The 69 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now (June 2024) - ThePressFree (2024)

Amazon Prime Video’s lineup of streaming movies just got a whole lot more prestigious with the addition of Cord Jefferson’s satirical dramedy American Fiction, which stars Jeffrey Wright in a story that’s both very clever and very pointed — it’s a legitimate «really makes you think» sort of movie, earning five Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Wright. American Fiction is the latest banger for Prime Video in 2024, following up recent hits The Idea of You, starring Anne Hathaway, and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Road House remake.

Just to let you know how we put this list together: In order to keep the list as relevant as possible, we’re putting the most importance on new releases, Prime Video originals, and critics’ favorites. But we’re also adding our own personal spin on the list, with underrated gems we’re recommending to our friends, classic favorites, and important selections that highlight diverse voices. We’ll be updating the list regularly.

Last updated on June 2; the most recent additions are at the top.

For fans of: Stories that break the fourth wall, quirky comedies with something to say, things that are good

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Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Clare Folger, for Orion Releasing

Director: Cord Jefferson
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, John Ortiz, Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae
Genre: Comedy, drama, satire
Rating: R
Metacritic score: 81

American Fictionisn’t the easiest movie to try to sum up in a blurb, but we’ll do our best. Jeffrey Wright stars as a well-to-do Black author who attempts to satirize what he sees as stereotypcally acceptable «Black» literature, only for everybody to treat the result as a serious and sincere work that earns tons of acclaim — and from there, it gets weird. American Fiction plays like if Spike Lee’s Bamboozled was given a Charlie Kaufman-esque, fourth-wall-breaking makeover, and it’s impossible not to be enthralled by this flick. –Phil Owen [Trailer]

For fans of: Swoony rom-coms with heart, Anne Hathaway mothering

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Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway, The Idea of You

Prime Video

Director:Michael Showalter
Stars:Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine
Genre:Romantic comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:68

You may have first heard ofThe Idea of Youbecause of its male lead Hayes Campbell’s (Nicholas Galitzine) uncanny resemblance to Harry Styles. Hayes sings in a wildly popular boy band, just like Styles did, and he too has a penchant for dating older women. But the film, based on Robinne Lee’s book of the same name, deserves to be recognized apart from that comparison. To start, the chemistry between Galitzine’s Hayes andAnne Hathaway’s Solène Marchand is undeniable. Solène is a 40-year-old single mom who never imagined attending Coachella but finds herself in the VIP lounge for a meet-and-greet with August Moon — Hayes’ group —thanks to her teenage daughter. And after she serendipitously walks into the 24-year-old lead singer’s trailer, the two begin a whirlwind romance. The Idea of Youis a weightier film than some others in the genre because of how it dives into issues like the age-gap double standard and the obstacles to women in their 30s and 40s finding happiness. But for the most part, it feels like a light, breezy walk on the beach. –Kat Moon[Trailer]

For fans of: Fist fights, Jake Gyllenhaal, highly kinetic action sequences

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Jake Gyllenhaal, Road House

Laura Radford/Prime Video

Director:Doug Liman
Stars:Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnusson, Joaquim de Almeida, Post Malone, Conor McGregor
Genre:Action
Rating:R
Metacritic score:57

The original Road House(starring Patrick Swayze and also included with Prime Video) became a cult classic after circulating on cable for years — it did OK at the box office and not so OK with critics when it was released in theaters in 1989. So it’s not really that big of a concern that the new Road House, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, only got mixed reviews. Like that original film leaned on Swayze’s charm to function, the new Road House is a delightful little action flick that leans heavily on Gyllenhaal’s immense charisma, and ole Jakey G. is just as much fun as he always is. And while Conor McGregor isn’t quite on Gyllenhaal’s level in terms of his acting chops, he’s got the exact right amount of screen presence and general menace to pretty much rule as a bad guy enforcer. This movie just works, even if we might wish they’d cooled it on the CGI a little bit.[Trailer]

For fans of:Fight clubs, high schools

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Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott, Bottoms

Director:Emma Seligman
Stars:Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Nicholas Galitzine
Genre:Comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:74

This indie film came out in theaters last August, but unless you are a subscriber to MGM+, which you are not, it hasn’t been available on your streaming subscriptions until recently. The premise — a high school sex comedy mixed with…Fight Club!?!? — is truly deranged, but it somehow works as two teenage lesbians start a brutal women’s self-defense club to give them the tools to beat up the football team. It satirizes as it pulverizes, challenging stereotypes while saying something meaningful between delivering haymakers.Bodies Bodies Bodies‘Rachel SennottandThe Bear‘sAyo Edebiristar. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of:Action, cars, #family

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Jason Momoa, Fast X

Universal Pictures

Director:Louis Leterrier
Stars:Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel
Genre:Action
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:56

The Fast & Furious movies have been a pop culture mainstay for two decades, but all good things must come to an end. And Fast X is the beginning of the end for this franchise, starting us down the home stretch that will presumably end with Vin Diesel riding off into the sunset to meet up with Paul Walker in car heaven at the end of the next movie. We’re not there yet, though, and we’re grateful for that, because Jason Momoa’s man-child of a villain is the most fun baddie this franchise has ever had. -Phil Owen [Trailer]

For fans of:Lifestyles of the rich and eccentric

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Barry Keoghan, Saltburn

Amazon Studios

Director:Emerald Fennell
Stars:Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike, Jacob Elordi, Richard E. Grant
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Thriller
Rating:R
Metacritic score:61

If you sawPromising Young Woman,Emerald Fennell’s polarizing (and, nevertheless, Oscar-winning) 2020 directorial debut, you already know that she’s the kind of director whoreallylikes making people talk. She’s done it again, and to an even greater degree, withSaltburn, herTalented Mr. Ripley-esque salute to the aughts.Barry Keoghanstars as Oliver Quick, a poor Oxford student who gets drawn into the alluring world of the wealthy when he buddies up to Felix (Jacob Elordi), a classmate from an aristocratic family who takes pity on his less fortunate friend by inviting Oliver to spend the summer at his eccentric family’s estate. OrisOliver less fortunate? Come to find out the answer to that question, stay for a deliciously clueless performance fromRosamund Pike. –Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of:Well-framed shots, A-listers dressed oddly

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Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks, Asteroid City

Focus Features

Director:Wes Anderson
Stars:Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Steve Carell
Genre:Comedy
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:75

