The best movies on Amazon Prime Video (September 2024)
It’s nice of Amazon Prime Video to start off the month of September with the streaming premiere of Snack Shack, a coming-of-age comedy that flew under the radar earlier this year. This movie may actually find a broad audience now that it’s on one of the top streaming services.
The other notable new addition of the week is Election, a film celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. While the story centers on a high school election for class president, it feels very timely considering the current U.S. presidential race. It’s also a lot funnier than anything happening in the current political landscape.
You can find more of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video below. Check back every Friday morning as we keep this list up-to-date with the latest films.
We’ve also put together guides to the best shows on Prime Video, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Netflix, the best new movies to stream, and the best movies on Disney+.
Editor’s Pick
Snack Shack (2024) [New]
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rated: R
Duration: 112m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Conor Sherry, Gabriel LaBelle, Mika Abdalla
Directed by: Adam Rehmeier
Snack Shack is a coming-of-age comedy set in 1991. A.J. Carter (Conor Sherry) and his friend, Moose Miller (Gabriel LaBelle), are 14-year-olds whose schemes to get money almost always backfire on them. At least until they hit upon the idea of running the local Snack Shack for the summer.
Their bond of friendship is tested when A.J. meets Brooke, his attractive new neighbor. Because Moose makes the first move on Brooke, this creates tension between him and A.J., who isn’t willing to simply back off. As Brooke begins to reciprocate A.J.’s feelings, his friendship and lucrative partnership with Moose may come crashing down.
Election (1999) [New]
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 103m
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Mystery
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
Directed by: Alexander Payne
“Do it, Mister M, do it!” You’ll have to actually watch Election to understand why that line is so funny in context. This film is a satiric masterpiece starring Matthew Broderick as Jim McAllister, a high school teacher who is infuriated by his overachieving student, Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon). Because Tracy had an affair with his colleague and friend without suffering repercussions, Jim becomes obsessed with costing her the election forpresident of the student government.
Jim recruits a popular football player, Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), to run against Tracy. However, this inadvertently spurs Paul’s adoptive sister, Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell), to run as well on a platform of abolishing student government that makes her the new favorite. But Jim just can’t leave things alone, and he risks his own career and marriage to see Tracy fail.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) [New]
Metacritic: 58%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 169m
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson’s three-film adaptation of The Hobbit may not be as universally loved as his Lord of the Rings trilogy, but these films are still head and shoulders above the vast majority of fantasy films. In the first movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Sherlock’s Martin Freeman steps into the title role as a young Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit whose life is upturned by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen)
For reasons of his own, Gandalf is accompanying a group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield II (Richard Armitage) who want to reclaim their lost kingdom from Smaug, the dragon who stole it from them decades earlier. Gandalf convinces Bilbo to accompany the dwarves on their quest, which sets off an epic adventure that will transform Middle-earth and sets the stage for everything that comes after.
The Crow (1994) [New]
Metacritic: 71%
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 102m
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Thriller
Stars: Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson
Directed by: Alex Proyas
You may have heard that there’s a remake of The Crow out in theaters. Feel free to ignore it, like most of America already has. The only version of The Crow worth seeing is the first one, starring the late Brandon Lee as Eric Draven. One of the reasons this film has so much power is that we know it’s the role of a lifetime for Lee, and also his last since he died in an on-set shooting accident.
That’s why it feels almost cathartic to see Eric rise from his grave with supernaturally imbued powers to avenge his murder and the death of his fiancée, Shelly Webster (Sofia Shinas). As the Crow, Eric is nearly unstoppable, and he’s hunting down the men responsible for his loss. Unfortunately for Eric, his enemies have correctly guessed that the crow that accompanies him is the source of his power. The villains also still target Sarah (Rochelle Davis), a young girl who may be the only person alive Eric still cares about.
Drive-Away Dolls (2024) [New]
Metacritic: 58%
IMDb: 5.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 84m
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Stars: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein
Directed by: Ethan Coen
Coen brothers movies are typically better with both brothers, but Ethan Coen has to make due on his own in Drive-Away Dolls, a road trip rom-com that doubles as a crime film. Margaret Qualley stars as Jamie, a promiscuous lover whose infidelity has driven her girlfriend away. That’s why Jamie impulsively decides to accompany her friend, Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), on an impromptu trip.
Unfortunately for the women, their rental car wasn’t meant for them. And once they look at the briefcase left in the trunk, they find themselves with something that can bring down Sen. Gary Channel (Matt Damon) and other prominent figures. Additionally, Jamie and Marian are oblivious to the danger they’re in as criminals hunt them down to retrieve the briefcase.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) [New]
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 104m
Genre: Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama, Horror
Stars: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
The first Cloverfield movie was anything but subtle, and its found-footage format may have given some viewers vertigo. There’s none of that in 10 Cloverfield Lane, a largely standalone sequel that works as both a thriller and a sci-fi story. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Michelle, a woman who finds herself locked in an underground bunker by Howard Stambler (John Goodman).
Howard claims that he saved Michelle’s life after the outside world was poisoned in a sudden attack. Emmett DeWitt (John Gallagher Jr.), the only other person in the bunker, backs up Howard’s account. Michelle doesn’t trust either man, and she needs to see for herself. But she may not like what she finds waiting for her outside …
Jackpot! (2024)
Metacritic: 38%
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 106m
Genre: Action, Comedy
Stars: Awkwafina, John Cena, Simu Liu
Directed by: Paul Feig
A mere six years in the future, California’s lottery rules have changed in Jackpot! Katie (Awkwafina) discovers this the hard way when she wins a life-changing amount of money… and suddenly finds that complete strangers are trying to kill her. Under the rules of the lottery, anyone who kills Katie before sundown can claim all of her winnings for themselves.
Noel (John Cena) could have been like everyone else. Instead, he pledges to help Katie live through the end of the day if she’ll share some of her winnings with him. Yet even with Joel on her side, the odds are stacked against Katie living long enough to collect her money.
Paddington (2014)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 96m
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Family
Stars: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins
Directed by: Paul King
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who hates Paddington Bear (James Bond movie series star Ben Whishaw), but the Paddington movie does find someone: Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman). Beautiful on the outside, and spitefully evil within, Millicent hates animals and makes it her mission to kill and stuff Paddington once she learns he’s in London.
