WHEN you want to catch the best films but didn’t have chance to make it to the cinema, don’t worry as Netflix isn’t the only place to turn.
Look no further for a round-up of Amazon Prime Video’s best films for inspiration.
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Drama
1. Whiplash
Whiplash sees Miles Teller play an ambitious young jazz student at Shaffer who plays the drums
A film about drumming doesn’t sound that interesting, but when it comes to Whiplash, it really is.
J.K Simmons plays a sociopathic drum teacher who engages in a tense tug of war with young and talented student Andrew, played by Miles Teller.
The film looks at how hate and respect are often not too far removed from each other, and it makes a compelling watch.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
2. Hunt For The Wilderpeople
Will this adventure be good for the pair of them or will it make them confront what they’ve been running from?
A national manhunt begins for foster uncle and his nephew who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.
A juvenile delinquent who was abandoned by his mother, he’s taken to live with a foster mother and her husband.
After his foster mother passes away, Ricky fakes his suicide and goes on the run, however his foster uncle finds him and the two end up on an adventure together.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
3. Parasite
Parasite is the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture
This South Korean satirical horror by Bong Joon Ho triumphed at the Oscars, and was the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The story follows two families, one rich, one poor, and follows what happens when the poor folk gradually invade the sprawling home of their richer counterparts.
While that doesn’t give a lot away, it’s best to leave it that way, so the film can pack a full punch when you watch it for the first time.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
4. Hustlers
J-Lo and co see how smart Wall Street clients really are
The film follows a savvy former strip club employee who bands together some friends in order trick Wall Street clients.
Starring Jennifer Lopez, Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart, Crazy Rich Asians Constance Wu and Scream Queens’ Keke Palmer.
Rapper Cardi B even makes a guest appearance, having been open about her past a stripper.
Expect glitz, glamour and a gripping police bust.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
5. Creed
Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone star in this sequel and spin-off to the Rocky franchise
This sports drama is both a sequel and a spin-off from the Rocky franchise.
It stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis “Donnie” Johnson Creed, Apollo Creed’s son, who turns to Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).
The pair bond as they build towards Donnie’s big fight and when it finally arrives, it provides the action sequences Rocky fans have appreciated all these years.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
Comedy
6. Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon stars as sorority girl Elle
Watch Reese Witherspoon star as sorority girl Elle who is on a mission to win back her ex-boyfriend – by joining Harvard law school.
The light-hearted comedy brings the laughs as Elle battles stereotypes against blondes to succeed in the iconic educational establishment.
Legally Blonde also stars Luke Wilson and Selma Blair.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
7. The Wolf of Wall Street
A life of excess for this New York stockbroker
This star studded blockbuster based on the true story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio).
The American Dream of corporate greed and self righteousness pulls him in and grips his whole life.
The drugs, parties, money, success, affluence and the thrill of life as a stockbroker in the late 80’s.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 82%
8. Brittany Runs a Marathon
Jillian Bell plays the titular Brittany, an overweight 28-year-old who sets out to drop the pounds and train for the annual New York Marathon
A film about self-acceptance and body positive can be hard to find in Hollywood, making this 2019 movie a delightful watch.
Jillian Bell plays the titular Brittany, an overweight 28-year-old who sets out to drop the pounds and train for the annual New York Marathon.
While raising plenty of laughs, the film manages to avoid any cheesy cliches or pitfalls and deliver some solid comedy about fat-shaming and our general health.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
9. Clueless
The fashion stakes are high for Alicia Silverstone in Clueless
A 90s coming-of-age classic starring Alicia Sliverstone as the popularity-obsessed teen Cher Horowitz.
Loosely based on the 1815 Jane Austen novel Emma, Cher tries to use her popularity to turn the fortunes of others attending her Beverly Hills high school, namely a new student named Tai Frasier, who Cher believes is in desperate need of a makeover.
Romance, friendship, heartbreak and sexuality are just a few of the themes touched upon.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 82%
Sci Fi & Fantasy
10. Justice League
Join DCs superheroes for this dark tale
DC bring their version of The Avengers to life, with this dark epic that brings the world’s finest superheroes together.
Wonderwoman, Batman, Superman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg all fight to save the world from a catastrophic end.
Bruce Wayne, played by Ben Affleck, brings together the superheroes after Superman’s selfless act that restored faith in humanity.
