68 Of The Best Movies To Stream On Prime Video In January

A classic topic of dinner party conversation: Would you be able to cut off your own hand in order to save your life? I will be the first to say that I think I am too weak. Then again, you will also not catch me hiking dangerous terrain alone. Only Instagram hikes for me, please. This dinner party quandary, however, became real for Aron Ralston, when his hand was trapped by a falling bolder and he needed to saw it off with a multitool. In the Best Picture nominee based on Ralston's memoir James Franco plays the man stuck between a rock and a hard place (a pun so obvious it's the book's title). This is not a movie for the squeamish, and proved to me once and for all that yes, I would just die trapped in the rocks and let the vultures eat me. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Alien is equal parts analog sci-fi adventure and horror film of the slasher variety (only instead of Michael Myers, it’s the titular alien doing the killing). When the spaceship Nostromo and its seven-member crew touch down at an abandoned spaceship because of a distress call, they end up leaving with a stowaway. The alien then proceeds to slowly kill the crew one by one à la Jason Voorhees with a much longer head. The film skyrocketed Sigourney Weaver (playing the iconic Ripley) to stardom and would spawn several sequels/prequels/spinoffs, including Aliens, the rare example of a second movie being just as good as the first. This is also a classic cat movie, if you’re into that. 

Watch it on Prime Video.  

You know a film has reached a certain level of success when its title becomes shorthand for a specific type of person. Describe your friend's new boyfriend as an "American Psycho" and they'll know EXACTLY what you mean. A wealthy, fit, attractive young man who may or may not be a soulless, narcissistic serial killer who wants to murder you during a hookup. Christian Bale plays the hot but terrifying Patrick Bateman in this cult classic based on the Bret Easton Ellis novel. He's an empty vessel trying to find meaning in a life of sex, drugs, and chainsaw massacres. The film also has an early Reese Witherspoon performance, so if you're doing her New Year's plan (rather than Ina Garten's) this film might make a nice addition. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Let me say right off the bat that this is NOT a film for everyone. The rock opera musical from French auteur Leos Carax (Holy Motors) performed well among the elite cinephiles present at its Cannes Film Festival premiere, but its polarizing, slightly obtuse nature will make it a difficult sit for many. Adam Driver plays an edgy stand-up comedian who falls in love with Marion Cotillard’s opera singer. While Driver and Cotillard throw the full force of their acting powers into the roles, to mesmerizing effect, the structure of the movie, mimicking that of an opera, is much slower than a traditional movie musical. For those in love with French cinema and looking for a challenge, however, this could be a rewarding way to spend an evening. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Every now and again a tiny indie film comes along that is so undeniable it breaks through the ranks to Oscar success. In 2013, that film was this tiny whimsical drama about a girl named Hushpuppy growing up on an island in the Louisiana Bayou (although she was never forced into a cave with tiny mice to steal diamonds). After winning the Best First Feature prize at Cannes, the film slowly picked up steam, enchanting audiences one by one until it arrived at the Oscars with Best Picture, Screenplay, Director, and Actress nominations in hand. The film also launched the career of Quvenzhane Wallis, who became the youngest actor ever nominated for Best Actress at the age of nine. At nine, I was still struggling to get a better part than Wise Man #2 at my church Christmas pageant. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

It's hard to make one critically acclaimed film, let alone a trilogy, and yet somehow the trio of director Richard Linklater, and actors Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke have done the impossible. Starting with the 1995 film Before Sunrise and continuing through Before Sunset (2004) and the concluding Before Midnight, the three trace the journey of a couple who meet serendipitously one night in Vienna. Each film, set nine years after the previous, visits the couple for a few hours as they wander, talking about their lives. The third installment finds the pair in Greece as a couple trying to determine their next steps in life. With the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in the bunch at 95%, its hard to find a more enjoyable way to spend a weekend than with these films. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

LUCY, I'M HOME! And so is Amazon's new Lucille Ball biopic, which now resides on the tech giant's streaming platform. While the internet has expressed consternation about Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman's casting as the sitcom legend since the film's early stills appeared, there was no reason for concern. Kidman and Javier Bardem (who plays her husband, Desi Arnaz) combine just enough impression within their performances to make them believable without becoming caricatures. The Aaron Sorkin script is tight, focusing on the pair as they traverse a hectic week full of accusations of communism, cheating allegations, an unexpected pregnancy, inter-cast drama, and of course a full-episode production cycle. The film zips along, with Sorkin's dialogue leading the film to a propulsive and cathartic end. A rare Oscar contender that is as fun as it as good. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

So let’s say you dated a girl for five months and then she broke up with you. And then she went to the hospital and was put into a coma. And then her parents came and they knew you broke up. And then you just had to sit with them awkwardly in the waiting room because you did still care about the girl. Thus is the premise of The Big Sick, and also the real-life events surrounding the romance of the film's writers, Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani (who is also the star). One of the best romantic comedies of the past decade, this film also examines interracial dating in a smart, nuanced way and is stacked with your comedy faves, including Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, and Bo Burnham (whose recent comedy special Inside is a masterpiece). Now is also a great time to watch The Big Sick, as ripped Nanjiani will be in Marvel’s Eternals this fall. 

Watch it on Prime Video.  

