes she'll lead him to a secret treasure described in one her books. The vapid male model ( Channing Tatum ) who posed for her book covers decides to come to her rescue, and you can probably guess what happens next. It's a fun film for when you have two hours and a pint of ice cream to kill. Also, Patti Harrison is in it!  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]     

Thirteen Lives (2022)

For fans of: Ron Howard drama, real-life heroism, confined spaces

Thira "Aum" Chutikul and Viggo Mortensen, Thirteen Lives

Director:  Ron Howard Stars:  Viggo Mortenson, Collin Farrell, Joel Edgerton Genre:  Drama Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   66

Ron Howard  directs this thriller film about the 2018 Tham Luang Thai cave rescue of a boys soccer team and its coach by an international group of cave divers. It's one of three projects about the rescue, including National Geographic's already released (and excellent) documentary  The Rescue , which focused on the divers and the rescue efforts and is on Disney+, and Netflix's upcoming limited series  Tham Luang , which focuses on the rescuees. This film covers the whole shebang, with  Viggo Mortensen ,  Colin Farrell , and  Joel Edgerton  playing the heroes.  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]     

Licorice Pizza (2021)

For fans of: The '70s, first loves

Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza

Director:  Paul Thomas Anderson Stars:  Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   90

One of 2021's most cherished films is  Paul Thomas Anderson 's teen romance, which was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Set in 1973 in Southern California's San Fernando Valley, it follows a 15-year-old actor ( Cooper Hoffman ) and his budding relationship with an early-20s photographer's assistant ( Alana Haim ).  -Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]       

Anything's Possible  (2022)

For fans of: Queer teen romance, coming-of-age stories

Eva Reign and Abubakr Ali, Anything's Possible

Director:  Billy Porter Stars:  Eva Reign, Abubakr Ali, Renée Elise Goldsberry,  Genre:  Romance Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   65

The ridiculously talented  Billy Porter  makes his feature film directorial debut with this sweet high school coming-of-age story about a trans girl ( Eva Reign ) and the boy ( Abubkar Ali ) who musters up the courage to ask her out, even though he knows the drama it will cause at school. Important casting note: The inimitable  Renée Elise Goldsberry  is in this.  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ] 

Don't Make Me Go  (2022)

For fans of: Father-daughter tearjerkers, internet boyfriend John Cho

John Cho and Mia Isaac, Don't Make Me Go

Director:  Hannah Marks Stars:  John Cho, Mia Isaac, Kaya Scodelario, Jemaine Clement Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   60

If you have a condition that doesn't allow you to cry, this  John Cho  film may be the cure. Cho stars as a single dad who, after discovering he has a terminal illness (but not a terminal list), embarks on a road trip from California to New Orleans with his teenage daughter to attend his 20-year college reunion. Road trip movies are like totally metaphors, man. This one's about getting to the end and growing up. But be warned: A controversial twist ending has many beating their heads against the wall.  -Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

House of Gucci (2021)

For fans of: Glamour, excess, Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, House of Gucci

Director:  Ridley Scott Stars:  Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino Genre:  Drama, Crime Rating:  R Metacritic score:   59

House of Gucci , the extravagant crime drama that strutted through theaters late last year, is now on Prime Video. The movie, which tells the tragicomic story of how the Gucci family lost ownership of the fashion brand, is directed by  Ridley Scott  and stars  Lady Gaga ,  Adam Driver ,  Al Pacino , and  Jared Leto  doing the Jared Leto thing of being unrecognizable under layers of prosthetics. If you didn't venture out to see it in theaters, you can now watch it for free at home, where you can imitate Lady Gaga's Italian accent without offending anyone. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

Marry Me  (2022)

For fans of:  J. Lo, Owen Wilson's whole thing, Instagram Live

Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, Marry Me

Director:  Kat Coiro Stars:  Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Maluma, Michelle Buteau Genre:  Comedy, Romance, Music Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   51

There's no help for people who don't see the joy in Marry Me . It's a classic Jennifer Lopez rom-com, with J. Lo essentially playing herself — uh, sorry, playing Kat Valdez, a famous pop star who gets stood up by her fiancé (played by Maluma) on the night of their livestreamed hybrid concert/wedding (normal!) and picks a random regular Brooklyn dad (Owen Wilson) out of the audience to marry instead. And wouldn't you know it, they fall in love for real. But they live in two different worlds! Listen, I didn't say it broke the mold, I just said I had a good time watching it. -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ] 

No Time to Die  (2021)

For fans of:  Bond...  James Bond

Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas, No Time to Die

Director:  Cary Fukunaga Stars:  Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Ana de Armas, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw Genre:  Action, Adventure, Thriller Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   68

No Time to Die  is neither the best nor the worst Daniel Craig Bond movie, but it does mark his final appearance as the character, which makes it significant. It's a lengthy, stylish, occasionally inexplicable film that picks up after Bond has left active service with MI6 and is just trying to enjoy living a quiet life as a normal, extraordinarily handsome man. But you can't make a Bond movie about that, so it's all very quickly disrupted when the CIA recruits him to hunt down a mysterious and dangerous villain (Rami Malek).  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ] 

Emergency  (2022)

RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins, Emergency

Director:  Carey Williams Stars:  Sabrina Carpenter, Donald Elise Watkins, RJ Cyler Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   75  

This Amazon film will likely get lost in the noise of the high-profile releases, but do not let it slip by if you're a fan of party comedies. The indie film follows a pair of young Black college seniors (RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins) ready to let loose in a string of parties before spring break when they discover an unconscious white girl in their apartment, with no idea how she got there. Realizing the bad optics of the situation, they (and their Latino roommate) set out to return her to safety without their good intentions being misinterpreted. The movie  got great reviews  when it did the festival circuit earlier this year. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]     

All the Old Knives  (2022)

Thandiwe Newton and Chris Pine, All the Old Knives

Director:  Janus Metz Pederson Stars:  Thandiwe Newton, Chris Pine, Jonathan Pryce, Laurence Fishburne Genre:  Drama, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   63  

All the Old Knives  sounds like a  Knives Out  sequel set in a nursing home (that's a free idea for Rian Johnson), but it's actually a thriller starring  Chris Pine  and  Thandiwe Newton  as spies who are also ex-lovers. I have no complaints about that concept. Based on the novel of the same name by Olen Steinhauer, who wrote the film's screenplay, the movie follows Pine's Henry Pelham as his investigation into a CIA mole becomes entangled in his history with Newton's Celia.  Laurence Fishburne  and  Jonathan Pryce  also star. Pine promoted this one in a  series of to-die-for outfits . - Kelly Connolly  [ Trailer ]      

Master (2022)

Regina Hall, Master

Director:  Mariama Diallo Stars:  Regina Hall, Amber Gray, Zoe Renee Genre:  Drama/Horror Rating:  R Metacritic score:   67  

Regina Hall  gives one of the best performances of her career in this horror movie about racism in the vein of  Get Out . She plays a professor at a prestigious, predominately white New England university with a historical connection to the Salem Witch Trials and a legacy of racism that continues into the present. She, a Black first-year student ( Zoe Renee ), and another Black faculty member ( Amber Gray ) experience racism at the school as a literal haunting. It's an assured debut film from writer-director  Mariama Diallo  (a Yale graduate) that's adept at scares and social commentary.  -Liam Mathews  [ Trailer ]

Lucy and Desi (2022)

Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, Lucy and Desi

Director:  Amy Poehler (yes, that Amy Poehler) Stars:  Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz Genre:  Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   75  

Sure, Nicole Kidman played a great Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin 's biopic Being the Ricardos (also on Amazon), but have you seen Lucille Ball play Lucille Ball? Amy Poehler directs this documentary looking at the lives of I Love Lucy 's stars, both on set and at home. (Not to be confused with Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie , a 1993 documentary directed by Lucy and Desi's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, that is also on Amazon.) - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ] 

The Protégé  (2021)

Maggie Q and Michael Keaton, The Protégé

Director:  Martin Campbell Stars:  Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson Genre:  Action, Thriller, Crime Rating:  R Metacritic score:   48  

Look, if you tell me Maggie Q is starring in an action movie, I'm pretty much already on board. Here, she stars as a contract killer who vows to get brutal, bloody revenge on the people who killed her mentor ( Samuel L. Jackson ). Along the way, she becomes entangled in a game of cat and mouse with another ruthless criminal ( Michael Keaton ), and the two of them have such effortless chemistry it'll make you forget about the movie's shortcomings.  The Protégé  received middling reviews when it was released in theaters, but the fight scenes are well choreographed spectacles that make it the ideal watch when you want to turn your brain off. - Allison Picurro [ Trailer ] 

Book of Love  (2022)

Sam Claflin and Verónica Echegui, Book of Love

Director:  Analeine Cal y Mayor Stars:  Sam Claflin, Verónica Echegui Genre:  Comedy, Romance Metacritic score:   44  

In this silly, sweet romantic comedy, Sam Claflin plays the kind of character Hugh Grant would've played back in the '90s: an uptight British romance author who learns that his latest (and not very good) novel has become a huge hit in Mexico, spurring him to travel there for a book tour. He only realizes after he arrives that the Spanish version of his book has actually been rewritten into a much spicier story that's way more interesting than his original story, all thanks to Maria ( Verónica Echegui ), the woman who translated it. This is the kind of classic rom-com premise that I can't help being utterly endeared by.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ] 

I Want You Back (2022)

For fans of: Jenny Slate, Charlie Day, ill-advised schemes

Jenny Slate, Charlie Day,  I Want You Back

Director: Jason Orley Stars: Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, Scott Eastwood Genre: Comedy, Romance Rating: R Metacritic score: 62

It's a  Jenny Slate  rom-com; it's a  Charlie Day  rom-com; it's a combination Jenny Slate-Charlie Day rom-com! And that means it's actually funny.  I Want You Back pairs up two of Hollywood's most reliable chaos agents as a pair of strangers who bond over being recently dumped, then team up to win back their exes by destroying their new relationships. It's a solid romantic comedy that actually feels fresh, and who doesn't love a messy scheme? - Kelly Connolly [ Trailer ]

A Hero (2021)

For fans of: International films, twisty morality tales

Amir Jadidi, A Hero

Director: Asghar Farhadi Stars: Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Sahar Goldoost  Genre: Drama, Thriller Rating: PG-13 Metacritic score: 82

The latest movie from Iranian filmmaker and two-time Oscar-winner Asghar Farhadi is this tense morality tale that's getting rave reviews from critics. It follows a man (Amir Jadidi) whose debt has landed him in jail, but a chance discovery of some gold coins while on furlough turns him into a national hero when he decides to return the bag of coins to its rightful owner. But beneath this seeming act of altruism lie questions of the man's true intentions.  -Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

Being the Ricardos (2021)

