They say that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, referencing the changes to the weather as spring approaches. Well, when it comes to watching movies, whether you are in the mood for something intense like a lion or gentle like a lamb, you can find either among the best movies on Amazon Prime.
With Best Picture Oscar winners like Dances with Wolves and Oppenheimer, hilarious comedies like Noises Off! and Hundreds of Beavers, and exciting thrillers like Escape from New York and Heat, the platform earns the right to be called one of the best streaming services to subscribe to. You will even find some Amazon Prime original movies on the list of our picks for the best movies available with an Amazon Prime subscription as of March 1, 2025.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Director: John Schlesinger
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight
What it’s about: A Texas hustler seeking success in New York City forms an unlikely bond with a local.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Three Oscars went to this moving adaptation of author James Leo Herlihy’s tale of friendship, Midnight Cowboy, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.
Past Lives (2023)
Director: Celine Song
Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, Magaro
What it’s about: A married South Korean native begins to question the course of her life when she reconnects with a childhood friend.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: One of the best A24 movies in recent memory is Celine Song’s powerful story of self-reflection, Past Lives, which received Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Pitch Black (2000)
Director: David Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell
What it’s about: A transport ship crash-lands on a planet inhabited by deadly, nocturnal creatures just as an eclipse takes place.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Diesel makes his debut as one of his personal favorite characters in Pitch Black, which was followed by two other movies where he stars as Riddick that are also available.
- Stream Pitch Black on Amazon Prime
- Stream The Chronicles of Riddick on Amazon Prime
- Stream Riddick on Amazon Prime
Noises Off… (1992)
Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Starring: Michael Caine, Carol Burnett, Christopher Reeve, Nicollette Sheridan, Julie Hagerty, John Ritter, Marilu Henner, Denholm Elliott
What it’s about: Increasingly dire behind-the-scenes issues lead to disastrous mishaps onstage during the traveling stage production of Nothing’s On.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Based on a play of the same name, Noises Off… is an uproariously clever farce boasting some of the all-time funniest performances by its star-studded ensemble.
Stream Noises Off… on Amazon Prime
Dances With Wolves (1990)
Director: Kevin Costner
Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell
What it’s about: A Civil War-era lieutenant becomes acquainted with the customs of a Sioux Native American tribe.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Dances with Wolves is a powerful, inspiring fish-out-of-water story that earned seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner.
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Starring: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bernie Casey
What it’s about: After his brother is murdered by a powerful criminal, a former soldier puts together a band of old-school heroes to help avenge his death.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: One of the best parody movies to come from the Wayans Brothers is the hilarious Blaxploitation spoof, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.
The Bridges Of Madison County (1995)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep
What it’s about: After a chance meeting, a woman indulges in an extramarital affair with a stranger while her husband and children are away.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Eastwood and Streep make for a captivating romantic couple in this adaptation of Robert James Waller’s tale of forbidden romance, The Bridges of Madison County.
Donnie Darko (2001)
Director: Richard Kelly
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal
What it’s about: A disturbed teenager’s life takes a darker turn after he experiences an apocalyptic vision.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Jake Gyllenhaal shares the screen with his sibling, Maggie, in one of the best movies about time travel (among other strange, perplexing, and even funny topics), Donnie Darko.
Blue Velvet (1986)
Director: David Lynch
Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini
What it’s about: A college student’s curiosity leads him to become embroiled in a lounge singer’s dangerous life.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: One of the late David Lynch’s best movies (as well as one of the most accessible films the famously cerebral storyteller has made) is the contemporary film noir classic, Blue Velvet.
Escape From New York (1981)
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef
What it’s about: A soldier-turned-criminal is tasked with locating the President of the United States, who has been taken hostage in the dystopian penal colony that used to be Manhattan.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: One of Russell’s most badass characters, Snake Plissken, debuts in Carpenter’s cult favorite post-apocalyptic thriller, Escape from New York.
The Fall Guy (2024)
Director: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt
What it’s about: After agreeing to work on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut, a retired stuntman is tasked with finding the film’s missing star.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: In addition to being an exciting cinematic adaptation of a classic TV show, The Fall Guy is a fun and romantic love letter to one of the most underappreciated heroes of the film industry: stunt performers.
