The Best Prime Video Original Movies

In the competition for viewers between the big three services, Netflix may have the most buzz and largest audience, Disney+ may have the marquee franchises, but Prime Video has the biggest film catalog. Prime’s video streaming service currently offers over 9,000 films, while Netflix offers just over 3,800 — less than half of Prime Video’s catalog (depending on the country). Not content on relying on other studios for films, however, Prime Video is now adding original titles to its library. In 2015, Prime Video premiered its very first original film from the newly-formed Amazon Studios: director Spike Lee’s comedic drama Chi-Raq. Amazon Original Films now add more quality to Prime Video’s quantity, with unique movies from a variety of filmmakers.

Amazon Studios has also matched Netflix in making big-budget films and partnering with A-list talent, with varying degrees of success. Woody Allen’s Wonder Wheel was a critical flop, and sequels to Borat and Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America were massive disappointments to many. However, documentaries like Good Night Oppy, action adventures like The Lost City of Z (with Charlie Hunnam), and sci-fi films like The Tomorrow War (with Chris Pratt) were well received. Other films, however, were true standouts, with some earning Academy Awards and multiple nominations. Here are a few of the best Prime Video Original Movies available only on the streaming service, ranked for your approval.

Updated on Jan. 12th, 2024 by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

30 Judy Blume Forever (2023)

Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023, Judy Blume Forever is a beautiful documentary that envelops the upbringing, early life, and eventual rise to fame of the trailblazing author Judy Blume. Growing up in a modest neighborhood in New Jersey and becoming a suburban housewife, it was her wisdom and curiosity that ended up becoming an inspiration to many. But standing up for art, taking career risks as a young adult fiction writer, and forever changing the lives of many women is what Blume is most respected for.

An Inspiring and Creative Documentary

Under the direction of Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, the playfulness as well as the poignancy of Blume’s story comes out quite accurately. The documentary features archival footage, testimonials, talk show appearances, as well as interviews with famous actors like Lena Dunham, Molly Ringwald, and Samantha Bee, who celebrate her fearless advocacy. Told majorly in Blume’s own words and earning major contributions from her behind the scenes, Judy Blume Forever is a wonderful tribute.

29 Good Night Oppy (2022)

Some documentaries have a genuinely feel-good premise and an ending that leaves you smiling. Good Night Oppy is one of them. Launched by NASA in 2003 as a small geology exploration rover, Opportunity, a six-wheeled, solar-powered vehicle, landed on Mars in January of 2004. Its predetermined adventure was supposed to be about 90 days, but her expected lifetime multiplied, leading to major discoveries. Oppy explored Mars for over 15 years before going dark, during which time it captured Earth’s imagination and stunning visuals of space.

Get Ready to Be Emotional About a Robot

Narrated by Angela Bassett, this documentary is a rousing love letter to a voyager as well as to every person working on the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover mission at NASA. Good Night Oppy boasts some stellar visuals, with every frame covering wide vistas of the Red Planet. It recalls the brave planet as a pioneer of mankind’s determination to explore new horizons and push past barriers. More importantly, it inspires many of us to dream and continue to be curious about what we don’t know.

28 Paterson (2016)

Living in the titular city of Paterson, New Jersey is a bus driver and small-time poet named Paterson (yes, really). He leads a quiet routine: take the bus, observe mundane details in daily life, write poetry, take the dog for a walk, have a beer at the local bar, and return home. His wife, on the contrary, is outgoing and ambitious and always encourages him to do something about his artistic talents. It is only when he decides to make copies of his poem that something out of the ordinary happens to him.

Lowkey and Introspective

Contemporary and contemplative, Paterson is a movie about celebrating small things in life and embracing whatever shape and form life takes. Adam Driver channels soulfulness and subtlety into his role of a man seeing poetry in passengers and conversations, with Golshifteh Farahani adding a much-needed spark to the story as Paterson’s wife. Massive acclaim is owed to the movie’s beautiful ability to stay simple and natural instead of dramatic or climactic. Nominated for the Palme d’Or back in 2016, the movie is simply brilliant.