For fans of: Aaron Sorkin, backstage drama

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos

Director: Aaron Sorkin Stars: Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat Genre: Biography, Drama, History Rating: R Metacritic score: 60

Ever want to see Aaron Sorkin stuff the mouths of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with his wordy monologues? Sorkin wrote and directed  Being the Ricardos , a biopic following  I Love Lucy 's Ball and Arnaz during a critical moment in their careers when Ball was accused of being a communist and the gossip rags wondered if their relationship was on the fritz. Early reviews are middling, but the draw here is watching  Nicole Kidman  as Ball and  Javier Bardem  as Arnaz, accompanied by  J.K. Simmons ,  Tony Hale ,  Alia Shawkat  ( Arrested Development  reunion!), and  Nina Arianda . - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

Encounter (2021)

For fans of: Aliens, bugs, aliens that look like bugs

Lucian-River Chauhan, Riz Ahmed, and Aditya Geddada, Encounter

Director: Michael Pearce Stars: Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Rory Cochrane, Janina Gavankar Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Rating: R Metacritic score: 57

Riz Ahmed  follows up his Oscar-nominated turn in last year's  The Sound of Metal  with this paranoid sci-fi thriller that looks like a mix of  Take Shelter  and  War of the Worlds . Ahmed plays Malik Khan, a decorated Marine who takes his two sons and goes AWOL to protect them from an alien threat – and military operatives who are trying to make sure the secret of that threat doesn't get out. It comes from writer-director Michael Pearce, who made the excellent 2017 psychological thriller  Beast , so you can bet there will be some gut-punching twists and some meaty material for Ahmed to work with. The supporting cast includes  Octavia Spencer ,  Janina Gavankar , and  Rory Cochrane .  -Liam Mathews   [ Trailer ]

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)

For fans of: Benedict Cumberbatch, cats

Benedict Cumberbatch and Toby Jones, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Director: Will Sharpe Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones Genre: Biography, Drama, History Rating: PG-13 Metacritic score: 63

Benedict Cumberbatch  plays the eccentric late 19th and early 20th century artist Louis Wain, known for his cat portraits, who falls for his sisters' governess ( Claire Foy ), in this fanciful biographical drama. Reviews for the film have been polite but rarely glowing — which is to be expected from a film created and directed by the dark and whimsical Will Sharpe ( Flowers ) — but it's got Benedict Cumberbatch and cats, so there are a lot of very online people who will certainly love it. Plus,  Olivia Colman  narrates. - Kelly Connolly [ Trailer ]

Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2021)

For fans of: Musicals, sweet coming-of-age stories

Max Harwood, Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Directors: Dan Gillespie Sells, Jonathan Butterell, and Tom MacRae Stars: Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, Sarah Lancashire, Richard E. Grant, Ralph Ineson, Sharon Horgan Genre: Biography, Drama, Comedy, Musical Rating: PG-13 Metacritic score: 62

This stage-to-screen musical film is destined to set your heart aflame -- provided you aren't a hateful malcontent -- as it tells the story of a 16-year-old high schooler's journey against bullying and toward realizing his dream to become a drag queen. It's been reviewed positively with critics likening it to  Billy Elliott , and is exactly the feel-good salve you're desiring. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Big Sick (2017)

For fans of: Pre-Marvel Kumail Nanjiani, heartfelt rom-coms

Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick

Director: Michael Showalter Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano, Holly Hunter Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance Rating: R  Metacritic score: 86

This romantic comedy is based on the actual love story between  Kumail Nanjiani  and his wife, Emily V. Gordon. Nanjiani plays the fictionalized version of himself while  Zoe Kazan  plays the fictionalized version of Emily, whose sudden diagnosis with adult-onset Still's disease — and the coma she falls into — throws a major wrench into their burgeoning relationship. While Kumail and Emily's story is undoubtedly the thing that drives  The Big Sick ,  Ray Romano  and  Holly Hunter , who play Emily's parents, are the movie's grounding forces. You'll probably walk away from this mostly wishing they could adopt you.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Cinderella (2021)

For fans of: Pop songs, using the phrase "so bad it's good"

Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Cabello, Cinderella

Director: Kay Cannon Stars: Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Pierce Brosnan Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Family, Musical Rating: PG Metacritic score: 41

Did we need another  Cinderella  re-telling? Probably not, but here's this movie anyway. In this latest version,  Camila Cabello  plays the fairy tale heroine, now going by simply "Ella," as an aspiring fashion designer with big dreams the traditional society she lives in just isn't ready for. She gets help from her fairy godparent ( Billy Porter ), pushes back against her evil stepmother ( Idina Menzel ), and belts out a lot of classic pop tunes you already know, because this confounding movie is also a jukebox musical. If all of that doesn't turn you off, you're definitely ready for  Cinderella , girlboss edition. It's not "good," per se, but the baffling choices will certainly make you laugh. This could be a new camp classic in the making.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Annette (2021)

For fans of: Adam Driver, creepy puppet babies, A Star Is Born

Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, Annette

Director: Leos Carax Stars: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg, Devyn McDowell Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical Rating: R Metacritic score: 67

If you care at all about film festivals, you've probably already heard of  Annette , but if you haven't, listen carefully: This is a musical where  Adam Driver , speaking in an even lower register than usual, plays Henry, a stand-up comedian who falls in love with  Marion Cotillard 's Ann, an opera singer. Their relationship declines after the birth of their mysteriously prodigious daughter Annette (who is played, confoundingly, by a puppet), and from there it becomes  A Star Is Born  by way of  Marriage Story , but with a touch of surrealism. It's a fast-paced, hallucinatory rollercoaster that is certainly not for everyone, but will definitely have you walk away reeling.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

For fans of: Sequels, the way Borat says "my wiiiiife"

Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Director: Jason Woliner Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova Genre: Comedy Rating: R Metacritic score: 68

It's hard not to be wary when a beloved character is resurrected for a second go-around years later, but  Borat Subsequent Moviefilm  (full title  Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan ) is the rare sequel that works.  Sacha Baron Cohen  returns as Kazakh journalist Borat, and the international fame he's racked up since the first film has hurt more than helped his home country. In an attempt to redeem Kazakhstan, he returns back to America with the hopes of delivering a gift to former President Donald Trump (this movie was released right before the 2020 election, which does admittedly give some of the jokes a ten-second expiration date), but more compelling than all of that is Borat's legitimately sweet relationship with his daughter, Tutar (Maria Bakalova, who absolutely earned the Oscar nomination she received for her performance), who accompanies him on his mission, much to his chagrin. Honestly, the  Rudy Giuliani stuff  is the least interesting thing about this movie. It's good! Wa wa wee wa indeed.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Get Duked! (2019)

For fans of: Trainspotting, psychedelics

Director:  Ninian Doff Stars:  Eddie Izzard, Kate Dickie, Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja, Rian Gordon, Lewis Gribben Genre:  Action, Horror, Comedy, Music Rating:  R Metacritic score:   69

This 2019 British black comedy film will easily remind you of Danny Boyle's bonkers classic  Trainspotting , and it should: three Scottish teens with a knack for partying and doing drugs get into trouble. In  Get Duked! , they're joined by a do-gooder and wander the Highlands to win the Duke of Edinborough Award, a survival challenge that turns boys into men, but they get stuck in the middle of a hunt-or-be-hunted situation with  Eddie Izzard  playing a psycho with a sniper rifle. Believe it or not, it gets weirder from there. Hilarious, ridiculous, and packed with social commentary, this would be regular viewing in weed smoke-filled dorm rooms of the late-'90s. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Handmaiden (2016)

For fans of: Deception, but in a sexy way

Director:  Chan-wook Park Stars: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong Genre:  Drama, Thriller, Romance Rating:  Not rated Metacritic score:   84

The Handmaiden  is one of those movies where every character is scamming another character, resulting in an exciting, dramatic thriller. It starts out as a film about a Korean con man ( Ha Jung-woo ) who devises a pan to seduce a Japanese heiress ( Kim Min-hee ) out of her inheritance. He enlists the help of a pickpocket ( Kim Tae-ri)  to act as the heiress' maid and confidant, tasking her with encouraging marriage between the two. Things begin to get more dangerous as deeper relationships develop in the messy, intertwined trio, which is all I want to say without actually spoiling the plot's genius twists. What you should know going in is that this movie was directed by  Park Chan-wook , who gave us the brutal, bloody  Oldboy , so you should expect some gruesome imagery.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Jolt (2021)

For fans of: Kate Beckinsale violently brutalizing goons

Kate Beckinsale, Jolt

Director:  Tanya Wexler Stars:  Kate Beckinsale, Bobby Cannavale, Laverne Cox, Stanley Tucci, Jai Courtney Genre:  Action, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   48

Kate Beckinsale could have coasted in her career and played a lonely single mom who gets wooed by a hunk in various rom-coms, but thank god she's decided to be a butt-kicking action hero instead. In  Jolt , she plays a woman with a unique condition that you'll only find in movies: If she doesn't electroshock herself with a custom-made harness, she loses her temper and starts to beat the sh-- out of everyone. Let's just say she doesn't always get the jolt she needs in time... a lot. There's also a scene in which she throws babies, and there are many swift kicks to the groin. Dumb fun, good time. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Late Night (2019)

For fans of: Comedies about going to work, Emma Thompson wearing suits

Director:  Nisha Ganatra Stars:  Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Max Casella, Hugh Dancy Genre:  Comedy, Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   70

Mindy Kaling  and  Emma Thompson  star in this extremely sweet-hearted movie, written by Kaling, about a talk show host (played by Thompson) whose popularity is waning as she ages. To help freshen up her writers' room and stop the network from replacing her, she hires a new, inexperienced writer (Kaling). Some of the jokes and job responsibilities admittedly delve a little too far into the inside baseball territory — a lot of importance is placed on Kaling's character becoming co-monologue writer, for example — but overall,  Late Night  is a fun movie about the lengths women have to go to in order to be taken seriously in their careers.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

One Child Nation (2019)

For fans of: Learning about history without opening a book

One Child Nation

Directors:  Nanfu Wang, Zhang Lynn Genre:  History, Documentary Rating:  R Metacritic score:   85

This award-winning documentary will teach you all about a painful chapter in China's history via the one-child policy, which lasted from 1979 to 2015. Real people who lived through such a devastating period speak on their experiences, and the film delves into the damaging effects of government propaganda. Interestingly,  One Child Nation  is given a personal touch by co-director Nanfu Wang, who weaves stories of her own experience as a new mother in with the documentary's overall narrative.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

One Night in Miami... (2020)

For fans of: Historical figures, monologues

Director:  Regina King Stars:  Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr. Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   83

