Best movies on Amazon Prime Video to watch now

Jonathan Glazer doesn't make too many films, but when he does they tend to be masterpieces – and that was certainly the case with his most recent work, The Zone of Interest. Loosely adapted from a Martin Amis novel of the same name, the film follows the everyday lives the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his family as they seek to enjoy a life of idyll despite living mere paces away from the unimaginable suffering in the concentration and extermination camp that he played a major role in creating.

The result is both chilling and devastating, with the Oscar-winning sound work of Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn crucial in creating an atmosphere of utter horror even as Glazer's camera avoids directly showing any of the atrocities. Exploring the banality of evil and humanity's willingness to look away from the horrendous pain it can inflict on others, it's a film that remains steadfastly relevant today - and will have a profound impact on anyone who watches it, up to and including its enigmatic final scene. – Patrick Cremona

This romantic comedy is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Robinne Lee, which became a veritable sensation and built up an extremely devoted fanbase following its publication in 2017. Rumoured to have begun as Harry Styles fan fiction, the story tells of Solène, a 40-year-old single mother who unexpectedly falls for the much younger – and world famous – boy band member Hayes Campbell when she accidentally walks into his trailer while accompanying her teenage daughter to Coachella.

The lead roles are charmingly played by Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine – with the pair sharing great chemistry – while several original songs have been penned for the production by veteran songwriter Savan Kotecha, whose credits including hits for One Direction and Ariana Grande. Meanwhile, the film probes into the toxicity of unwanted press attention that can greet celebrities' private lives and the gendered double standards in the public perception of age gap relationships, and addresses one of the only complaints fans had with the original novel: its ending. – Patrick Cremona

Alex Garland's latest film Civil War has proved to be one of the most talked about movies of 2024 so far – so why not check out one of the writer/director's earlier efforts? Sci-fi flick Ex Machina was his first credit as a director and won near universal acclaim for the engaging way in which it tackled the topic of AI, something which has become even more relevant in the years since its release.

Domhnall Gleeson stars as a young programmer who travels to the home of his tech company's enigmatic and reclusive chief (Oscar Isaac), only to find to his surprise that he has been tasked with determining the consciousness of an advanced AI model (Alicia Vikander). That premise is fertile ground for Garland to ask all sorts of probing questions about the nature of human identity and the result is a beautifully shot and thought-provoking drama that unfolds with tension and style. – Patrick Cremona

Ahead of Robert Eggers's highly anticipated remake of Nosferatu arriving later this year, his most recent release, The Northman, is available to stream on Prime Video now. It stars Alexander Skarsgård as Prince Amleth, a Viking who over years goes on an epic quest to save his mother and kill his uncle, who betrayed and murdered his father, the king.

It's a blood-soaked, brutal watch, which strays more into mainstream entertainment than any of Eggers's previous efforts, but which still retains his off-kilter tone and sense of style. Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy and Willem Dafoe all put in exceptional supporting performances, while Skarsgård is electric in the central role, carrying the film as he makes his way through foes to get his long-dreamed-about vengeance. - James Hibbs

This film from French director Justine Triet was a genuine sensation following its release last year – winning both the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Festival and the Best Original Screenplay Award at the Oscars, where it was also nominated for Best Picture. And it's by no means difficult to see why it was so acclaimed, with the film offering both a captivating courtroom mystery and an affecting portrait of a crumbling marriage.

Sandra Hüller, who was also in the running for Best Actress at the Oscars, is exceptional in the central role – which requires her to speak three different languages – while there are also super performances from child actor Milo Machado-Graner and even from dog Messi, who delivers what is surely one of the best animal performances ever committed to film. Meanwhile, you'll never hear 50 Cent's PIMP the same way again. – Patrick Cremona

One of the greatest British films ever made, London-set gangster drama The Long Good Friday is a terrific showcase for the late Bob Hoskins, who stars as Cockney crime boss Harold Shand. The film follows Harold as his attempts to forge good relations with the American Mafia and redevelop the London Docklands are set a major blow by a series of bombings that he suspects are the fault of a mole within his criminal outfit.

His methods of trying to determine the apparent mole are often ruthlessly violent but always captivating, and Hoskins is electric in the central role. Meanwhile, there's also a great supporting performance from Helen Mirren and a small but vital role for a very fresh-faced Pierce Brosnan – who plays a a key part in the film's truly chilling climax, one of the finest endings in movie history. – Patrick Cremona

First-time director Cord Jefferson both wrote and directed this comedy-drama which went on to win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, with the script having been based on Percival Everett's 2001 novel Erasure. Meanwhile, the film was also nominated in four other categories at the Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Jeffrey Wright.

The film follows Wright's character Monk, an author who writes a satire of stereotypical "black novels", only for it to become a major success.

