15 Best International Movies on Prime Video

Since the rise of digital media and the popularity of apps like MUBI and Kanopy, major streaming platforms have seemingly recognized the ever-so-present appeal of international films. Just as Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho said, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Ranging from beloved classics that broke language barriers and challenged pre-existing biases to the overlooked, excellent tales of adolescence, drama, and romance, these 15 films on Prime Video include some of the most recognizable and enthralling stories for a global audience.

15 Amélie (2001)

Widely seen as a prime example of the true appeal of an international film, Amélie is a French romantic comedy that follows the titular introvert (Audrey Tautou) and her ambition to live life beyond the parameters set by her shyness. With a peculiar childhood defined by imagination, loss, ad isolation, Amelie sets out to find happiness in her life, especially after discovering a collection of childhood memorabilia stored away in a secret corner of her apartment.

A Playful, Poignant Adventure Through Paris

Amélie has forever been etched into the minds of its audiences due to the protagonist’s vivid imagination and determination to find joy. Entertaining audiences with quirky and free-spirited humor, Amelie’s journey throughout the city offers audiences a surreal reimagination of Paris, and, by extension, life through her eyes, conjuring a particular brightness that shines brighter than its peers and successors.

14 Neeyat (2023)

Neeyat is a recent delight, following the attempted demise of Indian billionaire Ashish “AK” Kapoor (Ram Kapoor) during his lavish birthday party and tracing the subsequent investigation. Left in the hands of CBI officer Mira Rao (Vidya Balan), the remainder of the film operates a familiar whodunit story with a particularly impressive maze of truths and lies.

A Conventional Homage to Classics

In line with classic whodunit films, Neeyat derives most of its structure from the beloved Agatha Christie novels. However, it remains a worthwhile mystery to watch unfold for anyone who wishes to indulge themselves in a traditional, suspenseful drama surrounding society’s most affluent.

13 I Wish (2011)

I Wish sees two young Japanese brothers managing to remain connected despite being separated by the divorce of their parents. Set in 2011, the two exist during an era more optimistic about technology, and with the advent of the bullet train, both Koichi (Koki Maeda) and Ryunosuke (Maeda Oushirou) find themselves thrilled at the thought of reuniting.

An Exhilarating Family Drama

I Wish is uniquely endearing in its approach to chronicling childhood connections. Despite the harrowing obstacles in their way, both brothers are bonded by an innocence that is often overlooked by adults. Their creativity and hope seeps into their problem-solving skills, which offers much to appreciate, tearfully or otherwise.

12 I Saw the Devil (2010)

Much like most crime dramas, I Saw the Devil is a thrilling escapade into the mind of NIS officer Kim Soo-hyun (Choi Min-sik), who sets out on a path of vengeance after the murder of his wife. Tracking the serial killer responsible, the film is nothing short of stimulating, blurring the lines between retribution and sadism while touching on themes like grief, violence, and vigilantism.

A Tasteful Twist on the Revenge Film

I Saw the Devil still stands as one of the best revenge films ever made. The film recognizes the appeal of a deeply flawed villain and an admirable hero. Despite deeply entrenching both characters into familiar tropes, the film still manages to highlight just how dangerous revenge is, corrupting those who feel jaded by a justice system only interested in maintaining the theater of safety.

11 Let the Right One In (2008)

Let the Right One In follows Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a 12-year-old boy, whose life in a Stockholm suburb is rather bleak. Suffering from bullying from his classmates, Oskar seems hopeless until his ominous, new neighbor Eli (Lina Leandersson) decides to help him muster the confidence and the strength to defend himself. However, her arrival seemingly ushers in bloodshed, implicating everyone in her vicinity.

A Brilliant Bond Between Two Enamoring Sprites

While the film includes a bevy of horrifying scenes, slowly peeling away at the truly terrifying lore behind the attacks, Let the Right One In also highlights the horror of bullying and adolescence. It may be easy to draw more concern from the presence of supernatural beings, immediately alienating them. However, the film suggests that the humans among us can and have been the true monsters in any given person’s story.