Once upon a time, I was home for the summer from college and rented this film from the library because I love Alan Rickman (Harry Potter, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Sense and Sensibility; I could go on). I found the movie captivating and demanded the DVD for Christmas. Rickman stars as a snobbish connoisseur of French wine who decides to throw a competition between the lauded French wineries and the looked-down-upon Californian upstarts (the leads of whom are Bill Pullman and Chris Pine). Rickman is an absolute delight, and I (someone who buys $4 watermelon rosé from Trader Joes) was mesmerized by the true story that put Napa Valley on the map in the ’70s. Perhaps uncork a bottle of wine and settle in for the evening?   

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"Call me dreamcatcher. I'll answer." You can also call me an Anne Hathaway superfan (I've seen every single one of her movies) and a Bride Wars apologist. Don't let the 11% Rotten Tomatoes score deceive you — this Kate Hudson–Hathaway two-hander is a hoot. It's a campy sendup of bridezillas, with the pair resorting to Home Alone–level pranks to try to ruin the other's wedding. Candice Bergen, Casey Wilson, and Kristen Johnston show up in hilarious bit roles, and Chris Pratt was perfecting his creepy, overly possessive partner bit here long before his cringe IG post. Also, catch me doing "sprockets" on every dance floor from now to eternity. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

As somewhat of a marathon expert (I’ve written a whole book about the sport), I can personally attest to the tremendous amount of work that goes into running 26.2 miles, as well as the euphoric emotional payoff of finishing. This Jillian Bell film (based on a true story) follows Brittany as she signs up for the New York City Marathon in an attempt to get her life back on track. The heartwarming comedy also stars Michaela Watkins (Search Party) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (Pitch Perfect) and is the first feature film to actually shoot on location during the marathon. Watching Brittany finish her race is incredibly inspiring and will make you want to sign up for a marathon as well. 

Watch it on Prime Video.  

Yes, this is a two-and-a-half-hour Korean film with subtitles, but BOY, OH BOY, is it worth it. Watching Burning, which is based on the short story “Barn Burning” by Haruki Murakami, was one of the most enjoyable viewing experiences I’ve had in recent memory. The film (which the Oscars snubbed) begins as a lyrical love story between Jong-Su (Yoo Ah-in) and Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo), but just as the two seem to have found a rhythm, they are interrupted by the suave, charismatic Ben (Minari’s Oscar-nominated Steven Yeun). Not knowing what will happen is the beauty of this film, so I won’t say more, but like Parasite, it pivots into something more mysterious, subverting expectations repeatedly along the way. Please do yourself a favor and go stream it.    

Watch it on Prime Video.

The first time I tried to see Cold War in theaters, I had to leave 10 minutes in because the man sitting behind me said he’d found bedbugs in his chair. Nevertheless! I had such high hopes for the movie that I booked a ticket at a different theater the next day (after nuking my clothes in the dryer and scrubbing down in the shower), and I was not disappointed. This Oscar-nominated Polish film from Pawel Pawlikowski follows the star-crossed 20-year romantic saga of Zula and Wiktor during the Cold War. Shot in stark black and white, the story is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. A romance for the ages.  

Watch it on Prime Video. 

If you watched and loved Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut The Lost Daughter and want more of her where she's not just screaming "Harvey" then might I suggest her Oscar-nominated film? Here she plays a divorced journalist who begins a relationship with an alcoholic country musician played by Jeff Bridges (who won the Oscar). The sweet little film follows the pair through their ups and down and also includes several songs (one of which won an Oscar). So whether you're entering your Joanne era, or just need more Maggie, this is worth the watch. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Does it count as incest if it's your step brother? Something to ponder while watching this horny cult classic starring the young trio of Reese Witherspoon, one-time husband Ryah Phillippe, and Daphne Blake herself Sarah Michelle Gellar. Based on a horny French novel from the 1700s, the plot basically involves SMG daring her stepbrother that he can't get the school virgin (Reese) to sleep with him. If she wins the bet, she gets a car. If she loses, he gets to sleep with her (again his stepsister). The film is basically just rich horny people trying to scheme. Think Gossip Girl but with famous talented actors in the '90s. Also, never has there ever been a better use of "Bitter Sweet Symphony" than over the film's final scenes. Also we need to get the cast of Euphoria hooked up with this prop designer. Kat definitely could use a cocaine rosary. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Curses on Saturday Night Live for making this sketch the first thing I think about when I hear "dead poets society," but if I can push past my trauma, I do remember how wonderfully marvelous this Robin Williams boarding school drama is. The Best Picture nominee (and Best Screenplay winner) follows Williams as he tries to inspire his students by teaching them to love poetry. The film single-handedly taught a generation the meaning of "carpe diem" and two lines of a poem by Walt Whitman. The magic of a great teacher when you're in those prime high school years can do endless good for a person, and Williams here gives you all the feels and inspiration you had (or wish you did) as a teen. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Ready for a fun fact that will seem to come out of left field? The Dean from Community has an Academy Award. When he wasn't delivering puns at Greendale Community College, Rash was writing this screenplay which went on to nab the Oscar. V impressive if you ask me. Outside of that trivia tidbit though, this film has numerous merits. Focusing on a middle aged rich man living in Hawaii dealing with his wife's tragic accident and impending passing, Matt (George Clooney) is traversing a wealth of emotions. Clooney and Shailene Woodley, who plays his daughter, both give outstanding performances and the Best Picture nominee tackles the depressing subject matter in a way that is still watchable and entertaining. Not to mention there are lots of great shots of Hawaii. So skip Aloha and watch this instead. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Despicable Me is certainly doing something right. It did, after all, launch the most lucrative animated film franchise in history. The movie follows Gru, an evil super villain who takes in a trio of spunky orphan girls, who turn his cold heart to mush and make him a reluctant hero. For better or worse, this is also the film that introduced Minions to the world. This is an animated film that kids and adults will both enjoy without either group weeping halfway through (sorry Pixar). It is also a pivotal key on my Steve Carrell is better at playing villains than heroes theory. Throw it on for your kids and then find yourself standing in the kitchen with an uncooked casserole in your hand for 40 minutes as you've been sucked in. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