Fortunately, Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins), and their children, adore Paddington and treat him like a member of the family. Yet even the Browns can’t protect Paddington from Millicent’s malevolence by themselves. Fortunately for Paddington, he also has a knack for getting out of trouble.
One Fast Move (2024)
IMDb: 4.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 107m
Genre: Action, Drama, Romance
Stars: K.J. Apa, Eric Dane, Maia Reficco
Directed by: Kelly Blatz
Prime Video has had some success using the cast from Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in its YA films. Now it’s Archie’s turn, as Riverdale’s leading man, KJ Apa, headlines One Fast Move as Wes Neal, a young man with a dream and a lot of abandonment issues. After getting drummed out of the military, Wes seeks out his estranged father, Dean (Eric Dane), to get his help in becomming a motorcycle racer.
A local bike shop owner, Abel (Edward James Olmos), does his best to keep this father-and-son reunion on track. Wes also finds potential love with Camilia (Maia Reficco), but their mutual secrets may drive them apart.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Metacritic: 92%
IMDb: 8.9/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 179m
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
Directed by: Peter Jackson
The Rings of Power season 2 is coming soon, which is why the Lord of the Rings trilogy is back on Prime Video. Over two decades later, there still hasn’t been a better fantasy trilogy than this one directed by Peter Jackson. There’s no better place to start than the first film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Decades after the events of The Hobbit, the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) suspects that the dark lord Sauron has returned, and if he regains his One Ring, then the world is doomed. It falls to a young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and a fellowship of eight others to protect the Ring during a perilous journey to destroy its power once and for all. This film is visually arresting and emotionally moving like few others.
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
Metacritic: 47%
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 102m
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Romance
Stars: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano
Directed by: Zelda Williams
What kind of a world are we living in when a young woman can’t resurrect her ideal man without being compared to one of the most famous mad scientists in literary history? The title character of Lisa Frankenstein isn’t even a real Frankenstein! That said, Lisa (Kathryn Newton) does show an amoral side of her personality after she accidentally resurrects the Creature (Cole Sprouse). She’s been looking for love in all the dead places, and now that she’s found it, Lisa isn’t going to let him go.
After being dead for over a century, the Creature is missing a few parts. And Lisa is more than willing to kill a few people to get what her newfound lover needs to be a complete man again. She just can’t outrun the consequences of her murderous actions for long.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Metacritic: 95%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 154m
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Stars: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Thirty years ago, the legend of Quentin Tarantino began with Pulp Fiction. Although this wasn’t Tarantino’s directorial debut, it was the film that made him famous. Pulp Fiction’s nonlinear storytelling may be disorienting at times, but the cast of characters in this crime comedy are unforgettable. The hit men, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson); the washed-up boxer, Butch Coolidge (Butch Coolidge); the crime lord, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), and his wife, Mia (Uma Thurman); all have their own memorable roles to play.
Tarantino’s dialogue is especially good in this flick, as are his esoteric music choices and the film’s stylized violence. Even after three decades of imitators, nothing has come close to replicating what Tarantino pulled off here.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Metacritic: 80%
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 164m
Genre: Action, Thriller
Stars: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
If you’re looking for high-caliber action, then Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is the film for you. Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have made the last few Mission: Impossible movies into events, and this may be the beginning of the end for Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt.
This time, Ethan and his IMF team are going up against The Entity, a sentient AI that the world’s governments are scrambling to control. Only Ethan realizes that it has to be destroyed, but The Entity itself has other plans. It exerts its influence in the real world through Ethan’s old foe, Gabriel (Esai Morales). And an enigmatic thief named Grace (Haley Atwell) may hold the key to stopping The Entity dead in its tracks.
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
Metacritic: 43%
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 104m
Genre: Music, History, Drama
Stars: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton
Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Bob Marley: One Love is a music biopic that takes place late in the life of reggae superstar Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir). After Bob and his wife, Rita Marley (The Marvels actress Lashana Lynch), narrowly survive an assassination attempt in his native Jamaica, it sends him into a creative tailspin that threatens to derail his dreams.
Before Bob can resume his message of peace, he has to face his own inner demons and work out his issues with Rita. Bob Marley didn’t have a lot of time in this world, but the film shows that he made the most of what he had and left a lasting legacy of music behind.
My Spy: The Eternal City (2024)
Metacritic: 38%
IMDb: 5.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 112m
Genre: Action, Comedy
Stars: Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, Kristen Schaal
Directed by: Peter Segal
Perhaps a better name for this film would be My Spy Kid, since that captures the tone of the movie more than My Spy: The Eternal City. In the first film, Sophie (Chloe Coleman) had to blackmail CIA agent J.J. (Dune: Part Two‘s Dave Bautista) to give her spy lessons. Now, he’s firmly entrenched in her life as both her surrogate father and her trainer. Except 14-year-old Sophie’s no longer sure she wants to be a spy.
After J.J. is roped into serving as a chaperone on Chloe’s school trip to Europe, the duo uncover a plot that may lead to the destruction of the Vatican. And it’s time for Sophie to put everything she’s learned from J.J. to good use when the fate of the world is potentially on the line.
Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black (2024)
IMDb: 4.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 121m
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Stars: Meagan Good, Cory Hardrict, Joseph Lee Anderson
Directed by: Tyler Perry
Although Divorce in the Black is ostensibly a drama and a thriller, writer and director Tyler Perry’s latest film has several moments that play as unintentional comedy. Meagan Good stars as Ava, the wife of Dallas (Cory Hardrict), a man she married over the objections of her parents.
And wouldn’t you know it, but Ava’s parents were right all along. Dallas treats Ava like dirt and she’s still stung when he files for divorce from her. The good news for Ava is that being newly single gives her a chance to possibly find love with Benji (Joseph Lee Anderson). However, Dallas still feels like he owns Ava, even when he’s the one who initiated their split. And Dallas isn’t going to be happy when he learns that Ava is moving on.
Gladiator (2000)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 155m
Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure
Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator earned multiple Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Picture. Maybe the upcoming sequel, Gladiator 2, can replicate that feat? Russell Crowe had the role of his career as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a general who is the favorite of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) — so much so that the emperor wants to pass on his power to Maximus so Rome can be a republic again.
Marcus’ insane son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), ensures that never comes to pass by murdering his father and Maximus’ family, and having Maximus attacked and left for dead. When Maximus is subsequently sold into slavery, he becomes a gladiator and fights his way to the top in the hope of getting his revenge on Commodus.