10 Nothing Like Paris (2023)

Nothing Like Paris finds two Filipinos convening and evaluating ther relationship in the long-believed City of Love. Jojo (Empoy Marquez), an artist, finds himself constantly searching for the muse behind his paintings, a symbol of true love. However, his world flips upside down when a woman named Marie (Alessandro de Rossi) claims to be the subject of his paintings and, soon, the two attempt to understand the growing affection between them.

A Romance Like None Other

While visions of a glimmering Paris, accompanied by two soulmates navigating their relationship, may be familiar to most audiences, Nothing Like Paris manages to create a fascinating romance that feels close-to-home yet distinctive. The movie makes the most of its time, both literally and within the fictional universe. The focus on Jojo and Marie themselves, their shared migration, and the inclusion of everyday technology creates an ultimately realistic ode to love in the modern age.

9 White Building (2021)

A particularly poignant film, White Building, chronicles 20-year-old Samnang (Piseth Chhun) and his reaction to news of a proposed demolition of his Phnom Penh. Coupled with growing tensions with his friends and neighbors, Samnang attempts to sift through the conflicts and preserve the legacy of the titular apartment complex.

A Touching Coming-of-Age Adventure

White Building is rich in its contemplation, but maintains a veil of normalcy. Tracking the daily struggles and glimpses of optimism, the film cleverly documenting the effects of gentrification through the best method possible. Echoing reality, the film is nothing short of astonishing in its world-building, replicating universal experiences and crafting multidimensional protagonists that illustrate the fears of displacement and the optimism in spite of such harrowing developments.

8 Saloum (2021)

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Saloum sees the western removed from its typically American Midwestern setting and finds its admirable protagonists in West Africa. Focusing on three mercenaries, referred to as the Hyenas, the film finds them hunting down a drug lord from Guinea-Bisseau, but a series of unfortunate events sees them retreating into Saloum, a region in Senegal. The genre-bending film offers audiences a refreshing amalgamation of neo-Western drama and supernatural horror.

A Wonderful Mélange of Reality and Fiction

Many films fascinatingly blur the lines between the mundane and the supernatural. However, Saloum delightfully experiments with multiple genres, bending familiar tropes to its will as themes of revenge and spirituality are explored alongside the Hyenas’ pursuit throughout West Africa.

7 The Initiated (2023)

The Initiated has been described by many as a dark and twisted neo-noir that follows long-beloved fictional figure, Frank Molina (Andrés Parra) in a grim future, where even the rain has been corrupted. Now acidic and fatal, Molina reenters the world after a psychological breakdown and is soon thrust into a world of violence as he is tapped to solve the murder of Monica Perea (Lomaasbello), his former student.

A Refreshingly Imaginative Thriller

The film submerges audiences in a mystifying yet gratifying world, reflecting the ills of corruption back to its viewers while sifting through a daunting murder mystery. The dystopian thriller not only evades conventional creative decisions, but also relies on clever performances from actors like Parra to deliver a truly entertaining addition to the neo-noir genre.

6 Cairo Conspiracy (AKA Boy from Heaven) (2022)

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What began as an exciting prospect for a Sunni Muslim, Cairo Conspiracy (also called Boy from Heaven) chronicles the infighting between Egypt’s political and religious elite from the eyes of eager student Adam (Tawfeek Barhom). Within the esteemed Al Azhar University, Adam’s humility and curiosity allow him to build a rapport with his peers and the establishment. However, as the film progresses, it’s clear that he stands in the middle of a shadow war too grand to understand.

An Enthralling and Informative Spectacle

Despite his pious upbringing and his optimism, Adam’s story sits in the middle of a wicked web of betrayal, deceit, and a relentless thirst for power. Cairo Conspiracy highlights an insidiousness that rests in the bowels of highly esteemed institutions. As chaos ensues, multiple factions vy for control through any means necessary and, slowly but surely, their true intentions come to the surface. The secrecy makes for an entertaining film and a poignant critique of a worrisome thirst for complete control.

5 The Handmaiden (2016)

The Handmaiden stands as one of South Korea’s most popular films, chronicling the illicit affair between a Japanese heiress and the poseur countess planning to seduce her. Amid news of Lady Hideko’s (Kim Min-hee) vulnerable fortune, the crafty Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo) and accomplice Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) plot to rob her of her fortune. Nonetheless, the plan goes awry when the two women forge a complicated yet close bond worth watching evolve.