Directed by  Regina King  and based on a play by Kemp Powers,  One Night in Miami...  tells a dramatized account of a 1964 meeting between Malcolm X ( Kingsley Ben-Adir ), Muhammad Ali ( Eli Goree ), Sam Cooke ( Leslie Odom Jr. ), and Jim Brown ( Aldis Hodge ). They spend the night in a Miami hotel room together and end up arguing for a good portion of it, about X's belief that Cooke has sold out by pandering to white audience with his music, and Ali's, referred to in the film as Cassius Clay, decision to convert to Islam and change his name. It's an interesting movie that succeeds in peeling back the curtain on four pretty untouchable cultural icons, revealing more about their anxieties, inner lives, and ambitions than the average biopic would.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Pink: All I Know So Far (2021)

For fans of: P!nk, acrobatics, good music

Director:  Michael Gracey Genre:  Biography, Music, Documentary Rating:  Not rated Metacritic score:   60

What do you know about Pink? (Or, sorry, P!nk, as she apparently prefers to be addressed.) You're probably aware she has the voice of an angel, and that she really, really loves singing while performing aerial tricks, but you might not know much beyond that. This documentary is a highly personal look into her life as a mother. Expect a lot of very sweet scenes of her carting her young children around on tour, some emotional behind the scenes interviews, and to be blown away by her sheer vocal range. It's a fun watch for Pink devotees and new fans alike.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Small Axe (2020)

For fans of: Social justice stories, period pieces

Director:  Steve McQueen Stars:  John Boyega, Letitia Wright, Michael Ward, Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Sheyi Cole, Kenyah Sandy Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic scores:   90 ,  95 ,  84 , 77 ,  87

Small Axe  is peak prestige television in that it's not actually television at all, but instead it's an anthology collection of five films directed by  Steve McQueen . Every installment focuses on London's West Indian community in the years between 1969 and 1982, and each stars a great group of actors that includes  John Boyega ,  Letitia Wright ,  Jack Lowden , and more. The stories don't overlap, but they all do a beautiful job of building out the world, and deal with issues and themes that impact the community, like police brutality, education, and what it means to be part of British society as a person of West Indian descent. On one hand, yes, five films is a lot to ask of viewers, but on the other, it just so happens that McQueen is an incredible director with a strong vision and every one is worth your time. If you only want to try one, give "Lovers Rock," a romance centered around a reggae house party, a spin.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Sound of Metal (2020)

For fans of: Heavy metal band t-shirts, being emotional

Director:  Darius Marder Stars:  Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci Genre:  Drama, Music Rating:  R Metacritic score:   82

I am of the opinion that  Riz Ahmed  gave the best performance of 2020 as a heavy metal drummer losing his hearing in  Sound of Metal , and he very correctly earned an Oscar nomination for it. As Ruben, he explores the emotional trauma of sudden deafness — literally, as it plays out in the film, one minute he can hear perfectly, and the next everything is muffled — and the importance of finding community as he goes to live in a rural home for deaf recovering addicts in order, run by Joe (Paul Raci, also rightfully Oscar-nominated for his work). The way the film utilizes sound design is nothing short of incredible, and most notably, director Darius Marder cast many actual Deaf actors who help bring the story to life.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Suspiria (2018)

For fans of: Witches, dancers, witchy dancers, Tilda Swinton

Director:  Luca Guadagnino Stars:  Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth Genre:  Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror Rating:  R Metacritic score:   64

Luca Guadagnino  directs this remake of the 1977 Dario Argento horror classic.  Dakota Johnson  stars as Susie, a seemingly fresh-faced dancer who travels from Ohio to Berlin to study at an elite dance academy and is quickly named head dancer. As  Suspiria  unfolds, and as more students and teachers are found dead or go missing entirely, and it becomes increasingly clear that something very sinister and supernatural is going on underneath the surface. Also,  Tilda Swinton  plays three roles, and for one of them she gets to dress up as an old man. It's kooky, it's campy, and it's also very, very scary.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Sylvie's Love (2020)

For fans of: Tessa Thompson, period romance

Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha,  Sylvie's Love

Director:  Eugene Ashe Stars: Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha Genre:  Drama, Romance, Music Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   74

If sweeping romance is your thing,  Sylvie's Love  should be your next watch. Set in New York City in 1962,  Tessa Thompson  stars as Sylvie, an aspiring TV producer who strikes up a summer romance with a saxophonist (Nnamdi Asomugha) who works at her father's record store. Life eventually drags them apart, and they both go on without each other for a while, only to reunite years later to find that their connection remains just as strong.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Tomorrow War (2021)

For fans of: Independence Day , action broken up with passable humor

Chris Pratt, Keith Powers, and Sam Richardson, The Tomorrow War

Director:  Chris McKay Stars:  Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J. K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson Genre:  Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, War Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   45

A muscly and brainy  Chris Pratt  stars as a scientist who, along with thousands of others, is zapped 30 years into the future to help future soldiers fight an alien invasion and save the human race. Yeah, if that insane logline doesn't turn you off then you should enjoy this popcorn flick that doesn't take itself too seriously — as evidenced by the many one-liners from comedians  Sam Richardson , Mike Mitchell , and Mary Lynn Rajskub — but doesn't skimp on hours of soldiers unloading clips into grotesque aliens. It'll remind you of  Starship Troopers  without that sharp commentary.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Uncle Frank (2020)

For fans of: Road trips, Paul Bettany's American accent

Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, and Peter Macdissi, Uncle Frank

Director:  Alan Ball Stars:  Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   58

This movie is a little bit like if someone tried to update  Little Miss Sunshine  and focus primarily on Steve Carell's character, but in a good way. Beth ( Sophia Lillis ) moves from her small North Carolina hometown to good ol' New York City, and immediately crashes into her favorite uncle's life. She finds out that Frank ( Paul Bettany ) is gay and has been living with his boyfriend Wally ( Peter Macdissi ) for years, while successfully keeping it a secret from the rest of their family. And because this is a movie, the secret is of course put in jeopardy when Frank's father dies and he, Beth, and Wally embark on a road trip to attend the funeral.  Uncle Frank balances its comedic and dramatic moments well, and your heart will ache during the flashbacks to Frank's adolescence, where he was first confronted with his family's homophobia. Plus, an always perfect  Judy Greer  co-stars.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Intimate portraits of '80s icons

Val Kilmer, Val

Directors:  Leo Scott, Ting Poo Genre:  Documentary Rating:  R Metacritic score:   73

Val Kilmer gets the autobiographical treatment in this intimate documentary about his life and career. Kilmer lends his own home movies he's taken over the years to the film — which includes videos from the set of  Batman Forever , and footage of younger versions of Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon just hanging out — and provides a look at his struggle with throat cancer, from which he's still recovering and has left him using a prosthesis in order to speak. It's more revealing than the standard celebrity doc.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Vast of Night (2019)

For fans of: That '80s and '90s sci-fi feel, first-time directors making a huge splash

Sierra McCormick, The Vast of Night

Director:  Andrew Patterson Stars: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz Genre:  Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   84

This 2019 science-fiction film from director Andrew Patterson is one of the best directorial debuts of the last decade, with Patterson's keen eye able to bring to life a small town experiencing strange phenomena from the sky. Featuring some  truly incredible continuous shots featuring hundreds of extras  and  one of my favorite intimate cinematic scenes featuring just one person on screen ,  The Vast of Night  is a film school student's dream that follows a young switchboard operator and a disc jockey in 1950s New Mexico trying to find the source of unidentified sounds, and it's an entrancing thriller from the opening shot to the closing seconds. - Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

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The 21 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

In Recent years, Netflix and Apple TV+ have been duking it out to have the most prestigious film offerings, but some of the best movies are on Amazon Prime Video. The streamer was one of the first to go around picking up film festival darlings and other lovable favorites, and they’re all still there in the library, so if they flew under your radar the first time, now is the perfect time to catch up.

Our picks for the 16 best movies on Amazon Prime are below. All the films in our guide are included in your Prime subscription—no renting here. Once you’ve watched your fill, check out our lists for the best shows on Netflix and best movies on Disney+ if you’re looking for something else to watch. We also have a guide to the best shows on Amazon if that’s what you’re in the mood for.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more .

A larger-than-life biopic of “The King” from director Baz Luhrmann ( Moulin Rouge ), Elvis charts Presley's meteoric rise from impoverished childhood to becoming the biggest music artist in the world. While Luhrmann brings every hip-shaking sex scandal and thrilling performance to vivid life, the heart of the movie is the increasingly fractious relationship between Elvis and his notorious manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Austin Butler is remarkable as Elvis, turning in fantastic performances that'll leave you all shook up, while Tom Hanks offers an increasingly menacing, desperate take on Parker (just try to overlook the accent). Celebrating Presley's legacy without being overly fawning, this jukebox drama is a testament to Luhrmann's singular talents as a filmmaker.

Brittany Runs a Marathon

When Brittany (Jillian Bell) is told by her doctor to lose weight, she uses it as a reason to take control of her life. She starts by putting on a pair of trainers and challenging herself to run one block, which quickly escalates into deciding to run the New York City Marathon. First-time director Paul Downs Colaizzo based the story on the experiences of his friend, and highlights not only the benefits of running but also the pain. This film shows that no matter how bad things get, you can still get back up.

American Fiction

Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) is a successful professor of literature but a struggling author, his books constantly rejected for not being “Black enough.” After seeing fellow novelist Sintara Golden (Issa Rae) lauded for her pandering, stereotypical work, Monk pseudonymously pens a novel filled with every lazy trope and cliché he can imagine to lampoon the situation—but is horrified when it becomes an instant success. As a massive advance turns into a multimillion-dollar movie deal, Monk spirals as everyone from the public to his own family seems to love the deliberately offensive work. Based on Percival Everett's novel Erasure, American Fiction is a darkly satirical work with a wicked sense of humor—an all-too-rare modern comedy with something to say, fronted by one of the finest performances of Wright's career.

The Idea of You

The best rom-coms tend to succeed thanks to how unrealistic they are—the improbable meet-cute, the heightened emotions, the exaggerated gestures of affection, the dizzying spin of falling head over heels for someone. It's something The Idea of You perfectly nails as it charts the relationship between successful gallery owner Solène Marchand (Anne Hathaway) and global music superstar Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine)—who also happens to be 16 years her junior. It could so easily have been cheap scandal fodder—and that’s how it’s played in-universe when the paparazzi get wind of Hayes’ relationship with the “older woman”—but as the pair embark on a globe-trotting romance, the charismatic leads serve up enough genuine chemistry to sweep the audience up in the whirlwind of it all. It’s ultimately less “will they, won’t they?” and more “should they, shouldn’t they?” thanks to a well-handled awareness of the age gap (already narrowed from the source novel by Robinne Lee), but for fans of the genre, it’s a delight.