Every timeWes Andersondirects a new film, at least one critic inevitably calls it «the most Wes Anderson movie Wes Anderson has ever made.» That might actually be true ofAsteroid City, his latest. Anderson’s quirky, dollhouse style is at an all-time high in this story that depicts the fateful events of a teen astronomy convention in a retrofuturistic version of 1955. The sprawling cast features perfectly droll performances fromJason Schwartzman,Tom Hanks,Margot Robbie,Steve Carell, and more, while the meta narrative (Asteroid Cityis also the name of a televised play within the movie) adds zany texture. It often plays like a live-action cartoon, as Anderson’s best movies tend to. –Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of:Martial arts movies, sisters

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Priya Kansara, Polite Society

Universal Pictures

Director:Nida Manzoor
Stars:Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya
Genre: Action, Comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:75

There’s no movie that can’t be punched up with a little martial arts aided by wires and pulleys,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonstyle, right? This action comedy fromWe Are Lady PartscreatorNida Manzoorfollows a young British-Pakistani woman who dreams of being a stuntwoman and has a sneaking suspicion that her sister’s impending marriage to a hunk might mask her future in-laws’ secretly terrible motives. Naturally, this leads to some Shaolin fight sequences, a plot that veers way off course yet still stays on brand with the nuttiness, and a delightful central story about the love between two sisters. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of:The ’80s, time travel, maniacal masked murderers

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Olivia Holt, Totally Killer

Prime Video

Director:Nahnatchka Khan
Stars:Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Rating:R
Metacritic score:63

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina‘s Kiernan Shipka sticks with humorous horror in this original film from the reliable Nahnatchka Khan, the creator of Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23, Always Be My Maybe, and Fresh Off the Boat. Shipka’s Jamie is a young woman who time travels back to 1987, right around the time her mom’s friends were stalked and murdered by a mask-wearing maniac. So what does she do? She tries — with the help of the teenage version of her mom (Olivia Holt) — to stop the murders, despite any potential Back to the Future erasure of her existence that may happen. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of:Tragi-friend-coms, bawling

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Odessa A’zion and Yara Shahidi, Sitting in Bars with Cake

Saeed Adyani/Prime Video

Director:Trish Sie
Stars:Odessa A’zion, Yara Shahidi, Ron Livingston, Bette Midler, and Martha Kelly
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:66

A pair of friends (A’zion and Shahadi) take cakes into bars as a way to get out in the world and break the ice with strangers, but their lives change when one gets a tragic diagnosis. This one’s based on a true story and is being called a Beaches for today’s kids, so you know what to expect: female friendship, some romance, and a lot of crying. This is for a specific audience; you know who you are! –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of:Rooting for the creepy doll, satires on commercialism, Child’s Play but better

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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Paramount Pictures

Director:John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein
Stars:Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Action
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:72

Expecting a good time while watching the famous tabletop role-playing game come to life is hardly a roll of the dice. This movie is always entertaining, moving forward with a combination of adventure, action, humor, and decent special effects.Chris Pineplays a rogue on the run looking for some nerdy object (a magical helm, a tablet that can bring back the dead, some stuff like that, it doesn’t matter), and he’s accompanied by other D&D classes, likeMichelle Rodriguez’s barbarian,Justice Smith’s sorcerer,Sophia Lillis’ shapeshifting druid, andRegé-Jean Page’s paladin. Its focus on fun means anyone can enjoy it, even those who don’t know what a gelatinous cube is. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of:Rooting for the creepy doll, satires on commercialism, Child’s Play but better

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M3GAN

Universal Pictures

Director:Gerard Johnstone
Stars:Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald
Genre: Science-fiction, Horror
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:72

AI will kill us all! But first it will be our best friend. On premise alone — M3GAN is about a lifelike toy doll prototype that goes to extreme lengths to protect its child owner — this 2022 film seems like stinky garbage, but the Blumhouse film wisely leans into the goofiness to become a sharp satire of technology and consumerism. The PG-13 rating also means it’s good for young teens and older tweens, but there’s an unrated version available if you want a little more blood.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Boxing beefcakes

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Michael B. Jordan, Creed III

Director:Michael B. Jordan
Stars:Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad
Genre: Drama
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:73

Michael B. Jordan stars in and directs the third movie to rise from the ashes of the Rocky franchise, this time following Adonis Creed (Jordan) as he prepares to fight his former childhood friend, Damian Anderson (Majors), years after an event changed both of their lives. Though not as acclaimed as the first two movies, it’s still wildly entertaining, with bruising boxing sequences and a blistering performance from Jordan.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Acting!

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Cate Blanchett, Tár

Focus Features

Director:Todd Field
Stars:Cate Blanchett
Genre: Drama
Rating:NR
Metacritic score:92

Cate Blanchett’s powerhouse performance and Todd Field’s script and keen direction launched Tár into the discussions for best film of 2022, with many major prestigious film critics associations naming it their favorite. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and more at the Oscars (but didn’t win any), further establishing it as a cinephile’s favorite. As for what it’s about, Blanchett plays an internationally renowned orchestra conductor whose career is disrupted by accusations of misconduct.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

More recommendations:

For fans of:Journalism, #MeToo stories

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Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan, She Said

Universal Pictures

Director:Maria Schrader
Stars:Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher
Genre: Drama
Rating:NR
Metacritic score:74

The two reporters — Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey — behind the New York Times investigation into the sexual abuse committed by film producer Harvey Weinstein are at the center of this award-winning drama based on the 2019 book of the same name. Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan star as Kantor and Twohey, who exposed one of the biggest names in Hollywood, caused a sea change in the entertainment industry, and ushered in one of the biggest social movements in history as #MeToo helped women come together against sexism and abuse.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

Air (2023)

For fans of:Sneakers, business deals, Michael Jordan’s mom

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Ben Affleck, Air

Amazon Studios

Director:Ben Affleck
Stars:Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina
Genre: Drama
Rating:R
Metacritic score:73

Ben Affleck’s film about Nike’s seismic business decision to build a basketball shoe brand around some guy named Michael Jordan is a sharp look at the start of sports marketing and risky business endeavors that paid off. It’s also kind of a Nike ad. But with a solid screenplay, some great acting by a tremendous cast, and Affleck’s ability to blend comedy into corporate affairs, it’s a… slam dunk.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Superfudge, free speech

