This may come as a surprise, but one of the top films of summer 2024 has come to Amazon Prime Video this week. IF didn’t get a lot of press compared to the other movies last summer, but it legged out $111 million domestically in the most competitive cinema landscape of the year. That’s impressive, and it’s doing very well on Prime Video so far.
Our dark horse selection of the week is Constantine. This was Keanu Reeves’ first — and perhaps only — comic book movie and one of his best flicks in the long years between The Matrix trilogy and his career rebirth in John Wick. You can find these choices and the rest of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video below. We update this list every Friday morning so you can stay on top of the newest arrivals.
We’ve also put together guides to the best shows onPrime Video, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Netflix, the best new movies to stream, and the best movies on Disney+.
Recently added to Amazon Prime Video
IF
pg2024
Constantine
r2005
Challengers
r2024
Killer Heat
r2024
Paddington 2
pg2017
Drag Me to Hell
pg-132009
Editor’s Pick
IF (2024)
46%
6.5/10
pg
104m
Genre
Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski
Directed by
John Krasinski
For his first directorial effort after helming the initial Quiet Place films, John Krasinski went in a completely different direction with the more family-friendly IF. That title is also the abbreviation for Imaginary Friends, all of whom are creatures that defy reality’s conventions. A young girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) doesn’t initially know what to think when she encounters IFs like Blue (Steve Carell) and Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge).
Fortunately, Bea’s neighbor, Cal (Ryan Reynolds), can see IFs. It’s his job to help them find new children to befriend after their previous kids were separated from them. Bea gets roped into helping Cal, but her solution to the IF problem is even more bold than his. Yet, it’s still going to take a lot of work to pull off, imaginary or not.
Related
- Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and more
- If you have to watch one Amazon Prime Video movie in October 2024, stream this one
- The 36 best sitcoms on Netflix right now (October 2024)
Constantine (2005)
50%
7.0/10
r
121m
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Horror
Stars
Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf
Directed by
Francis Lawrence
Somewhere between Neo and John Wick lies Keanu Reeves’ take on John Constantine. This adaptation of the DC comic book Hellblazer made a lot of changes to Constantine to make his character more like his performer. Yet shockingly, it turned out to be a pretty great action/horror flick even with all of the adjustments.
Detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) is distraught by the apparent suicide of her twin sister, Isabel. Angela’s conviction that her sister was murdered leads her to occult investigator John Constantine. He’s on a quest to prevent his eternal damnation to Hell for a suicide attempt earlier in his life, and helping people like Angela is his penance. Constantine soon discovers that Angela is being targeted by demons as part of a plan that may bring about Hell on Earth. And Constantine’s chances of stopping them are falling by the minute.
Challengers (2024)
82%
7.2/10
r
132m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor
Directed by
Luca Guadagnino
You may have to pay close attention to Challengers, because the story doesn’t take place in chronological order. Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a rising tennis star romantically drawn to two other players on the pro tour: Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist).
Both young men want Tashi for themselves, but only one of them is willing to play dirty to get her. Even when one of them wins Tashi’s heart, it doesn’t end the romantic entanglement between this trio as their lives unfold and intersect over several years. Ultimately, the battle between these two men is going to come back to the place where it all began: on the tennis court.
Killer Heat (2024)
5.6/10
r
97m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Romance
Stars
Richard Madden, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley
Directed by
Philippe Lacôte
Former Game of Thronesstar Richard Madden has a large role in Killer Heat, partially because he’s playing two twin brothers, Leo and Elias Vardakis. The Vardakis siblings come from one of the wealthiest families in Greece, so when one of them dies, the police are largely content to ignore any potential crime.
The victim’s widow, Penelope Vardakis (Shailene Woodley), hires an alcoholic private investigator, Nick Bali (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), to look into the case and determine if her husband was murdered. Nick doesn’t get much cooperation from the local cops other than the officer in charge of the case, Georges Mensah (Babou Ceesay). Even with his lone ally, Nick soon discovers that he’s made a very dangerous enemy by asking the wrong questions to the right people.
Paddington 2 (2017)
88%
7.8/10
pg
104m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Ben Whishaw, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant
Directed by
Paul King
Paddington 2 was once one of the rare films to score 100% on Rotten Tomatoes until some nincompoop gave it a bad review that dragged it down to 99%. Regardless, this sequel is almost as beloved as Paddington Bear (Ben Whishaw) himself. His adoptive family, Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins), and their children, Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), love and adore Paddington.
