Prime Video: The 41 Best Movies to Watch - CNET

Amazon Prime Video drops a bunch of movies at the beginning of each month, but it doesn't have a ton of new weekly releases.

Occasionally, though, an original or a flick from the vault comes knocking and deserves to show up on your radar. Below, you'll find this week's highlights and CNET's full list of best Amazon Prime Video original movies.

What's coming up this week (April 25-May 1)

Here are the highlights.

Friday

  • I Love America (2022) -- French rom-com. A single woman hoping for another chance at love moves from Paris to Los Angeles.

Read more: Prime Video: The 32 Best TV Shows to Watch | Everything You Need to Know to Sign Up for Amazon Prime Video

Best Amazon Prime Video original films

Drama

Amazon Studios

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018)

If you enjoyed watching Joaquin Phoenix in Joker or Her, this is another film where his acting chops are on full display. Phoenix stars as the late cartoonist John Callahan, a Portland-based artist who became a quadriplegic at 21 and favored black humor in his work. Jonah Hill appears as his dedicated sponsor, and Jack Black and Rooney Mara are also in the cast.

Brad's Status (2017)

Ben Stiller stars in this comedy-drama as Brad, a 47-year-old man who's plagued by thoughts of comparison and self-doubt. He has a cozy life with a nonprofit job, a loving wife (Jenna Fischer) and a talented son who's gearing up to attend college (Austin Abrams), but he still compares himself to old friends who wound up in glitzy and lucrative professions. This introspective film is deeply interesting, and Stiller perfectly embodies the unflattering, often cringey role of a protagonist obsessed with paths not taken.

Amazon Studios

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)

Benedict Cumberbatch stars in this biopic about English artist, inventor, entrepreneur and caretaker Louis Wain. Set at the end of the 19th century, it follows a man who, after taking in a stray kitten, creates surreal cat paintings that made him world famous. They also seem to reflect his own declining sanity. A feel-good drama with a typically gripping central performance from Cumberbatch, this warm portrait is filled with whimsy, even if it's a little uneven.

Amazon Studios

Sound of Metal (2019)

Sound of Metal scored a bunch of Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor for the outstanding Riz Ahmed. (It won in two categories: best sound and best film editing.) He plays Ruben, a punk-metal drummer who unfortunately starts to lose his hearing. As well as struggling with a drug addiction, Ruben is forced to settle into his new life in the deaf community and to learn American Sign Language. The film's stunning sound design immerses you in Ruben's suspenseful story and the experiences of those around him.

Amazon

Selah and the Spades (2019)

If you're into the dark-things-happen-at-boarding-schools genre, then Selah and the Spades might be the subject to sign up for. A senior leads a faction called the Spades who sell drugs to other students. But Selah's about to graduate, so must find the right candidate to carry on her legacy. Shot beautifully and guided by debut director Tayarisha Poe's unique lens, this is a taste of even greater things to come.

Amazon Prime Video

Being the Ricardos (2021)

Aaron Sorkin writes and directs this biographical drama based on the relationship between I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It stars Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Ball and Arnaz, respectively. In other words, expect breakneck dialogue, memorable lines and rich repartee. Standout Kidman embodies the actress and comedian, bringing heart to the couple's complex romantic and professional relationship.

Amazon

Small Axe (2020)

A sublime anthology that doesn't drop the ball across its five films. Small Axe is a collection of distinct stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London from the '60s to the '80s. They're all directed by Steve McQueen, who's working at his exquisite best (when doesn't he?), crafting stories such as courtroom drama Mangrove, based on the 1971 trial of the Mangrove Nine and starring Black Panther's Letitia Wright. Take a seat and devour this massive achievement.

Herself (2020)

This Irish drama shares some of its themes with Netflix's 2021 series Maid: A mother leaves an abusive partner and must rebuild her life. Like Maid, it's a compelling and heart-wrenching journey that benefits from a strong lead. The film is a tough watch, but it's also uplifting. After encountering obstacles, Sandra (Clare Dunne) resiliently sets out to construct her own house. Many of the characters we encounter step in to help. Herself is a worthwhile story that offers hope amid the bleakness. 