27 Suspiria (2018)

Starring Tilda Swinton and Mia Goth, two of the supernatural horror genre’s most celebrated actresses, along with Dakota Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz, Suspiria is an enchanting tale. It follows American dancer Susie, who arrives in Berlin after earning a spot at a renowned dance academy. But behind the company’s prestigious facade is an untold evil, which she later learns is operated by a coven of witches. As strange occurrences envelop her surroundings, she is forced to tap into her own twisted supernatural abilities, which her instructor, Madame Blanc, uses to her own benefit.

Deeply Chilling and Thematically Fascinating

Not entirely in the same vein as its predecessor, Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian classic, in terms of the narrative, but just as atmospheric and enchanting, Suspiria captures the very complexities of feminine power. Plus, it explores how the same power is exploited when women face domination and control for too long. With the artistic direction of Luca Guadagnino and sublime performances from the cast, the movie crafts a haunting metaphor that is not just matriarchal but also gory. Overall, Suspiria packs equal amounts of beauty and dread and is perfect for those who love the combination.

26 The Handmaiden (2016)

The Handmaiden takes place in 1930s Korea when the country was under Japanese occupation. It follows the story of Sook-hee, a pickpocket who is hired as a handmaiden to a wealthy iris named Lady Hideko. Unbeknownst to Lady Hideko, Sook-hee tries to fulfill her real role in this game, which is to help conman Count Fujiwara acquire all of Hideko’s wealth and inheritance. As the two women grow close and develop an intense attraction towards one another, secrets, betrayals, and fallen loyalties begin to tumble out and their fates intertwine in a lush and captivating way.

Thrilling and Romantic

Perhaps the best film outside of his Vengeance trilogy, Park Chan-wook’s sumptuous thriller is a visionary work destined to appeal to the audience for decades to come. The movie is based on Sarah Waters’ 2002 novel titled Fingersmith, and it has won several accolades, including Best International Feature at the BAFTAs. The Handmaiden is known particularly for its lavish production values and mesmerizing performances. Paired with its systematically plotted game of suspense, the movie comes alive at an intoxicating pace and remains in your memory long after you watch it.

25 Pass Over (2018)

Pass Over is an American drama based on a play of the same name. With a screenplay by Antoinette Nwandu, the movie is directed by Spike Lee and features the acting talents of Jon Michael Hill and Julian Parker. This slice-of-life drama tells the story of two young Black men named Moses and Kitch as they talk about anything and everything on a Chicago Street corner while enduring the hostile environment and frequent police visits.

A Dialogue-Centric Story from Spike Lee

Any film by Spike Lee is always a welcome addition to the realm of cinema, even if most of the projects by the revered directed are produced by streaming platforms these days. Pass Over is a window into the often hostile and confined world faced by Black people in America, especially in the big cities. Moses and Kitch retread their days dreaming of a better tomorrow without realizing the initiative to better themselves comes from within.

24 Peterloo (2018)

Peterloo is a British historical drama written and directed by Mike Leigh, based on the historical event that took place in 1819. Starring Rory Kinnear and Maxine Peake, the story centers around the pro-democracy rally held in St. Peter’s Field in Manchester, where protestors were charged by the British Army, killing 18 people and wounding hundreds of others.

A Tragic Real-Life Event

Never let it be said certain governments don’t learn from their own history. Peterloo is a production financed by the most notable cultural organizations and studios related to the British government, such as Film4, The British Film Institute, and Thin Man Films. The film was made to commemorate the 200th anniversary of a pivotal event in British History as the people in Manchester sought the same voting privileges as the rest of the Commonwealth.

23 The Tomorrow War (2021)

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Amazon’s first foray into blockbuster territory comes with The Tomorrow War, a film written by Zach Dean and directed by Chris McKay. The movie features the talents of Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, and J. K. Simmons. Set in 2021, the world is stunned when a group of time travelers from the year 2051 drop in the middle of a football game to let them know humanity is fighting a losing war against an alien invasion.

Time Travel Is an Endless Source of Inspiration

One of the most significant aspects of science fiction is the ongoing study of time paradoxes and how the past affects the future. The military of the future is lacking resources, so they conduct a draft in the present, and everyone is forced to pitch in. However, as the film advances and more is learned about the alien menace, the military quickly realizes that the key to defeating their opponents lies in the present. The film also tells a solid story about environmentalism and the dangers of global warming.