There’s been no shortage of controversy over director Doug Liman's update of the classic ’80s action flick, from arguments over its supposed cinematic release to its use of CGI for some aspects of its bone-crunching fight scenes. Step back from the real-world drama though, and this is a fun, turn-brain-off-now way to kill a lazy afternoon. Swapping in the Florida Keys for the original’s Missouri setting, and trading Patrick Swayze’s James Dalton for Jake Gyllenhaal’s brooding Elwood Dalton—now with a tortured past as a UFC fighter, of course—this still delivers a satisfying tale of one man clearing out local crime lords, one brutal fistfight at a time. It’s far from high art, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. If you’re still not sold, it’s worth noting that the 1989 original is also currently on Prime for you to compare and contrast.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Adapted from the stage play of the same name—which in turn was based on a true story—this joyful musical charts the journey of Jamie New (Max Harwood). Bullied at school for being gay, and estranged from his homophobic father, Jamie dreams of escape through the art of drag—and when he finds a mentor in retired drag performer Hugo Battersby (a scene-stealing Richard E. Grant), he's soon on his way to bringing his inner queen “Mimi Me” to life. Rooted in Sheffield, England, it's a tale that dances between themes of class and culture while celebrating the importance of self-expression and the liberating power of drag.

Every high school has its social hierarchy, and PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) are at the bottom of theirs. Known as the “ugly, untalented gays” even to the faculty, their only hope of getting with two of the school's most popular cheerleaders, Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) and Brittany (Kaia Gerber), is, err, setting up an all-girl fight club to teach them how to handle their cheating, disrespectful jock boyfriends. OK, it might sound like the set-up to some dodgy ’70s exploitation flick—and with an approach to violence that straddles the line between raucous and ridiculous, it's never a million miles removed from that—but Bottoms is far smarter and more subversive than its premise would suggest. Defying expectations at every turn, this is the queer, rage-filled, hilarious twist on the high school comedy you (probably) never knew you needed.

Oxford student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is having trouble fitting in at the prestigious British university—until he befriends the popular Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Handsome, rich, and born to the landed gentry, Felix brings the awkward, socially invisible Oliver into his circle, eventually inviting him to spend summer at the family estate, Saltburn. But as Oliver works his way into the family's graces, 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 4:3 aspect ratio for a tighter, almost voyeuristic viewing experience that makes its frequently unsettling moments even more uncomfortable. Having attracted plenty of debate since its 2023 release—not least for how it questionably navigates its themes of class and social inclusion— Saltburn was one of the year's most divisive films, but one that demands your attention.

Courtroom dramas are rarely laugh riots, but this tale of funeral home director Jeremiah O'Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) and his flashy lawyer Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) taking on a major player in America's "death care" system brings a dark sense of humor to already grim proceedings. 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 funereal care and the way Black communities were being regularly overcharged. Foxx and Jones are in top form throughout, but it's Jurnee Smollett as Mame Downes, Gary's rival attorney who threatens to outpace him at every turn, whose performance threatens to steal the whole movie. For a film about death, The Burial proves warmly life-affirming.

A Million Miles Away

Charting the life of José Hernández, this biopic—based on Hernández's own book—mixes the aspirational with the inspirational as it follows its central figure's rise from, in his own words, migrant farm worker to the first Mexican-American astronaut. Michael Peña is in fine form as Hernández, painting a picture of a man almost myopically driven to reach space, no matter the cost, while Rosa Salazar impresses as his wife Adela, refusing to fade into the background even as she puts her own dreams on pause for José to chase the stars. In lesser hands, this could all be cloying—a twee tale of hard work and achieving the American Dream, with a dash of NASA promo material on the side, but director Alejandra Márquez Abella has her lens as focused on the small beauties of life here on Earth as the splendor and sheer potential of space. A rare delight.

Red, White, and Royal Blue

Look, this is clearly a “best film” by a highly specific metric—and that metric is “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, going from rivals through to grudging respect, and ultimately groundbreaking romance. It's often ludicrous, including an inciting incident seeing the pair falling into a wedding cake, a tabloid-worthy tryst in a hotel room, and political intrigue surrounding Alex's mother, President Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman, vamping scenes with a bizarre “Texan” accent), but it's all just irresistibly wholesome and upbeat. Red, White, and Royal Blue is the movie equivalent of pizza—not good for you, but still delicious.

Shin Masked Rider

If you’re sick of cookie-cutter Hollywood superhero movies, then this ground-up reboot of one of Japan’s most beloved heroes deserves your attention. Helmed by Hideaki Anno ( Evangelion , Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman —“shin” meaning “new” or “true” in Japanese), this revamps the 1971 TV series Kamen Rider. Like that show, it follows motorcyclist Takeshi Hongo (Sosuke Ikematsu). Kidnapped by the terrorist organization S.H.O.C.K.E.R. and forcibly converted into a powerful cyborg, Hongo escapes before being reprogrammed as an agent of the group, instead using his newfound powers to take down its forces. However, unlike the original, Anno’s approach taps into the body horror of the core concept, while also challenging his characters—and audience—to hang onto their intrinsic humanity in the face of a world trying to dehumanize them. It’s more violent than you’d probably expect, often showing the grisly outcome of regular people getting punched by superpowered cyborgs and monsters, but never gratuitous. While those with some understanding of the source material will get more out of Shin Masked Rider , it’s an exciting outing for anyone looking for something a bit fresher from their hero movies.

Sure, nowadays Michael Jordan is a bona fide sports god, and Nike’s Air Jordan sneakers are still arguably  the court shoe—but that wasn’t the case back in 1984. Jordan was a rookie, and Nike was about to close down its basketball shoe division. Enter Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a talent scout for the footwear maker who has spotted a rising star in North Carolina who could turn everything around—he just needs to convince everyone else that Jordan is worth betting the company on. We all know how that panned out, so thankfully  Air is more than a two-hour advert for shoes. Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, and director Ben Affleck all deliver strong performances—only to be utterly eclipsed by Viola Davis in a magnetic and powerful, if somewhat underutilized, turn as matriarch Deloris Jordan—while Alex Convery’s script keeps the drama on the people and personalities involved, rather than the boardroom. In an age of franchises and endless blockbusters,  Air is the sort of character-focused film that rarely gets made anymore, and is all the more enjoyable for it.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Kazakh” TV reporter (even if he speaks Hebrew) travels back to the US, 14 years after his last feature-long escapade. This time Baron Cohen has brought his (Bulgarian-speaking) teenage daughter along, with the mission of giving her “as a gift” to some powerful American politicians—initially Mike Pence, then Rudy Giuliani. In classic Boratic fashion, the mockumentary follows the wacky duo on a cavalcade 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 as the film was being shot, is subverted as a comedic plot point. Baron Cohen delivers, with the expected repertoire of shock gags and deadpanned verbal enormities, and he manages to land some punches at the expense of bigots, too. In contrast to its 2006 predecessor, many of the pranks and stunts here seem more aimed at eliciting the audience’s nervous laughter than at exposing America’s heart of darkness, but it remains a worthy—and funny—watch.

Shotgun Wedding

A raucous spin on the traditional romcom,  Shotgun Wedding lures viewers with a cliché setup—a ceremony on a tropical island, with hijinks courtesy of bickering in-laws—before exploding, literally, into an action escapade as the wedding party is taken hostage by violent pirates. If we’re being honest, it’s a little hammy and self-aware in places, but leads Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel are clearly having so much fun as bride and groom Darcy and Tom, whose special day turns into an often hilariously gory battle for survival, that it’s easy to be swept along for the ride. With a solid supporting cast, including the ever-entertaining Jennifer Coolidge as the mother of the groom stealing every scene she graces with her gloriously chaotic presence, this is a wedding worth RSVPing to.

Aisha (Anna Diop) is a Senegalese woman working as a nanny for a rich couple in New York City, hoping to earn enough to bring her son and cousin to join her in America. However, her future is at the mercy of 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 weighs on her, Aisha begins having strange dreams of drowning, worsened 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, while swapping the expected tropes of hope and opportunity for a palpable sadness for culture and community left behind.  Nanny takes a slow-burn, psychological approach to its scares, but Diop is phenomenal throughout, and the meticulous pacing and gorgeous cinematography means every frame lingers.

Coming 2 America

Relying on nostalgia to carry new entries in long-dormant series can be risky business, 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, before director Craig Brewer ( Hustle and Flow ) reverses the formula and tests 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 be a comedy sequel that stands up to the reputation of its predecessor.

Thirteen Lives

Director Ron Howard’s latest gathers a top-notch cast—including Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton—for a dramatization of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, where a Thai junior soccer team and their assistant coach were trapped in the flooded cave system. As an international effort mounts to save the children, the challenges of navigating miles of underwater caverns become ever more dangerous, and Howard masterfully captures every perilously claustrophobic moment of it. A nail-bitingly tense movie with some ingeniously shot aquatic scenes, Thirteen Lives is a testament to one of the most difficult rescues ever performed.

One Night in Miami …

Based on the play of same name, One Night in Miami follows four icons of culture, music, and sports—Malcolm X, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Muhammad Ali—at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a converging and pivotal point in their lives and careers. Meeting in a motel room in the wake of Ali’s—then still Cassius Clay—heavyweight victory over Sonny Liston in 1964, the four men discuss their roles in the movement and society as a whole, all while the audience knows the weight of history is bearing down on them. The close confines of much of the film reflect its theatrical roots, but this feature directorial debut from Regina King perfectly portrays the larger-than-life personalities of its cast. Kingsley Ben-Adir is on fire as Malcolm X, with Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., and Eli Goree—as Brown, Cooke, and Ali—all utterly magnetic.

Produced by Amazon, The Report is an engrossing depiction of the US Senate's investigation into the CIA's “enhanced interrogation” program—how it came to be, who knew about it, and how the CIA massaged the facts to support its efficacy. Adam Driver stars as Daniel Jones, the lead investigator who plowed an increasingly lonely path to the truth, battling against political resistance and CIA interference all the way. Driver is, as is his habit these days, superb, and the film's 82 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes is well earned.

Sound of Metal

Punk-rock drummer and recovering addict Ruben starts experiencing hearing loss, and it threatens to upend his entire life. Faced with an impossible choice between giving up his hearing or giving up his career, Ruben begins to spiral, until his girlfriend Lou checks him into a rehab center for the deaf, forcing him to confront his own behavior as much as the future he faces. Riz Ahmed is in spectacular form as the troubled Ruben, while Olivia Cooke’s turn as Lou, who suffers with her own demons, including self-harm, is riveting. Fittingly enough, Sound of Metal also features incredibly nuanced use of sound—and its absence—as director Darius Marder crafts one of the finest dramas in recent years.

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15 best documentaries on amazon prime right now.

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New On Amazon Prime Video: All 108 Movies & TV Shows Arriving In September

The 30 best movies on amazon prime right now (september 2024), the 30 best tv shows on amazon prime video (september 2024).

