If you want to find the best Prime Video movies to watch right now, we've got you. In this guide we'll help you discover the top Prime Video films on Amazon's streaming platform that you can put on tonight.
Each of the best Prime Video movies in our list below are completely free for you to watch if you're already an Amazon Prime subscriber. If you've ever scrolled through the movie options on Prime Video, you'll know that there's an exhaustive catalogue of films included – it's no surprise that it's one of the best streaming services out there. But with so much choice, which Prime Video movie is right for you? In this guide you'll find our pick of the best movies, from epic science-fiction sagas to hard-hitting historical drama, stunning-looking fantasy and a bunch of feel-good family movies, too.
If you only want to hear about the freshest new films to hit Prime Video in September, check out our new Prime Video movies list. Or if you want to try out a new boxset, take a look at our best Prime Video shows guide, filled with the best TV shows on the platform. Keep reading to find out our top picks of the best Prime Video movies you can watch in September 2023.
Best Prime Video movies: 34 top picks to watch right now
Minority Report
Based on a Phillip K. Dick novella of the same name, Minority Report is a sci-fi movie set in the year 2054. In this imagined future crime has been almost completely wiped out thanks to a special police department and a trio of psychics called "precogs" who are able to foresee incidents before they happen. It follows the story of Precrime Chief John Anderton (played by Tom Cruise), who starts to question the nature of these "precrimes" and gets sucked into a deep and dark mystery.
Minority Report is catnip for fans of sci-fi. Not only because it's directed by Steven Spielberg and an adaptation of one of Phillip K. Dick's brilliant stories, but because the imagined future tech throughout the movie is a true delight to see visualized, from replacement eyeballs to "Sick Sticks". If you like dark and grimy science-fiction with a noir mystery vibe, give Minority Report a watch.
12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave is a hard-hitting historical drama based on the very real events detailed in the memoir of an African American man called Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the US in the mid-1800s. In the movie, Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Northup, and the story follows the years of unrelenting cruelty he experiences at the hands of conmen and plantation owners.
Director Steve McQueen (Shame, Hunger) was highly praised for 12 Years a Slave. As were the phenomenal cast. Ejiofor gives the performance of a lifetime as Northup, and Lupita Nyong'o plays enslaved woman Patsey who must endure horrendous treatment at the hands of plantation owner Edwin Epps, played by Michael Fassbender. As you might expect, 12 Years a Slave isn’t comfortable viewing. In fact parts of it are brutal. But it’s been highly-praised as one of the best portrayals of the African-American experience, which makes it a must-watch in our books.
The Nice Guys
If you've only recently become a Ryan Gosling fan after his role as Ken in Barbie, then we highly recommend you watch his back catalogue of movies. There's a wonderful selection to choose from, but if you don't fancy Only God Forgives and Blade Runner 2049 (both excellent but heavy movies), then we highly recommend The Nice Guys instead.
The Nice Guys is a neo-noir comedy movie directed by Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe who team up unexpectedly to try and find a missing pornstar called Misty Mountains. What follows is a laugh-out-loud buddy film with brilliant comedic acting from Crowe and Gosling, a twisting story that'll keep you entertained and great-looking late 70s styling. This is one of those movies we'd happily watch over and over.
Men in Black
Men in Black is a fun sci-fi action comedy that’s a great watch for the whole family. It’s about Agent J, a streetwise NYPD cop played by Will Smith, who’s recruited by Agent K, played by Tommy Lee Jones, into a secret government organization responsible for monitoring alien activity on Earth.
Together, they uncover a plot involving a giant intergalactic cockroach-like creature and a galaxy in a cat’s collar, and must race against time to save the world from a threat of cosmic proportions. If you’re looking for an easy movie with plenty of laughs, cool sci-fi gadgets and awesome alien design that we think all ages will appreciate, then get Men in Black on your must-watch list.
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a powerful story based on one of Stephen King’s novellas. It follows a man called Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a young banker wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He’s sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary but despite experiencing isolation and violence, he also befriends a man called Red (Morgan Freeman) and uses his financial know-how to gain favor with the guards and warden.
Be warned, this isn't an easy watch. If you’re in the mood for a hard-hitting drama with some top acting and the sort of unexpected twists you'd expect from a Stephen King story, then watch The Shawshank Redemption this weekend.
Dune
Dune is adapted from author Frank Herber's incredibly popular novel and if you enjoy science-fiction and fantasy, it could be your new favorite movie. Dune follows the story of Young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), heir to the House Atreides throne. His family faces devastating challenges when they take over mining operations on the desert planet Arrakis, but Paul discovers an unlikely alliance in the Fremen people who live there.
