In Recent years, Netflix and Apple TV+ have been duking it out to have the most prestigious film offerings, but some of the best movies are on Amazon Prime Video. The streamer was one of the first to go around picking up film festival darlings and other lovable favorites, and those movies are all still there in the library, so if they flew under your radar the first time, now is the perfect time to catch up.
Our picks for the best movies on Amazon Prime are below. All the films in our guide are included in your Prime subscription—no renting here. Once you’ve watched your fill, check out our lists for the best shows on Netflix and best movies on Disney+ if you’re looking for something else to watch. We also have a guide to the best shows on Amazon, if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
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Die Hard
Is it a Christmas movie, or just a movie set at Christmas? That argument has haunted Die Hard pretty much since its release, but ask yourself this: Have the holidays really begun until Hans Gruber has fallen off Nakatomi Plaza? Debate in the comments, but this action classic remains endlessly entertaining no matter when you watch it. It’s easy to see why Bruce Willis’ turn as reluctant but quippy hero John McClane became his cinematic breakthrough role, single-handedly liberating an entire skyscraper from Alan Rickman’s ruthless terrorist Gruber, but there’s plenty of heart alongside the thrilling set pieces and incredible stunt work. Wherever you stand on the genre question, Die Hard continues to impress, decades on.
Wicked
With Wicked: For Good in cinemas, it's the perfect time to revisit the first act of the secret history of the witches of Oz. The film—based on the stage musical, in turn based on Gregory Maguire's novel—follows green-skinned outsider Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and perfectly popular pink princess Glinda (Ariana Grande) during their college years, long before society forces them into the roles of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good during the events of The Wizard of Oz. It might appear frivolous and fluffy, but it's also a powerful exploration of how society can be warped by propaganda and authoritarianism—it just happens to be backed up by an absolute belter of a soundtrack.
Merry Little Batman
Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin … takes over protecting Gotham City solo on a cold Christmas Eve, when the Caped Crusader is away on Justice League business. Focusing on the Damian Wayne incarnation of Robin—here taking on the mantle of “Little Batman”—Merry Little Batman finds Damian taking on the likes of the Penguin, Bane, and Mr. Freeze, desperate to prove he's ready to join the family business permanently by saving Christmas from the Joker's evil plans. Proof Batman stories don't always have to be grim sojourns into Bruce Wayne's tortured psyche, this festive animated treat is a delight, crammed with loving details for fans of the comics while serving as a fantastic entry point for newcomers. Art director Guillaume Fesquet's unique approach, based on the style of Ronald Searle, offers one of the most distinctive takes on the Dynamic Duo in their eight decades of existence, too.
Nosferatu
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