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Metacritic: 69%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 96m
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Stars: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies
Directed by: Lee Cronin
Evil Dead Rise is neither as ambitious nor as good as the 2013 Evil Dead reboot. But for a horror film that was originally meant to go direct-to-streaming on Max, it’s very entertaining. Lily Sullivan stars as Beth, a guitar technician who is facing a major life change before visiting her sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), and her three kids: Danny (Morgan Davies), Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and Kassie (Nell Fisher).
On the same night as Beth’s visit, Danny discovers a strange book and disturbing recordings hidden away below the parking structure of their apartment building. Soon enough, Danny accidentally unleashes the Deadites, who in turn possess Ellie. With Ellie irrevocably transformed into something evil, it falls to Beth to protect her family. However, Ellie is relentless, and she has plenty of other people that she can kill before turning her attention to her kids and her sister.
The Beekeeper (2024)
Metacritic: 54%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 105m
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Stars: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi
Directed by: David Ayer
If you’re looking for a movie with Oscar buzz, The Beekeeper isn’t one of those films. But it is a Jason Statham action flick that lives up to everything you may expect to see from it. Statham plays Adam Clay, a former member of a secretive organization called the Beekeepers and an actual beekeeper.
Adam is content in his retirement until his friend and landlady, Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad), is taken for everything she has by scammers. Eloise commits suicide rather than live with the shame of having allowed her charity foundation to be robbed of millions. Adam vows revenge, and his bloody path of retribution puts him on opposite sides of the CIA and his former colleagues in the Beekeepers.
Space Cadet (2024)
Metacritic: 35%
IMDb: 5.0/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 110m
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Stars: Emma Roberts, Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu
Directed by: Liz W. Garcia
Space Cadet is a Legally Blonde-like comedy starring Emma Roberts as Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a young woman who gave up on her dreams of becoming an astronaut a long time ago. But Rex gets her second chance when she writes a heartfelt letter to NASA, which is intercepted and greatly embellished by her friend, Nadine (Poppy Liu), to make her look like a viable candidate.
Suddenly, Rex has a path forward if she can get through astronaut training before the deception is discovered. She is really good with people and has great leadership skills, but Rex’s lack of technical knowledge may keep her grounded if she can’t overcome it.
Cyrano (2021)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 124m
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Directed by: Joe Wright
American moviegoers didn’t have a song in their hearts when it came to Cyrano, an updated version of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac. This is one of the rare dramatic musicals, which features Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage as the title character, Cyrano de Bergerac.
Cyrano is hopelessly in love with his friend, Roxanne (Haley Bennett), but he feels that his small size means that she would not accept his love in return. Regardless, Cyrano is disappointed that Roxanne is so taken with a young man, Christian de Neuvillette (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), who can barely express himself at all. Yet in the name of Roxanne’s happiness, Cyrano coaches Christian to help him win her heart.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Metacritic: 90%
IMDb: 8.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 181m
Genre: Drama, History
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
The best movie of 2023 is now the best movie on Prime Video. Director and screenwriter Christopher Nolan will have a hard time topping the flick that finally won two Oscars for him. Because Oppenheimer not only lived up to the hype bit it’s the kind of film that will likely endure for decades to come.
Cillian Murphy gives an Oscar-winning performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who was instrumental in putting together the team that built the atomic bomb. Nolan’s narrative jumps back and forth to different years in Oppenheimer’s life, including an attempt by Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) to destroy his reputation. Yet nothing will hit Oppenheimer harder than the full weight of the atomic destruction that he unleashed upon the world.
The Grey (2012)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 117m
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure
Stars: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
There came a day when Liam Neeson ran out of asses to kick, so he took on some wolves in The Grey. That may sound like an unfair fight in Neeson’s favor, especially since his character, John Ottway, is handy with a sniper riffle. But the wolves have a few advantages over John and his co-workers, especially when a plane crash strands them in the Alaskan wilderness with little hope of rescue.
The wolves are patient, and this is their territory. They know just when to strike to whittle John’s party down one-by-one. And if John is going to make it out of this ordeal alive, then he’ll have to come to terms with his own mortality before he can face the wolves.
Daddy's Home (2015)
Metacritic: 42%
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 96m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini
Directed by: Sean Anders
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg co-headline Daddy’s Home as Brad Whitaker and Dusty Mayron, respectively. Brad is the new husband of Dusty’s ex-wife, Sara Whitaker (Linda Cardellini), and the step-father to their kids, Megan (Scarlett Estevez) and Dylan (Owen Vaccaro).
Brad tries everything he can think of to get the children to accept him as their step-father. And it almost works until Dusty re-enters their lives, and attempts to force Brad out of the house and out of the family. It’s a contest of wills, and Brad may come out on the losing side because he just isn’t as cool or as fun as Dusty.
Mean Girls (2024)
Metacritic: 58%
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 113m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho
Directed by: Arturo Perez Jr., Samantha Jayne
Mean Girls isn’t just a remake of the 2002 film, it’s also an adaptation of the 2017 Mean Girls musical. Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles from the original movie, but the leading part of Cady Heron features rising star Angourie Rice as she steps into Lindsay Lohan’s shoes. Lohan even has a cameo in the film, which you should be able to spot if you keep your eyes open near the end.
Cady has never gone to an actual school before, since she’s been homeschooled her entire life. Once she finally enrolls in North Shore High School, Cady is initially accepted by the Plastics, the titular mean girls. When the Plastics inevitably turn on Cady, she hatches a scheme to take them down from within. And she might just lose herself along the way.
Skyfall (2012)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 143m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Stars: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Skyfall is easily the most beloved James Bond movie of the modern era, and a high point of Daniel Craig’s time as 007. After nearly getting killed in the field, Bond attempts to retire from MI6 before a terrorist bombing draws him back into the fold. It quickly becomes clear that Bond is far from recovered from his injuries, but M (Judi Dench) still takes him back because of the threat that Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) represents to the nation and the world.
Raoul is also closely linked to M’s past, and Bond is going to have to face his own inner demons before he can take on Silva directly. It all leads to a final showdown at Bond’s ancestral home, Skyfall.