22 The Voyeurs (2021)

The Voyeurs is an erotic thriller evoking the grandstanding dramatic productions of the 1980s and ’90s, such as 9 1/2 Weeks or Basic Instinct. The movie, written and directed by Michael Mohan, stars Sydney Sweeney, Justice Smith, Ben Hardy, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo. The Voyeurs tells the story of a seemingly ordinary couple who suddenly get obsessed with voyeurism as they spy on their attractive neighbors, unsuspecting of the dire consequences this activity will bring to their lives.

Rich, Dark, and Twisty

Erotic thrillers are a rare occurrence these days, and they don’t get any better than The Voyeurs. The gripping narrative of this film explores in a very realistic way how normal people can be suddenly invested in abnormal activities and the lengths they will go to satisfy their curiosity. The movie explores themes such as intimacy, murder, revenge, and the legal implications of signing the dotted letter of any contract without reading the conditions first.

21 Samaritan (2022)

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Everyone eventually gives in to superhero fare, and Sylvester Stallone isn’t going to be left out. Samaritan is a comic book movie based on the works of the same name by authors Bragi Schut and Marc Olivent. The movie is directed by Julius Avery and written by Bragi F. Schut. Samaritan tells the story of a retired hero who disappeared 25 years ago and is forced back into action as the world around him starts falling apart.

Familiar Trappings Executed Well

Stallone is a man who works on projects he’s personally invested in these days, as shown in his role as co-producer for this film through his company, Balboa Productions. The story of an aging hero who is compelled to take the mantle back on account of a small kid is not the most original premise. However, Samaritan has a great twist in the third act, revealing that even the worst among us are not beyond redemption if they genuinely seek it.

20 The Aeronauts (2019)

The Aeronauts is a biopic based on the novelization Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air, written by Richard Holmes. The movie is directed by Tom Harper with a screenplay by Jack Thorne. The Aeronauts stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, who play scientist James Glaisher and pilot Amelia Wren. The story is an enhanced dramatization of the journey that helped prove the existence of layers in the atmosphere and paved the way to create weather forecasts.

Informative, Inspiring, and Impressive

In the central roles, Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones have a lot of chemistry in this story. A series of flashbacks illustrate their relationship before and how Amelia comes to terms with the passing of her husband but decides to move forward and help Glaisher with his research. It’s an inspiring film illustrating the nuances of scientific practices in the latter years of the IXX century.

19 Beautiful Boy (2018)

Based on the real-life memoirs of author David Sheff and his son Nic, Beautiful Boy is a heartbreaking story of love, loss, addiction, and the tender bond between a father and a son. Nicolas Sheff is an all-rounder at school. Being an actor, artist, athlete, and editor comes quite easily to him. But when he falls into the treacherous depths of meth addiction, his father does everything to stop him from destroying himself.

Devastatingly Full of Love

Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet give genuinely raw, emotionally resonant performances as the loving pair desperately seek the other’s approval. Carell is subtle as a father helping his child and Chalamet infuses his troubled character with a piercing eye. Beautiful Boy is director Felix Van Groeningen’s English-language feature debut, and it celebrates a bond between father and son that can never be broken.

18 I Want You Back (2022)

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Charlie Day and Jenny Slate enter a world of messy breakups and second chances in the hilarious and beautiful I Want You Back. Peter and Emma are two newly-singles who broke up with their former significant others on the same weekend. Together, they decided to team up and ruin their exes’ new relationships and hopefully win them back. Although their meddling antics and shameless schemes lead to plenty of laughs, they soon realize just how better off they are without their former partners.

A Hilarious and Fresh Comedy

I Want You Back documents the intimate journey of breaking up and moving on. Both Day and Slate drip with a relatable factor and the chemistry they share as strange but solid rocks to one another who have each other’s backs through thick and thin only helps to turn up the charm.

17 You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Written and directed by Lynne Ramsay, You Were Never Really Here is a neo-noir thriller that is equal parts disturbing and thought-provoking. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Joe, a troubled veteran mercenary on a desperate rescue mission after a politician hires him to save his teenage girl from a human trafficking network. After he begins the hunt, Joe is drawn into an ugly and brutal underworld of corruption and exploitation.

