The 10 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

Key Points

• Amazon Prime has a huge selection of movies.
• Amazon Prime movies can change so view these while you can!
• Streaming exclusively on the Amazon Prime platform, Sound of Metal.

Amazon Prime offers everything from music to original programming, including thousands of film options that span multiple genres. With a huge roster of best-selling films (many free!) included in your subscription, you can sit back, relax, and watch everything from a romantic comedy like Pretty Woman to adventures like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

But some of the most popular movies on the Amazon Prime streaming platform might surprise you … and give you an excuse to find a new favorite flick, to boot. Here are ten of the best movies on Amazon Prime right now, and most of them are free with a Prime membership — and that’s a price we can get with. What are you waiting for? Grab that popcorn!

#10: Sound of Metal (2019)

Streaming exclusively on the Amazon Prime platform, Sound of Metal is an Oscar-nominated film about a drummer who is dealing with the challenge of permanent hearing loss. Riz Ahmed delivers a subtly nuanced performance, while Darius Marder directs this exemplary piece that explores deafness and the concept of using activity and noise to drown out the demons.

Stars: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Mathieu Amalric

Running Time: 2 hr

Rating: R

#9: Night Comes On (2018)

Powerful acting and a moving plot ground this movie and turn it into the memorable film that it is. Based on a true story, it centers around a woman who’s released from juvenile detention on her 18th birthday. With her 10-year-old sister in tow, she sets out to avenge her mother’s death. Directed by Jordana Spiro, the film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018

Stars: Jill Rene, Dominique Fishback, Tatum Marilyn Hall, James McDaniel, John Earl Jelks

Running Time: 1 hr, 30 min

Rating: TV-MA

#8: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

This is no romantic comedy or light-hearted family adventure. One of the most classic horror films of all time, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a longstanding fan favorite. Though there was a remake in 1978 with the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Donald Sutherland, and Leonard Nimoy, the original version has the benefit of black-and-white authenticity — it lends another layer of scary altogether. Directed by Don Siegel, the plot follows Dr. Miles Bennell as he returns to his small-town practice only to discover that some of his patients are suffering from the paranoid delusion that their loved ones are impostors. If you’re looking forward to streaming a good old-fashioned horror flick, this is the one.

Stars: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Carolyn Jones, Larry Gates

Running Time: 1 hr, 20 min

Rating: PG

#7: One Child Nation (2019)

A groundbreaking documentary from award-winning filmmakers Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang, One Child Nation explores China’s history of extreme population control measures and the human rights violations that resulted. While the practice hasn’t been employed since 2015, its traumatic effects continue to ripple to this day, as families pay the price for their past.

Running Time: 1 hr, 25 min

Rating: R

#6: The Band’s Visit (2007)

A witty Israeli film about overcoming ethnic barriers, The Band’s Visit was received with a solid dose of critical acclaim upon its release in 2007. The story follows eight Egyptian musicians as they mistakenly wind up (and subsequently get stranded) in a small town in the Negev Desert. The movie went on to become a highly praised Broadway musical, which has won everything from Tony Awards to the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award.

Stars: Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz, Saleh Bakri, Khalifa Natour

Running Time: 1 hr, 26 min

Rating: PG-13

#5: Blow the Man Down (2019)

A somewhat dark (but funny) narrative from writer/directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy, Blow the Man Down premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was later released through Amazon Studios. The story revolves around two sisters living in a small fishing town, who go into the town’s criminal underbelly in an attempt to cover up a crime they’ve committed. The clever twists and turns take you on an adventure as the two sisters learn all of the townspeople’s dark secrets.

Stars: Sophie Lowe, Morgan Saylor, June Squibb, Marceline Hugot

Running Time: 1 hr, 31 min

Rating: R

#4: Blackfish (2013)

This heartbreaking documentary tackles the emotionally-charged topic of killer whales in captivity and offers a window into the real-life horror of what happens when lack of freedom causes them to become aggressive. The grim story focuses on Tilikum, an orca in captivity at SeaWorld, and the surrounding controversy as he kills three people, including his experienced trainer. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and brought to light the oft-ignored issues regarding animals held captive for entertainment.

Stars: Tilikum, John Hargrove, Samantha Berg, Mark Simmons

Running Time: 1 hr, 30 min

Rating: PG-13

#3: The Big Sick (2017)

Loosely based on a true story, this romantic comedy follows the life of star Kumail Nanjiani’s courtship with his wife, who discovered she was ill when they began dating. The film tackles the culture clash as the interethnic couple struggles to meet the challenges of family drama and their burgeoning love. It premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and went on to garner an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano

Running Time: 2 hr

Rating: R

#2: Ash is Purest White (2018)

This Chinese film from director ZhangKe Jia is an intimate story about love and loss, with performances that wow. Qiao, a young Chinese dancer, falls in love with a gangster named Bin, who (tragically) doesn’t return her feelings. During a fight between local rival gangs, Qiao fires a gun to protect Bin, for which she pays the price and is sent to prison. Described by critics as a poetic piece that blends social commentary and a quest for emotional justice, this poignant movie is nothing short of powerful.

Stars: Tao Zhao, Fan Liao, Xiaogang Feng, Yi-nan Diao

Running Time: 2 hr, 16 min

Rating: Not Rated

#1: The Terminator (1984)

In one of his most iconic roles to date, Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers a legendary (and hyper-muscular) performance as a cyborg assassin from the future who travels back in time to take out the woman whose son will one day save the world. The film secured Arnold’s position as a leading man and led to multiple sequels — including the most recent one in 2019. Directed by James Cameron (Aliens, Titanic, Avatar), the best-selling film wound up grossing around $78 million compared to its $6.4 million budget. A successful venture, indeed, and one that influenced the next generation of science-fiction and action films. With its monumental action sequences and fast-paced flow, The Terminator is worth grabbing the family and making a night of it.

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michal Biehn, Paul Winfield

Running Time: 1 hr, 47 min

Rating: R

Don’t have enough time for full-length movies through your subscription on the Amazon platform? Check out the 10 Best Shows to Stream on Netflix Right Now.

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