He’s got a good life for a talking bear, until Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) frames Paddington for stealing a rare book. As the Browns struggle to prove his innocence, Paddington’s positive attitude actually makes his fellow prisoners love him as well. Yet even Paddington can give into moments of despair when his case seems hopeless.
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
83%
6.6/10
pg-13
99m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver
Directed by
Sam Raimi
Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) faces a moral dilemma early in director Sam Raimi’s horror flick Drag Me to Hell. Christine can either grant an old woman, Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver), an extension of her mortgage, or she can angle for a promotion by refusing to help. Unfortunately for Christine, she made the wrong choice because Sylvia is well-versed in the ways of curses, and she places one on the younger woman who cost the old woman her home.
Christine is soon haunted by demonic visions and attacked by unseen forces that will physically drag her to Hell in three days if she doesn’t break the curse. However, she may have to bend her morals even further to escape her dark fate.
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
85%
6.9/10
r
116m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Blake Jenner, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Guzman
Directed by
Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater wrote and directed Everybody Wants Some!! (complete with two exclamation points). Although this college baseball-themed comedy struck out at the box office, it received fantastic reviews, and it may get to cult status. The cast alone deserves a second look for bringing Glen Powell, Wyatt Russell, Tyler Hoechlin, and Zoey Deutch together.
Blake Jenner leads the cast as Jake Bradford, a college freshman pitcher for the baseball team in 1980. Jake moves into a house with other players and quickly learns that baseball is more of a hobby for the team. Getting drunk and hooking up with women is their real sport. Jake does form a real potential romance with a girl named Beverly (Deutch), but keeping that connection alive may be challenging on this team.
Colette (2018)
74%
6.7/10
r
112m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Denise Gough
Directed by
Wash Westmoreland
Keira Knightley adds another daring performance to her credits in the title role of Collette, a biopic about the famous French author Gabrielle Colette. In the late 19th century, Collette marries Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West), who encourages her to write. And by “encourages,” we mean that he steals credit for her work and literally imprisons her to make her write another hit.
Collette turns out to be a natural writer, but rebuilding her life and reputation proves to be difficult after Henry takes everything that she created. However, the real story of the film isn’t about Collette’s fall; it’s about her rise and her ability to reinvent herself.
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
67%
7.5/10
r
117m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon
Directed by
Tom Ford
Jake Gyllenhaal may have a dual role in Nocturnal Animals, but Amy Adams dominates the narrative in the movie. Two decades after her marriage to Edward Sheffield (Gyllenhaal) fell apart, Susan Morrow (Adams) is contacted by her ex when he sends her an advance copy of his novel — which shares the name of the film.
As Susan’s personal life and second marriage fall apart in the present, she finds herself drawn to the dark story of Edward’s novel. In the novel, Gyllenhaal also plays Tony Hastings, a man whose wife, Laura (Isla Fisher), and daughter, India (Ellie Bamber), were raped and murdered when he couldn’t protect them. When given the chance for revenge, Tony might not have it in him to avenge their deaths.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
73%
7.8/10
pg
103m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Family
Stars
Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Harvey Guillén
Directed by
Joel Crawford
In the long wait between Shrek movies, Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots has been keeping the franchise alive. But in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, time is almost up for the title character. Puss relies on his nine lives to survive the epic adventures. And now that Puss is on his very last life, he’s truly scared about his potential fate — so much so that he abandons his identity and tries to live as a normal cat.
However, Puss learns that there may be a way to restore his lost lives if he can find a magical wishing star. Puss isn’t the only one looking for the star, nor the only one who desperately needs what it can offer him. This quest reunites Puss with his ex-fiancée, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault), and forces him to reevaluate what he really wants.
Snack Shack (2024)
64%
6.9/10
r
112m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Conor Sherry, Gabriel LaBelle, Mika Abdalla
Directed by
Adam Rehmeier
Snack Shack is a coming-of-age comedy set in 1991. A.J. Carter (Conor Sherry) and his friend, Moose Miller (Gabriel LaBelle), are 14-year-olds whose schemes to get money almost always backfire on them. At least until they hit upon the idea of running the local Snack Shack for the summer.