Dune is a science-fiction movie of epic proportions directed by the visionary Denis Villeneuve with awe-inspiring world-building, grand landscapes and a haunting score. If you're looking for a mind-blowing film this weekend, Dune won't disappoint.
If you enjoy Dune, do take a look at all we know about the upcoming Dune Awakening game, as well as the movie's sequel, Dune Part 2.
The Mummy
A fun adventure for all of the family, The Mummy follows the story of adventurer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) and Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) after they unintentionally wake up an evil and vengeful mummy with supernatural powers during an archaeological excavation at the ancient city of Hamunaptra, also known as the City of the Dead.
What follows is a fast-paced and exciting adventure to kill the mummy for good and return everything to normal. If you like historical adventure and have even the slightest interest in Ancient Egypt, you're going to love this movie. Everyone else will be able to appreciate it for the tense and, at times delightfully silly, film that it is.
Dunkirk
Dunkirk is a historical war movie from the mind of Christopher Nolan (of The Prestige, Inception and The Dark Knight fame). It's been highly-praised for its incredible camerawork, picture and cinematography – there's no denying this is one helluva stunning movie to look at.
It follows the story of the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. So it goes without saying that you should expect a lot of violence, death and destruction. But if you love beautifully-made war movies and all of the emotional intensity that comes with them, this is one fantastic film.
Gremlins
Gremlins is a movie that might seem like it's for kids, but there are plenty of scary moments and black comedy here thrown in for good measure.
Gremlins is about a man called Zach Galligan (played by Billy Peltzer) who receives a strange creature as a pet. He soon discovers it can spawn other creatures that transform into small mischievous monsters, wreaking havoc in his town at Christmas.
If you liked watched this film when you were a kid, we highly recommend you rewatch it again now – we promise it still holds up. There is some violence, as well as a couple of jump scares, but we think it's a fun watch for the whole family.
Interstellar
It's not often that we think movies deserve to be called epic, but that's how we'd describe Interstellar, a sci-fi movie that weaves a story across space and time all in the name of love, discovery and saving humanity – see, we told you it's epic!
Interstellar is set in a dystopian future and follows the story of a team of astronauts who must travel through a wormhole that's discovered near Saturn in order to find a new home for humanity. What follows is a sprawling adventure filled with wonder, heartache and a dash of cosmic horror.
If you're a fan of science-fiction, there's a lot to love here with beautiful new worlds and wondrous space-faring scenes. But at its core, this is a movie about human relationships and the lengths people will go to help the ones they love.
Tár
Best described as a psychological drama, Tár is about a fictional conductor called Lydia Tár (played by Cate Blanchett), known all over the world for her talent and passion. However, she faces numerous accusations of misconduct and must navigate what that means while she experiences a worrying sensitivity to sound, nightmares, pain and hallucinations.
This certainly isn't a feel-good film, but we highly recommend it for a no holds barred look at the intoxicating side effects of power and it won so big during awards season for a reason. At times the movie is tense and fast-flowing, but at others it lingers and is deeply meditative. Giving us an opportunity to burrow under the skin of the mostly impenetrable Lydia Tár. Needless to say, the always fantastic Cate Blanchett is truly phenomenal as Lydia Tár – you won't be able to take your eyes off her.
Silver Linings Playbook
Silver Linings Playbook is best described as a romantic comedy-slash-drama, written and directed by David O'Russell (known for American Hustle and Joy, among others) and based on a 2008 Matthew Quick novel of the same name.
It follows the story of Patrizio "Pat" Solitano Jr. (played by Bradley Cooper), a recently divorced man with bipolar who moves in with his parents (played by Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver). He meets Tiffany Maxwell (played by Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow who promises to help him get his wife back if he enters a dance competition with her.
Silver Linings Playbook is a warm, sensitive yet at times unflinching look at what it's like to live with mental illness, grief and conflict. We think it's well worth a lot as it has a lot of heart and is, at its core, is about connection and, rather surprisingly, the healing power of dance and sports.
Stargate
Stargate may have become a large media franchise over the years, but this 1994 movie, directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow), was what kicked everything off.
If you love sci-fi that gets you thinking, you're going to love Stargate. It's about an ancient device called the Stargate, which can create a wormhole enabling people to travel to a similar device anywhere else in the universe. The story follows a classified U.S. Air Force team who travel through the Stargate, ending up on a desert planet filled with eerily familiar imagery.