The Divergent franchise quickly fell down a large pit (without a safety net at the bottom), free-falling through plot holes, cringey acting, and behind-the-scenes drama so potent, it destroyed any hope of the series' fourth and final installment. That all aside, the opening film is a sexy, fun YA romp set to one of the most badass movie scores in recent memory. Divergent is action packed, it's got steamy scenes with Theo James shirtless, it's got an iconic Navy Pier Ferris wheel moment, and of course at its center is a campy performance by Oscar winner Kate Winslet. Not every movie can be an indie darling. Some movies are entertaining YA bangers, and this happens to be one of those. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Somehow I assumed this movie was about an inventor. Probably because of "electrical" in the title. It is not. It is basically a movie about a man who REALLY, REALLY, REALLY likes cats. Based on the real life of Louis Wain, the film follows Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch), an eccentric artist at the turn of the century who specialized in drawing brightly colored cats. If the film is to be believed, Wain almost single-handedly turned cats into the rival of dogs for most popular house pet. Prior to him, they were considered mangy strays. But after he adopted cats with his wife (Claire Foy) and then spent his entire life drawing them, they took the world by storm, with everyone nabbing a cat after falling in love with his illustrations. If you're a dog person, you now know to whom you should send your hate mail. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Not a movie to watch if you are easily creeped out by bugs, parasites, or tiny microbial creatures burrowing into your body while you sleep, only to slowly take over your mind and turn you into a zombie. In this sci-fi/horror feature, Riz Ahmed's Malik believes the world to be under threat by microscopic alien lifeforms, and so he kidnaps his children to protect them from their infected mother. As a cross-country chase ensues, with the police and potentially dangerous diseased carriers closing in, Malik struggles to keep his tiny family together. And then, of course, there is the question: Is this all just in his head? 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

If you're a musical and you can get me listening to your song on repeat for a week, then you've got my support. And my Spotify certainly knows I've been jamming to "And You Don't Even Know It" nonstop. The film, based on the smash hit, Olivier Award–nominated West End musical, follows a teenage boy named Jamie (newcomer Max Harwood) who dreams of becoming a drag queen. The songs are certified bops, and the glitzy choreography is a joy to watch. The supporting cast — including the never bad Richard E. Grant as his drag mentor, Sarah Lancashire as the supportive mother every queer kid wishes they had, and Lauren Patel as Jamie's peppy best friend — also bolsters the film. Inject this kind of pure, wholesome, LGBTQ fun straight into my arm, please. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Apparently, in China it is not an uncommon practice to hide death prognoses from patients in hopes that they will have a higher quality of life as they near life’s end. In this film, directed by Lulu Wang and based on her experience, the Wang family receive news that the matriarch, Nai Nai, has terminal lung cancer. Instead of sharing that news, they decide to stage a wedding as an excuse to bring the whole family to China to see their grandmother one final time. Billi (Awkwafina) tags along but is extremely uneasy about lying to her grandmother so excessively. What transpires will make you not only laugh but also cry, sigh, smile, and feel a gamut of other emotions as the film looks at the importance of family and the ends we’ll go to to protect the ones we love.    

Watch it on Prime Video.  

The first rule of Fight Club may be "Do not talk about Fight Club," but here I am talking about it anyway. The cult classic David Fincher film, based on a Chuck Palahniuk novel, is a must-watch, if only to know all of the references people constantly make to this film. The rules. The soap. Brad Pitt's sweaty abs. This trippy film about a straitlaced man's crisis and descent into insomniac madness has become a favorite among those dissatisfied by consumerism, complacency, and the corporate machine. The film is also filled with endless Easter eggs and hidden references so that even those who have seen it a dozen times will still pick up on something new. And like I said, Brad Pitt's sweaty abs. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

More often than not, Adam Sandler errs on the side of goofy in his films. Prat falls, fart machines, and wacky costumes are all par for the course. But contrary to a commonly held opinion, Sandler is not a bad actor, something that is apparent when he plays against type, as in Uncut Gems, Punch-Drunk Love, and this Judd Apatow film about a famous comedian who learns that he's dying. The film perfectly harnesses Sandler's charisma and charm, allowing him to be funny while also steering him into deeper waters (as is often the case with Apatow's films). It's as poignant as it is humorous, and Sandler is bolstered by an all-star cast that includes Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, and Apatow's wife, the criminally underrated Leslie Mann. Not until Blockers did she receive top billing for a project, despite being consistently funny in everything she does (even when the movies are horrible). Somebody please give her another meaty leading role. Thank you. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has won the Oscar for Best International Feature twice in the last 10 years: once for A Separation in 2011 and then again for The Salesman in 2016. Well now he's back trying for a third with this year's shortlisted title about a man who thinks his ticket out of debtor's prison is a purse full of cash that his girlfriend finds. But a fairly simple act goes awry very quickly and threatens to leave him worse off than he started. The intricately subtle set of moral quandaries at this film's center are as terrifying as they seem insignificant, and watching Amir Jadidi act his way through them is mesmerizing. If Farhadi takes home a third Oscar, it will certainly be well deserved. 