Blink Twice (2024)
Director: Zoë Kravitz
Starring: Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum
What it’s about: A young woman begins to question her reality when strange things begin to happen during her stay on a tech billionaire’s idyllic private island.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Kravitz makes a strong directorial debut with the clever and sometimes funny thriller, Blink Twice, which boasts some explosive and shocking twists.
Hundreds Of Beavers (2024)
Director: Mike Cheslik
Starring: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Olivia Graves
What it’s about: A former applejack salesman is forced to turn to fur-trapping to survive the harsh winter.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Hundreds of Beavers, a slapstick comedy that was unfairly snubbed in the Golden Globes’ Best Picture category, is an astonishing blend of Silent Era aesthetics with Looney Tunes-style absurdity and boasts some of the most ingenious sight gags in years.
Knives Out (2019)
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans
What it’s about: A famed, Southern private investigator is called in to investigate the death of a dysfunctional family’s wealthy patriarch.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: The brilliant performances by the star-studded cast and Rian Johnson’s knack for crafting dazzlingly subversive mysteries make Knives Out one of the best whodunits on Amazon Prime.
Heat (1995)
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer
What it’s about: An elusive gang of thieves find themselves under the LAPD’s radar.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Michael Mann is currently working on a sequel to Heat, which is considered his masterpiece for its dynamite performances, absorbing narrative, and beautifully shot action sequences.
Frank (2014)
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Starring: Micheal Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal
What it’s about: An aspiring musician inadvertently becomes a disruptive force in an experimental band led by a talented eccentric who hides his face under a Papier-mâché mask.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Inspired by the career of indie rock artist Frank Sidebottom and written by his former bandmate Jon Ronson, Frank is an intriguing exploration of the conflict between fame and ambition and one of the most unique and best music movies of its time.
Labyrinth (1987)
Director: Jim Henson
Starring: David Bowie, Jennifer Connolly
What it’s about: A teenage girl must journey to a strange world to rescue her infant brother.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: With timeless puppetry and an iconically devilish performance by David Bowie, Labyrinth is a beloved fantasy movie classic.
Babylon (2022)
Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva
What it’s about: The highs and lows of 1920s Hollywood as seen through the eyes of a veteran actor, an up-and-coming starlet, an aspiring studio employee, and others.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Easily one of the best Margot Robbie movies, Babylon is a spectacular, mesmerizing, funny, and ultimately devastating portrait of a formative era in cinematic history.
Oh, God! (1977)
Director: Carl Reiner
Starring: George Burns, John Denver, Teri Garr
What it’s about: An assistant grocery store manager is chosen by God Himself to help spread his message to mankind.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Also one of Teri Garr’s best movies, Oh, God! is a delightful and inspiring comedy.
Die Hard (1988)
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginal VelJohnson
What it’s about: A New York cop becomes the only hope to save his estranged wife and her co-workers when European thieves take them hostage in an L.A. skyscraper on Christmas Eve.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Arguably the all-time best Christmas action movie is Die Hard, which became an instant classic for its heart-racing sequences and Bruce Willis’ brilliant everyman approach to playing John McClane.
My Old Ass (2024)
Director: Megan Park
Starring: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza
What it’s about: A mushroom trip allows teenage Elliott to communicate with her future self.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: The coming-of-age fantasy comedy My Old Ass has been well-received for its inventive concept, hilarious performance, and insightful message.
Monkey Man (2024)
Director: Dev Patel
Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley
What it’s about: An unnamed man wages a personal war against corruption in Mumbai.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Dev Patel makes a promising directorial debut with one of the most moving and exciting thrillers of 2024, Monkey Man.
Modern Times (1936)
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Starring: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard
What it’s about: The Tramp and a homeless woman struggle to make ends meet amidst the rise of the Industrial Revolution.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: While released years after talkies took over, Modern Times is arguably Charlie Chaplin’s funniest and most timeless silent film.