Lynne Ramsay Is the Master of Nuance and Layers

Joe’s traumatized past threatens to make him slip, but he will do anything in his power to save the girl. The movie features a lot of graphic violence paired with haunting visuals injected deliberately into the scenes to make the audience look inside the mind of a broken man trying to find meaning by helping others.

16 The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)

A heartwarming and offbeat teenage romance, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things follows two teens trapped in a time loop. Mark and Margaret are stuck living the same day repeatedly. But instead of being bothered by the bleakness of it all, they decide to spend their time with joy and grace. They set out to put every tiny, insignificant perfect thing in their world on the map.

The Time-Loop Trope Done Right

The film focuses on small moments, such as enjoying the perfect French fry or finding the perfect moment. In the process, Mark and Margaret find the purpose of living in the moment and appreciating life as it comes. Kyle Allen and Kathryn Newton are adorable as the protagonists and their wide-eyed wonder only allows the audience to experience the endless possibilities of life with them.

15 The Report (2019)

The Report is a pulsating and tense political drama written and directed by Scott Z. Burns. It sheds light on the astonishing government abuses that occurred after 9/11. With Adam Driver as the lead, the movie uncovers details of the CIA’s torture program under the administration of George Bush and the resulting changes to policy. FBI agent Daniel Jones performs a thorough investigation into the violent and aggressive tactics used by the CIA.

A Shocking True Story

Daniel Jones discovers the truth about some secret black site prisons as well as the cover-up efforts that spread out to the highest levels of administration. Driver completely immerses himself in the character, sacrificing everything in his quest for truth and justice. Ultimately, the movie acts as a wake-up call toward every action that is taken in the name of national security.

14 Radioactive (2020)

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Starring Rosamund Pike as the groundbreaking chemist Marie Curie, this biographical drama churns out important details of scientific history and delivers a moving story about choices and consequences. Radioactive chronicles Curie’s discoveries, her understanding of radioactivity, and the absolute tragedy that follows every time the world faces a discovery.

A Staggering Scientific Story

After the death of her husband, Curie devotes herself to science, and as her studies progress, she realizes that her discoveries could either be practiced in medicine and save lives or be applied to warfare and kill billions. Pike carries the role with the intensity of a determined, self-aware scientist who fought against the biases of her time. Radioactive also features great performances from Sam Riley and Anya Taylor-Joy.

13 Blow the Man Down (2019)

Set in the tiny fishing village of Easter Cove, Blow the Man Down is a twisted murder mystery that starts quite innocently. Two grieving sisters named Mary Beth and Priscilla Connolly struggled to get back on their feet after losing their mother. They have bills to pay and people to answer to, and in the process, they encounter a man and end up committing a gruesome murder.

An Underrated and Atmospheric Mystery

The setup follows a series of lies, secrets, and suspicions as the sisters desperately cry to cover up the truth about what happened. Blow the Man Down creates an intriguing atmosphere using vivid imagery of the close-knit coastal community and a sense of dread hidden underneath merry faces. Morgan Saylor and Sophie Lowe play their characters impeccably and the whodunit plays out in the most unexpected ways.

12 Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is the fourth installment in the popular animated franchise. After a “monsterfication” experiment goes wrong, Drac and his friends wake up to find themselves transformed into humans while the lone human in their family becomes a monster. Drac and the company try to find a way to reverse their condition before it becomes permanent, which leads to several silly situations and gags.

Phenomenal Family Fun

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania won fans over with its hidden messages about tolerance and accepting yourself as you are. The all-star voice cast includes Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, and Kathryn Hahn, who are wonderful as the characters. Moreover, the animation also reaches incredible heights in terms of colors and monster designs.

11 Lucy and Desi (2022)

Amy Poehler (Parks and Rec) directed Lucy and Desi, a fantastic documentary that provides a fresh, insightful perspective on the personal and professional lives of TV legends Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Newly-released audio recordings and lots of vintage footage, superbly edited together, make this two-time Emmy winner a much-watch film

Executed With Evident Care for the Subjects

There are at least a half-dozen more Prime Video documentaries we could add to this list, but Lucy and Desi stand above the rest. Even if you only liked Lucy, you’ll love this emotional, entertaining tribute. The documentary is far superior to 2021’s Being the Ricardos, Amazon Studios’ underwhelming dramatization of Lucy and Desi’s career from director Aaron Sorkin, and also streaming on Prime Video.