Watch it on Prime Video.

Your favorite family of monsters is back on the big screen. Well scratch the "big" as the film was snatched away from a theatrical release due to the Delta variant of COVID-19 and sent to Prime Video for its debut instead, but they are back nonetheless. And in the fourth installment of the much-loved Adam Sandler-led animated franchise, a de-monstering gun goes awry leading to the entire monster cast being transformed into regular humans (and a plate of jello in one case). The goofy caper is just as delightful as its previous installments and the premise sets up a neverending string of entertaining jokes and bits. It also makes you wonder what monster you'd be turned into if the gun on its opposite setting was aimed at you. Where's my BuzzFeed quiz? 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

I would like to begin this section with a direct appeal to Spotify: Dear Spotify executives, please put the entire Inside Llewyn Davis soundtrack on your site. Why do we get only three songs? I know it’s probably got something to do with legal things, but it’s rude nonetheless. Thank you. If, however, you would like to hear the entire soundtrack from this Coen Brothers folk musical, you can watch it on Amazon Prime. Oscar Isaac plays the titular struggling folk singer as he tries to make sense of his life, and sings haunting melodies in the process. My beloved Carey Mulligan and the scandal-shrouded Justin Timberlake also make appearances (although their song isn’t on Spotify). This underappreciated, lyrical film should have been showered with more awards and praise than it was. Sometimes the people just get it wrong. 

Watch it on Prime Video.  

When Jennifer's Body came out over a decade ago, is was panned by (mostly male) critics and marketed largely as the latest film in which to ogle Megan Fox straight off her stint in the Transformers franchise. However, in a post–#MeToo world, and especially after this summer, as society relitigates the way Fox was treated during her rise, this horror comedy has become a feminist cult classic. The film was written by female screenwriter and Oscar winner Diablo Cody, directed by female director Karyn Kusama, stars women, and yet is miraculously not either a romance or about motherhood (try finding films from before 2018 that fit those qualifications). It's also about a (female) succubus who can survive only by killing and eating men (an urge that seems oddly relatable sometimes). Let's get the team on the phone because this is set up nicely for a sequel, and we'd like to see it. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Do not watch this if you have an aversion to cuss words. Or if you have an aversion to an 11-year-old child cussing up a storm. Because in the comic-book inspired, R-rated superhero film, Chloe Grace Moretz has a potty mouth. The dark irreverent take on the superhero genre, which sees three children taking on the responsibilities of masked vigilantes, was a hit when it was released and has become an even more necessary palate cleanser after 11 more years' worth of Marvel and DC fare. The film rocketed both Moretz and Aaron Taylor-Johnson to stardom, and brought Nic Cage back into the conversation after a string of questionable career choices. Do we think this will get referenced in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent?

Watch it on Prime Video. 

With the recent wide release of The French Dispatch, perhaps now is a good time to revisit some of Wes Anderson's older titles, including this maritime comedy starring Bill Murray. Murray plays Zissou, a Jacques Cousteau–like figure intent on getting revenge on the jaguar shark for killing his former partner. In classic Wes Anderson fashion, the film is beautifully shot in brightly colored, immaculately constructed, symmetrical frames. Also in classic Wes Anderson fashion, the film stars a sprawling cast of A-listers, including Anderson regulars Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Anjelica Huston, and Jeff Goldblum. Beware, however — watching Steve Zissou could give you the urge to buy a red beanie. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Robert Eggers’ follow-up to The Witch (where we all learned to live deliciously) is a claustrophobic psychological nightmare and anything but delicious (unless dead seagulls and farting whet your appetite). Shot in black and white with a nearly square aspect ratio, the film resembles an 1800s home video as it tracks Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson’s characters to a rocky island lighthouse. Fueled by alcohol and cut off from society, the pair descend into a salty, windswept madness. This is certainly not for everyone, but those of you with a strong constitution and love of psychological horror will find this a riveting exploration of the untethered mind. Watch it while we anxiously await The Northman, Eggers’ next film. 

Watch it on Prime Video.   