Die Hart 2: Die Harter (2024)
IMDb: 4.2/10
Duration: 92m
Genre: Action, Comedy
Stars: Kevin Hart, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ben Schwartz
Directed by: Eric Appel
Kevin Hart is back in the role he was born to play: himself. The Roku Channel’s Die Hart action comedy series returned for a second season in 2023, and it has now been reedited into a film called Die Hart 2: Die Harter.
Following his attempt to become a true action star, Hart is obsessed with showing off his newfound skills in an improvised action movie of his own creation. And when Hollywood doesn’t bite, Hart takes a meeting with a shady character, Karl Stromberg (Greg Kriek), that sends him headfirst into a revenge plot. It’s a good thing that Hart has friends like Mr. 206 (John Cena) who can help him get out of this mess alive.
The Blue Angels (2024)
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rated: G
Duration: 93m
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Brian Allendorfer, Bobby Speed Baldock, Bryon Beck
Directed by: Paul Crowder
If you live near an actual IMAX theater, then you may want to see The Blue Angels there before watching it on Prime Video. This documentary has some jaw-dropping visuals from never-before-seen footage of the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron.
The film covers the 2022 season for the Blue Angels as new pilots undergo intense training alongside veteran pilots to prepare for some very difficult flying formations and maneuvers. This isn’t a job that everyone can pull off, but for those who can, the Blue Angels are a calling.
American Fiction (2023)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 117m
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander
Directed by: Cord Jefferson
American Fiction casts The Batman Part Two’s Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a college professor and a novelist whose books sell very poorly. Monk is also upset that another writer, Sinatra Golden (Issa Rae), has found massive success while seemingly pandering to Black stereotypes. So Monk writes his own novel as a satire of Golden’s books before submitting it for publication.
Much to Monk’s surprise and horror, his satire is embraced by the publisher and the general public. The satire of the piece goes unnoticed, as the book becomes so popular that it starts taking over Monk’s life, even though he made sure that his real name wasn’t listed as the author. But once the book is out and Hollywood comes knocking, it may be too late.
The Idea of You (2024)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 116m
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin
Directed by: Michael Showalter
The irony of the premise of The Idea of You is that the romantic entanglement of Solène Marchand (Eileen‘s Anne Hathaway) with boy band lead singer Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) would probably be more of a fantasy for Solène’s daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), than for Solène herself. But one unplanned encounter between Solène and Hayes soon leads to several others.
There is an age gap between Solène and Hayes that does come up in the film, but the bigger issue between them is the celebrity gap. As long as Hayes is a world-famous musician, he and Solène may never be able to enjoy a normal romance without being hounded by the press.
The Holdovers (2023)
Metacritic: 82%
IMDb: 7.9/10
Rated: R
Duration: 133m
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Directed by: Alexander Payne
It’s a little early for Christmas movies, but The Holdovers may become a holiday tradition. Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, an unpopular and curmudgeonly teacher at Barton Academy boarding school in 1970. Hunham is forced to spend his Christmas vacation as a chaperone for the students who don’t have anywhere to go for the holidays.
Despite himself, Hunham starts empathizing and bonding with one of his students, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), as well as Barton cafeteria manager, Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who is grieving over the loss of her son. Through them, Hunham rediscovers his compassion, even though it may cost him what’s left of his teaching career.
The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
Metacritic: 39%
IMDb: 4.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 111m
Genre: Horror
Stars: Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Fifty years after the events of the original Exorcist, demons strike again in The Exorcist: Believer. Two young girls, Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine West (Olivia O’Neill), have fallen prey to evil, and their parents are at a loss as how to handle their possession.
Angela’s father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), eventually finds help in the form of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a woman who has made herself an expert in the field of demonic possession since her daughter, Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), suffered the same ordeal decades earlier. But no amount of preparation is sufficient in the face of the unrelenting evil that has the two children in its grasp.
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Metacritic: 56%
Rated: PG
Duration: 87m
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars: Pierre Coffin, Steve Carell, Russell Brand
Directed by: Kyle Balda
Minions: The Rise of Gru is the origin story of Despicable Me’s main character, Gru (Steve Carell), but probably not in the way that you expect. In the 1970s, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and the rest of the Minions (Pierre Coffin) have all latched on to Gru as their new master. Gru himself has ambitions of being the biggest supervillain in the world so he can join the Vicious 6.
Unfortunately for Gru, his attempts to join the most notorious gang of bad guys spectacularly backfires, which turns his idols in the Vicious 6 into his deadliest enemies. To defeat them, Gru and the Minions will have to turn to the Vicious 6’s former leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin).
Música (2024)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 91m
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars: Camila Mendes, Rudy Mancuso, J.B. Smoove
Directed by: Rudy Mancuso
Almost everyone can hear a song in their head, but the lead character of Música, Rudy (Rudy Mancuso), can’t stop hearing it. Rudy suffers from synesthesia, which means music is an ever-present part of his life, even when he would probably prefer silence.
Mancuso is a YouTube star who co-wrote and directed this coming-of-age romance, which finds Rudy torn between two women: Isabella (Camila Mendes) and Haley (Francesca Reale). Luckily — or perhaps unluckily — Rudy has a friend, Anwar (J.B. Smoove), who can give him some advice and guidance. But ultimately, Rudy has to make his own choices in life, including whom he really wants to be with.
Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (2023)
Metacritic: 49%
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 92m
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Stars: Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, Ben Marshall
Directed by: Paul Briganti
If you thought that Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain was a Peacock original movie, then you’re not wrong. But everything on Peacock tends to end up on Prime Video. The comedy group Please Don’t Destroy — Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy — stars in The Treasure of Foggy Mountain as fictionalized versions of themselves.
After the trio discovers they may have the lead on a priceless treasure hidden away in Foggy Mountain, they inadvertently create rivals for their quest when they tell Lisa (Megan Stalter) and Taylor (X Mayo) what they’re looking for. Additionally, other treasure seekers have already descended upon the mountain. Even if the trio can find the treasure, bringing it home will be a lot harder.
Witness (1985)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 112m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Stars: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Josef Sommer
Directed by: Peter Weir
At the peak of his stardom, Harrison Ford was more than just Indiana Jones or Han Solo. Witness is a thriller that cast Ford as John Book, a detective in the Philadelphia police department who is given an unusual case to investigate. A young Amish boy, Samuel Lapp (Lukas Haas), has accidentally witnessed the murder of an undercover cop.