Their bond of friendship is tested when A.J. meets Brooke, his attractive new neighbor. Because Moose makes the first move on Brooke, this creates tension between him and A.J., who isn’t willing to simply back off. As Brooke begins to reciprocate A.J.’s feelings, his friendship and lucrative partnership with Moose may come crashing down.
Election (1999)
83%
7.2/10
r
103m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Drama, Mystery
Stars
Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
Directed by
Alexander Payne
“Do it, Mister M, do it!” You’ll have to actually watch Election to understand why that line is so funny in context. This film is a satiric masterpiece starring Matthew Broderick as Jim McAllister, a high school teacher who is infuriated by his overachieving student, Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon). Because Tracy had an affair with his colleague and friend without suffering repercussions, Jim becomes obsessed with costing her the election forpresident of the student government.
Jim recruits a popular football player, Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), to run against Tracy. However, this inadvertently spurs Paul’s adoptive sister, Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell), to run as well on a platform of abolishing student government that makes her the new favorite. But Jim just can’t leave things alone, and he risks his own career and marriage to see Tracy fail.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
58%
7.8/10
pg-13
169m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars
Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage
Directed by
Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson’s three-film adaptation of The Hobbit may not be as universally loved as his Lord of the Rings trilogy, but these films are still head and shoulders above the vast majority of fantasy films. In the first movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Sherlock’s Martin Freeman steps into the title role as a young Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit whose life is upturned by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen)
For reasons of his own, Gandalf is accompanying a group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield II (Richard Armitage) who want to reclaim their lost kingdom from Smaug, the dragon who stole it from them decades earlier. Gandalf convinces Bilbo to accompany the dwarves on their quest, which sets off an epic adventure that will transform Middle-earth and sets the stage for everything that comes after.
The Crow (1994)
71%
7.5/10
r
102m
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Thriller
Stars
Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson
Directed by
Alex Proyas
You may have heard that there’s a remake of The Crowout in theaters. Feel free to ignore it, like most of America already has. The only version of The Crow worth seeing is the first one, starring the late Brandon Lee as Eric Draven. One of the reasons this film has so much power is that we know it’s the role of a lifetime for Lee, and also his last since he died in an on-set shooting accident.
That’s why it feels almost cathartic to see Eric rise from his grave with supernaturally imbued powers to avenge his murder and the death of his fiancée, Shelly Webster (Sofia Shinas). As the Crow, Eric is nearly unstoppable, and he’s hunting down the men responsible for his loss. Unfortunately for Eric, his enemies have correctly guessed that the crow that accompanies him is the source of his power. The villains also still target Sarah (Rochelle Davis), a young girl who may be the only person alive Eric still cares about.
Drive-Away Dolls (2024)
58%
5.5/10
r
84m
Genre
Comedy, Crime
Stars
Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein
Directed by
Ethan Coen
Coen brothers movies are typically better with both brothers, but Ethan Coen has to make due on his own in Drive-Away Dolls, a road trip rom-com that doubles as a crime film. Margaret Qualley stars as Jamie, a promiscuous lover whose infidelity has driven her girlfriend away. That’s why Jamie impulsively decides to accompany her friend, Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), on an impromptu trip.
Unfortunately for the women, their rental car wasn’t meant for them. And once they look at the briefcase left in the trunk, they find themselves with something that can bring down Sen. Gary Channel (Matt Damon) and other prominent figures. Additionally, Jamie and Marian are oblivious to the danger they’re in as criminals hunt them down to retrieve the briefcase.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
76%
7.2/10
pg-13
104m
Genre
Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama, Horror
Stars
John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.
Directed by
Dan Trachtenberg
The first Cloverfield movie was anything but subtle, and its found-footage format may have given some viewers vertigo. There’s none of that in 10 Cloverfield Lane, a largely standalone sequel that works as both a thriller and a sci-fi story. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Michelle, a woman who finds herself locked in an underground bunker by Howard Stambler (John Goodman).
Howard claims that he saved Michelle’s life after the outside world was poisoned in a sudden attack. Emmett DeWitt (John Gallagher Jr.), the only other person in the bunker, backs up Howard’s account. Michelle doesn’t trust either man, and she needs to see for herself. But she may not like what she finds waiting for her outside …
Jackpot! (2024)
38%
5.7/10
r
106m
Genre
Action, Comedy
Stars
Awkwafina, John Cena, Simu Liu
Directed by
Paul Feig
A mere six years in the future, California’s lottery rules have changed in Jackpot! Katie (Awkwafina) discovers this the hard way when she wins a life-changing amount of money… and suddenly finds that complete strangers are trying to kill her. Under the rules of the lottery, anyone who kills Katie before sundown can claim all of her winnings for themselves.