• Amazon Prime Video offers a diverse range of documentaries, from space to sports, catering to various interests and preferences.
• The documentaries on Prime cover award-winning releases, true-crime stories, inspirational sports tales, and even dark truths behind reality TV.
• The platform showcases powerful and emotional documentaries like 'Good Night Oppy' and 'I Am: Celine Dion,' sharing personal and impactful stories.

A film genre that has particularly thrived with the popularity of streaming is documentaries, and the best documentaries available on Amazon Prime Video offer unique looks at a multitude of subjects. From space and the universe's origins to sports biographies, Amazon Prime Video has something to offer in almost every documentary category. Whether subscribers want an in-depth look at the cultural problems impacting society today or the shocking behind-the-scenes stories of reality TV shows, Amazon's streaming platform is almost guaranteed to have a documentary available on the subject.

Given the abundance of choice of documentaries on Amazon Prime Video, it can sometimes be challenging to narrow down a selection, though the best show that the streaming platform has clear strengths. While Netflix has numerous true-crime documentaries , Amazon Prime Video caters a little more toward feel-good stories , from inspirational sports documentaries to biopics of beloved celebrities. That said, there are also some true-crime stories on Prime for subscribers who prefer that subject, and many documentaries on every subject are award-winning releases.

Prime Video has one of the largest streaming catalogs, and this is every movie and TV show coming to the Amazon service this month.

15 Deliver Us From Evil (2006)

A haunting examination of sexual abuse in the catholic church.

There have been several documentaries and narrative films chronicling the accusations sexual abuse against children in the Catholic Church. Amazon Prime Video has a documentary about the subject that received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature called Deliver Us From Evil . In this documentary feature, a priest named Oliver O'Grady admits to molesting and abusing at least 25 children in California since 1973.

The documentary is a shocking indictment of the church officials and their seemingly narrow focus on protecting their own image.

Deliver Us From Evil not only interviews this man but also looks into hearings with leaders of the Catholic Church, who allegedly helped cover up his crimes for years by just moving him to different churches and asking him to seek a psychiatrist's help rather than report the abuse to authorities. The documentary is a shocking indictment of the church officials and their seemingly narrow focus on protecting their own image above protecting children . This powerful, haunting movie has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

14 Alison (2016)

The story of a woman's near-death experience.

Alison presents a shocking and terrifying true-crime documentary from the perspective of a woman who survived a horrific attack in 1994 . Alison Botha was a teenage girl who was abducted, sexually assaulted, stabbed multiple times, and almost decapitated by two men in South Africa. When arrested, one of the men claimed he was possessed by a demon when they committed the crimes, as this crime occurred during South Africa's Satanic panic epidemic, which was widespread throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

But what makes Alison such a great documentary is that it isn't about the criminals who almost killed Alison. Based on the book I Have Life by Marianne Thamm, this is a movie about how Alison not only lived but refused to see herself as a victim . She spends her life traveling and sharing her story to other survivors who have also experienced trauma. The documentary won the Best Documentary Feature at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.

13 Lucy And Desi (2022)

A documentary about the golden-age power couple.

Lucy and Desi (2022)

Not available

Lucy and Desi is a 2022 documentary about the great Lucille Ball's life and her relationship and marriage to Desi Arnaz. The two starred together on I Love Lucy , a sitcom that revolutionized the genre during its run from 1951 to 1957. Directed by Amy Poehler (her documentary directorial debut), the movie looks behind the curtain at the relationship between Lucy and Desi with interviews from daughter Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, producer Norman Lear, comedian Carol Burnett, and many more.

Easily one of the best documentaries on Amazon Prime Video of recent years, Lucy and Desi earned six Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. It won two Emmy Awards (Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score). Critics praised the documentary for its entertainment and educational aspects , awarding it a 94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

12 Good Night Oppy (2022)

Footage from the famed mars rover.

In 2003, scientists sent a robot they built to Mars. The rover Opportunity's (nicknamed "Oppy") goal was to last about three months and send back information about the Red Planet. No one expected Oppy, who was given a design that almost looked like it had a face, to survive several natural disasters on Mars and send back footage and information for 15 years. Along the way, the scientists and general public came to know Oppy as a friend and built a relationship with the rover as it lived on Mars.

Good Night Oppy won the Best Documentary Feature at the 7th Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.

Created by Amazon Studios and released for a short theatrical engagement in theaters before hitting Prime Video, Good Night Oppy explores Oppy's history before detailing its final days on Mars in 2018. Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television teamed with Film 45 to produce the documentary with Industrial Lige & Magic (ILM), which provided the animation to show what the mission might have looked like. Critics praised it, and the documentary holds an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score.

11 I Am Celine Dion (2024)

A look at the life & struggles of singer celine dion.

I Am: Celine Dion

Celine Dion is one of the world's most successful musical artists, selling over 200 million records worldwide and delivering sold-out shows during a Las Vegas residency that lasted for years. However, Dion's life has been tough, as she also deals with stiff-person syndrome , a disorder that affects her body, causing stiffness, chronic pain, and spasms. I Am: Celine Dion looks at her career and how this disorder (discovered in 2022) caused her to cancel her tour and slow down on her performances.

The documentary, released originally by Amazon MGM Studios before landing on Prime Video, received universal acclaim. It has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise going to Dion's willingness to expose her vulnerabilities and struggles with the hope of helping others who find things beyond their grasp hindering their lives. Critics praised the honesty and how the documentary takes a megastar and helps show the real person she is.

10 Val (2021)

Val kilmer tells his life story.

Val Kilmer was always a huge movie star, from his youth with friends like Kevin Bacon, to later years when he took on roles in movies like Tombstone , Batman Forever , and The Doors . However, Kilmer's life took a turn when he contracted throat cancer and saw his career come to an end. In 2021, Kilmer released a documentary about his life that he wrote, while his son, Jack Kilmer, narrated his father's words. The movie is about the full life Kilmer enjoyed, both the highs and the lows.

Val Kilmer shot over 800 hours of video footage over his life that was edited down for this movie (via IndieWire )

The documentary is an in-depth, one-of-a-kind look at Kilmer because it includes footage from his own home videos he shot when he was young. Kilmer said that he was the first person he knew who had a home video camera and this includes footage of him and some of the biggest teen stars of the '80s in never-before-seen footage. The documentary was critically acclaimed, with a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and shows the star at his most reflective.

9 Dear Zachary (2008)

A documentary about a murdered father, made for a son who never knew him, dear zachary: a letter to a son about his father.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a documentary directed by Kurt Kuenne that centers on the life and death of Dr. Andrew Bagby. The film serves as a poignant tribute and a message to Bagby's son, chronicling the emotional journey of family and friends grappling with loss. This documentary combines personal narrative with a broader exploration of justice and tragedy.

Directed by Kurt Kuenne, 2008's Dear Zachary is a fascinating true-crime documentary about Kuene's childhood friend Andrew Bagby, who was murdered years later by a woman named Shirley Jane Turner . The movie shows how the woman murdered Bagby and then fled to Canada before she could be arrested. She was pregnant with Bagby's unborn baby, and a judge released her pending trial and allowed her to retain custody of the child.

The movie helped convince Canada to create a new law called the Bagby Bill to protect children during bail hearings (via The Telegram ).

Kuenne started to make a documentary to show the world who his friend was, as Bagby had starred in many of Kuenne's student films, and there was a lot of footage about the man. However, when Kuenne learned that Bagby's son was born, he wanted to make the movie for the boy to learn more about his father. While the documentary has a tragic ending, it's an important story. The movie has a high 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

8 American Movie (1999)

Chris smith's groundbreaking documentary film.

American Movie

American Movie is a documentary directed by Chris Smith, chronicling the efforts of aspiring filmmaker Mark Borchardt. The film provides an in-depth look at Borchardt's determination to complete his low-budget horror movie, Coven, showcasing his personal struggles, financial hurdles, and unwavering passion for filmmaking. The documentary highlights the challenges faced by independent filmmakers and the persistence required to realize artistic visions despite numerous obstacles.

Released in 1999, American Movie was a documentary that showed the labor of love of young people setting out to make their own independent movie. Released in an era when names like Kevin Smith and Robert Rodriguez proved that artists could become mainstream directors by making their own small films, American Movie follows Mark Borchardt, a young man in Wisconsin who wants to make a short horror movie to help find investors for a full-length feature.

Chris Smith also directed the documentary Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened .

Directed by Chris Smith, the documentary shows Borchardt and his struggles to get his horror movie Coven made, including working with the only resources he has and no money to really help. There is also footage of his big idea project for the movie Northwestern that he hopes he can one day find the financing to make. At its heart, the movie is about someone wanting to achieve the "American Dream," even if that seems out of reach . It won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and is a cult classic.

7 Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles (2023)

Australian children's show that took the world by storm decades before bluey.

Australian children's music group The Wiggles formed in 1991 and has been active ever since, albeit with changes in the lineup. They have been hugely successful, with their music played in preschools all over the world. Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles is a Prime Video exclusive documentary that premiered in October 2023 and tells the story of the group, their megahit 1998 TV show, and how their songs like the titular "Hot Potato" have continued to entertain children decades later.

The Amazon Prime Video documentary Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles looks at the highs and lows of the band , including introducing the first female Wiggle and Tsheay Hawkins, the first Black woman to become a Wiggle, years later. The documentary is also emotional, going into detail about how one of the original members, Greg, had to leave for health reasons, and that the success of the children's music group came with struggles just like any other genre.

6 Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets (2023)

The dark truth behind the reality tv family.

Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets

Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets is a documentary mini-series created for Prime Video. The series follows the sprawling Duggar family, a reality TV religious family that follows a rigorous religious family organization. The series explores the darker truths of the family and the massive extreme religious organization known as The Institute in Basic Life Principles.

The Duggars were one of the most well-known reality TV families from 2008-2015, thanks to 19 Kids and Counting . Viewers tuned in by the millions to see Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar raise their 19 children under a strict religious upbringing. However, in 2021, the TLC reality franchise came crashing down midway through production of the spin-off Counting On when son Josh Duggar ended up convicted of possession of child pornography.

Jill Duggar is the center of Shiny Happy People as she breaks down what happened

The 2023 Amazon Prime Video documentary is an exposé on what really went on. Jill Duggar is the center of Shiny Happy People as she breaks down what happened behind the scenes of 19 Kids and Counting, and inside the church the family followed. Shiny Happy People delves into Josh Duggar's past and criminal charges. However, that controversial scandal isn't the only focus of this movie, which details the entire history of the family's scandals.

5 Kelce (2023)

A tale of two brothers going head-to-head in the nfl.