Amazon Studios

Shia LaBeouf wrote the screenplay for this autobiographical movie about a child actor and his relationship with his father. We follow Otis, who's traumatized after days on set accompanied by his father, a former rodeo clown. LaBeouf actually plays the character inspired by his father, giving Honey Boy even more psychological layers. This is fascinating, cinematic therapy from a singular perspective.

Amazon Studios

One Night in Miami (2020)

If you still haven't seen One Night in Miami, this is a sign to clear your schedule. The Oscar-nominated drama offers a fictionalized take on a real-life meeting that took place between Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown in 1964. Each of its four lead actors shine, and when they eventually convene for the film's titular night, their imagined conversations and debate feel real. A lively and thought-provoking film that's strengthened by scenes between Leslie Odom Jr. and Kingsley Ben-Adir.

Amazon Studios

Following lovers from different backgrounds and temperaments, Pawel Pawlikowski's historical drama is set in a ravaged, post-World War II Poland. Zula is an ambitious young singer faking a peasant identity, while Wiktor is a jazz musician holding auditions for a state-sponsored folk music ensemble. The politics are handled elegantly and the black-and-white visuals are precise and beautiful. For an 88-minute treat of a sumptuous, passionate, almost impossible love story, look no further than Cold War.

Amazon Studios

King Lear (2018)

King Lear is, of course, an adaptation of the Shakespeare play, but two powerful forces help this one stand out: Anthony Hopkins and Black Widow scene stealer Florence Pugh. Not to mention Emma Thompson! This adaptation is set in an alternative universe during the 21st century, where London is under strict military control. Lear is ready to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, but not all of them are accepting. If you're OK with the Shakespearean dialogue, then simply sit back and marvel at Hopkins and a stacked ensemble cast, including Emily Watson, Jim Broadbent and Andrew Scott.

Amazon Studios

Pass Over (2018)

Before we jump into this Spike Lee film, note that it's technically a recorded stage play. And yet somehow it captures cinematic magic, thanks in large part to the engaging performances from Jon Michael Hill and Julian Parker. They play two young men dreaming of the promised land from their fixed spot on the sidewalk. Educational, moving, funny and surprising, Pass Over will keep you on your toes more than you think.

Amazon Studios

Prepare for Amazon's first big, prestigious movie to wallop you in the chest. A broken man who's experienced terrible losses becomes the guardian of his teenage nephew. Lee Chandler's story will hit you with punch after emotional punch, as will the immense performances from the likes of Michelle Williams. Another accomplishment from Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea is full-bodied, unforgettable storytelling.

Amazon Studios

In trademark Jim Jarmusch style, this low-key indie narrows in on the finer details of regular life with a distinct sense of humor. Spanning one week, Paterson follows a bus driver and poet named Paterson who listens to passengers talking, takes his dog for walks and stops for beers at his local bar. Adam Driver alone makes all that endlessly watchable. Dotted with the idiosyncratic characters living in a New Jersey town, Paterson offers a wise take on life, delving into personal setbacks and the new paths weaved around them.

Thriller

Prime Video

All The Old Knives (2022)

Prime Video's new spy thriller hasn't impressed every critic (here's a review you should definitely read), but it hasn't been completely panned, either. The movie introduces two former lovers and co-workers at the CIA's Vienna station (Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton) who've reunited under not-so-sweet circumstances. A CIA mole is suspected to have compromised an agent years before, and Pine has been sent by the agency to question Newton. This twisty, flashback-heavy flick is engaging enough to fall back on if you need an evening escape.

The Report (2019)

Prime Video must be an Adam Driver fan. He's starred in several of its original movies, including Paterson, Annette and this political thriller, which is based on the real-life investigation into the CIA's interrogation practices after 9/11. The film follows Senate staffer Daniel Jones (Driver) as he works on the titular report and shifts back in time to convey the use of torture by the agency. It's an ambitious drama with a well-constructed narrative and convincing cast that also includes Jon Hamm and Michael C Hall.

Amazon Prime Video

The Mad Women's Ball (2021)

Mélanie Laurent directs, co-writes and stars in this emotional French thriller set in the late 19th century. Laurent is Geneviève, a nurse who attempts to free Eugénie (Lou de Laâge), a woman committed to a mental asylum when her family learns she communicates with spirits. Carried by outstanding performances from its two leads, The Mad Women's Ball poignantly sweeps the inequities of the era into its disturbing melodrama. An accomplished watch.

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