We don't want to give everything away, but what's catnip for sci-fi fans is considering the implications that aliens might have visited Earth many millennia ago.
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians came out in 2018 and it's a romcom-meets-drama based on a book by the same name by satirical novelist Kevin Kawn. If you're looking for a refreshing take on the comedy genre and need some laughs, this is the movie for you.
It follows the story of Rachel Chu (played by Constance Wu) and her long-term boyfriend Nick (played by Henry Golding) who go to Singapore for Nick's best friend's wedding. Rachel is surprised to find out that Nick's family is incredibly wealthy and Nick is in high demand as an eligible bachelor.
Crazy Rich Asians is very funny and intentionally over the top, flipping into full-blown fantasy at times. But it also deals with important topics of family, belonging and class. The movie is wonderful for representation, with an all-Asian cast also featuring Michelle Yeoh playing the role of Nick's mother, Eleanor Sung-Young, and Awkwafina as Goh Peik Lin, Rachel's BFF.
Three Thousand Years of Longing
If you're looking for a dose of rich and, at times, sensual fantasy then we've got you. Three Thousand Years of Longing is a visually-stunning movie from acclaimed director George Miller (Mad Max, Babe and Happy Feet).
Three Thousands Years of Longing is about a professor, played by Tilda Swinton, who finds an antique bottle on a trip to Istanbul and discovers a djinn (a spirit), played by Idris Elba, inside of it. The djinn offers to grant the professor three wishes but also tells her three stories about his past, explaining he wound up trapped inside a bottle.
His tales whisk us back thousands of years to royal romances, heart-breaking schemes, murder and lust. Three Thousands Years of Longing is the perfect film to watch if you're seeking some fantastical escapism and romance that isn't twee but epic in its intensity.
She Said
If you enjoy movies based on true stories, especially dramas about journalistic integrity and the toxicity of the film industry, then She Said is a must-watch.
She Said is based on the real events that took place in 2017 when New York Times reporters Megan Twohey, played by Carey Mulligan, and Zoe Kazan, played by Jodi Kantor, began the investigation that exposed Harvey Weinstein's abuse and sexual misconduct.
Although it's not an easy watch, She Said is a powerful story with fantastic acting from Kazan and Mulligan throughout. It's chilling to see just how close they came to not being able to tell the important stories that ended up convicting Weinstein and igniting the #MeToo movement that followed.
Dallas Buyers Club
Dallas Buyers Club is a 2013 movie that's based on the life of Ron Woodroof, a US man diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s. Matthew McConaughey stars as Woodruff and the film follows his story of dealing with the stigma of AIDS and navigating the heart-breaking challenges of accessing treatment.
Woodroof ended up smuggling unapproved drugs into Texas and not only taking them himself, but distributing them to other people in need, that's why the movie is called Dallas Buyers Club.
As you might expect, this is a tough watch. But it's an incredibly powerful story about healthcare, connection and adversity. Matthew McConaughey is compelling in everything he stars in, but his transformation into Woodroof is completely phenomenal, compassionate and persuasive. It's no wonder critics said at the time it's a career-best performance.
Gangs of Lagos
Gangs of Lagos tells the tale of Obalola and the lives of his friends, Gift and Ify, as they grow up on the busy and chaotic streets of Isale Eko, a neighbourhood in Lagos, Nigeria.
A film centered on family, friendship and betrayal, while also exploring the impact of violence and politically-affiliated gang culture in Nigeria, Gangs of Lagos isn't an easy Sunday afternoon watch – especially when you consider that it's based on true stories from Isale Eko. It's also the first Amazon movie to be mad in Africa; the pioneering flick being the first of many international projects that should arrive on Prime Video throughout 2023.
Nope
Nope is a scary sci-fi movie that’ll leave you thinking about UFOs long after the credits have rolled. Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) writes, directs, and produces Nope, while the fantastic Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are the movie’s leads. They play horse-wrangling siblings who are determined to capture video evidence of a UFO but, as you might expect, get much more than they bargained for.
Nope is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good, tense, and cerebral film. Although the story centers on a UFO – a trite and generic plot point, we're sure you'll agree – it’s unlike any other extraterrestrial-style movie you’ve seen. That’s a huge testament to Peele’s innovative storytelling talent, as well as the performance of Kaluuya and Palmer. Read our Nope review for more on what we liked about it.