Noel (John Cena) could have been like everyone else. Instead, he pledges to help Katie live through the end of the day if she’ll share some of her winnings with him. Yet even with Joel on her side, the odds are stacked against Katie living long enough to collect her money.
Paddington (2014)
72%
7.3/10
pg
96m
Genre
Comedy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins
Directed by
Paul King
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who hates Paddington Bear (James Bond movie series star Ben Whishaw), but the Paddington movie does find someone: Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman). Beautiful on the outside, and spitefully evil within, Millicent hates animals and makes it her mission to kill and stuff Paddington once she learns he’s in London.
Fortunately, Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins), and their children, adore Paddington and treat him like a member of the family. Yet even the Browns can’t protect Paddington from Millicent’s malevolence by themselves. Fortunately for Paddington, he also has a knack for getting out of trouble.
One Fast Move (2024)
4.7/10
r
107m
Genre
Action, Drama, Romance
Stars
K.J. Apa, Eric Dane, Maia Reficco
Directed by
Kelly Blatz
Prime Video has had some success using the cast from Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in its YA films. Now it’s Archie’s turn, as Riverdale’s leading man, KJ Apa, headlines One Fast Move as Wes Neal, a young man with a dream and a lot of abandonment issues. After getting drummed out of the military, Wes seeks out his estranged father, Dean (Eric Dane), to get his help in becomming a motorcycle racer.
A local bike shop owner, Abel (Edward James Olmos), does his best to keep this father-and-son reunion on track. Wes also finds potential love with Camilia (Maia Reficco), but their mutual secrets may drive them apart.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
92%
8.9/10
pg-13
179m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars
Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
Directed by
Peter Jackson
The Rings of Power season 2 is coming soon, which is why the Lord of the Rings trilogy is back on Prime Video. Over two decades later, there still hasn’t been a better fantasy trilogy than this one directed by Peter Jackson. There’s no better place to start than the first film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Decades after the events of The Hobbit, the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) suspects that the dark lord Sauron has returned, and if he regains his One Ring, then the world is doomed. It falls to a young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and a fellowship of eight others to protect the Ring during a perilous journey to destroy its power once and for all. This film is visually arresting and emotionally moving like few others.
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
47%
6.1/10
pg-13
102m
Genre
Comedy, Horror, Romance
Stars
Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano
Directed by
Zelda Williams
What kind of a world are we living in when a young woman can’t resurrect her ideal man without being compared to one of the most famous mad scientists in literary history? The title character of Lisa Frankenstein isn’t even a real Frankenstein! That said, Lisa (Kathryn Newton) does show an amoral side of her personality after she accidentally resurrects the Creature (Cole Sprouse). She’s been looking for love in all the dead places, and now that she’s found it, Lisa isn’t going to let him go.
After being dead for over a century, the Creature is missing a few parts. And Lisa is more than willing to kill a few people to get what her newfound lover needs to be a complete man again. She just can’t outrun the consequences of her murderous actions for long.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
95%
8.5/10
r
154m
Genre
Thriller, Crime
Stars
John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
Directed by
Quentin Tarantino
Thirty years ago, the legend of Quentin Tarantino began with Pulp Fiction. Although this wasn’t Tarantino’s directorial debut, it was the film that made him famous. Pulp Fiction’s nonlinear storytelling may be disorienting at times, but the cast of characters in this crime comedy are unforgettable. The hit men, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson); the washed-up boxer, Butch Coolidge (Butch Coolidge); the crime lord, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), and his wife, Mia (Uma Thurman); all have their own memorable roles to play.
Tarantino’s dialogue is especially good in this flick, as are his esoteric music choices and the film’s stylized violence. Even after three decades of imitators, nothing has come close to replicating what Tarantino pulled off here.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
80%
7.7/10
pg-13
164m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames
Directed by
Christopher McQuarrie
If you’re looking for high-caliber action, then Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoningis the film for you. Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have made the last few Mission: Impossible movies into events, and this may be the beginning of the end for Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt.