Much to his alarm, Book realizes that the killer was another cop, and that the corruption in his department may threaten both Samuel and his widowed mother, Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis). Book’s suspicions are confirmed when he’s nearly taken out by one of his fellow officers, which forces him to hide with Rachel and Samuel among the Amish. And even though Book and Rachel are from very different worlds, they can’t hide their obvious attraction to each other.
Road House (2024)
Metacritic: 59%
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 121m
Genre: Action, Thriller
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor
Directed by: Doug Liman
In this remake of the popular 1989 movie starring Patrick Swayze, Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Elwood Dalton as a former UFC fighter who has fallen on some hard times. Road House gives Elwood a chance for redemption when Frankie (Jessica Williams) recruits him to be the bouncer at her bar, which shares its name with the title of the film.
Elwood’s fighting skills go a long way towards keeping order at The Road House, much to the anger of a local mobster, Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen). Elwood took care of Brandt’s regular goons with ease, but he’ll have a much harder time handling Knox, an enforcer for Brandt who is played by an actual UFC fighter, Conor McGregor.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023)
Metacritic: 35%
IMDb: 5.2/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 92m
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Stars: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Elena Kampouris
Directed by: Nia Vardalos
It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that there is another wedding in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 — it’s just not between the main characters, Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) and Ian Miller (Sex and the City‘s John Corbett). Through two sequels and one non-canon sitcom spinoff, Toula and Ian are still together. But they don’t know that their daughter, Paris Miller (Elena Kampouris), is struggling with both her love life and her academic pursuits in college.
Michael Constantine, who played Toula’s father, Gus Portokalos, in the previous films, passed away in 2021. That’s why a lot of this film deals with the family struggling with their grief over the loss of Gus as the extended clan travels to Greece to fulfill his last wishes. This turns out to be more difficult than they imagined, as his childhood friends have scattered, and some unrelated relationship dramas are coming to the surface.
Ricky Stanicky (2024)
Metacritic: 44%
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 113m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino
Directed by: Peter Farrelly
The first thing that you need to know about the movie called Ricky Stanicky is that there is no Ricky. He’s just someone who was made up by three friends — Dean (The Iron Claw‘s Zac Efron), Wes (Jermaine Fowler), and JT (Andrew Santino) — as a convenient scapegoat for the last two decades. But when “Ricky” causes Dean to miss the birth of his child, the trio’s significant others demand to finally meet him.
That’s why Dean hires a washed-up actor, Rod (John Cena), to pretend to be Ricky just long enough to fool their friends and family. The problem is that Rod not only loves playing Ricky, but he does it too well and he even lands a job that may keep him permanently in their lives. If the truth about Ricky gets out, then Dean, Wes, and JT are going to pay the price for everything they’ve done.
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
Metacritic: 33%
IMDb: 5.5/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 110m
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Stars: Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail
Directed by: Emma Tammi
The hit video game series Five Nights At Freddy’s was also a big success with moviegoers last fall. For this adaptation, Josh Hutcherson steps into the role of Mike Schmidt, a man who can barely hold down a job or provide a home for his younger sister, Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail). Out of desperation, Mike takes a job as the night shift guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a restaurant that’s been abandoned for decades.
With no one else that he can trust to watch over Vanessa, Josh brings her to work with him. That turns out to be a terrible mistake, because at night, the animatronics come to life. And while Freddy and his mechanical friends like Vanessa, they’re somewhat murderous toward Mike and anyone else who stumbles upon their secret.
Road to Perdition (2002)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 117m
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Paul Newman
Directed by: Sam Mendes
About two decades before he starred in The CW’s Superman & Lois series, Tyler Hoechlin appeared in a much darker comic book adaptation, Road To Perdition. Tom Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a mob hitman during the Great Depression who is forced to go on the run shortly after his son, Michael Sullivan Jr. (Hoechlin), witnesses his father and Connor Rooney (future James Bond Daniel Craig) murder another local crime figure.
Connor is also the son of a mob boss, John Rooney (Paul Newman), who favors Michael Sr. over his own flesh and blood. That’s why Connor had Michael’s wife and other son murdered, before ordering an assassin, Harlen Maguire (Jude Law), to track down Michael and Michael Jr. before they can make new lives for themselves.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 100m
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Action, Science Fiction
Stars: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu
Directed by: Jeff Rowe
The TMNT have been reinvented numerous times over the last four decades. But the unique thing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is that it focuses on them as believable teenagers. Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), and Raphael (Brady Noon) may be ninja turtles, but what they really want are some human friends who are their own age.
Despite the disapproval of their adoptive father, Splinter (Jackie Chan), the turtles meet and befriend a human girl, April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri). The turtles also believe that they can win over humanity if they become heroes. However, their first real test is Superfly (Ice Cube) and his army of mutants. And even the TMNT are outnumbered and outmatched against them.
Giannis: The Marvelous Journey (2024)
IMDb: 8.5/10
Duration: 109m
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Veronica Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Directed by: Kristen Lappas
In 2022, the Disney+ original movie Rise was a dramatized version of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s journey to the NBA from his humble beginnings. However, it’s one thing to see that version and another to hear Antetokounmpo share his story in his own words in the sports documentary Giannis: The Marvelous Journey.
Long before Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship and became one of the best players in the game, he and his family were illegal Nigerian immigrants in Greece who faced vicious discrimination that Antetokounmpo clearly still feels wounded by. But despite the adversity, Antetokounmpo achieved his dreams. It’s hard not to be inspired by that story.
Upgraded (2024)
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 105m
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Stars: Camila Mendes, Archie Renaux, Marisa Tomei
Directed by: Carlson Young
Former Riverdale star Camila Mendes is going full rom-com in Prime Video’s original film Upgraded. Mendes plays Ana, an intern who works for an absolute tyrant of a boss named Claire Dupont (Marisa Tomei). But Ana is willing to take Claire’s abuse because she knows that working for her is an opportunity to get a career in the art world.
When Ana is forced to accompany Claire on a business trip to London, she winds up in first class on a later flight. That’s where Ana meets and flirts with Will (Archie Renaux), who believes that she’s Claire. Ana keeps the deception going because she’s really attracted to Will and the feeling is mutual. Can their burgeoning romance survive if and when the truth is inevitably exposed?