Judy Blume, Judy Blume Forever

Prime Video

Director:Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok
Stars:Judy Blume
Genre: Documentary
Rating:NR
Metacritic score:79

Beloved author Judy Blume is the star and focus of this documentary about her life as one of the most popular young adult fiction writers ever. Speaking with fans like Molly Ringwald, Samantha Bee, and Lena Dunham, Judy Blume Forever explores the impact she had on young women’s lives and the closed-minded controversy surrounding her openness in writing about teenage sexuality.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Rom-coms updated for today

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Billy Eichner and Luke MacFarlane, Bros

Director:Nicholas Stoller
Stars:Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Bowen Yang, Debra Messing
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating:R
Metacritic score:72

Billy Eichner wrote and plays the romantic lead of this well-reviewed gay rom-com, which sees a podcast host (Eichner) about to launch an LGBTQ+ museum in New York City when his already busy life is disrupted by another single gay man (Luke Macfarlane). Though both are wary of commitment, they are drawn together anyway.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Speed, old people looking younger than you

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StreamTop Gun: Maverickat home, thanks to Prime Video

Paramount Pictures

Director:Joseph Kosinski
Stars:Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise, and Tom Cruise
Genre: Action, Drama
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:78

You’ve seenTop Gun: Maverickon the big screen, but have you seen it on your phone!?!? Relive all the intense IMAX action and dripping masculinity on your six-inch screen now that it’s on Prime Video.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:J-Lo, J-Du, J-Cool

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Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, Shotgun Wedding

Ana Carballosa/Prime Video

Director:Jason Moore
Stars:Jennifer Jopez, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Coolidge
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance
Rating:R
Metacritic score:42

What makes a good movie anyway? Rave reviews from critics? Meaningful contributions to society? A talking dog? The Prime Video original movie Shotgun Wedding has none of that, but it does have Jennifer Lopez and the newest fan-favorite Jenny from the block, Jennifer Coolidge. And it has Jennifer Lopez fighting off pirates after they invade her wedding, leading to double crosses and comical violence. This isn’t a good movie, but it is a Jennifer Lopez movie that can’t be found anywhere else, so it’s on the list.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

Wildcat (2022)

For fans of:Tough guys and cute kittens, weeping

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Wildcat

Amazon Studios

Director:Melissa Lesh and Trevor Frost
Stars:Harry Turner, Samantha Zwicker, an ocelot
Genre: Documentary
Rating:R
Metacritic score:71

I don’t have a bunch of tattoos, and I’ve never been to war, but I do love cats, which is enough for me to relate to this documentary about an Afghanistan War veteran whose PTSD drives him to the jungles of South America. There, he meets a nature conservationist running a wildlife refuge, where he bonds with an ocelot kitten. The young purr box helps him heal as he finds himself teaching it how to hunt, protecting it from humans threatening the environment, and finding something that doesn’t judge him. This is for anyone who’s ever had a furry friend. BRING A HANKIE!-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Horror, the melting pot

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Anna Diop, Nanny

Amazon Studios

Director:Nikyatu Jusu
Stars:Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Spector
Genre: Horror
Rating:NR
Metacritic score:72

Thanks to new voices in Hollywood, we’ve become introduced a fresh, thrilling subgenre of film: immigrant horror stories. Most of them have been pretty good (Netflix’sHis HouseandNo One Gets Out Aliveuse their unique perspective well), and that continues withNanny, the debut film from writer/director Nikyatu Jusu about an undocumented West African nanny caring for a New York couple’s child and preparing for the arrival of her own child, whom she left behind. The horror comes when a strange presence threatens her reality. It’s a visually impressive debut about family, societal issues, and gender.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

Your Christmas or Mine?(2022)

For fans of:Shlocky holiday films, wacky in-laws

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Asa Butterfield, Your Christmas or Mine?

Amazon Studios

Director:Jim O’Hanlon
Stars:Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk, Daniel Mays, David Bradley
Genre: Rom-com, Christmas
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:n/a

Need some Christmas jolly? But also want some relationship folly? Try this British holiday film about a young man (Asa Butterfield) who can’t bear to be apart from his girlfriend on Christmas, so he decides to surprise her at her family’s house. Alas, she decided to do the same thing, so they end up spending the holiday with each other’s families. It’s not a Christmas classic, but it will do the trick if you’re looking for a little tug of the heart.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Human accomplishments, human connections, robots

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Good Night Oppy

Prime Video

Director:Ryan White
Genre: Documentary
Rating:PG
Metacritic score:65

The closest thing we have to a real-life Wall-E is the Mars rover Opportunity, which landed on the Red Planet in 2004 for a 90-day mission but ended up operating for almost 15 years. This documentary film tells its story and the bond that the NASA operators formed with it, and will leave you wondering why you’re crying over a robot throughout its wondrous 105 minutes. It’s already won the Critics Choice Documentary Award for best feature, and it’s got a real shot at an Oscar nomination at the 2023 Academy Awards.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Harry Styles

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Harry Styles and Emma Corrin, My Policeman

Amazon Studios

Director:Michael Grandage
Stars:Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, David Dawson, Linus Roache, Gina McKee, Rupert Everett
Genre: Drama, Romance
Rating:R
Metacritic score:49

The British film My Policemanis getting a wide range of reviews from critics and audience members alike, but don’t let that stop you from rummaging through this period romance for clues about Harry Styles’ relationship with Olivia Wilde and who maybe spat on whom at the Don’t Worry Darling movie premiere. Styles plays a British cop who is the pointy end in a love triangle that features his to-be wife (Emma Corrin) and a museum curator (David Dawson), with their messy love stuff played out over two timelines as they try to mend the past much later in life (with different actors). According to critics, the clandestine hom*osexual relationship in a time where we were far from progressive should be the fuel for this movie’s engine, but the actors and woeful mood make this less enjoyable than your average sad love story.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Country music, mind games

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Katay Sagal, Torn Hearts

Director:Brea Grant
Stars:Katey Sagal, Abby Quinn, and Alexxis Lemire
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating:Not Rated
Metacritic score:59

Brea Grant follows up her well-received 2022 black comedy horror 12 Hour Shift with this winky thriller about two aspiring female country music artists who see an opportunity to advance their careers with a visit to a reclusive music legend (Sagal). But what looks like a perfect match to record a new song turns into a series of mental and physical games that test just how far the two are willing to go for fame. Yep, a shotgun is involved.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Drinking the blood of your enemies out of their skulls