In the world of melancholy, indie family dramedies, there is only one Little Miss Sunshine, and everyone else is simply playing for second. The film, about a family of struggling misfits driving in a decrepit yellow van to attend a children's beauty pageant, is one of a kind in its achievements. It's a feel-good movie that's not cloying. It's a movie about depressed people that isn't depressing. The all-stars in the cast — including Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Toni Collette, and Alan Arkin — not only give great performances but are also in roles that highlight their individual strengths to bolster the film. Colette in particular is flawless as the supportive mother and gets to deliver the greatest Popsicle-eating performance ever recorded onscreen. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Long before BuzzFeed had its quiz up and running, readers (hair in bonnets and without running water) were asking, "Are you a Meg, Jo, Beth, or Amy?" And as a bone fide Amy through and through (I want to be great or nothing), I am more inclined toward the Greta Gerwig version of the film. But my roommate (a Beth) kindly and frequently reminds me that not everything is about me, and the 1994 version with Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, and Kirsten Dunst is actually much better. While picking your favorite Little Women is certainly subjective, the book is objectively incredible, and so every version has its merits. If only I could send Louisa May Alcott a mold of my foot as a thank-you. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Manchester by the Sea is a beautiful, if disastrously depressing film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck both give incredible performances (even if Casey’s more recent controversies have detracted from his star power). But what I’d like to discuss is the birth of Lucas Hedges into the American consciousness. Hedges plays Patrick, a 16-year-old with a THICK Boston accent, who goes to live with his depressed uncle (Affleck) after the death of his father. His performance is so strong that it nabbed him a rare young male Oscar nomination and launched him into lead roles in subsequent films like Ben Is Back and Boy Erased. He would also go on to become an A24 darling in films like Lady Bird and Waves. Just as I couldn’t stop looking at this recent photo of him, I was transfixed by his presence here and have loved watching his journey to stardom.     

Watch it on Prime Video.  

Who doesn't love a cult movie? I mean, if you tell me there is even just one scene involving a cult, I'm in and this one features a bizarre Scientology-like society that is run by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. The Oscar-nominated psychological drama sees Joaquin Phoenix return from World War II only to be brought into the strange group called "The Cause." The acting pedigree (which also includes Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons, and Rami Malek) is unimpeachable and the film is also the follow up to Oscar juggernaut There Will Be Blood by Paul Thomas Anderson. So if you loved watching Alana Haim drive a gasless van through LA, this might be the next PTA movie on your list. Also Licorice Pizza's star, Cooper Hoffman, is Philip Seymour's son!

Watch it on Prime Video. 

I think it's easy in 2021 (post–run for president, post–arrival in Washington, DC, as secretary of transportation, and post–shirtless thirst trap) to forget what a trailblazer Pete Buttigieg is. Putting aside how you feel about his politics, his track record, or his stoic demeanor, his fairly successful campaign as an openly gay man was an incredible achievement for LGBTQ rights. This documentary, while rehashing many of the campaign facts that you already know, does a nice job of reminding viewers how powerful it was for many people (especially not those in liberal urban enclaves) to see a married gay man running for president. The film also provides some interesting behind-the-scenes moments, including him repeatedly having to face a likability/relatability question and his eventual decision to drop out. You may not like Mayor Pete, but you can't help but acknowledge what he was able to accomplish. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Where do I even begin to describe my love for this horror film? Directed by Ari Aster (whose Hereditary is somehow even better), Midsommar follows a group of friends who travel to Sweden for a folk festival. Only, instead of a normal village, there's something menacing and mysterious at play. Aster does the seemingly impossible job of making a field in broad daylight scarier than the dark, and the dread he creates in these scenes is palpable. At the center of this detailed masterpiece is Florence Pugh’s breakout performance as a grieving woman, whose family just died, on vacation with a boyfriend. It’s terrifying. It’s beautiful. It’s oddly cathartic. Although I will never forgive it for teaching me what a blood eagle is.     

Watch it on Prime Video.  

The Mission: Impossible franchise is a bit of an odd duck cinematically with a number of writers and directors taking stabs at Ethan Hunt stories before Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie decided to seal the deal as an actor/director match made in practical stunt heaven. Much is owed however to MI3, which is not only the first film directed by the massively successful J.J. Abrams, but is also the first film of the franchise to include both Simon Pegg and Michelle Monaghan on the cast list. It's a bit more twisty than the other installments and relies less heavily on Cruise almost dying than the later films, but if you haven't circled back to the earlier films, you might give this one a try before seven and eight appear in theaters. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

It took Baz Luhrmann nearly three years to secure all the rights to this jukebox musical, but he had a vision, and the finished product was well worth the time. We've seen plenty of filmed musicals and even a few jukebox musicals, but never an original one based on music from so many different artists: Madonna. Elton John. Nirvana. The resulting film is a romance between Christian (Ewan McGregor), an English writer, and Satine (Nicole Kidman), a cabaret singer at the Parisian Moulin Rouge. The one-of-a-kind film immediately struck a chord with critics and audiences, landing eight Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. And we're still listening to "Lady Marmalade" to this day because of it. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

I am ashamed to say that prior to watching this documentary, I had no idea who Pauli Murray was. If you, too, have never heard of this fascinating, groundbreaking, trailblazing individual, then you need to hustle right on over to Amazon and give this a watch. A civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on the bus before Rosa Parks. An African American lawyer whose work paved the way for Ruth Bader Ginsburg's landmark cases on sexism. A queer intellectual who sought to understand gender and sexuality during a time before modern labels. Murray is an icon we should be learning about in school, so if you're a schoolteacher and you're reading this article, wheel that TV into the classroom and press play. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

My cousin who was an admissions counselor at a Christian college once told me that whenever she asked high schoolers the question "which dead person would you like to spend the day with?" that they always answered Jesus. But if you weren't trying to trick a Catholic admissions counselor, perhaps you'd take Marilyn Monroe out to lunch instead. If you'd like to get a taste of what that might involve try watching this biopic about the bombshell's filming of the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Oliver. Michelle Williams and (Belfast director) Kenneth Branagh play the stars with Eddie Redmayne tagging along as Monroe's chaperone for a week in London. Four-time Oscar nominee Williams should have snagged a statue for this role, as you can't take your eyes off her every second she's on screen. But alas she was up against Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher and that is just an automatic TKO. 