Surrounded (2023)
Metacritic: 57%
IMDb: 6.0/10
Rated: R
Duration: 100m
Genre: Western, Action, Drama
Stars: Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, Michael Kenneth Williams
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
In Surrounded, Mo Washington (Letitia Wright) has a secret that only the audience is in on: She’s a woman pretending to be a man following a stint as a Buffalo Soldier during the Civil War. Five years after the conflict, Mo just wants to go west and stake her claim to a gold mine. Mo’s plans are upended when the stagecoach she is traveling with comes under attack by Tommy Walsh (Jamie Bell) and his gang.
The survivors of the attack manage to capture Tommy and drive off his men. In order to salvage their trek west, most of the survivors head out to bring someone back so they can claim the bounty on Tommy’s head. That leaves Mo with the unenviable task of standing guard over Tommy and preventing his gang from rescuing him. When a stranger named Will Clay (Michael K. Williams) comes along, he presents himself as an ally to Mo. But can anyone really be trusted, especially when blood and money are on the line?
The Other Zoey (2023)
IMDb: 5.9/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 91m
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Stars: Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux
Directed by: Sara Zandieh
The Other Zoey is not a remake of the Sandra Bullock rom-com While You Were Sleeping. But romantic comedy fans may notice some similarities between the two. Josephine Langford stars as Zoey Miller, a high school student who is definitely not the girlfriend of soccer star Zach MacLaren (Drew Starkey), whose girlfriend is also named Zoey (Maggie Thurmon).
When Zach suffers a head injury that gives him partial amnesia, he mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend, and his doctors warn her not to upset him with the truth. So Zoey carries on the deception and gets closer to Zach on a lavish vacation. At the same time, Zoey also feels attracted to Zach’s cousin, Miles Maclaren (Archie Renaux), who shares many of her views about love and life. So, which guy does Zoey really want? You’ll have to watch the film to find out.
Fast X (2023)
Metacritic: 56%
IMDb: 5.8/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 142m
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Stars: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) couldn’t be happier when Fast X begins, since he’s got his family together and his life in order. What Dom doesn’t have is a clue that Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) — the son of one of Dom’s dead enemies — is out for revenge. When Dante strikes, no one is safe. Dom’s wife, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), their son, Brian Marcos (Leo Abelo Perry), their team, and even their old adversary, Cipher (Charlize Theron), are all open targets.
In short order, Dante destroys the team’s reputation and hurts the people Dom cares about most. And Dante is only getting started, as the real suffering hasn’t begun yet.
The Passenger (2023)
Metacritic: 62%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Duration: 98m
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Horror
Stars: Kyle Gallner, Johnny Berchtold, Liza Weil
Directed by: Carter Smith
It’s been said that “a good friend will help you move, but a true friend will help you hide a body.” Benson (Kyle Gallner) may have taken that expression a little bit too literally in The Passenger. After witnessing his work buddy, Randolph “Randy” Bradley (Johnny Berchtold), get bullied by their co-workers, Benson snaps and murders everyone but Randy.
Suddenly Randy finds himself riding shotgun with an absolute lunatic, and he truly doesn’t know what Benson will do next. If Randy can’t find a way out, then it might be his body that gets ditched by Benson.
Role Play (2023)
IMDb: 5.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 101m
Genre: Crime, Romance, Action
Stars: David Oyelowo, Kaley Cuoco, Bill Nighy
Directed by: Thomas Vincent
Emma (The Flight Attendant‘s Kaley Cuoco) and Dave Brackett (David Oyelowo) are just about as happy as a couple could be in Prime Video’s Role Play. The Bracketts have two children and a beautiful home in a New Jersey suburb. What they’re lacking is the passion in the bedroom that they used to have before starting a family.
For their anniversary, Dave and Emma take a trip to New York and indulge in some role play. That turns out to be a mistake when Bob Kellerman (Bill Nighy) blows Emma’s cover and exposes her as an international assassin. Now, Emma has to use her skills to protect her family and keep her marriage to Dave intact.
Foe (2023)
Metacritic: 44%
IMDb: 5.3/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 111m
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Aaron Pierre
Directed by: Garth Davis
Humanity’s future looks bleak in Prime Video’s Foe, but at least Hen (Saoirse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal) have each other. Or do they? Their bonds of marriage are tested when Junior is selected to be among the lucky few to live and work on OuterMore, the orbiting habitat that may be humanity’s best hope of survival.
However, Hen is not selected for the program, even though a stranger named Terrance (Aaron Pierre) promises Junior that Hen will be well cared for in his absence by a special companion. Yet, as the vetting process drags on, Junior becomes convinced that Terrance will be the one living with his wife while he’s stuck in space.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Metacritic: 42%
IMDb: 6.0/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 127m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Peter Cullen
Directed by: Steven Caple Jr.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rolls back the clock to 1994 and follows a young man, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), who is so desperate to provide for his family that he agrees to steal a car. Unfortunately for Noah, the car turns out to be Mirage (Pete Davidson), one of the Autobots hiding on Earth. And while Mirage is eager to make friends with Noah, Autobot leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is not as trusting.
Thanks to a discovery made by museum research intern Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback), she and Noah are drawn into the Autobots’ war with the Terrorcons, who want to bring the planet-killing Transformer Unicron (Colman Domingo) to Earth. In order to save the world, Noah and Elena will have to help the Autobots find the Maximals and their leader, Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman).
About Fate (2022)
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 100m
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Stars: Emma Roberts, Thomas Mann, Lewis Tan
Directed by: Marius Weisberg
Parallel lives intersect in director Maryus Vaysberg’s romantic comedy About Fate, which was inspired by Emil Braginsky and Eldar Ryazanov’s The Irony of Fate. Margot Hayes (Emma Roberts) and Griffin Reed (Thomas Mann) both want to marry their respective partners, Clementine Pratt (Madelaine Petsch) and Kip (Lewis Tan). But when those plans fall apart, Griffin drunkenly comes home to Margot’s place because it was so easy to mistake for his own.
Instead of being angry at a stranger sleeping in her bed, Margot uses their meeting as an opportunity to ask Griffin to pretend to be Kip when she attends the wedding of her sister, Carrie Hayes (Britt Robertson). However, neither Kip nor Clementine are completely out of the picture, and it may take an act of fate to bring Griffin and Margot together as a real couple.
Saltburn (2023)
Metacritic: 61%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 131m
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Thriller
Stars: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike
Directed by: Emerald Fennell
Saltburn is a movie that’s designed to catch you off guard, even if you’re paying attention. So keep your eyes on Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), the Oxford University college student who befriends his wealthy classmate, Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). When Oliver receives word about his father’s death, Felix invites him to stay at his family’s estate at Saltburn for the summer.