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Alexander Skarsgard, The Northman

Director:Robert Eggers
Stars:Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Bang
Genre: Drama, Action
Rating:R
Metacritic score:82

Robert Eggers’ delightfully violent film set in Viking society was previously only streaming on Peaco*ck, but whatever deals that were needed to bring it to Prime Video were dealt, and that’s good news for you becauseThe Northmanis totally radical. Modern-day VikingAlexander Skarsgårdstars as a prince out to avenge the death of his father, and he does so with both incredible patience and brutality. Eggers is one of the best filmmakers working today, andThe Northmanis another fine addition to his collection.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of: Medieval teen dramedies, House Mormont

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Bella Ramsey, Catherine Called Birdy

Prime Video

Director:Lena Dunham
Stars:Bella Ramsey, Andrew Scott, Billie Piper
Genre:YA Drama, Comedy
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:75

Did you get word from the raven? Period pieces no longer have to be stuffy, boring slogs, and can now feature today’s pop hits and Gen Z lingo while still putting their main characters in elaborate gowns and powdered wigs. Lena Dunham takes her turn unstuffing the old times with this film about a young lady (Game of Thrones‘Bella Ramsey) in 1290 England whose parents wish to marry her off in order to regain some medieval clout, so she schemes to sabotage their plans. She’s precocious, see?Billie PiperandAndrew Scott, both always delightful, also star.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

Dog(2022)

For fans of: Channing Tatum, dogs

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Channing Tatum, Dog

Director:Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin
Stars:Channing Tatum and a Belgian Malinois
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:61

Putting Channing Tatum and a dog together in a road trip movie is all some people need to know to want to watch this movie, but it has the added surprise of sensitivity as it tells the story of an Army vet (Tatum) racing to his fallen friend’s funeral with his friend’s dog in tow. It’s not a must-see, but it’s an easy watch that will get your emotions going without taxing your brain too much.-Tim Surette [Trailer]

For fans of:Superheroes, Sylvester Stallone beating upRobocop-type street crooks

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Javon «Wanna» Walton and Sylvester Stallone, Samaritan

Amazon Studios

Director:Julius Avery
Stars:Sylvester Stallone, Javon «Wanna» Walton, Dascha Polanco, Pilou Asbæk
Genre:Superhero, Action
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:45

This dark superhero movie was supposed to save the day in 2020, but a series of delays pushed it back to 2022 and onto Amazon Prime Video instead of theaters. Sylvester Stallone stars as a superhero named Samaritan who goes into hiding for 20 years until a young boy figures out who he is and encourages him to clean up the streets once again. Reviews are… not that great, but it’s Stallone, you know? -Tim Surette [Trailer | Review]

For fans of: Romancing the Stone, sweaty A-listers

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Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, The Lost City

Director:Aaron Nee and Adam Nee
Stars:Channing Tatum, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Radcliffe, Brad Pitt
Genre:Adventure, Romance, Comedy
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:60

This throwback adventure stars Sandra Bullock as a romance novelist who gets kidnapped by an evil billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes she’ll lead him to a secret treasure described in one her books. The vapid male model (Channing Tatum) who posed for her book covers decides to come to her rescue, and you can probably guess what happens next. It’s a fun film for when you have two hours and a pint of ice cream to kill. Also, Patti Harrison is in it!-Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Ron Howard drama, real-life heroism, confined spaces

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Thira «Aum» Chutikul and Viggo Mortensen, Thirteen Lives

Vince Valitutti / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

Director:Ron Howard
Stars:Viggo Mortenson, Collin Farrell, Joel Edgerton
Genre:Drama
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:66

Ron Howarddirects this thriller film about the 2018 Tham Luang Thai cave rescue of a boys soccer team and its coach by an international group of cave divers. It’s one of three projects about the rescue, including National Geographic’s already released (and excellent) documentaryThe Rescue, which focused on the divers and the rescue efforts and is on Disney+, and Netflix’s upcoming limited seriesTham Luang, which focuses on the rescuees. This film covers the whole shebang, withViggo Mortensen,Colin Farrell, andJoel Edgertonplaying the heroes.-Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: The ’70s, first loves

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Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc.

Director:Paul Thomas Anderson
Stars:Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper
Genre:Drama, Comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:90

One of 2021’s most cherished films isPaul Thomas Anderson’s teen romance, which was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Set in 1973 in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley, it follows a 15-year-old actor (Cooper Hoffman) and his budding relationship with an early-20s photographer’s assistant (Alana Haim).-Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Queer teen romance, coming-of-age stories

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Eva Reign and Abubakr Ali, Anything’s Possible

Amazon Studios

Director:Billy Porter
Stars:Eva Reign, Abubakr Ali, Renée Elise Goldsberry,
Genre:Romance
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:65

The ridiculously talentedBilly Portermakes his feature film directorial debut with this sweet high school coming-of-age story about a trans girl (Eva Reign) and the boy (Abubkar Ali) who musters up the courage to ask her out, even though he knows the drama it will cause at school. Important casting note: The inimitableRenée Elise Goldsberryis in this.-Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Father-daughter tearjerkers, internet boyfriend John Cho

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John Cho and Mia Isaac, Don’t Make Me Go

Amazon Studios

Director:Hannah Marks
Stars:John Cho, Mia Isaac, Kaya Scodelario, Jemaine Clement
Genre:Drama, Comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:60

If you have a condition that doesn’t allow you to cry, thisJohn Chofilm may be the cure. Cho stars as a single dad who, after discovering he has a terminal illness (but not a terminal list), embarks on a road trip from California to New Orleans with his teenage daughter to attend his 20-year college reunion. Road trip movies are like totally metaphors, man. This one’s about getting to the end and growing up. But be warned: A controversial twist ending has many beating their heads against the wall.-Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Glamour, excess, Lady Gaga

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Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, House of Gucci

Fabio Lovino/MGM

Director:Ridley Scott
Stars:Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino
Genre:Drama, Crime
Rating:R
Metacritic score:59

House of Gucci, the extravagant crime drama that strutted through theaters late last year, is now on Prime Video. The movie, which tells the tragicomic story of how the Gucci family lost ownership of the fashion brand, is directed byRidley Scottand starsLady Gaga,Adam Driver,Al Pacino, andJared Letodoing the Jared Leto thing of being unrecognizable under layers of prosthetics. If you didn’t venture out to see it in theaters, you can now watch it for free at home, where you can imitate Lady Gaga’s Italian accent without offending anyone. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]