This time, Ethan and his IMF team are going up against The Entity, a sentient AI that the world’s governments are scrambling to control. Only Ethan realizes that it has to be destroyed, but The Entity itself has other plans. It exerts its influence in the real world through Ethan’s old foe, Gabriel (Esai Morales). And an enigmatic thief named Grace (Haley Atwell) may hold the key to stopping The Entity dead in its tracks.
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
43%
6.3/10
pg-13
104m
Genre
Music, History, Drama
Stars
Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton
Directed by
Reinaldo Marcus Green
Bob Marley: One Love is a music biopic that takes place late in the life of reggae superstar Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir). After Bob and his wife, Rita Marley (The Marvelsactress Lashana Lynch), narrowly survive an assassination attempt in his native Jamaica, it sends him into a creative tailspin that threatens to derail his dreams.
Before Bob can resume his message of peace, he has to face his own inner demons and work out his issues with Rita. Bob Marley didn’t have a lot of time in this world, but the film shows that he made the most of what he had and left a lasting legacy of music behind.
My Spy: The Eternal City (2024)
38%
5.6/10
pg-13
112m
Genre
Action, Comedy
Stars
Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, Kristen Schaal
Directed by
Peter Segal
Perhaps a better name for this film would be My Spy Kid, since that captures the tone of the movie more than My Spy: The Eternal City. In the first film, Sophie (Chloe Coleman) had to blackmail CIA agent J.J. (Dune: Part Two‘s Dave Bautista) to give her spy lessons. Now, he’s firmly entrenched in her life as both her surrogate father and her trainer. Except 14-year-old Sophie’s no longer sure she wants to be a spy.
After J.J. is roped into serving as a chaperone on Chloe’s school trip to Europe, the duo uncover a plot that may lead to the destruction of the Vatican. And it’s time for Sophie to put everything she’s learned from J.J. to good use when the fate of the world is potentially on the line.
The Beekeeper (2024)
54%
6.4/10
r
105m
Genre
Action, Crime, Thriller
Stars
Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi
Directed by
David Ayer
If you’re looking for a movie with Oscar buzz, The Beekeeper isn’t one of those films. But it is a Jason Statham action flick that lives up to everything you may expect to see from it. Statham plays Adam Clay, a former member of a secretive organization called the Beekeepers and an actual beekeeper.
Adam is content in his retirement until his friend and landlady, Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad), is taken for everything she has by scammers. Eloise commits suicide rather than live with the shame of having allowed her charity foundation to be robbed of millions. Adam vows revenge, and his bloody path of retribution puts him on opposite sides of the CIA and his former colleagues in the Beekeepers.
Space Cadet (2024)
35%
5.0/10
pg-13
110m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Emma Roberts, Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu
Directed by
Liz W. Garcia
Space Cadet is a Legally Blonde-like comedy starring Emma Roberts as Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a young woman who gave up on her dreams of becoming an astronaut a long time ago. But Rex gets her second chance when she writes a heartfelt letter to NASA, which is intercepted and greatly embellished by her friend, Nadine (Poppy Liu), to make her look like a viable candidate.
Suddenly, Rex has a path forward if she can get through astronaut training before the deception is discovered. She is really good with people and has great leadership skills, but Rex’s lack of technical knowledge may keep her grounded if she can’t overcome it.
Oppenheimer (2023)
90%
8.3/10
r
181m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon
Directed by
Christopher Nolan
The best movie of 2023 is now the best movie on Prime Video. Director and screenwriter Christopher Nolan will have a hard time topping the flick that finally won two Oscars for him. Because Oppenheimer not only lived up to the hype bit it’s the kind of film that will likely endure for decades to come.
Cillian Murphy gives an Oscar-winning performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who was instrumental in putting together the team that built the atomic bomb. Nolan’s narrative jumps back and forth to different years in Oppenheimer’s life, including an attempt by Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) to destroy his reputation. Yet nothing will hit Oppenheimer harder than the full weight of the atomic destruction that he unleashed upon the world.
Mean Girls (2024)
58%
5.7/10
pg-13
113m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho
Directed by
Arturo Perez Jr., Samantha Jayne
Mean Girls isn’t just a remake of the 2002 film, it’s also an adaptation of the 2017 Mean Girls musical. Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles from the original movie, but the leading part of Cady Heron features rising star Angourie Rice as she steps into Lindsay Lohan’s shoes. Lohan even has a cameo in the film, which you should be able to spot if you keep your eyes open near the end.