Watch it on Prime Video. 

Tina you fat lard, come watch this movie. Is there a movie more quotable than the 2004 sleeper hit? "Napoleon, give me some of your tots." "Your mom goes to college." "Make yourself a dang quesadilla." "I caught you a delicious bass." and of course my favorite "How much do you want to bet I can throw this football over them mountains." The film made by friends for approximately $12 — with its  biggest star being Hilary Duff's sister — crawled its way into the minds of viewers to the point where everyone I knew had seen it dozens of times and could quote it word for word. The "Vote for Pedro" shirt. The "Canned Heat" dance. Tetherball. Dare I say that this is potentially the most iconic film of the new millennium? I mean I don't have any scientific numbers here, but I would have to imagine there was a precipitous decline in 1% milk sales post-release. This film MADE A MARK. 

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Okay I would like to take this opportunity to discuss how the Academy hates Jake Gyllenhaal for some reason. The man is imho one of the greatest actors of his generation, and yet he only has one Oscar nom (for Brokeback Mountain). Wildlife. Zodiac. Proof. Nocturnal Animals. The Sisters Brothers. All were Oscar worthy and don't even get me started (too late) on Nightcrawler. Gyllenhaal is giving one of the best performances of his career as an unethical crime-scene photographer and NOTHING from the Academy (even though clearly they watched the film since it got a screenplay nom). We're giving a nom to Bradley Cooper in American Sniper instead. Really? Really? Ugh. Go watch those movies back to back and tell me who was better. 

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In 1964, famed African American civil rights activist Malcolm X, boxer Muhammad Ali, football star Jim Brown, and singer Sam Cooke all spent an evening together in a hotel room in Miami. That historic meeting serves as the basis for this film, directed by Regina King (an Oscar-winning actor herself) and adapted by Kemp Powers, who also wrote the play and Pixar's Soul (big year for him!). Focused on the relationships between these four great men, the film creates fictional dialogue that aims to unpack race, privilege, and the responsibility that comes with fame. Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr. plays Cooke (a performance for which he was Oscar-nominated), but it's Kingsley Ben-Adir’s take on Malcolm X that is most captivating. Never has such a long stay in a hotel room been so interesting.     

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Let me tell you. The world of 1890s magicians was a TOXIC one. Like the rivalry was just too much y'all. I love a little "pick a card any card" bit as much as the next guy but when PEOPLE START DYING the tricks have gone too far. Luckily this isn't actually a true story, but it is a twisty, cerebral one from the mind of Christopher Nolan. The man can craft a compelling mind-bender and he does so with this rivalry between Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as they attempt to one up each other with daring magic tricks. And if you're thinking "I thought Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti were in this movie," you would be thinking of The Illusionist which is another 1890s magician movie which also came out in 2006. There was just something about the mid-aughts that had people craving petticoat magicians I guess. 

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I LOVE to promote a good LGBTQ film, and this funny little historical British dramedy is a fantastic one. Back in 1984, during a British miners' strike, gay activist Mark Ashton (Ben Schnetzer) realized that the police were too busy focusing on the miners to focus on their usual harassment of the gay community, and so he started Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners to help a fellow group of oppressed folks. It’s this fight by the LGBTQ community on behalf of the labor class that serves as the plot here. Hot priest Andrew Scott is here, along with 1917’s George MacKay and Professor Umbridge, aka Imelda Staunton. The film is charming and uplifting and shows you how underdogs helping underdogs can do a lot of good for everyone. 

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Let me just say this: If you have to fake a life-threatening illness in order for your family to talk to you, then you might want to rethink some of your relationships. Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), the patriarch of the unruly Tenenbaum clan, does indeed fake near-death in this early Wes Anderson masterpiece. His three children (played by Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Gwyneth Paltrow) are prodigies during childhood; then he leaves the family. He returns to find them mostly washed up and struggling to sort out their lives, given the trauma he's caused. There was never a wackier family, and Anderson uses every quirk and bizarre outfit to create a film that is aesthetically pleasing while it delves into psychiatric childhood scarring. 

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If there are two iconic badass Nickelodeon women we should all aspire to be, they are the megalomaniacal toddler Angelica Pickles from The Rugrats and the too-cool-for-school, blasé Debbi Thornberry from The Wild Thornberrys. The beauty of this crossover animated film is that the two sassy villains get to go on a trip together. Finally, instead of stupid babies and gorillas, these women get to interact with someone on their own intellectual level, and there is magic to behold. ALSO, this has nothing to do with watching this on Amazon, because sadly, the tech is not here yet, but when I saw this movie in theaters, I watched it with an Odorama scratch-and-sniff card from Burger King, so I got to smell the action. Never has there been a more magical theatergoing experience. 