Challengers (2024)
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor
What it’s about: A tennis prodigy-turned-coach’s husband aims to correct his losing streak by beating his former best friend, who is also her ex-boyfriend.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: The 2024 sports movie Challengers became one of the most talked about films of the year for its intriguing plot and steamy subject matter.
Creed (2015)
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone
What it’s about: The illegitimate son of Apollo Creed asks Rocky Balboa to help train him to become a champion.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: A continuation of the Rocky movies, Creed is a modern boxing movie classic all its own, with brilliant fight choreography, breathtaking performances, and moving themes of forming one’s own path toward glory.
Nosferatu (1922)
Director: F.W. Murnau
Starring: Max Schreck, Alexander Granach
What it’s about: A real estate agent encounters the grim and grotesque Count Orlok.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Before Count Dracula first hit the big screen, F.W. Murnau released an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel called Nosferatu, which is still considered one of the all-time best vampire movies and one of the silent era’s most terrifying films.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (2023)
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell
What it’s about: The latest assignment for Ethan Hunt and his team puts them at odds with a sophisticated computer program.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: For its breathtaking action sequences and ingenious cast additions, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning is one of the best Mission: Impossible movies yet but the story is not over as the upcoming Mission: Impossible 8 is still on its way.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.
What it’s about: Gifted physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is tasked with helping the government end World War II by developing the atomic bomb.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: The Best Picture Oscar winner for 2024, Oppenheimer – one of the most absorbing history lessons put to film – also took home awards for Best Director, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr., and more.
American Fiction (2023)
Director: Cord Jefferson
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown
What it’s about: A frustrated Black author finally lands his first best-seller but under a pen name and with a book full of racial stereotypes.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Jeffrey Wright earned his first Academy Award nomination for leading American Fiction – a sharp satire based on Percival Everett’s satirical novel, Erasure.
Super Size Me (2004)
Director: Morgan Spurlock
Starring: Morgan Spurlock
What it’s about: Morgan Spurlock puts his health on the line to document what would happen if he only ate at McDonald’s for 30 days.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: The late Morgan Spurlock became one of the most esteemed documentarians of his time with his Oscar-nominated breakthrough hit, Super Size Me, which convinced the world to rethink how they consumed the fast food industry.
Monster (2003)
Director: Patty Jenkins
Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci
What it’s about: After killing a client in self-defense, a Daytona Beach sex worker adopts the deadly act as a typical part of her operation.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Charlize Theron earned an Oscar for her performance as infamous serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Patty Jenkins’ great directorial debut, Monster.
Memento (2000)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
What it’s about: A former insurance investigator desperately tries to overcome his severe condition of short-term memory loss in order to solve his wife’s murder.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Cleverly told in reverse order to keep the audience in the protagonist’s headspace, Memento is one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies and a refreshing achievement in the crime thriller genre in general.
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
Director: Matthew López
Starring: Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine
What it’s about: After an embarrassing cake-related incident that captured the public’s attention, the son of the President and the prince of England are forced to end their feud, which only leads them to fall for one another.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Based on the best-selling novel by Casey McQuiston, Red, White & Royal Blue is a winning LGBTQ+ romantic comedy with an upcoming sequel in the works for Amazon Prime.
Manchester By The Sea (2016)
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Starring: Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams
What it’s about: Ill-tempered Boston handyman Lee Chandler becomes haunted by painful memories from his past after tragedy suddenly makes him the legal guardian to his teenage nephew.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: Casey Affleck’s inspired performance and Kenneth Lonergan’s devastating original screenplay earned two Academy Awards for Manchester by the Sea – an acclaimed Amazon original that was also produced by Matt Damon.
One Night In Miami (2020)
Director: Regina King
Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Aldis Hodge, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree
What it’s about: Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gather together to discuss the state of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.
Why it is one of the best movies on Amazon Prime: In her first feature-length directorial effort, Academy Award-winning actor Regina King guides four actors at the top of their game in the One Night in Miami cast in writer Kemp Powers' adaption of his own acclaimed stage play.
Well, a subscriber to the streaming giant certainly cannot ask for a better assortment of flicks for the ultimate binge. Check back to see what other classics have been added or removed from Amazon Prime Video next month.
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