Cady has never gone to an actual school before, since she’s been homeschooled her entire life. Once she finally enrolls in North Shore High School, Cady is initially accepted by the Plastics, the titular mean girls. When the Plastics inevitably turn on Cady, she hatches a scheme to take them down from within. And she might just lose herself along the way.
Skyfall (2012)
81%
7.8/10
pg-13
143m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Thriller
Stars
Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
Directed by
Sam Mendes
Skyfall is easily the most beloved James Bond movie of the modern era, and a high point of Daniel Craig’s time as 007. After nearly getting killed in the field, Bond attempts to retire from MI6 before a terrorist bombing draws him back into the fold. It quickly becomes clear that Bond is far from recovered from his injuries, but M (Judi Dench) still takes him back because of the threat that Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) represents to the nation and the world.
Raoul is also closely linked to M’s past, and Bond is going to have to face his own inner demons before he can take on Silva directly. It all leads to a final showdown at Bond’s ancestral home, Skyfall.
American Fiction (2023)
81%
7.5/10
r
117m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Jeffrey Wright, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander
Directed by
Cord Jefferson
American Fiction casts The Batman Part Two’s Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a college professor and a novelist whose books sell very poorly. Monk is also upset that another writer, Sinatra Golden (Issa Rae), has found massive success while seemingly pandering to Black stereotypes. So Monk writes his own novel as a satire of Golden’s books before submitting it for publication.
Much to Monk’s surprise and horror, his satire is embraced by the publisher and the general public. The satire of the piece goes unnoticed, as the book becomes so popular that it starts taking over Monk’s life, even though he made sure that his real name wasn’t listed as the author. But once the book is out and Hollywood comes knocking, it may be too late.
The Idea of You (2024)
67%
6.7/10
r
116m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars
Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin
Directed by
Michael Showalter
The irony of the premise of The Idea of You is that the romantic entanglement of Solène Marchand (Eileen‘s Anne Hathaway) with boy band lead singer Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) would probably be more of a fantasy for Solène’s daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), than for Solène herself. But one unplanned encounter between Solène and Hayes soon leads to several others.
There is an age gap between Solène and Hayes that does come up in the film, but the bigger issue between them is the celebrity gap. As long as Hayes is a world-famous musician, he and Solène may never be able to enjoy a normal romance without being hounded by the press.
The Holdovers (2023)
82%
7.9/10
r
133m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Directed by
Alexander Payne
It’s a little early for Christmas movies, but The Holdovers may become a holiday tradition. Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, an unpopular and curmudgeonly teacher at Barton Academy boarding school in 1970. Hunham is forced to spend his Christmas vacation as a chaperone for the students who don’t have anywhere to go for the holidays.
Despite himself, Hunham starts empathizing and bonding with one of his students, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), as well as Barton cafeteria manager, Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who is grieving over the loss of her son. Through them, Hunham rediscovers his compassion, even though it may cost him what’s left of his teaching career.
The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
39%
4.6/10
r
111m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill
Directed by
David Gordon Green
Fifty years after the events of the original Exorcist, demons strike again in The Exorcist: Believer. Two young girls, Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine West (Olivia O’Neill), have fallen prey to evil, and their parents are at a loss as how to handle their possession.
Angela’s father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), eventually finds help in the form of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a woman who has made herself an expert in the field of demonic possession since her daughter, Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), suffered the same ordeal decades earlier. But no amount of preparation is sufficient in the face of the unrelenting evil that has the two children in its grasp.
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
56%
pg
87m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Pierre Coffin, Steve Carell, Russell Brand
Directed by
Kyle Balda
Minions: The Rise of Gru is the origin story of Despicable Me’s main character, Gru (Steve Carell), but probably not in the way that you expect. In the 1970s, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and the rest of the Minions (Pierre Coffin) have all latched on to Gru as their new master. Gru himself has ambitions of being the biggest supervillain in the world so he can join the Vicious 6.
Unfortunately for Gru, his attempts to join the most notorious gang of bad guys spectacularly backfires, which turns his idols in the Vicious 6 into his deadliest enemies. To defeat them, Gru and the Minions will have to turn to the Vicious 6’s former leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin).
Road House (2024)
59%
6.3/10
r
121m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor
Directed by
Doug Liman
In this remake of the popular 1989 movie starring Patrick Swayze, Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Elwood Dalton as a former UFC fighter who has fallen on some hard times. Road Housegives Elwood a chance for redemption when Frankie (Jessica Williams) recruits him to be the bouncer at her bar, which shares its name with the title of the film.