Kelce is a sports documentary by director Don Argott that chronicles the career and the 2022-23 season of Philadelphia Eagles captain Jason Kelce. Highlighting Kelce's internal struggle to retire from the NFL, his twelfth season winds up being one of his most important yet, both on the field and at home, leaving him to wonder whether or not it is time to truly leave the game behind yet.

Once NFL star Travis Kelce began dating Taylor Swift, he found himself at the center of the media spotlight. However, at the same time, the world was also enraptured by his brother, Jason Kelce thanks to the Amazon Prime Video documentary, simply titled Kelce . Kelce was filmed during the 2022 NFL season, which ended with Travis and Jason playing each other in the Super Bowl .

The documentary was supposed to tell the story of Kelce's final season before his retirement, but that changed with the Super Bowl run and Kelce's decision to remain in football . More of a biopic than a football documentary, Kelce tells one of the most interesting career stories in modern sports. While Jason finally retired after the 2023 NFL season, he remains in the spotlight thanks to a podcast with his brother, and this documentary really takes fans behind the curtain to see the man behind the legend.

4 Long Strange Trip (2017)

The highs and lows of the grateful dead.

Long Strange Trip

Long Strange Trip is a 2017 documentary film directed by Amir Bar-Lev that chronicles the history of the Grateful Dead. It traces the band's journey from their formation in the mid-1960s to their status as a cultural phenomenon, offering insights into their music, fans, and the challenges they faced over three decades. The film presents archival footage, interviews, and concert performances to explore the band's enduring legacy.

Following the career of the well-known rock band The Grateful Dead, Long Strange Trip is perfect for both Amazon Prime Video subscribers who are fans of the band and those who enjoy music documentaries. This moving and representative documentary of the band members' lives doesn't shy away from every aspect of their journey and the sacrifices they make for both their fans and their love of music.

The documentary was released in 2017 at Sundance and then got a limited theatrical release (with a 238-minute running time) before Prime Video broke it up and released it as a six-part miniseries. With Martin Scorsese as one of the executive producers, the film included new interviews and featured a soundtrack of songs by the band, which earned a Grammy Award nomination. As far as band biopics go, Long Strange Trip is among the best available on Amazon Prime Video.

3 Gleason (2016)

A professional athlete battles a fatal motor neuron disease.

Gleason is a documentary film directed by Clay Tweel, chronicling the life of former NFL player Steve Gleason following his ALS diagnosis. The film follows Gleason's personal and professional struggles, his relationship with his wife and newborn son, and his efforts to raise awareness for ALS through his foundation. Gleaning insights into resilience and family, the documentary provides a heartfelt exploration of living with terminal illness.

This heartfelt documentary covers former professional football player Steve Gleason as he is diagnosed with ALS, and is a video diary he made for his unborn son as his family tries to raise money for a cure. In this raw and unfiltered documentary, the audience is forced to reflect on their own lives and situations. With its in-depth commentary and uncut realism, v iewers get straight to the emotional story of the effects ALS can have on both a person and their family.

In 2019, Gleason was awarded with a Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions to ALS awareness.

Gleason played for the New Orleans Saints for six seasons. He announced five years after he retired that he was battling ALS and the footage for this documentary includes five years of his battle with the disease. Although it can at times be hard to watch, Gleason is a story of triumph, pain, courage, sacrifice, and ultimately love . It also doesn't have a sad ending, as Gleason is still alive and helping spread awareness for ALS research and treatments.

2 All Or Nothing: A Season With The Arizona Cardinals (2016)

Amazon prime video gets closer than ever with the nfl.

From both Amazon and the NFL, this documentary is an unprecedented look into the lives of the Arizona Cardinals coaches, players, and their families both on and off the field. For fans of the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals, and those who enjoy sports documentaries, All Or Nothing offers near-unrivaled insight into the highs and lows of life in the NFL . While Max has specialized in the format with its Hard Knocks series, that series is about preparing for the season, while the Amazon Prime Video documentary is about playing through the entire season.

Other seasons follow the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers.

All or Nothing has followed five different NFL teams over its run (with the last season coming in 2020 with the Philadelphia Eagles). However, it was the first season with the Cardinals that remains the best of the bunch. For soccer, hockey, and rugby fans, there are also seasons based on those sports.

1 The Hornet's Nest (2014)

An unflinching glimpse into the reality of the afghanistan campaign.

Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist Mike Boettcher spent his career covering important events. However, nothing matched the assignment of going into the United States war in Afghanistan to document the troops' lives and battles while over there. The documentary this produced, The Hornet's Nest, is difficult to watch but is easily one of the best documentaries about war or any other subject on Amazon Prime Video .

The harrowing part comes in the second half of the movie when Boettcher goes into a battle in one of the conflict's most dangerous locations — a valley known to the troops as the Hornet's Nest. Not everyone came home from this battle alive, and he was there to document it all, capturing a terrifying moment in history. Boettcher's in-depth and raw look at such a tough subject makes The Hornet's Nest stand high above most war movies, both narrative and documentary.

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10 engaging biopics to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar

Numerous people with fascinating journeys have walked the earth. However, the stories of a lot of them are either too convoluted to read in the history books , or completely unheard of. A well-produced cinematic work, in that case, can serve to be an uncomplicated, if small, peek into their lives, struggles, inspirations and ideologies—while also teaching us a few things along the way. If you're planning on catching up on some great biographical dramas to watch this weekend, here are 10 films to add to your list.

Mary Kom (2014)

Based on the life of India's decorated boxing champion, the film chronicles Mary Kom's life—from her discovering a boxing glove from an airplane wreckage as a child to winning the 2008 World Boxing Championship. A farmer's daughter, Mary faces a lot of challenges as her father is against the idea of her pursuing the sport and her family is facing financial troubles. She sticks to her passion and sees success. While she does go through a phase of self-doubt, she restarts her career to prove the doubters wrong, nevertheless. The movie features Priyanka Chopra in the lead role.

Streaming on Netflix

The Theory of Everything (2014)

One of the greatest physicists in recent times, professor Stephen Hawking's life was nothing short of a battle. Based on a memoir by his first wife, Jane Hawking, the film tells the story of the couple from their Cambridge days in the 1960s. It highlights the inception of his interest in black holes and his diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The journey is showcased brilliantly as they defy all odds together. Stephen's struggle to cope with his condition along with progressing in his research and theories is a delight to experience.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)

Having always dreamt of becoming a pilot, Gunjan Saxena's passion knows no bounds. Her mother and brother are against the idea, but she has the constant support of her father. After applying to an aviation school, she is forced to step down due to the exorbitant fee required for the course. This is when she comes across an ad for the first-ever Indian Airforce camp for recruiting female pilots. Gunjan goes for it and is the only one selected. Her struggles don't end here as constant discrimination and sexism follow her into the forces. Despite the odds, she ended up becoming the first female airforce officer to go to war in 1999.

The Social Network (2010)

Mark Zuckerberg is a Harvard student who hacks the university servers to create a website for rating female students based on appearance after he gets dumped. Despite breaking rules, this website materialises into an idea for a social media hub, exclusive for ivy league schools. As it grows in popularity, the Winklevoss twins and their business partner decide to sue the company, Facebook, claiming that Mark stole the idea from them. He faces further issues with his friend, Eduardo Saverin, whose stake in the company is reduced drastically after incorporation. The film tells a dark version of events that led to the creation of the world's biggest social media company.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

Farhan Akhtar gets into the shoes of Milkha Singh, aka The Flying Sikh, in this intense biopic that narrates the journey of one of India's best athletes. The film chronicles his childhood in pre-Independence Pakistan, the death of his parents during partition, his recruitment in the Indian Army, and eventual discovery of his running ability that leads to him becoming an Olympian. The title is a reference to Milkha Singh's life which symbolises looking ahead and running forward, no matter the consequence.

Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar

I, Tonya (2017)

Gifted figure skater, Tonya Harding, becomes the first American woman to perform a triple axel in a competition in 1991. Despite her steady rise in the sport, in 1994, her reputation is tarnished as her ex-husband hires people who injure a fellow skater, Nancy Kerrigan, forcing her to withdraw from the upcoming competition. After the arrests and hearings, Tonya is found to have known of the attack and is banned from the sport for life. The film showcases her abusive mother forcing her to skate as a child and then after finally achieving success, to have it all snatched in one of the biggest sports scandals of the world.  

Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video

Chhapaak (2020)

In 2005, Malti Agarwal's whole life comes crashing down when someone throws acid on her face in a busy market. She receives aid from concerned people who help her in getting surgeries and hiring a lawyer to get justice. She fights the system to force a change in the penal code as it does not consider acid attacks as a major crime. Even though the ones responsible are arrested, the fight is much bigger than that. More acid attacks come into the limelight and the film highlights the fact that despite a change in laws and check on acid sales, the heinous crimes still continue. Starring Deepika Padukone as the protagonist, the movie is inspired by the life of Laxmi Agarwal.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

The movie follows the real-life story of Frank Abagnale, a New York resident whose father gets into trouble with the Internal Revenue Service due to tax issues. This results in them moving into a small apartment. Frank eventually runs away after his parents' divorce and takes to scam and forgery to earn his way. Before his 19th birthday, Frank successfully cons people worth millions of dollars by posing as a pilot, a doctor and a prosecutor. 

Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015)

Dashrath Manjhi is a common man who lives in a small village, Gehlaur, in Bihar. The locals have to climb a mountain in order to get to the nearest town for supplies as there is no road. One fateful day, Dashrath's pregnant wife falls while climbing and succumbs to her injuries. He takes it upon himself to break the mountain and carve a road through it. He is deemed a lunatic by the people but after 22 years of endless labour, he single-handedly carves a 360-feet-long path through the structure. 

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

In the 1990s, Jordan Belfort, with his partner, Donny Azoff, opens a brokerage firm. The small-time broker uses his skills and unfair means to grow the company drastically. Success flows in with a lot of substance abuse, cheating and misuse of power. As they draw attention to their lavish lifestyles, the FBI takes an interest in the firm's functioning. Jordan, blinded by fame and fortune, continues his ways and watches his empire slowly slip away from his hands as the authorities close down on him.

10 new movies and shows coming to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar this week

8 movies that give you a peek inside media culture, on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar

8 thought-provoking dystopian movies and shows to stream on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar

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The 8 best sci-fi movies on Amazon Prime Video

From a vision made out of mashed potatoes to mysterious UFOs, Amazon Prime Video is ready to satisfy your sci-fi cravings.

Alan Markfield/TriStar/Sony; Bettmann Archive/Getty; Amazon Studios

Sci-fi can do it all: Whether you're looking for a piece of explosion-heavy escapism, an existential meditation on what it means to be human, or a genre-bending head-scratcher, there's a little something for everyone. But let's face it...there are plenty of other-worldly duds out there, too, and when it comes to streaming libraries, it can be difficult to find the diamonds in the rough. That's why EW sifted through Amazon Prime Video to bring you its very best sci-fi offerings, from classics like  The War of the Worlds  to recent favorites like Asteroid City .