For fans of:J. Lo, Owen Wilson’s whole thing, Instagram Live

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Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, Marry Me

Universal Pictures

Director:Kat Coiro
Stars:Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Maluma, Michelle Buteau
Genre:Comedy, Romance, Music
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:51

There’s no help for people who don’t see the joy in Marry Me. It’s a classic Jennifer Lopez rom-com, with J. Lo essentially playing herself — uh, sorry, playing Kat Valdez, a famous pop star who gets stood up by her fiancé (played by Maluma) on the night of their livestreamed hybrid concert/wedding (normal!) and picks a random regular Brooklyn dad (Owen Wilson) out of the audience to marry instead. And wouldn’t you know it, they fall in love for real. But they live in two different worlds! Listen, I didn’t say it broke the mold, I just said I had a good time watching it. -Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of:Bond…James Bond

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Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas, No Time to Die

MGM

Director:Cary f*ckunaga
Stars:Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Ana de Armas, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw
Genre:Action, Adventure, Thriller
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:68

No Time to Dieis neither the best nor the worst Daniel Craig Bond movie, but it does mark his final appearance as the character, which makes it significant. It’s a lengthy, stylish, occasionally inexplicable film that picks up after Bond has left active service with MI6 and is just trying to enjoy living a quiet life as a normal, extraordinarily handsome man. But you can’t make a Bond movie about that, so it’s all very quickly disrupted when the CIA recruits him to hunt down a mysterious and dangerous villain (Rami Malek).-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

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RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins, Emergency

Amazon Studios

Director:Carey Williams
Stars:Sabrina Carpenter, Donald Elise Watkins, RJ Cyler
Genre:Drama, Comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:75

This Amazon film will likely get lost in the noise of the high-profile releases, but do not let it slip by if you’re a fan of party comedies. The indie film follows a pair of young Black college seniors (RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins) ready to let loose in a string of parties before spring break when they discover an unconscious white girl in their apartment, with no idea how she got there. Realizing the bad optics of the situation, they (and their Latino roommate) set out to return her to safety without their good intentions being misinterpreted. The moviegot great reviewswhen it did the festival circuit earlier this year. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

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Thandiwe Newton and Chris Pine, All the Old Knives

Stefania Rosini/Amazon Studios

Director:Janus Metz Pederson
Stars:Thandiwe Newton, Chris Pine, Jonathan Pryce, Laurence Fishburne
Genre:Drama, Thriller
Rating:R
Metacritic score:63

All the Old Knivessounds like aKnives Outsequel set in a nursing home (that’s a free idea for Rian Johnson), but it’s actually a thriller starringChris PineandThandiwe Newtonas spies who are also ex-lovers. I have no complaints about that concept. Based on the novel of the same name by Olen Steinhauer, who wrote the film’s screenplay, the movie follows Pine’s Henry Pelham as his investigation into a CIA mole becomes entangled in his history with Newton’s Celia.Laurence FishburneandJonathan Prycealso star. Pine promoted this one in aseries of to-die-for outfits. –Kelly Connolly[Trailer]

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Regina Hall, Master

Sundance Institute

Director:Mariama Diallo
Stars:Regina Hall, Amber Gray, Zoe Renee
Genre:Drama/Horror
Rating:R
Metacritic score:67

Regina Hallgives one of the best performances of her career in this horror movie about racism in the vein ofGet Out. She plays a professor at a prestigious, predominately white New England university with a historical connection to the Salem Witch Trials and a legacy of racism that continues into the present. She, a Black first-year student (Zoe Renee), and another Black faculty member (Amber Gray) experience racism at the school as a literal haunting. It’s an assured debut film from writer-directorMariama Diallo(a Yale graduate) that’s adept at scares and social commentary.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

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Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, Lucy and Desi

Library of Congress

Director:Amy Poehler (yes, that Amy Poehler)
Stars:Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz
Genre:Documentary
Rating:NR
Metacritic score:75

Sure, Nicole Kidman played a great Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s biopic Being the Ricardos (also on Amazon), but have you seen Lucille Ball play Lucille Ball? Amy Poehler directs this documentary looking at the lives of I Love Lucy‘s stars, both on set and at home. (Not to be confused with Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie, a 1993 documentary directed by Lucy and Desi’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz, that is also on Amazon.) –Tim Surette[Trailer]

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Maggie Q and Michael Keaton, The Protégé

Lionsgate

Director:Martin Campbell
Stars:Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson
Genre:Action, Thriller, Crime
Rating:R
Metacritic score:48

Look, if you tell me Maggie Q is starring in an action movie, I’m pretty much already on board. Here, she stars as a contract killer who vows to get brutal, bloody revenge on the people who killed her mentor (Samuel L. Jackson). Along the way, she becomes entangled in a game of cat and mouse with another ruthless criminal (Michael Keaton), and the two of them have such effortless chemistry it’ll make you forget about the movie’s shortcomings.The Protégéreceived middling reviews when it was released in theaters, but the fight scenes are well choreographed spectacles that make it the ideal watch when you want to turn your brain off. –Allison Picurro [Trailer]

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Sam Claflin and Verónica Echegui, Book of Love

Amazon Studios

Director:Analeine Cal y Mayor
Stars:Sam Claflin, Verónica Echegui
Genre:Comedy, Romance
Metacritic score:44

In this silly, sweet romantic comedy, Sam Claflin plays the kind of character Hugh Grant would’ve played back in the ’90s: an uptight British romance author who learns that his latest (and not very good) novel has become a huge hit in Mexico, spurring him to travel there for a book tour. He only realizes after he arrives that the Spanish version of his book has actually been rewritten into a much spicier story that’s way more interesting than his original story, all thanks to Maria (Verónica Echegui), the woman who translated it. This is the kind of classic rom-com premise that I can’t help being utterly endeared by.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Jenny Slate, Charlie Day, ill-advised schemes

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Jenny Slate, Charlie Day,I Want You Back

Amazon Studios

Director: Jason Orley
Stars: Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, Scott Eastwood
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating: R
Metacritic score: 62