Top Gun: Maverick
It was Q2 2022 when Top Gun: Maverick landed in theaters and wowed many with its box office performance. Now, the Oscar nominee has finally arrived in your home thanks to Prime Video (it's also available on Paramount Plus).
You'll want to check it out, too. Maverick is an action-packed, fast-paced movie with impressive special effects, top-class performances and top-tier set-pieces that'll leave your jaw on the floor. Its story is a little formulaic at times, but it’s nonetheless well worth a watch.
If you loved the original Top Gun movie you’ll love this one, too. It’s just as fun, exciting, and edge-of-your-seat tense as the first. You won’t be able to take your eyes off Tom Cruise’s electric performance as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and, as mentioned, there are top performances from its younger stars, too, especially Miles Teller as Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw. Read our exclusive chats with director Joseph Kosinki about the mind-boggling number of cameras used on set and how the film got the green light in the most Tom Cruise way possible.
Palm Springs
There have been plenty of phenomenal time loop movies over the years, including Source Code and Edge of Tomorrow. But for a take that's less edgy sci-fi and has more of the humor, charm, and romcom threads, Palm Springs should be your next port of call.
Two strangers called Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) meet at a wedding and find they're the only ones living the day over and over. According to reports, the creators were heavily inspired by Groundhog Day, but wanted a fresh take on the time loop trope, which is why the movie begins with Nyles already in the loop. Samberg fans or those of a quirky, sci-fi disposition will love this. US viewers can also catch it on Hulu.
Good Will Hunting
Considered one of the greatest movies of all-time, Good Will Hunting is a drama with a stellar cast, including Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, and Minnie Driver.
It's about a man called Will Hunting (played by Damon), who's a janitor at MIT. He also just so happens to be a genius and – in a now infamous scene – solves a complex mathematical problem that's left on a blackboard as a challenge for graduate students. It's a deeply emotional movie with fantastic acting, top writing, and a lot of heart, with the late Williams particularly delivering a powerhouse of a performance. Get the tissues ready.
Devotion
Devotion tells the tale of an African American fighter pilot in the Korean war, who has suffered unspoken racial injustices during his time in the US military. Isolated from his white colleagues, Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) finds it hard to trust anyone – until he meets Glenn Powell (Tom Hudner). Together, they make heroic sacrifices that result in them becoming two of the most celebrated pilots in history.
Based on the novel of the same name, Devotion is full of thrilling aviation and deep racial tension, which it navigates very well. It's been well-received by critics and audience alike, bringing in a terrific 82% on Rotten Tomatoes. You can rent or buy it on Prime Video, or see it on the Paramount Plus channel (see how to get a Paramount Plus free trial here).
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Emma Thompson stars in this taboo-busting story of a retired teacher wanting to reignite her sex life post-marriage. Nancy Stokes (Thompson) hires young, charming and skillful sex worker Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to give her the adventure she craves – and the two discover an unexpected connection.
Written by Katy Brand, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande has been praised for its sex-positive approach and electric script. Unfortunately, it's only available in the UK on Prime Video, but US viewers can stream it on Hulu.
Sound of Metal
Riz Ahmed shines in the lead role of Sound of Metal, a thoughtful and provocative movie about grief, addiction, and identity. He plays Ruben, a metal drummer who begins to experience hearing loss. He’s told to eliminate loud noises, but continues to perform, worrying that his career, relationship, and life as he knows it could soon be over.
Sound of Metal is a challenging watch at times, but one of the best Prime Video movies as it's also deeply moving and introspective. You’ll need to be in a certain mood to watch it, but when you do, you’ll be blown away. A crowd-pleasing flick that was nominated for numerous Academy Awards in 2019, winning in the Best Sound and Best Film Editing categories. Easily one of the best Prime Video movies around.
The Big Sick
Here’s a cool fact about The Big Sick: it’s written by writer, producer, and podcast host Emily V. Gordon, plus actor, comedian and screenwriter Kumail Nanjiani (the duo are married), and is inspired by their real-life relationship. It’s a story about an interracial couple, played by Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan, who have to deal with cultural differences when Emily becomes seriously ill.
It’s a funny and heartfelt movie, and feels fresher and smarter than a lot of more recent rom-coms. Critics and cinephiles agreed, too, with it being chosen by American Film Institute as one of the top 10 films of the year when it came out in 2017. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
One Night in Miami
One Night in Miami comes from Regina King, who makes her directorial debut. The story is based on a 2013 stage play of the same name – written by filmmaker and playwright Kemp Powers – which itself is inspired by a real meeting that took place in February 1964 at the Hampton House in Miami.