Here are the best sci-fi movies on Amazon Prime Video, as of September 2024.

Asteroid City (2023)

Wes Anderson doubles down on style, artifice, and metatextual layers with this entertaining (yet profound) confection. The film simultaneously tracks a play about a group of young stargazers and their parents who converge for a convention in the desert town of Asteroid City, as well as the writing of that play by a famed playwright. Within the reality of the play, a UFO descends upon the junior stargazers, causing fascination (and panic) within the community.

While science fiction is more of a side dish than the whole meal here, Anderson's thematic ambitions with Asteroid City also relate quite well to storytelling within the genre. As EW's critic writes of Anderson's thesis, "To find the truth in art, you have to give yourself over to the artifice of the dream." — Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch Asteroid City : Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: B ( read the review )

Director: Wes Anderson

Cast: Jason Schwartzman , Scarlett Johansson , Tom Hanks , Jeffrey Wright , Tilda Swinton , Bryan Cranston , Edward Norton , Adrien Brody , Liev Schreiber

Coherence (2013)

When old friends reunite for a dinner party in a movie, you know something is about to go terribly awry. In Coherence , that "something" is the arrival of a close-passing comet — and the discovery of a house full of doppelgängers having an identical dinner party down the street. The plot is full of quantum-related twists and turns, but the film is grounded by the talented cast, which includes Buffy 's Nicholas Brendon in a fun self-referential role as a former TV star.

The production is just as quirky as the premise: Director James Ward Byrkit wanted to make a low-budget film that was so stripped down, it didn't even have a script. Instead, he invited a bunch of actor friends to his living room, gave them basic character motivations, and let them improvise through the entire thing. The result, while occasionally messy, is thoroughly original. —Janey Tracey

Where to watch Coherence : Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: B+ ( read the review )

Director: James Ward Byrkit

Cast: Emily Foxler, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon, Lorene Scafaria

The Dead Zone (1983)

Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection

What exactly would you do if you suddenly had the power of psychic visions? In this Stephen King adaptation, schoolteacher Johnny Smith ( Christopher Walken ) must face such deliberation when he awakens from a coma with the ability to know a person's past and future just by touching them. After foreseeing such harrowing events as a kid drowning and a man who would become president ordering a nuclear strike on the USSR, Johnny comes to realize that he may also have the power to alter the future.

The Dead Zone presents a world not unlike our own, where every action has consequences, in a gripping film enhanced by its sci-fi premise rather than being weighed down by it. —K.J. 

Where to watch The Dead Zone : Amazon Prime Video

Director: David Cronenberg

Cast: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst, Martin Sheen

I Think We're Alone Now (2018)

In this low-budget indie drama, Peter Dinklage stars as a man who assumes he's alone in his small town after a sudden apocalyptic event in which a large portion of the population suddenly disappears. He eventually meets a fellow survivor ( Elle Fanning ), with whom he shares a reluctant bond, and later learns that they're not, in fact, alone.

Directed and shot by Reed Morano (an Emmy winner for directing the pilot of The Handmaid's Tale ), I Think We're Alone Now focuses on the human response to cataclysmic events more so than the event itself. "I like the postapocalyptic genre, but it's been done a million times, and I was looking for something a little bit weird, or just a little bit different tonally," Morano told EW in 2018 . "I saw this opportunity to tell a postapocalyptic story that breaks a lot of the conventions of storytelling in that genre." — K.J.

Where to watch I Think We're Alone Now : Amazon Prime Video

Director: Reed Morano

Cast: Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning, Paul Giamatti , Charlotte Gainsbourg

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

While the '70s adaptation starring Donald Sutherland may be more well-known now, this '50s classic still hits today. The sci-fi thriller, based on Jack Finney's novel The Body Snatchers , tells of a California town in which alien pods capable of replicating humans have suddenly popped up, sucking all life out of their earthling subjects and effectively replacing them. Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) tries to find a way to stop the incoming invasion in its tracks, but finds this is far easier said than done. "Watching McCarthy turn from a rational man of science into a raving lunatic while those around him become husks of their former selves is a scary, over-the-top treat," writes EW's critic . "The power of the film is primal." — K.J.

Where to watch Invasion of the Body Snatchers : Amazon Prime Video

EW grade: A+ ( read the review )

Director: Don Siegel

Cast: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn Jones, Jean Willes, Ralph Dumke

Looper (2012)

Alan Markfield/TriStar Pictures/Everett

This futuristic sci-fi thriller from writer-director Rian Johnson is a mind-bender in the best of ways. Joe ( Joseph Gordon-Levitt ) is an assassin working for an innovative crime syndicate that uses time travel to avoid detection by sending their targets into the past (Joe's present) to be killed. When killers such as Joe outlive their usefulness, the company sends their future selves back into the present to be killed by their younger selves. Such is the predicament for Joe, when his older self ( Bruce Willis ) tries to avoid this fate. It's a heady concept, but Johnson develops the film's world and its unique set of rules in such a detailed, entertaining fashion that you won't be left frustrated. — K.J.

Where to watch Looper : Amazon Prime Video

Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt , Paul Dano , Noah Segan, Piper Perabo , Jeff Daniels

The Vast of Night (2020)

This underrated sci-fi indie centers on a pair of teenage friends living in 1950s New Mexico who investigate a cryptic audio signal that suddenly interrupts a radio program. Putting the pieces together, they unravel a conspiracy that may suggest proof of alien life. With a budget of just $700,000, director Andrew Patterson pulls off a number of stunning shots, transporting us to a specific time and place. As EW wrote following the film's success , "Just the setting and veneer of the film — it's framed as an episode of a Twilight Zone -esque anthology TV series — should be enough for you to guess more or less where it's headed." — K.J.

Where to watch The Vast of Night : Amazon Prime Video

Director: Andrew Patterson

Cast: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz

The War of the Worlds (1953)

Courtesy Everett Collection

H.G. Wells' 1898 novel  The War of the Worlds  was one of the first-ever alien invasion tales, and  Orson Welles ' 1938 CBS radio adaptation famously caused a panic when listeners believed a Martian attack was actually taking place. But when it comes to films based on Wells' work, the 1953 version still reigns supreme. The story, which follows an atomic scientist instead of a 19th-century writer, is updated to tap into Cold War anxieties, but in the end, just as in the novel, the invasion is presented as a natural disaster largely outside of human control.

Although the special effects are no longer as groundbreaking as they were in the '50s, they're still incredibly entertaining, especially the manta ray-shaped alien war machines. — J.T.

Where to watch  The War of the Worlds : Amazon Prime Video

Director:  Byron Haskin

Cast:  Gene Barry, Ann Robinson

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The 13 Most Intense Fight Scenes in Reacher, Ranked

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The Prime Video smash hit action drama Reacher is undeniably one of television's most electrifying and buzzed-about shows, with lead star Alan Ritchson masterfully portraying the tough and stoic titular character for two sensational seasons. The series is based on the popular Lee Child novels and follows the big and powerful hero as he travels across the country and looks into violent crimes and cases, battling against some seriously dangerous criminals who are unfortunate enough to cross his path.

As fans anxiously await the upcoming third season of the adrenaline-pumping extravaganza, why not relive all the excitement and action of the first two entries? Reacher is celebrated by audiences for its rough and violent fight scenes, all of which showcase the stoic protagonist's tenacity and strength. With so many epic moments to choose from, let's take a look at some of the best fight scenes from Prime Video's Reacher (at least so far) as we prepare for the latest installment.

13 Reacher Confronts a Carjacker

Season 2, episode 1 - "atm".

If there's one thing that gets under Reacher's skin the most, it's the mistreatment of an innocent person, and a carjacker discovered this the hard way from the hulking and powerful protagonist in the season two opener " ATM. " After departing Margrave, Georgia and heading to Arkansas to collect his pension check, Reacher stumbles upon an attempted carjacking when a visibly shaken woman attempts to retrieve funds from an ATM machine.

Reacher Rises to the Occasion

Quickly deducing that something was seriously wrong with the frightened female and swiftly honing in on the situation at hand, Reacher covertly tells the woman not to turn around and after questioning her discovers that her child is in the backseat of a minivan with the assailant. Reacher stalks towards the vehicle in question, wrapping his coat around his fist and slamming it through the driver's side window where the carjacker is sitting, and bashing both the man's hand and head with the car door and reuniting the scared boy with his emotional mother.

12 Restaurant Showdown

Season 1, episode 5 - "no apologies".

Fans were thrilled when the smug and deplorable KJ was shown just what Reacher was made of in " No Apologies, " which sees the season one villain learn a brutal lesson after his actions come back to bite him in the butt and attract the unwanted attention of the beloved hero. After KJ vandalizes Roscoe's truck, the normally unflappable Reacher decides to blow off some steam and confront the villain as he's sitting down to eat a meal with his cronies at a restaurant.

Reacher Previews What's in Store for KJ

Never one to make a modest entrance, Reacher pulls up a chair and takes a seat next to KJ, stealing a fry and staring down the cocky young man with his penetrating stare. Reacher questions what kind of man KJ is, rightfully calling him a spoiled rich boy who hides behind his daddy's money and calling him out for trying to intimidate a woman half his size. When KJ's smart mouth gets the best of him, Reacher viciously slaps the antagonist to the ground before doing some seriously impressive work with a tablecloth and relentlessly taking down his goons before Roscoe and Finlay arrive to break it up.

11 Construction Site Fight

Season 2, episode 2 - "what happens in atlantic city".

Season 2 largely follows Reacher and his former military police unit as they look into the startling murder of one of their own, and together they set out to avenge their friend's death and get to the bottom of a conspiracy. In the episode " What Happens in Atlantic City " Reacher and Dixon are out for a walk in the city when they realize that they are being followed on their late night stroll, prompting the duo to seek refuge at a local construction site and come up with a plan of attack.

The Reacher Universe Begins With New Spinoff Series at Prime Video

This fan-favorite character will lead their own show on the streamer.

Reacher & Dixon's Late Night Fight

They are pursued by their determined attackers and split up at the site, with Reacher climbing up to a higher level and luring one of the assailants away from Dixon. Reacher violently battles against one of the men once they both reach the top of the structure, hurling cinder blocks at him after being sliced by the mercenary's knife. He ends up tossing the man over the side of the railing where he crashes into a pile of his makeshift weapon of choice below, as Dixon uses a crowbar to take down another attacker and Reacher suffocates a third man in cement.

10 Reacher & Roscoe’s Alley Team-Up

Season 1, episode 4 - "in a tree".