It's clear why it was such as critical darling – not only is it a hugely funny watch at times, but it also has a real emotional core, as well as fascinating intellectual interrogation at its centre, around the ways race, class and media intersect. Meanwhile, the cast are all phenomenal, especially Wright, who sells the exasperation of Monk, as well as his complexities as a character. - James Hibbs

The fascinating true story of American whistleblower Reality Winner is explored to chilling effect in this razor-sharp drama from debut filmmaker Tina Satter. Using a script drawn from genuine transcripts, the film recreates the former NSA translator's interrogation by two FBI agents after she was arrested in 2017 for leaking a classified report about Russian interference in US elections to the press.

Bolstered by a superb central performance from Sydney Sweeney, the film is all the more tense for Satter's decision to eschew melodrama in favour of sober realism, which has the effect of making even the seemingly banal moments appear sinister. The choice to obscure certain words of dialogue adds a sense of paranoia that ensures the film feels more like a conspiracy thriller than a docudrama, and it all adds up to a captivating experience for both those in the know, and those with no prior knowledge of Winner's case. – Patrick Cremona

Throughout his career, Brian De Palma has often been described as a spiritual successor to Alfred Hitchcock – and this John Travolta-led thriller finds the director operating at his top level, crafting a gripping and extremely suspenseful story complete with a handful of memorable set-pieces. Inspired by the 1966 Michelangelo Antonioni film Blow-Up, Travolta plays Jack Terry, a film sound designer who is drawn into a conspiracy when he accidentally records a gunshot that proves to be evidence of a murder.

Jack soon finds himself in danger as he begins to carry out his own investigations with help from Nancy Allen's Sally Bedina – and a mood of deep paranoia sets in the closer they get to the truth. Typical of De Palma's work, the film is also supremely stylish and profoundly cinematic – a true gem of the paranoid thriller genre. – Patrick Cremona

With the Oscars having just passed, it might just be time to revisit one of the great Best Pictures that never was – The Social Network.

David Fincher's masterpiece was pipped to the post by The King's Speech, but it's a perfect analysis of our time, how the social media age got started, and just what it meant for the people involved at the ground floor.

It works as a terrific legal drama, works as a movie centred around technology, works as a piece about betrayal – everything about it is gripping and well-paced, while it also featured phenomenal performances across the board, including from the likes of Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield. - James Hibbs

Leonardo DiCaprio made waves last year in Oscar nominated film Killers of the Flower Moon, but if you're looking to return to his earlier work, Prime Video currently has one of his finest turns in a film available to stream now.

Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can paired the young actor up with Tom Hanks, to tell the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr, a notorious con artists whose stories of his own escapades have been heavily disputed, but which make for a hugely enjoyable film all the same.

The two central performances are as brilliant as you'd expect, while the film is a tonal masterpiece, dipping between the serious and the fun-filled frequently, but in a way which never feels jarring. For a film that's over two hours long, it absolutely zips by, and has become rightly beloved by both critics and audiences over the years. - James Hibbs

While Ayo Edebiri is becoming a deserved household name from her role as Sydney in The Bear, fans of hers can see her bring her usual comedic charm in Bottoms opposite Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby). The pair star as friends PJ and Josie who aren't the most popular in their high school and so, start up a fight club with the intention of meeting girls and losing their virginity.

But they soon find themselves way in over their heads, with the their actions having some hilarious consequences. Bottoms is unique in its storytelling and while there's been some criticism waged over its storytelling, the queer comedy packs the laughs and is a refreshing take on the beloved high school romcom genre. - Morgan Cormack

Described as a "a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire", Saltburn follows Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) a shy, quiet and apparently innocent Oxford Student who is drawn into the life of the charming Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). When Felix invites Oliver to spend the summer with him at his eccentric family home, Saltburn, both their lives, and the lives of everyone around them, are changed forever.

Directed by the Oscar winning and always wonderful Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is a superbly acted, well paced and boldly written tale of complicated friendship and intense obsession. And with a scene (or three) that will leave you with your eyes wide and your mouth agape, Saltburn is certainly not to be missed. – Chezelle Bingham

As awards seasons heats up, now's the perfect time to revisit some of the nominees from last year's Oscars, and there's no better place to start than with Women Talking.

This quietly powerful drama stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw and Frances McDormand, all putting in excellent work, and follows a group of women in an isolated Mennonite community who must decide whether to leave or stay after a series of horrific attacks perpetrated by the men.

If you're looking for fast paced thrills, this isn't it. Instead, this is a moving, thoughtful and oftentimes harrowing drama with some stunning central performances, which leaves you with a lot to sit with and think about as the credits roll. – James Hibbs

If you're celebrating Barbie's multiple Oscar nominations, or commiserating the fact that Greta Gerwig didn't get a nod in the Best Director category, then why not check back in with some of her previous work, including 2012's Frances Ha?