Elwood’s fighting skills go a long way towards keeping order at The Road House, much to the anger of a local mobster, Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen). Elwood took care of Brandt’s regular goons with ease, but he’ll have a much harder time handling Knox, an enforcer for Brandt who is played by an actual UFC fighter, Conor McGregor.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
74%
7.2/10
pg
100m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu
Directed by
Jeff Rowe
The TMNT have been reinvented numerous times over the last four decades. But the unique thing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemis that it focuses on them as believable teenagers. Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), and Raphael (Brady Noon) may be ninja turtles, but what they really want are some human friends who are their own age.
Despite the disapproval of their adoptive father, Splinter (Jackie Chan), the turtles meet and befriend a human girl, April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri). The turtles also believe that they can win over humanity if they become heroes. However, their first real test is Superfly (Ice Cube) and his army of mutants. And even the TMNT are outnumbered and outmatched against them.
The Other Zoey (2023)
5.9/10
pg-13
91m
Genre
Romance, Drama, Comedy
Stars
Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux
Directed by
Sara Zandieh
The Other Zoey is not a remake of the Sandra Bullock rom-com While You Were Sleeping. But romantic comedy fans may notice some similarities between the two. Josephine Langford stars as Zoey Miller, a high school student who is definitely not the girlfriend of soccer star Zach MacLaren (Drew Starkey), whose girlfriend is also named Zoey (Maggie Thurmon).
When Zach suffers a head injury that gives him partial amnesia, he mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend, and his doctors warn her not to upset him with the truth. So Zoey carries on the deception and gets closer to Zach on a lavish vacation. At the same time, Zoey also feels attracted to Zach’s cousin, Miles Maclaren (Archie Renaux), who shares many of her views about love and life. So, which guy does Zoey really want? You’ll have to watch the film to find out.
Fast X (2023)
56%
5.8/10
pg-13
142m
Genre
Action, Crime, Thriller
Stars
Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson
Directed by
Louis Leterrier
Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) couldn’t be happier when Fast X begins, since he’s got his family together and his life in order. What Dom doesn’t have is a clue that Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) — the son of one of Dom’s dead enemies — is out for revenge. When Dante strikes, no one is safe. Dom’s wife, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), their son, Brian Marcos (Leo Abelo Perry), their team, and even their old adversary, Cipher (Charlize Theron), are all open targets.
In short order, Dante destroys the team’s reputation and hurts the people Dom cares about most. And Dante is only getting started, as the real suffering hasn’t begun yet.
Role Play (2023)
5.5/10
r
101m
Genre
Crime, Romance, Action
Stars
David Oyelowo, Kaley Cuoco, Bill Nighy
Directed by
Thomas Vincent
Emma (The Flight Attendant‘s Kaley Cuoco) and Dave Brackett (David Oyelowo) are just about as happy as a couple could be in Prime Video’s Role Play. The Bracketts have two children and a beautiful home in a New Jersey suburb. What they’re lacking is the passion in the bedroom that they used to have before starting a family.
For their anniversary, Dave and Emma take a trip to New York and indulge in some role play. That turns out to be a mistake when Bob Kellerman (Bill Nighy) blows Emma’s cover and exposes her as an international assassin. Now, Emma has to use her skills to protect her family and keep her marriage to Dave intact.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
42%
6.0/10
pg-13
127m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Peter Cullen
Directed by
Steven Caple Jr.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rolls back the clock to 1994 and follows a young man, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), who is so desperate to provide for his family that he agrees to steal a car. Unfortunately for Noah, the car turns out to be Mirage (Pete Davidson), one of the Autobots hiding on Earth. And while Mirage is eager to make friends with Noah, Autobot leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is not as trusting.
Thanks to a discovery made by museum research intern Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback), she and Noah are drawn into the Autobots’ war with the Terrorcons, who want to bring the planet-killing Transformer Unicron (Colman Domingo) to Earth. In order to save the world, Noah and Elena will have to help the Autobots find the Maximals and their leader, Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman).