Felix’s immediate family, including his parents, Lady Elspeth Catton (Rosamund Pike) and Sir James Catton (Richard E. Grant), as well as Felix’s sister, Venetia Catton (Alison Oliver), are very welcoming towards Oliver. However, Felix’s cousin, Farleigh Start (Gran Turismo‘s Archie Madekwe), is immediately suspicious about Oliver’s motives. It will be a long summer at Saltburn, and Oliver will have to go out of his way to earn his place there.
Asteroid City (2023)
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 105m
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks
Directed by: Wes Anderson
When it comes to Wes Anderson movies, you can always bet that they will be emotionally moving and deeply weird. Asteroid City is no exception, and it seems to take place in a world all of its own. Jason Schwartzman stars as a newly widowed father, Augie Steenbeck, who has brought his children to the annual Junior Stargazer convention. Despite the fact that Augie is still mourning his late wife, he is immediately drawn to Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson), an actress who brought her daughter, Dinah (Grace Edwards) to the event.
Dinah also strikes up a relationship with Augie’s son, Woodrow (Jake Ryan), and it’s not the only romance brewing in town. But there’s something incredible happening at this year’s Junior Stargazer event, and it may change the world forever.
A Good Person (2023)
Metacritic: 50%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 128m
Genre: Drama
Stars: Florence Pugh, Morgan Freeman, Molly Shannon
Directed by: Zach Braff
Dune: Part Two star Florence Pugh sheds all aspects of her MCU Black Widow role as a broken young woman in A Good Person. Zach Braff wrote and directed the film, which casts Pugh as Allison, a woman who was once engaged to her high school boyfriend, Nathan (Chinaza Uche). But shortly after her engagement, Allison causes a car accident that claims the lives of Nathan’s sister, Molly (Nichelle Hines), and her husband, Jesse (Toby Onwumere).
One year later, Allison is attempting to kick her addiction to painkillers when she reunites with Nathan and Molly’s father, Daniel (Morgan Freeman). As Daniel attempts to forgive Allison, they reenter each other’s lives and she tries to make amends with Ryan (Celeste O’Connor), the daughter that Molly and Jesse left behind.
Memento (2000)
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 113m
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan made his name in Hollywood with Memento, a brilliantly twisted story that is told out of order. L.A. Confidential’s Guy Pearce stars as Leonard Shelby, a man who is out to avenge the murder of his wife. The problem is that Leonard can’t make any new long-term memories, which is why his body is covered with tattoos designed to lead him to his wife’s killer.
Every face Leonard sees is the face of a stranger, so each time he meets Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano), he’s unsure of who he can trust. And everyone who knows about Leonard’s condition takes advantage of it, including Leonard himself.
The Burial (2023)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rated: R
Duration: 126m
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Alan Ruck
Directed by: Margaret Betts
Amazon Studios’ The Burial is based on a real story that happened in 1995. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), the owner of his family’s funeral home business, made a handshake deal with Raymond Loewen (Bill Camp), the head of the Loewen Group. However, Loewen failed to hold up his end of the deal, which left O’Keefe no other choice but to take him to court.
O’Keefe turns to a successful lawyer, Willie E. Gary (The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s Jamie Foxx), to represent him in the case. And despite their numerous differences, O’Keefe and Gary form a bond and an unusual friendship as they battle Loewen in court.
Totally Killer (2023)
Metacritic: 60%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 106m
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Stars: Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen
Directed by: Nahnatchka Khan
Amazon Studios’ Totally Killer seems to welcome comparisons to Back to the Future, and it’s one of the more unique blends of sci-fi, comedy, and horror. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s Kiernan Shipka stars as Jamie, a teenager who is very familiar with the story about how her mom, Pam (Julie Bowen), survived the Sweet Sixteen Killer 35 years ago. It’s something that Jamie has heard about many times in her life.
When the Sweet Sixteen Killer returns in the present, Jamie finds herself transported back in time to 1987, when her much younger mother (Olivia Holt) was apparently one of the mean girls in school. Yet if Jamie can’t protect Pam in the past then she may not have a future to go home to.
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (2023)
Metacritic: 63%
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 123m
Genre: War, Action, Thriller
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Sean Sagar
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant takes place in the not-too-distant past of 2018, during the War in Afghanistan. Despite initially distrusting his new interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim), Master Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) comes to respect him because of the way that Ahmed looks out for his troops. And when Kinley is incapacitated and his fellow soldiers are killed, Ahmed rises to the occasion and personally fights the Taliban to get Kinley to safety.
Ahmed’s act of heroism doesn’t win him favor with the U.S. government, which fails to take Ahmed and his family to safety even as the Taliban hunt them down for revenge. Kinley is so outraged by the injustice that he returns to Afghanistan to personally save Ahmed… if he can.
A Thousand and One (2023)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: R
Duration: 116m
Genre: Drama
Stars: Teyana Taylor, William Catlett, Josiah Cross
Directed by: A.V. Rockwell
Very few people saw A Thousand and One when it was in theaters in early 2023, but you might be hearing a lot more about it during Oscar season. Teyana Taylor headlines this drama as Inez de la Paz, a woman who is determined to provide for her 6-year-old son, Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola), despite abandoning him years earlier.
With Terry’s consent, Inez kidnaps him from foster custody and does her best to raise him alongside her husband, Lucky (Will Catlett). As Terry grows into a teen (Aven Courtney) and a young man (Josiah Cross), he discovers that he may truly have a future. But a secret from Inez’s past may destroy their family.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 134m
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith
Directed by: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
The D&D franchise got a fresh start on the big screen with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which casts Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez as a pair of close friends, Edgin Darvis and Holga Kilgore, respectively. After being betrayed by their former friend, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), Edgin and Holga escape prison and plot to reunite with Edgin’s daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman).
After reconnecting with a sorcerer of dubious talent, Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), Holga and Edgin recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis) to help them rob Fitzwilliam in the heist of a lifetime to force him from power. However, they soon find that Forge is involved with a plan that threatens everyone in Neverwinter, and only Edgin’s group can stop it from happening.