Gerwig didn't direct this one but instead starred in it and co-wrote it alongside her now husband and the director of the film, Noah Baumbach. Whether a black and white comedy-drama about a struggling dancer sounds up your street or not, the film has an infectious, light and funny tone to it, and will likely blow away any expectations you had going in. Gerwig is excellent in the central role, while Adam Driver also provides a strong supporting turn. - James Hibbs

Part screwball comedy, part Mob-movie pastiche, this outlandish yarn stars Toni Collette as a timid American mom who is installed as the head of a crime syndicate following the death of her grandfather. While attending his funeral in Italy, she finds herself in the midst of a war between rival families and forced to broker peace while dodging assassination attempts. The broad gagfest isn’t subtle, but there’s a lot to like, including Collette, whose comic timing is exemplary. – Terry Staunton

Ever since the first one debuted, the John Wick films have been a masterclass in how to make an action film work. The plot machinations have been light and breezy, and the action itself has been exhilaratingly choreographed. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have the excellent Keanu Reeves in the central role.

However, this might just be the best yet in the franchise - a breathless, three hour epic in which we watch John on the run, attempting to beat the high table once and for all, and escape the hit they put out on him. Reeves is brilliant as ever, while Donnie Yen brings an intriguing new character, Caine, to life. The action is absolutely top notch and you'll find yourself mouth agape at the audacity of some of the sequences. - James Hibbs

Italian director Luca Guadagnino's previous collaboration with Timothée Chalamet was the much lauded romantic drama Call Me by Your Name, and here the pair reunite for a very different sort of love story. Based on a novel by Camille DeAngelis, the film stars Chalamet and Taylor Russell as Lee and Maren, a couple of runaways who embark on a road trip across Reagan-era America while bonding over their unusual shared affliction: an insatiable appetite for human flesh.

That premise might sound like the basis for a schlocky pulp romance, but while the film does contain its share of grisly set-pieces, this is more than just a provocation. Instead, Guadagnino has crafted something unexpectedly tender, a deeply romantic and empathetic study of young love between outsiders. Russell is the star of the show, but there are also memorable supporting turns from Chloë Sevigny, Michael Stuhlbarg and Mark Rylance, the latter playing a fellow cannibal who is at once bone-chillingly creepy and profoundly tragic. – Patrick Cremona

We love a film title that pretty much sums up the premise of the film and while you’d most certainly think that this new Prime Video original film was all about pretty cakes sitting atop dingy bar counters, it takes a surprisingly heartfelt turn.

The film follows Jane (Yara Shahidi) who is slightly shy but bakes avidly during her LSAT study breaks, and her childhood best friend turned roommate Corinne (Odessa A’Zion) as they navigate life together. Corinne continually tries to get Jane out of her shell so sets her a task of baking cakes for a year and taking them to bars in order to meet people and build up her dwindling social skills. The result? An oftentimes funny but seriously heartwarming tale of female friendship in the wake of serious life issues that may just have you reaching for the tissues. – Morgan Cormack

Social niceties are put in the spotlight in this lovable comedy drama that reunites writer/director Nicole Holofcener with her Enough Said star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Beth (Louis-Dreyfus) is a writer who is nervous about following up an under-performing memoir with her first novel. But after inadvertently eavesdropping on his conversation with a friend, Beth finds out that her therapist husband Don (Tobias Menzies) is only pretending to like her new book, a discovery that throws their perfect marriage into jeopardy.

It’s a thought-provoking, sometimes hilarious reflection on just how difficult it can be to do the right thing. – Emma Simmonds

This bold, heartbreaking historical drama depicts the aftermath of the infamous 1955 lynching of teenager Emmett Till in Mississippi. Co-writer/director Chinonye Chukwu focuses on the protracted attempt by the boy’s resolute mother, Mamie Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler), to bring the killers to justice in a state riddled with systemic racism. The film thankfully holds back on the violence, but Chukwu finds plenty of chilling moments throughout. Meanwhile, Deadwyler’s powerful, dignified central performance ably carries this portrait of a woman whose tenacious campaigning helped galvanise the civil rights movement in America. – James Mottram

Michael B Jordan returns as boxer Adonis Creed in this pumped-up third Rocky spin-off. Also stepping behind the camera for his directorial debut, Jordan crafts an electric tale of friendship gone awry, as Creed is reunited with his old friend Damian (Jonathan Majors), an aspiring boxer fresh from a long stint in jail. Now back in Los Angeles, Damian wants a shot in the ring, which he hopes Creed will engineer.

Jordan proves unafraid of shaking up the franchise, setting the film away from the series’ spiritual Philadelphia home. The boxing scenes are punchy, while Majors is a heavyweight addition to the cast, bringing muscular intensity to the film. – James Mottram

Bill Nighy received the first Oscar nomination of his career for this superb remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru (1952).

Brilliantly reimagined by Booker Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, the film follows stiff upper-lipped bureaucrat Williams (Nighy) as he decides to make the most of the time he has left after being told he has only months to live. The result is a thoughtful exploration of reawakening and redemption, and Nighy’s subtle and reflective performance makes it truly soar. – Alan Jones