The Prime Video movie picks this week are an eclectic bunch, and are perfect for the discerning film fan looking to broaden their horizons and expand their mind. The pro and con of Amazon’s Prime Video is that it features arguably the biggest media library in streaming. April has seen many movies and shows come and go from the platform.
Under a constant state of change, Prime Video’s catalog can be daunting for those looking for great movies to watch. This list compiles three films that aren’t just passable but are actually critically acclaimed. Not a single one is lackluster, and they all generated serious awards buzz. One movie even snagged a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.
Most streaming recommendations are about tuning in and turning off the brain, but this week’s trio of Prime picks is intended to inspire the opposite. These movies will have film fans hooked from the first scene, and offer a taste of challenging cinema from the past and present. Underneath all that, they’re all entertaining works that are certainly never boring.
3
The Third Man (1949)
This week’s first selection goes back to the 1940s, and is one of the greatest noir films ever made. The Third Man is Carol Reed’s twisting post-war mystery that stars the incomparable duo of Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten. Though it’s best remembered for its stark and gorgeous cinematography, it also has a perfectly crafted script.
Any viewer with a phobia of black and white should put that prejudice aside immediately, because The Third Man is just as powerful now as it was decades ago. In fact, it’s cynical plot and surprising twists put most modern cinema to shame. There are a lot of classics on Prime Video, but few as foundational as The Third Man.
2
American Fiction (2023)
Many movies get nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, but American Fiction‘s accomplishments shouldn’t be overlooked. The biting dramedy was one of the gems of 2023, and it is one of the best recent films currently available on Prime Video. It’s stunningly modern in its themes and storytelling, and is a rare film that earns the label of “important”.
Jeffrey Wright proves he’s a world-class actor, and the film gets subtle laughs out of its serious subject. Though it didn’t win Best Picture, it won Best Adapted Screenplay, which is how the film deserves to be remembered. It is a perfect adaptation, and is destined to be remembered as one of the great films of the early 2020s.
1
Mickey 17 (2025)
Bong Joon Ho had the impossible task of following Parasite, and his next feature went in an entirely different direction. Mickey 17 is a mind-bending science fiction story starring Robert Pattinson, and it explores themes like identity and the dehumanizing effects of modern society. It got a mixed reception, but it’s better than its lackluster reviews suggest.
The biggest issue is that science fiction is a difficult genre to reach a wide audience. The concept isn’t important, and it is window dressing for the themes. Mickey 17 joins a long list of sci-fi films on Prime Video, and is yet another terrific movie that must settle for cult classic status because many viewers simply didn’t understand it.