During that supposed event, Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr) gathered to celebrate Ali’s title win against Sonny Liston. Events unfold over the course of a single night as the legendary quartet talk about power, race, discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement, and the culture of the era. It's one of the best Prime Video movies around and, when it was first released, was nominated for several Academy Awards.
Manchester by the Sea
Manchester by the Sea is a heavy movie. It’s about a depressed and grief-stricken man who needs to care for his teen nephew after his brother dies. Understandably, then, it focuses on themes of guilt, responsibility, and families.
It’s masterfully told and beautifully acted by Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in the lead roles. The film received critical acclaim, winning Academy Awards for Best Actor for Affleck and Best Original Screenplay, and was considered one of the best films of 2016 by most critics.
The Vast of Night
The Vast of Night is a 2019 sci-fi mystery set in 1950s New Mexico. It’s loosely based on real events, including the Kecksburg UFO incident – an unidentified fireball being spotted in the sky – and the Foss Lake disappearances, which saw a group of teens and adults mysteriously go missing.
The film follows young switchboard operator Fay Crocker (played by Sierra McCormick) and radio DJ Everett Sloan (Jake Horowitz) who discover an audio frequency that they think could be extra terrestrial. It’s an engrossing thriller that’s lo-fi and yet shows a lot of film-making skill.
Honey Boy
Honey Boy is loosely based on actor Shia LaBeouf’s childhood and his relationship with his father – the title of the movie coming from his nickname as a kid. LaBeouf wrote the screenplay and also stars in it but, rather than play himself, he portrays his father. It follows the troubled relationship between 12-year-old Otis, who is finding some success as a TV star, and his abusive father, who signs himself up as Otis' guardian.
LaBeouf allegedly wrote the script as a form of therapy when he was in rehab. For that reason, it’s a difficult watch and feels very raw. Strangely, though, it’s oddly therapeutic for the viewer, too. At its core, this is a movie about a man’s struggles to understand himself and forgive himself, as well as his past trauma.
Licorice Pizza
Licorice Pizza is a US comedy-drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, a filmmaker famous for movies like Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and There Will Be Blood.
It's follows the development of a young couple’s relationship in the early ’70s, played by the exceptionally talented Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman. With its laidback and meandering charm, there’s a kind of dreaminess to the movie at times. Equally, though its plot doesn’t unfold in a conventional way. And, although it’s a comedy, it's heartfelt with unexpected action and tension, too. One of the best Prime Video movies available today.
Suspiria
This Amazon Original is a supernatural horror inspired by Dario Argento's classic 1977 Italian film of the same name. It stars Dakota Johnson as an American woman who enrols at a prestigious dance academy in Berlin but, unfortunately for her, it’s run by a coven of witches. Tilda Swinton bizarrely but convincingly co-stars in three roles.
Not for the faint-hearted, you can expect weirdness, gruesome scenes, and lots of deliciously disconcerting atmosphere from this one. Unlike the original film, which used exaggerated colors, it has a bleak and bare palette. Suspiria wasn't a box office hit but, if you like odd, atmospheric movies, it's a great choice.
Creed
Creed may be a Rocky spin-off movie, but it's taken on a life of its own.
This first movie is about Adonis Johnson (Michael B Jordan) who is trained by Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) so he can become a professional boxer like his father, the late Apollo Creed. As Adonis climbs the ranks of the boxing world, he must also confront his own demons and fight for his legacy, with Rocky by his side.
Creed is an emotional story that's bound to appeal to new fans and those who loved the original Rocky franchise. When you're done, check out Creed II, which is also available via Prime Video. Creed 3 is the latest movie and is available on Prime Video, but not for free. Be sure to read our guide to how to watch the Rocky movies in order, too, if you need to catch up on some of the best Prime Video movies.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All At Once is a brilliant and bonkers movie that's won multiple awards on the 2023 circuit.
It tells the tale of Evelyn (played by the wonderful Michelle Yeoh), who discovers she's connected to multiple alternate universes and could be the key to defeating a dark and unknowable cosmic threat. Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Stephanie Hsu also deliver terrific performances as the movie's supporting cast.
Everything Everywhere All At Once is a mind-bending, genre-defying adventure big on action, comedy and, heart. And, after its multi-award winning performance at this year's Academy Awards – read our piece on the 2023 Oscars biggest winners and losers – it's one you simply can't afford to miss.