It’s aJenny Slaterom-com; it’s aCharlie Dayrom-com; it’s a combination Jenny Slate-Charlie Day rom-com! And that means it’s actually funny.I Want You Back pairs up two of Hollywood’s most reliable chaos agents as a pair of strangers who bond over being recently dumped, then team up to win back their exes by destroying their new relationships. It’s a solid romantic comedy that actually feels fresh, and who doesn’t love a messy scheme? –Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

For fans of: International films, twisty morality tales

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Amir Jadidi, A Hero

Amir Hossein Shojaei

Director: Asghar Farhadi
Stars: Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Sahar Goldoost
Genre:
Drama, Thriller
Rating: PG-13
Metacritic score: 82

The latest movie from Iranian filmmaker and two-time Oscar-winner Asghar Farhadi is this tense morality tale that’s getting rave reviews from critics. It follows a man (Amir Jadidi) whose debt has landed him in jail, but a chance discovery of some gold coins while on furlough turns him into a national hero when he decides to return the bag of coins to its rightful owner. But beneath this seeming act of altruism lie questions of the man’s true intentions.-Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Aaron Sorkin, backstage drama

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Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos

Amazon Studios

Director: Aaron Sorkin
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat
Genre:
Biography, Drama, History
Rating: R
Metacritic score: 60

Ever want to see Aaron Sorkin stuff the mouths of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with his wordy monologues? Sorkin wrote and directedBeing the Ricardos, a biopic followingI Love Lucy‘s Ball and Arnaz during a critical moment in their careers when Ball was accused of being a communist and the gossip rags wondered if their relationship was on the fritz. Early reviews are middling, but the draw here is watchingNicole Kidmanas Ball andJavier Bardemas Arnaz, accompanied byJ.K. Simmons,Tony Hale,Alia Shawkat(Arrested Developmentreunion!), andNina Arianda. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Aliens, bugs, aliens that look like bugs

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Lucian-River Chauhan, Riz Ahmed, and Aditya Geddada, Encounter

Amazon Studios

Director: Michael Pearce
Stars: Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Rory Cochrane, Janina Gavankar
Genre:
Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rating: R
Metacritic score: 57

Riz Ahmedfollows up his Oscar-nominated turn in last year’sThe Sound of Metalwith this paranoid sci-fi thriller that looks like a mix ofTake ShelterandWar of the Worlds. Ahmed plays Malik Khan, a decorated Marine who takes his two sons and goes AWOL to protect them from an alien threat – and military operatives who are trying to make sure the secret of that threat doesn’t get out. It comes from writer-director Michael Pearce, who made the excellent 2017 psychological thrillerBeast, so you can bet there will be some gut-punching twists and some meaty material for Ahmed to work with. The supporting cast includesOctavia Spencer,Janina Gavankar, andRory Cochrane.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

For fans of: Benedict Cumberbatch, cats

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Benedict Cumberbatch and Toby Jones, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Amazon Studios

Director: Will Sharpe
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones
Genre:
Biography, Drama, History
Rating: PG-13
Metacritic score: 63

Benedict Cumberbatchplays the eccentric late 19th and early 20th century artist Louis Wain, known for his cat portraits, who falls for his sisters’ governess (Claire Foy), in this fanciful biographical drama. Reviews for the film have been polite but rarely glowing — which is to be expected from a film created and directed by the dark and whimsical Will Sharpe (Flowers) — but it’s got Benedict Cumberbatch and cats, so there are a lot of very online people who will certainly love it. Plus,Olivia Colmannarrates. –Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

For fans of: Musicals, sweet coming-of-age stories

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Max Harwood, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Amazon Studios

Directors: Dan Gillespie Sells, Jonathan Butterell, and Tom MacRae
Stars: Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, Sarah Lancashire, Richard E. Grant, Ralph Ineson, Sharon Horgan
Genre: Biography, Drama, Comedy, Musical
Rating: PG-13
Metacritic score: 62

This stage-to-screen musical film is destined to set your heart aflame — provided you aren’t a hateful malcontent — as it tells the story of a 16-year-old high schooler’s journey against bullying and toward realizing his dream to become a drag queen. It’s been reviewed positively with critics likening it toBilly Elliott, and is exactly the feel-good salve you’re desiring. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Pre-Marvel Kumail Nanjiani, heartfelt rom-coms

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Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick

Amazon Studios

Director: Michael Showalter
Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano, Holly Hunter
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Rating: R
Metacritic score: 86

This romantic comedy is based on the actual love story betweenKumail Nanjianiand his wife, Emily V. Gordon. Nanjiani plays the fictionalized version of himself whileZoe Kazanplays the fictionalized version of Emily, whose sudden diagnosis with adult-onset Still’s disease — and the coma she falls into — throws a major wrench into their burgeoning relationship. While Kumail and Emily’s story is undoubtedly the thing that drivesThe Big Sick,Ray RomanoandHolly Hunter, who play Emily’s parents, are the movie’s grounding forces. You’ll probably walk away from this mostly wishing they could adopt you.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Pop songs, using the phrase «so bad it’s good»

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Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Cabello, Cinderella

Amazon Studios

Director: Kay Cannon
Stars: Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Pierce Brosnan
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Family, Musical
Rating: PG
Metacritic score: 41

Did we need anotherCinderellare-telling? Probably not, but here’s this movie anyway. In this latest version,Camila Cabelloplays the fairy tale heroine, now going by simply «Ella,» as an aspiring fashion designer with big dreams the traditional society she lives in just isn’t ready for. She gets help from her fairy godparent (Billy Porter), pushes back against her evil stepmother (Idina Menzel), and belts out a lot of classic pop tunes you already know, because this confounding movie is also a jukebox musical. If all of that doesn’t turn you off, you’re definitely ready forCinderella, girlboss edition. It’s not «good,» per se, but the baffling choices will certainly make you laugh. This could be a new camp classic in the making.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Adam Driver, creepy puppet babies, A Star Is Born

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Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, Annette

Amazon Studios

Director: Leos Carax
Stars: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg, Devyn McDowell
Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical
Rating: R
Metacritic score: 67

If you care at all about film festivals, you’ve probably already heard ofAnnette, but if you haven’t, listen carefully: This is a musical whereAdam Driver, speaking in an even lower register than usual, plays Henry, a stand-up comedian who falls in love withMarion Cotillard’s Ann, an opera singer. Their relationship declines after the birth of their mysteriously prodigious daughter Annette (who is played, confoundingly, by a puppet), and from there it becomesA Star Is Bornby way ofMarriage Story, but with a touch of surrealism. It’s a fast-paced, hallucinatory rollercoaster that is certainly not for everyone, but will definitely have you walk away reeling.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Sequels, the way Borat says «my wiiiiife»