Bones and All (2022)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 131m
Genre: Drama, Horror, Romance
Stars: Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Mark Rylance
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Believe it or not, Bones and All is not an elaborate plot to lure a disgraced actor back from the Cayman Islands. It really is a cannibal romance story starring Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell as young lovers, Lee and Maren, who share certain urges to eat human flesh. The film treats cannibals as if they were vampires, and they know each other by scent.
If it wasn’t for the great chemistry between Chalamet and Russell, this wouldn’t work at all. But sometimes chemistry is all it takes to make a romance movie click, even if the cannibal angle is really reaching at times.
Babylon (2022)
Metacritic: 60%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 189m
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Director Damien Chazelle (La La Land) took a big swing with Babylon, a high-budget period film set during Hollywood’s transition away from silent movies in the 1920s. Brad Pitt headlines the movie as Jack Conrad, an actor whose star power is on the wane as actress Nellie LaRoy (Barbie‘s Margot Robbie) lands her big break.
Manuel “Manny” Torres (Diego Calva) has Hollywood ambitions of his own, and he forges a connection with Nellie while riding his own wave of success in the studio system. But the path to fame is rocky, and Nellie may suffer a serious fall before ever fully achieving her dreams.
Till (2022)
Metacritic: 79%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 131m
Genre: Drama, History
Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison
Directed by: Chinonye Chukwu
Till was largely overlooked by moviegoers in 2022 despite being a powerful look back at a very ugly period in our nation’s history. In 1955, a Black boy named Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall) allegedly whistles at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant (Haley Bennett). This quickly escalates out of control as Till was kidnapped, beaten, and lynched over the perceived offense.
Mamie Till (Danielle Deadwyler) is devastated at the loss of her son. Devastated and angry. Rather than letting Emmett’s death be buried, Mamie pushes to get justice for her murdered son, even when the law seemingly can’t hold his murderers accountable.
Interstellar (2014)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 169m
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Director Christopher Nolan delivers again in Interstellar, one of the best sci-fi movies of the last decade. In the near future, Earth is dying and humanity desperately needs a new home. Former NASA pilot Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) reluctantly leaves his children, Murphy “Murph” Cooper (Mackenzie Foy) and Tom Cooper (Dune: Part Two‘s Timothée Chalamet), behind to join Dr. Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway) on a search for an inhabitable world.
Unfortunately for Cooper, time passes differently for him in space as his children grow older on Earth. And if Cooper ever wants to make it back home, he needs to solve a scientific mystery that has haunted Murph (Jessica Chastain) for years.
Creed III (2023)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 116m
Genre: Drama, Action
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors
Directed by: Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut with Creed III, which theoretically could work as the end of the Rocky movies. At this point in his life, Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Jordan) has pretty much done everything he wanted in boxing, so he retires to spend more time with his wife, Bianca Taylor-Creed (Tessa Thompson), and their daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent).
Unfortunately for Donnie, the good times end when his former friend, Damian “Diamond Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), renters his life. Years ago, Dame was sent to prison, and it was largely Donnie’s fault. Now that Dame is back, he’s going to push Donnie until he gets the chance for payback in the ring. And this may not be a fight that Donnie can win.
Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)
Metacritic: 60%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 108m
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Stars: Tilda Swinton, Idris Elba, Erdil Ya?aro?lu
Directed by: George Miller
Literature is filled with stories about genies tricking mortals into making wishes that ultimately harm them. This is something that Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) is keenly aware of in Three Thousand Years of Longing. Alithea is an aging British scholar who hasn’t quite worked out what she wants from life. But Alithea isn’t sure she can believe what she sees and hears when she suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a real Djinn (Idris Elba) who wishes to be free from his enslavement.
To win Alithea’s trust and to entice her to make three wishes, the Djinn shares his centuries-long tale of heartbreak and desire. And much to Alithea’s surprise, this inspires her to make a major change in her life.
Air (2023)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 112m
Genre: Drama, History
Stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Prepare for the origin story of Michael Jordan’s shoes. Don’t worry, Air is more compelling than it sounds. And while it is the story of how the Air Jordan sneakers came into being, it’s also the story of how executives at Nike realized that teaming up with Jordan was a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But first, they have to convince Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan (Viola Davis).
Ben Affleck directed the film and stars as Phil Knight, one of the co-founders of Nike. At Phil’s behest, talent scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) is tasked with turning around the company’s basketball operation. And as soon as Nike gets behind the Jordan pitch, the future of the company is on the line.
Judy Blume Forever (2023)
Metacritic: 77%
IMDb: 7.6/10
Duration: 97m
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Judy Blume, Molly Ringwald, Lena Dunham
Directed by: Davina Pardo, Leah Wolchok
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Amazon Studios’ new documentary Judy Blume Forever is that the author herself, Judy Blume, is not only still alive, but she was able to be an active participant in the movie. The film essentially tells her life story, often in her own words, as it chronicles her journey from a housewife to a beloved children’s author whose books are still widely read.
Several famous commentators also share their thoughts about Blume, including Molly Ringwald, Lena Dunham, Anna Konki, Samantha Bee, Mary H.K. Choi, and Jacqueline Woodson. But the ones who really stand out are the ordinary women whose lives were deeply touched by Blume and her stories.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 136m
Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction, Action
Stars: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen
Directed by: Luc Besson
Did you know that Star Wars and dozens of other films were greatly influenced by the French sci-fi comic Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin? However, the comic didn’t make it to the big screen until director Luc Besson adapted it into Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. True to its title, the space station Alpha is indeed the product of aliens from thousands of worlds, and it is kept under the watchful eye of the United Human Federation.
Two of the station’s primary operatives, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne), try to keep the peace before they unknowingly stumble upon a conspiracy that could bring down Alpha itself. Laureline also has her hands full keeping Valerian’s amorous intentions toward her in check, even though his attraction to her isn’t one-sided.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Metacritic: 78%
IMDb: 8.3/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 131m
Genre: Action, Drama
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Top Gun: Maverick is the most popular movie of 2022 and one of biggest blockbusters in years. And after cleaning up at the box office, the Top Gun sequel is coming in for a landing on Prime Video. Tom Cruise reprises his role as Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a test pilot-turned-instructor who doesn’t quite have the same fire that he had in the ’80s.
While teaching the next generation of Top Gun pilots, Maverick also finds himself in conflict with one of his students, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his late friend, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. However, Maverick and his pilots will need to find common ground as they are drawn into a new mission with high stakes and breathtaking flying sequences.