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Before Wes Anderson's style and filmmaking became legendary, he made a little film called Rushmore about a high school student (Jason Schwartzman) and a rich middle-aged man (Bill Murray) who become friends until they realize they are both in love with the same teacher at his school. Watching the quirky picture, you can see the budding of Anderson's signature style, but it doesn't get in the way of the storytelling as it does in some of his later works. Murray is fabulous (as always), and Schwartzman keeps up with him the entire time. While the film was not initially successful, it's picked up more and more fans over the years as Anderson's star has risen. Its soundtrack, full of British Invasion tracks, is another reason to watch, if you needed one. 

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I had heard about the storming of Normandy during World War II in history class for as long as I could remember, but oof did I not get a good picture of what a momentous day that was until I watched this Steven Spielberg Best Picture nominee. In it we see Tom Hanks and his squadron storm the beach and it is harrowing stuff. But getting onto French soil is just the beginning for the small band of soldiers then sent on a mission to find Private Ryan (Matt Damon) who is to be sent home after both of his brothers have died in battle. The film is a bloody, often depressing, war drama but the scope is incredible and even your dad will be in tears by the end. Inarguably, one of the greatest war films of all time.

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I don’t know what was happening on the set of Short Term 12, but someone had a rabbit's foot or made a deal with the Illuminati, because truly, everyone in this tiny indie drama has gone on to have their careers BLOW UP! There’s Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson. There’s Booksmart’s scene-stealer Kaitlyn Dever. There’s Best Actor/Freddie Mercury impersonator Rami Malek. There’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Stephanie Beatriz. And of course, there is the very recent Oscar nominee for Judas and the Black Messiah, LaKeith Stanfield. This film, which focuses on a group home for troubled teenagers, is funny, sad, and heartwarming in its own right, but watching all your current faves’ younger selves is a trip.   

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I mean, this premise: A Reno, Nevada, lounge singer witnesses a mob murder and must go into witness protection AS A NUN. And then she turns the dingy old choir into a soulful Motown cover band! Come on. This is genius. Plus we've got Whoopi Goldberg doing some of her best work, Kathy Najimy dancing in a habit, and Dame Maggie Smith serving us Dowager Countess–lite as Reverend Mother. "I Will Follow Him" from the first film is breathtaking. Even Pope Francis is vibing. 

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I have been to the top of the Empire State Building several times, and I always loiter around up there for FAR too long, hoping that I will meet the love of my life. Is this just me? Was I the only one infected by this Tom Hanks–Meg Ryan romantic comedy about people from different parts of the country orbiting each other precariously until they meet late at night at the top of the iconic New York skyscraper? This film can also be included in the "Adult movie with a cute kid" folder because Hanks's son, played by Ross Malinger, is ADORABLE. I wonder if he can also spell "F-O-X, fox."

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One of this year’s freshly minted Best Picture nominees, Sound of Metal follows Ruben, a heavy metal drummer who comes to the (at first) horrifying realization that he is losing his hearing. The indie drama, which continued to pick up more steam and accolades through the awards season, stars Riz Ahmed in the lead as he mourns his hearing and struggles to find ways to cope. Both he and Paul Raci, who plays the deaf leader of a shelter for recovering addicts, landed Oscar noms for their performances, and Olivia Cooke, who plays Ruben’s girlfriend, rightfully should have received one as well. This fascinating film also substantiates my mom’s claim that "you are going to lose your hearing from turning the radio up too loud."

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As someone with particularly bad musical taste, I will take this moment to admit that I had no idea who the Talking Heads were until this summer, when I watched David Byrne’s American Utopia, a filmed version of the Broadway performance. Byrne, for the uninformed, was the lead singer of a new wave band called the Talking Heads (the one song I knew by them was used in the trailer for the horrid Matt Damon film Downsizing). American Utopia, however, gave me an appreciation for the Talking Heads, and so I naturally stumbled upon Stop Making Sense, which is a filmed version of their live performances at the Pantages Theater in 1983. It is an exquisite concert film. The music is wonderful. The concert is theatrical. And the whole thing jumps off the screen in a way that concert videos don’t often manage to do. So everyone follow my lead and become a Talking Heads fan. Better some three decades late than never. 

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We start with a mansion on Sunset Boulevard. And oh look, there is a body floating facedown in the swimming pool. Whose body is it? How did it get there? You’ll have to watch to find out. The black-and-white Hollywood classic tracks the events leading up to the mysterious death, as William Holden plays a young screenwriter who is slowly sucked into the web of the reclusive former silent-film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). The iconic film, which gave us lines like, “Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up,” was nominated for 11 Oscars and holds an ironclad spot in the film canon. A perfect film, it feels startlingly modern even as a ’50s noir, and it packs just as much punch today as it did at its release. 

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The influence of Taken on our cinematic landscape cannot be overstated. In 2008, when it was released, the whole thing was seen as an anomaly. An action film starring a nearly 60-year-old actor most notable for dramas like Schindler's List? Who would go and see that? Well, apparently, a lot of people (and a lot of dads). The film was so successful, it launched a whole genre of old-man action films, including a dozen for Liam Neeson himself. Now Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and Mel Gibson are all talking up their "very particular sets of skills." Despite all of the flawed follow-ups, however, Taken still stands as the exemplar of the genre, and far be it from me to pass up an evening of Neeson taking out 50 baddies, all half his age. 