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Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Amazon Studios

Director: Jason Woliner
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R
Metacritic score: 68

It’s hard not to be wary when a beloved character is resurrected for a second go-around years later, butBorat Subsequent Moviefilm(full titleBorat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan) is the rare sequel that works.Sacha Baron Cohenreturns as Kazakh journalist Borat, and the international fame he’s racked up since the first film has hurt more than helped his home country. In an attempt to redeem Kazakhstan, he returns back to America with the hopes of delivering a gift to former President Donald Trump (this movie was released right before the 2020 election, which does admittedly give some of the jokes a ten-second expiration date), but more compelling than all of that is Borat’s legitimately sweet relationship with his daughter, Tutar (Maria Bakalova, who absolutely earned the Oscar nomination she received for her performance), who accompanies him on his mission, much to his chagrin. Honestly, theRudy Giuliani stuffis the least interesting thing about this movie. It’s good! Wa wa wee wa indeed.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Trainspotting, psychedelics

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Director:Ninian Doff
Stars:Eddie Izzard, Kate Dickie, Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja, Rian Gordon, Lewis Gribben
Genre:Action, Horror, Comedy, Music
Rating:R
Metacritic score:69

This 2019 British black comedy film will easily remind you of Danny Boyle’s bonkers classicTrainspotting, and it should: three Scottish teens with a knack for partying and doing drugs get into trouble. InGet Duked!, they’re joined by a do-gooder and wander the Highlands to win the Duke of Edinborough Award, a survival challenge that turns boys into men, but they get stuck in the middle of a hunt-or-be-hunted situation withEddie Izzardplaying a psycho with a sniper rifle. Believe it or not, it gets weirder from there. Hilarious, ridiculous, and packed with social commentary, this would be regular viewing in weed smoke-filled dorm rooms of the late-’90s. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Deception, but in a sexy way

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Director:Chan-wook Park
Stars: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong
Genre:Drama, Thriller, Romance
Rating:Not rated
Metacritic score:84

The Handmaidenis one of those movies where every character is scamming another character, resulting in an exciting, dramatic thriller. It starts out as a film about a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) who devises a pan to seduce a Japanese heiress (Kim Min-hee) out of her inheritance. He enlists the help of a pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri)to act as the heiress’ maid and confidant, tasking her with encouraging marriage between the two. Things begin to get more dangerous as deeper relationships develop in the messy, intertwined trio, which is all I want to say without actually spoiling the plot’s genius twists. What you should know going in is that this movie was directed byPark Chan-wook, who gave us the brutal, bloodyOldboy, so you should expect some gruesome imagery.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Kate Beckinsale violently brutalizing goons

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Kate Beckinsale, Jolt

Amazon Studios

Director:Tanya Wexler
Stars:Kate Beckinsale, Bobby Cannavale, Laverne Cox, Stanley Tucci, Jai Courtney
Genre:Action, Comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:48

Kate Beckinsale could have coasted in her career and played a lonely single mom who gets wooed by a hunk in various rom-coms, but thank god she’s decided to be a butt-kicking action hero instead. InJolt, she plays a woman with a unique condition that you’ll only find in movies: If she doesn’t electroshock herself with a custom-made harness, she loses her temper and starts to beat the sh– out of everyone. Let’s just say she doesn’t always get the jolt she needs in time… a lot. There’s also a scene in which she throws babies, and there are many swift kicks to the groin. Dumb fun, good time. –Tim Surette[Trailer]

For fans of: Comedies about going to work, Emma Thompson wearing suits

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Director:Nisha Ganatra
Stars:Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Max Casella, Hugh Dancy
Genre:Comedy, Drama
Rating:R
Metacritic score:70

Mindy KalingandEmma Thompsonstar in this extremely sweet-hearted movie, written by Kaling, about a talk show host (played by Thompson) whose popularity is waning as she ages. To help freshen up her writers’ room and stop the network from replacing her, she hires a new, inexperienced writer (Kaling). Some of the jokes and job responsibilities admittedly delve a little too far into the inside baseball territory — a lot of importance is placed on Kaling’s character becoming co-monologue writer, for example — but overall,Late Nightis a fun movie about the lengths women have to go to in order to be taken seriously in their careers.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Learning about history without opening a book

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One Child Nation

Amazon Studios

Directors:Nanfu Wang, Zhang Lynn
Genre:History, Documentary
Rating:R
Metacritic score:85

This award-winning documentary will teach you all about a painful chapter in China’s history via the one-child policy, which lasted from 1979 to 2015. Real people who lived through such a devastating period speak on their experiences, and the film delves into the damaging effects of government propaganda. Interestingly,One Child Nationis given a personal touch by co-director Nanfu Wang, who weaves stories of her own experience as a new mother in with the documentary’s overall narrative.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Historical figures, monologues

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Director:Regina King
Stars:Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr.
Genre:Drama
Rating:R
Metacritic score:83

Directed byRegina Kingand based on a play by Kemp Powers,One Night in Miami…tells a dramatized account of a 1964 meeting between Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge). They spend the night in a Miami hotel room together and end up arguing for a good portion of it, about X’s belief that Cooke has sold out by pandering to white audience with his music, and Ali’s, referred to in the film as Cassius Clay, decision to convert to Islam and change his name. It’s an interesting movie that succeeds in peeling back the curtain on four pretty untouchable cultural icons, revealing more about their anxieties, inner lives, and ambitions than the average biopic would.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: P!nk, acrobatics, good music

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Pink

David Crotty, Patrick McMullan via Getty Image

Director:Michael Gracey
Genre:Biography, Music, Documentary
Rating:Not rated
Metacritic score:60

What do you know about Pink? (Or, sorry, P!nk, as she apparently prefers to be addressed.) You’re probably aware she has the voice of an angel, and that she really, really loves singing while performing aerial tricks, but you might not know much beyond that. This documentary is a highly personal look into her life as a mother. Expect a lot of very sweet scenes of her carting her young children around on tour, some emotional behind the scenes interviews, and to be blown away by her sheer vocal range. It’s a fun watch for Pink devotees and new fans alike.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Social justice stories, period pieces