Historical Fiction at Its Finest

Throughout the hours-long ordeal, The Handmaiden manages to stun audiences with its malleability. In one breath, the scenes read as an intense erotic thriller, but from another lens, the film appears as a harrowing political drama. The Handmaiden chronicles two factions silently wrestling over power while growing closer in proximity and emotional connection, making for a truly exceptional feat of ingenuity.

4 Tell No One (2006)

Inspired by the 2001 Harlan Coben novel of the same name, Tell No One opens with a sorrowful Dr. Alexandre Beck (Francois Cluzot) struggling to piece together the remnants of his life after he loses Margot (Marie-Josée Croze), his wife, to a serial killer. As the movie progresses, he quickly learns that everything is not what it seems, receiving a surprising package that may very well be the Pandora’s Box he was doomed to open.

The Unthinkable Becomes Astonishingly Real and Morbid

Tell No One plays with the imagination of the viewer as they follow a worried and confused Beck in his investigation of his wife’s whereabouts. As the film persists, Beck attempts to make sense of the message sent seemingly from Margot almost a decade after her supposed passing, unearthing the pain revolving around the incident just as law enforcement encroaches. Both subtle and labyrinthine, Tell No One is a compelling piece that touches on grief and explores violence with a greater depth of understanding.

3 Barbara

Barbara chronicles the titular doctor (Nina Hoss) from East Berlin and her unique experience in a remote town after her exile from a prestigious position. Closely monitored by the Stasi, Barbara grows mindful of the threats that follow her, even when met with kinder counterparts such as André (Ronald Zehrfeld). Somewhat of a slow-burn, Barbara is a particularly intriguing look into the creation of a close-knit enclave of dissidents.

A Carefully Concocted Examination of Paranoia

What makes Barbara an exceptionally riveting German film is its ability to chronicle the fear fostered by the repressive system sustained by the Stasi, while also highlighting the organic effort in building community with like-minded peers. As much as the titular character and her journey take precedent, the film doesn’t shy away from shining a light on the complex characters that would define Barbara’s experience in the isolated town.

2 Saint Omer (2022)

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Saint Omer is a haunting legal drama inspired by true events. Opening with accomplished professor and writer Rama (Kayije Kagame), the film chronicles her growing interest in the case of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanda), a woman convicted of leaving her 15-month-old daughter to die on the beach. As the film progresses, however, Rama soon identifies key similarities between her and Laurence, prompting an earnest reflection of motherhood and intersectionality.

A Touching Twist on the Legal Drama

Conceptualized years after the real-life prosecution of Fabienne Kabou, the film is a haunting yet masterful piece that uses the familiar foundation of a legal drama to explore the true horrors that permeate under the surface of self-proclaimed liberal institutions. Replicating director Alice Diop’s own experience with the Kabou case, the film disrupts the binary that marginalizes people into one box or another. Acknowledging the implications of Coly’s identity and its importance to the case, the film does away with rigid classifications in favor of a third, more elusive understanding of motherhood, race, and intergenerational injustice.

1 The Salesman (2016)

The Salesman sees director Asghar Farhadi conjure up a truly dramatic of a married couple’s new life in Tehran. A married couple working in the theater, Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti) have a production of Death of a Salesman in the works. Coupled with the recent move to a new apartment, things appear to be promising. However, a traumatic event sees the couple struck with grief and confusion. As they attempt to claw their way out of such disarray, the two and their community serve as vessels for Farhadi to illustrate the true, fascinating power of the human mind and the heart.

A Rich and Relatable Story

The intertextuality present not only results in a worthwhile homage to the Arthur Miller piece, but proves to be crucial in understanding Emad and Rana’s relationship as they attempt to weather through the chaos. Moreover, The Salesman manages to impress audiences with the authenticity of the characters. Alongside Emad and Rana, characters like Babak (Babak Karimi) and (Sanam) Mina Sadati also contribute to the film’s overall sincerity. Through its flawed but genuine characters, Farhadi’s film is a riveting piece that will surely leave audiences with a different perspective on morality and compassion.