Expect blockbuster action and jaw-dropping CGI aplenty.
Also starring Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams and Ezra Miller.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 71%
11. The Hunger Games
Jennifer Lawrence plays heroine Katniess Everdeen in this 2012 film
This 2012 film starring Jennifer Lawrence is where the successful film series began.
But don’t get distracted with the thought of sequels just yet, focus solely on the gripping story of a dystopian world where two ‘tributes’ from each of the 12 districts of Panem fight to the death each year at The Hunger Games.
Despite the odds literally being stacked against them, some of the tributes find hope in the darkest of places, which delivers a powerful message in these trying times.
It also includes plenty of action, suspense and tension with a strong performance by Oscar-winner Jennifer as protagonist Katniss Everdeen.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 81%
Romance
12. I Want You Back
The film follows a group of teens who have just broken up as they try to ruin their former partner’s new relationships
I Want You Back, directed by Jason Orley, premiered earlier this year.
It is written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger.
The Amazon original film follows a group of teens who have just been broken up with and they try to ruin their former partner’s new relationships.
It stars Charlie Day and Jenny Slate.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
13. Dating Amber
Dating Amber focuses on the highs and lows of teenage life in mid-90’s Ireland
Dating Amber focuses on the highs and lows of teenage life where the only way to fit in is to not be yourself.
The movie is set in Ireland during the mid-90’s and focuses on two closeted teenagers called Eddie and Amber.
They decide to stage a relationship in order to stop everyone speculating about their sexuality.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%
14. The Big Sick
Real-life couple Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani penned this 2017 film about Pakistani-American culture-shock romance
Real-life couple Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani penned this 2017 film about Pakistani-American culture-shock romance.
Kumail also stars in the film as a version of himself, while Zoe Kazan plays Emily, with the pair meeting just before Emily falls into a coma.
Kumail suddenly finds himself dealing with parents as well as his heartache between hospital visits in a movie that manages to avoid any cringe-worthy cliches.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 88%
Action
15. Aeronauts
Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones in The Aeronauts
Set in 1862 a daredevil balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) teams up with meteorologist James Glashier (Eddie Redmayne) to advance their own knowledge and see if they can fly higher than anyone in human history.
Their voyage pushes them to the brink and they face physical and emotional challenges whilst fighting for survival in the air.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
16. 21 Bridges
When all 21 bridges in Manhattan are shut
Black Panther’s late star Chadwick Boseman plays an NYPD detective who is thrown into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers.
After uncovering a massive conspiracy the night unfolds and the line becomes blurred on who he is supposed to be pursuing.
The title is shown when all 21 Bridges in Manhattan are to be closed in order to prevent the entry or exit of anyone on the island.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
17. The Great Escape
The Great Escape is a classic war film starring Steve McQueen
An absolute classic film starring Steve McQueen, The Great Escape is based on a non-fiction book by Paul Brickhill, which itself is loosely based on real events during World War II.
Allied prisoners plot to escape from a German war camp en mass, which includes an escape tunnel and a whole host of planes, trains and boats.
The star-studded cast also features Richard Attenborough and James Garner.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
Horror/Thriller
18. The Silence of the Lambs
Sir Anthony Hopkins is terrifying as Hannibal Lecter in this classic film
This 1991 is one of the few films to win the ‘Big Five’ at the Oscars; Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay.
Jodie Foster plays an FBI trainee who is tasked with interviewing Sir Anthony Hopkins‘ serial killer, Hannibal Lecter.
The cat and mouse game that follows is nothing short of chilling and will definitely send a shiver down your spine.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95%
19. Shaun of the Dead
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star in Shaun of the Dead
Simon Pegg stars in this comedy horror which he also wrote alongside director Edgar Wright.
It follows Shaun and his friend Ed, played by Nick Frost, as they are initially unaware of a zombie outbreak.
Once realisation dawns on them, they attempt to seek refuge in their local pub with their loved ones, with varying degrees of success.
Funny and with plenty of blood, it’s a must for comedy horror fans.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 93%
20. Jaws
Jaws was released in 1975 and has become an iconic film
Never has a film villain had a more iconic music score than the killer shark in Jaws.
The 1975 film by Steven Spielberg sees police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) set out to capture the killer beast after it takes the life of a young woman skinny dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island.
He is joined by Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) and the trio soon find themselves in an epic battle of man vs nature.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 90%
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