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Small Axe

Amazon Studios

Director:Steve McQueen
Stars:John Boyega, Letitia Wright, Michael Ward, Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Sheyi Cole, Kenyah Sandy
Genre:Drama
Rating:R
Metacritic scores:90,95,84, 77,87

Small Axeis peak prestige television in that it’s not actually television at all, but instead it’s an anthology collection of five films directed bySteve McQueen. Every installment focuses on London’s West Indian community in the years between 1969 and 1982, and each stars a great group of actors that includesJohn Boyega,Letitia Wright,Jack Lowden, and more. The stories don’t overlap, but they all do a beautiful job of building out the world, and deal with issues and themes that impact the community, like police brutality, education, and what it means to be part of British society as a person of West Indian descent. On one hand, yes, five films is a lot to ask of viewers, but on the other, it just so happens that McQueen is an incredible director with a strong vision and every one is worth your time. If you only want to try one, give «Lovers Rock,» a romance centered around a reggae house party, a spin.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Heavy metal band t-shirts, being emotional

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Director:Darius Marder
Stars:Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci
Genre:Drama, Music
Rating:R
Metacritic score:82

I am of the opinion thatRiz Ahmedgave the best performance of 2020 as a heavy metal drummer losing his hearing inSound of Metal, and he very correctly earned an Oscar nomination for it. As Ruben, he explores the emotional trauma of sudden deafness — literally, as it plays out in the film, one minute he can hear perfectly, and the next everything is muffled — and the importance of finding community as he goes to live in a rural home for deaf recovering addicts in order, run by Joe (Paul Raci, also rightfully Oscar-nominated for his work). The way the film utilizes sound design is nothing short of incredible, and most notably, director Darius Marder cast many actual Deaf actors who help bring the story to life.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Witches, dancers, witchy dancers, Tilda Swinton

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Suspiria

Amazon Studios

Director:Luca Guadagnino
Stars:Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth
Genre:Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Rating:R
Metacritic score:64

Luca Guadagninodirects this remake of the 1977 Dario Argento horror classic.Dakota Johnsonstars as Susie, a seemingly fresh-faced dancer who travels from Ohio to Berlin to study at an elite dance academy and is quickly named head dancer. AsSuspiriaunfolds, and as more students and teachers are found dead or go missing entirely, and it becomes increasingly clear that something very sinister and supernatural is going on underneath the surface. Also,Tilda Swintonplays three roles, and for one of them she gets to dress up as an old man. It’s kooky, it’s campy, and it’s also very, very scary.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Tessa Thompson, period romance

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Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha,Sylvie’s Love

Amazon Studios

Director:Eugene Ashe
Stars: Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha
Genre:Drama, Romance, Music
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:74

If sweeping romance is your thing,Sylvie’s Loveshould be your next watch. Set in New York City in 1962,Tessa Thompsonstars as Sylvie, an aspiring TV producer who strikes up a summer romance with a saxophonist (Nnamdi Asomugha) who works at her father’s record store. Life eventually drags them apart, and they both go on without each other for a while, only to reunite years later to find that their connection remains just as strong.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Independence Day, action broken up with passable humor

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Chris Pratt, Keith Powers, and Sam Richardson, The Tomorrow War

Amazon Prime Video

Director:Chris McKay
Stars:Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J. K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson
Genre:Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, War
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:45

A muscly and brainyChris Prattstars as a scientist who, along with thousands of others, is zapped 30 years into the future to help future soldiers fight an alien invasion and save the human race. Yeah, if that insane logline doesn’t turn you off then you should enjoy this popcorn flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously — as evidenced by the many one-liners from comediansSam Richardson, Mike Mitchell, and Mary Lynn Rajskub — but doesn’t skimp on hours of soldiers unloading clips into grotesque aliens. It’ll remind you ofStarship Trooperswithout that sharp commentary.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: Road trips, Paul Bettany’s American accent

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Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, and Peter Macdissi, Uncle Frank

Amazon Studios

Director:Alan Ball
Stars:Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn
Genre:Drama, Comedy
Rating:R
Metacritic score:58

This movie is a little bit like if someone tried to updateLittle Miss Sunshineand focus primarily on Steve Carell’s character, but in a good way. Beth (Sophia Lillis) moves from her small North Carolina hometown to good ol’ New York City, and immediately crashes into her favorite uncle’s life. She finds out that Frank (Paul Bettany) is gay and has been living with his boyfriend Wally (Peter Macdissi) for years, while successfully keeping it a secret from the rest of their family. And because this is a movie, the secret is of course put in jeopardy when Frank’s father dies and he, Beth, and Wally embark on a road trip to attend the funeral.Uncle Frank balances its comedic and dramatic moments well, and your heart will ache during the flashbacks to Frank’s adolescence, where he was first confronted with his family’s hom*ophobia. Plus, an always perfectJudy Greerco-stars.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

Val (2021)

For fans of: Intimate portraits of ’80s icons

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Val Kilmer, Val

Amazon Studios

Directors:Leo Scott, Ting Poo
Genre:Documentary
Rating:R
Metacritic score:73

Val Kilmer gets the autobiographical treatment in this intimate documentary about his life and career. Kilmer lends his own home movies he’s taken over the years to the film — which includes videos from the set ofBatman Forever, and footage of younger versions of Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon just hanging out — and provides a look at his struggle with throat cancer, from which he’s still recovering and has left him using a prosthesis in order to speak. It’s more revealing than the standard celebrity doc.-Allison Picurro[Trailer]

For fans of: That ’80s and ’90s sci-fi feel, first-time directors making a huge splash

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Sierra McCormick, The Vast of Night

Amazon Studios

Director:Andrew Patterson
Stars: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz
Genre:Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
Rating:PG-13
Metacritic score:84

This 2019 science-fiction film from director Andrew Patterson is one of the best directorial debuts of the last decade, with Patterson’s keen eye able to bring to life a small town experiencing strange phenomena from the sky. Featuring sometruly incredible continuous shots featuring hundreds of extrasandone of my favorite intimate cinematic scenes featuring just one person on screen,The Vast of Nightis a film school student’s dream that follows a young switchboard operator and a disc jockey in 1950s New Mexico trying to find the source of unidentified sounds, and it’s an entrancing thriller from the opening shot to the closing seconds. –Tim Surette [Trailer]

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