In the first season of the smash hit show, the fiery Roscoe proves that she is more than capable of taking care of herself (and even Reacher) in dangerous situations, as proven in the episode " In a Tree ." When the pair were looking into a potential lead and discovered some crucial evidence left behind by Reacher's deceased brother Joe, they are shot at by two men and are forced to take cover behind a car.

Roscoe Doesn't Need Protection

Reacher tells Roscoe they should split up and run in opposite directions to make it tougher on their attackers, and a full-blown shootout erupts as the men focus on pursuing Reacher with a barrage of bullets. When Reacher is chased through an alley and kills one of the attackers, he lures the remaining one to a secluded spot and literally drops down from the roof on him in an act of surprise. They engage in an intense fight over the gun (with Reacher even head-butting him), but the man manages to pull his gun on Reacher before being shot dead by Roscoe, who angrily slaps him for trying to phase her out of the fight.

9 Neagley’s Battle in the Morgue

Season 2, episode 7 - "the man goes through".

Neagley is one of Reacher's most loyal and oldest friends , and she is consistently an ally to the former U.S. Army official and served with him in their unit. Like Reacher, Neagley does not take the death of their fellow member Franz well, and they make it their mission to find out who was responsible for the heinous crime. When they track down the hitman responsible for an attempted hit on Detective Russo, they wind up at a hospital posing as doctors, where they extract information from him before ensuring his death.

Neagley Gets Her Hands Dirty

After realizing they are being followed, the duo split up and Neagley heads down a corridor alone, grabbing a crutch as a weapon and finding herself standing in a dimly-lit morgue. Another mercenary attacks her from behind with a drill and wounds her, and the two share an intense showdown as he tries to use the sharp drill and take her out. Of course, the assailant didn't expect Reacher to show up, and together they tag-team him and impale him on the drill he had been using just moments before.

8 Prison Cell Confrontation

Season 1, episode 1 - "welcome to margrave".

In the sensational series premiere of Reacher, fans quickly get a look at the titular hero's immense strength and tenacity when he comes to the defense of his cellmate Paul Hubble, a local banker who confesses to a murder he did not commit. Reacher sets out to keep an eye on the vulnerable and anxious Paul, who is ill-equipped to survive in jail and is obviously in over his head with the dangerous and violent prisoners.

Reacher Doesn't Like Bullies

When a gang member attempts to intimidate Paul and stops by their shared cell to threaten the banker, the criminal demands that he give him both his shoes and glasses, the latter of which he spits on and crushes. Unbeknownst to the trio of prisoners, Reacher is sitting on top of the bunk and decides to intervene when the man threatens physical assault against Paul, epically dropping from to the ground and standing up to the prison bully.

As the gang member flaps his lips at Reacher, he expertly headbutts the man before viciously jabbing him in the neck and knocking him out, showing both the prisoners and audience that Reacher isn't one to mess with.

7 Reacher & His Unit Take Out Mercenaries

Season 2, episode 3 - "picture says a thousand words".

While there was no lack of action sequences in the first knockout season, Reacher and his former MP unit find themselves in an array of adrenaline-pumping situations in the drama's second installment. When the team shows up to raid the home of a hitman sent to kill them in the episode " Picture Says a Thousand Words, " they accurately anticipate that an ambush is awaiting them as they prepare their own nighttime attack.

The Unit's Methodical Take-Down

After Neagley picks the house's front door lock, Reacher rolls an explosive into the home that catches an awaiting assassin on fire, and together the unit moves meticulously through the residence, eliminating threats as they go along. Reacher is shot at by a wounded man in the kitchen, and masterfully eliminates two offenders on his own while the others continue their sweep. Dixon and O'Donnell get jumped from behind and his assassin attempts to strangle him with a shower curtain, though he manages to stab his way free and use his brass knuckles on the man while saving Dixon.

6 Chase on the Stairwell

Season 1, episode 6 - "papier".

There's no denying that Reacher is known to get a little creative when he's in a dicey situation, and in season 1's " Papier, " the fearless fighter heads north to New York City to meet up with an informant and discover the truth about all the shady things going on down in Margrave. When Reacher realizes that he is being followed by an assassin , a fierce and brutal battle ensues between the two powerful men on a side street stairwell.

Reacher Is Resourceful

After being chased on foot by the hitman, Reacher heads down an abandoned alley where the action really ramps up, as the two exchange harsh hits and take their fight to a stairwell.

As the assassin attempts to stab Reacher, he is forced to utilize what he has on hand and grabs a loose bicycle tire, which he promptly uses to beat the other man aggressively. Audiences knew it was about to get intense when Reacher removed his tie and wrapped it around his attacker's neck before breaking his ankle and jumping over the side of the stairwell, effectively choking the assassin to death in one of the show's most vicious showdowns.

5 Reacher vs. KJ

Season 1, episode 8 - "pie".

For all eight electrifying episodes of the first season, fans waited in anticipation for Reacher and KJ to have the epic showdown they had long been waiting for, with the villain causing chaos and destruction everywhere he went. KJ's terrible actions and past misdeeds finally caught up to him in the season finale " Pie, " as he was revealed to be the person responsible for Reacher's brother Joe's death as well as countless other murders.

A Fiery Fate for KJ

Naturally, Reacher couldn't wait to avenge his beloved brother and both he and Neagley embarked upon a daring mission to rescue a kidnapped Roscoe from KJ and his men and deliver the antagonist's comeuppance.

After driving his truck into the police station to free Finlay from his confinement (who was also being tortured), they set out along with Neagley to rescue Roscoe and eliminate the criminals, sparking an explosive series of events. Reacher and KJ exchange blows as a fire rages on around them, and after taunting the hero he gets his just desserts when Reacher douses KJ with flammable chemicals and kicks him into the roaring fire, sealing his fate.

4 Reacher’s Helicopter Revenge

Season 2, episode 8 - "fly boy".

TV and film staple Robert Patrick was wickedly brilliant when he portrayed the second season's main villain Shane Langston , and fans were thrilled when Reacher made good on his promise to take out the frustrating and elusive antagonist after he targeted and murdered those closest to them. After surrendering himself to Langston and his goons and being held captive at the New Age Facility, Neagley hatches a plan to rescue Reacher and her other unit members.

Poetic Justice Is Served

After clinging to the wheels of Langston's helicopter and pulling himself onboard, Reacher fights to help free Dixon and O'Donnell, who are strapped down to tables and are being prepared to be dropped to the ground below. Reacher emerges and fiercely fights one of Langston's assassins, as the villain attempts to shoot him dead while the helicopter goes haywire. When Dixon's table begins to slide towards the open helicopter door, Reacher lunges to grab the table and save her.

He holds on to Dixon as she is suspended in the air, while being aggressively kicked by Langston and beaten by his henchmen. Dixon manages to free herself and take out the assassin with a knife, while Reacher delivers some poetic justice with Langston and tosses him out the helicopter door and sending him plummeting to his death; his demise mirrors what he did to all of Reacher's unit members and was a satisfying fate for the villain.

Reacher Just Cast a Major New Villain for Season 3, and This Is What You Should Expect

Season 3 is going to give Reacher a run for his money!

3 Biker Gang Battle

Season 2, episode 4 - "a night at the symphony".

Another thrilling action sequence that fans couldn't get enough of was in the second season episode " A Night at the Symphony ", during which Reacher and his unit engage in an intense and cutthroat battle with a biker gang sent to assassinate them all. After successfully gaining intel on New Age after the team did some sneaky undercover work with the help of Reacher's old friend Finlay, they find themselves ambushed by the violent men looking to shed some blood after the triumphant evening.

Bikers Are No Match for Reacher’s Unit

Reacher and his friends are forced to act quickly when the mercenary biker gang shows up after they stop by a local place to grab a drink and some food, though their celebration is cut short by the men's arrival. Outnumbered by the dangerous crew, the team hands over their weapons so they don't make noise, and as the gang's leader begins to make his long-winded threats, Reacher headbutts him and an epic battle ensues.

Not only does Reacher yank a chain-wielding biker off his motorcycle, but he also gruesomely breaks a man's arm and leg with a pipe while Dixon uses her stiletto to gouge a gang member's eye out in the frenzied action scene.

2 Bathroom Brawl

Like when Reacher stood up to an inmate attempting to target the vulnerable Paul Hubble, audiences bore witness to just the type of man the formidable protagonist truly was in the series opener, which finds Reacher and Paul stuck in jail in general population for crimes they didn't commit. They were forced to be amongst some seriously violent and dangerous offenders after being targeted by a corrupt guard, and things quickly escalated for the two when an attempt was made on their lives by depraved inmates.

Don't Say He Didn't Warn Them

One of the most unforgettable scenes from the entire series just so happens to occur in the very first episode, when Reacher is forced to take down countless criminals trying to murder him in a brutal bathroom brawl. Reacher instantly knew that trouble was brewing when inmates began to trickle in the bathroom, and he even warned the men that something bad was about to happen and gave them until the count of three to leave. Of course, he never made it to three before his fists started flying.

Reacher expertly took down one inmate after another, bashing heads on sinks, gouging out eyes with his thumb, and delivering one uppercut after another, brilliantly disarming his attackers. By the time the jail's guards came running in, they were stunned to see the state of the men and even more so that Reacher single-handedly did the butt-kicking. The scene is exactly what fans of the show and book series were hoping for, and it remains one of the most intense and buzzed-about moments in Reacher.

1 Reacher Takes on Home Invaders

Season 1, episode 7 - "reacher said nothing".

In the penultimate episode of the phenomenal first season , fans were taken on a rip-roaring thrill ride as Reacher sets a cunning trap that will help him take down those responsible for all the murders and crimes being committed in Margrave. After sharing false intel to the corrupt Officer Baker, Reacher creates a plan to catch and eliminate the hit squad who has been violently murdering innocent people, with their most recent victims being a fellow lawman and his pregnant wife.

An Epic Showdown Like No Other

Reacher is able to lure the hit squad to Paul Hubble's vacant house where he is prepared to ambush the demented criminals, who in turn think they are going to finally take out the pesky vigilante . Donned in full body camouflage, Reacher waits out in the rain in the bushes as the squad arrives and swiftly takes out the men's lookout, jumpstarting a pulse-pounding sequence of events. As the team searches through Hubble's home, Reacher lures one of them to the car and kills him.

He then begins to take out each member of the hit squad one by one, even using one's body as a human shield as the shady Kliner's nephew, Dawson, shoots at him. The two men viciously battle against one another in the living room, shattering coffee tables and bashing each other with a crowbar before going through the glass door and taking their fight outside. It doesn't look too good for Reacher when he is brutally smacked and falls into the swimming pool by Dawson, but of course, the resilient hero comes to, and they spar in the swimming pool, with Reacher ultimately shooting him dead.

Stream Reacher on Prime Video.

• Jack Reacher TV Show

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