A Good Person (2023)
50%
7.1/10
r
128m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Florence Pugh, Morgan Freeman, Molly Shannon
Directed by
Zach Braff
Dune: Part Two star Florence Pugh sheds all aspects of her MCU Black Widow role as a broken young woman in A Good Person. Zach Braff wrote and directed the film, which casts Pugh as Allison, a woman who was once engaged to her high school boyfriend, Nathan (Chinaza Uche). But shortly after her engagement, Allison causes a car accident that claims the lives of Nathan’s sister, Molly (Nichelle Hines), and her husband, Jesse (Toby Onwumere).
One year later, Allison is attempting to kick her addiction to painkillers when she reunites with Nathan and Molly’s father, Daniel (Morgan Freeman). As Daniel attempts to forgive Allison, they reenter each other’s lives and she tries to make amends with Ryan (Celeste O’Connor), the daughter that Molly and Jesse left behind.
Memento (2000)
83%
8.4/10
r
113m
Genre
Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
Directed by
Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan made his name in Hollywood with Memento, a brilliantly twisted story that is told out of order. L.A. Confidential’s Guy Pearce stars as Leonard Shelby, a man who is out to avenge the murder of his wife. The problem is that Leonard can’t make any new long-term memories, which is why his body is covered with tattoos designed to lead him to his wife’s killer.
Every face Leonard sees is the face of a stranger, so each time he meets Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano), he’s unsure of who he can trust. And everyone who knows about Leonard’s condition takes advantage of it, including Leonard himself.
The Burial (2023)
74%
6.9/10
r
126m
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Stars
Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Alan Ruck
Directed by
Margaret Betts
Amazon Studios’ The Burial is based on a real story that happened in 1995. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), the owner of his family’s funeral home business, made a handshake deal with Raymond Loewen (Bill Camp), the head of the Loewen Group. However, Loewen failed to hold up his end of the deal, which left O’Keefe no other choice but to take him to court.
O’Keefe turns to a successful lawyer, Willie E. Gary (The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s Jamie Foxx), to represent him in the case. And despite their numerous differences, O’Keefe and Gary form a bond and an unusual friendship as they battle Loewen in court.
Totally Killer (2023)
60%
7.1/10
r
106m
Genre
Horror, Comedy
Stars
Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen
Directed by
Nahnatchka Khan
Amazon Studios’ Totally Killer seems to welcome comparisons to Back to the Future, and it’s one of the more unique blends of sci-fi, comedy, and horror. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s Kiernan Shipka stars as Jamie, a teenager who is very familiar with the story about how her mom, Pam (Julie Bowen), survived the Sweet Sixteen Killer 35 years ago. It’s something that Jamie has heard about many times in her life.
When the Sweet Sixteen Killer returns in the present, Jamie finds herself transported back in time to 1987, when her much younger mother (Olivia Holt) was apparently one of the mean girls in school. Yet if Jamie can’t protect Pam in the past then she may not have a future to go home to.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
72%
7.3/10
pg-13
134m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith
Directed by
John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
The D&D franchise got a fresh start on the big screen with , which casts Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez as a pair of close friends, Edgin Darvis and Holga Kilgore, respectively. After being betrayed by their former friend, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), Edgin and Holga escape prison and plot to reunite with Edgin’s daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman).
After reconnecting with a sorcerer of dubious talent, Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), Holga and Edgin recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis) to help them rob Fitzwilliam in the heist of a lifetime to force him from power. However, they soon find that Forge is involved with a plan that threatens everyone in Neverwinter, and only Edgin’s group can stop it from happening.
Creed III (2023)
73%
6.9/10
pg-13
116m
Genre
Drama, Action
Stars
Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors
Directed by
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut with Creed III, which theoretically could work as the end of the Rocky movies. At this point in his life, Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Jordan) has pretty much done everything he wanted in boxing, so he retires to spend more time with his wife, Bianca Taylor-Creed (Tessa Thompson), and their daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent).
Unfortunately for Donnie, the good times end when his former friend, Damian “Diamond Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), renters his life. Years ago, Dame was sent to prison, and it was largely Donnie’s fault. Now that Dame is back, he’s going to push Donnie until he gets the chance for payback in the ring. And this may not be a fight that Donnie can win.
Editors’ Recommendations
- This fun buddy cop action movie is popular on Netflix right now. Here’s why you should stream it
- The best animated movies on Netflix right now
- One of Amazon Prime Video’s best shows receives early renewal ahead of season 3 premiere
- 5 underrated indie horror movies you need to stream in October 2024
- The best thrillers on Hulu right now