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With Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, Ben Affleck is a bonafide awards season hopeful in this coming-of-age drama about a Putlizer Prize-winning journalist growing up with his eccentric family on Long Island. Affleck plays the literary, yet rough-and-tumble owner of a bar who mentors his nephew (Tye Sheridan) on all things life, love, and booze. The George Clooney-directed period piece also features Lili Rabe and Christopher Lloyd as the supportive mother and crotchety grandfather respectively. Plus who doesn't want to listen to bickering in Long Island accents?  

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After watching this film, I still don't really understand theoretical physics, but I do know a hell of a lot more about theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and his incredible life. Hawking is played by Eddie Redmayne (to an Oscar win) in an intense full-body physical transformation that is astonishing, and follows him from life as a healthy young man through his diagnosis with ALS and the slow deterioration of his body. And while the film, of course, deals plenty with science (yay, nerds), it is primarily a romantic drama (yay, emotional Cancers). Felicity Jones plays Hawking's wife (to an Oscar nom) as the pair struggle to keep their flame alive amid the burgeoning illness and fame. Bring a box of tissues with you (and possibly a calculator, if you're into that).

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Not everyone loves a war epic, but if you do love a war epic, then this is the war epic you should be watching. Terrence Malick's long-gestating seven-time Oscar nominee follows a group of American soldiers in World War II's Guadalcanal campaign to seize the Pacific island from the Japanese. The film is a bloody, harrowing three-hour journey, but if you've got the time and determination, it's worth watching. Also, this movie seemingly has every white male actor Hollywood had to offer. I know listing names is not good journalism, but Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, George Clooney, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Jared Leto, Tim Blake Nelson, Nick Nolte, John C. Reilly, and John Travolta are all in this film. That is a LOT of Hollywood dudes. 

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Rarely do we get a documentary as raw and moving as Time. The film follows Fox Rich, using over 25 years’ worth of home videos as she fights tirelessly for her husband, Rob, who is serving time in prison for his participation in an armed bank robbery, to be granted clemency. What filmmaker Garrett Bradley thought would be a short film turned into a feature when Fox handed her over 100 hours of home video footage taken while her husband was in prison. Bradley then took the home videos and her own footage, converted it all to stunning black and white, and built the moving, 81-minute-long final product. The documentary, which was nominated for an Oscar, vividly shows the flaws of the criminal justice system and how that can deeply affect the families of those struggling through it. It’s a beautiful statement as to what can be accomplished if you try hard enough, and how important it is to have someone tirelessly in your corner. 

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A recent 2021 release, this Chris Pratt sci-fi film is set in a world in which aliens overrun the planet in 30 years. The future, therefore, is drafting humans from the present to time-travel to the future to fight off the aliens in order to save humanity. Pratt, playing a former Green Beret, is drafted alongside a ragtag crew including Sam Richardson (Veep) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (aka Gail the Snail from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). While the time-travel logistics are a bit murky, the action sequences (especially on a giant, oil rig–style military base) are incredible, and the monsters will give you nightmares.     

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Before we were Eat Pray Loving, we were Under the Tuscan Sunning. If you're in the middle of your life and finding yourself aimless postdivorce, then the obvious solution is to travel to Italy, eat some pasta, and write yourself toward a new life. In this romantic dramedy, Diane Lane's Frances does just that at the prodding of her friend Patti (the never not-funny Sandra Oh). While gallivanting through the Italian countryside, Frances searches for a new love, begins writing again, and tries to find direction in life after the one she had imploded. If your life is going well, enjoy the breezy watch. If your life is going poorly, perhaps consider booking a ticket.  

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Controversial opinion: I think that The Village is not only one of M. Night Shyamalan's best films, I think its just a really good film in general. Members of an old timey Pennsylvania town live in fear of evil creatures stalking the woods around their village. They must never go out at night. They must never wear red because it attracts the monsters. The horror film is full of suspense as an all-star cast including (sorry for listing all these names but this is insane) Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, Cherry Jones, Judy Greer, and Jesse Eisenberg serve Puritan realness as they try not to get eaten. Poo poo the twist ending all you like, but I think the whole idea is actually very intriguing, and you can't tell me some of these monster shots aren't terrifying. 

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By most accounts, this movie barely exists. When it came out, it made virtually no money and was unceremoniously swept out of theaters after just six weeks with average ratings from critics. That, however, is unfair because this is a funny movie, y'all, with an unimpeachable cast. The premise: Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd accidentally find themselves on a hippie commune in Georgia after their big-shot New York City dreams are killed in the recession. And so now they get to spend an entire film on a farm with kooky individuals played by Jordan Peele, Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman, Alan Alda, and, of course, the brilliant Kathryn Hahn. Yet no one has ever heard of this movie, for some reason. Be the hero to your friend group. Go watch this, tell everyone you know about it, and then bask in their praise for having found this hidden gem.  

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I would hazard a guess that most of us know next to nothing about the US Constitution. Perhaps you memorized the preamble in school, but even that I never understood. Heidi Schreck, however, was well versed in the legal document from a young age, traveling around the country to compete in speech competitions about the Constitution for scholarship money. Now an adult, Schreck wrote and starred in a Broadway show about her experience with this document and what it means for our country and culture today. The deeply personal and incredibly charming show was recorded for your non-Broadway viewing (thank goodness this is happening more and more these days) and is available on Amazon. It will teach you a thing or two about this essential American document while also forcing you to answer, "Should I know more about the laws that govern me?" 

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