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The best movies on Amazon Prime to watch this December

Add these Prime movies to your watchlist this month

Remote close-up watching TV
Tomas Urbelionis / Shutterstock

Amazon Prime has one of the largest libraries of content in the world filled with good movies to watch. Whether you want to watch a comedy movie or a crime drama television show, Amazon probably has what you’re looking for as far as the best movies to stream right now.

When there’s so much to watch, it can be hard to sort through everything to find the best viewing options, though. Thankfully, we’re here to help. We’ve already compiled a list of Amazon Prime TV shows for you to enjoy. And, if you’re looking for the best movies to watch right now, we’ve also found a selection of the best movies on Amazon Prime for you to browse.

Recommended Videos

If you’re looking for more than just the best Amazon Prime movies, we’ve also found the best Netflix movies, the best Hulu movies, the best Disney+ movies, and the best Netflix documentaries to stream right now.

The Burial (2023)

The Burial
127m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollett
Directed by
Margaret Betts
Watch on Amazon
A throwback courtroom drama set in 1995, The Burial follows a local funeral home owner who sues one of the biggest conglomerates in the industry for breach of contract. While that may sound almost offensively dry, The Burial is fun from minute one, thanks in large part to Jamie Foxx’s commanding performance as the lawyer representing the funeral home owner. Tommy Lee Jones is great as always as the owner himself, and the movie manages to address some fairly complex ideas about race, even as it tells an entertaining, mostly true story.
The Burial Trailer #1 (2023)

Val (2021)

Val
73%
7.6/10
r
109m
Genre
Documentary, Biography
Stars
Val Kilmer, Kevin Bacon, Marlon Brando
Directed by
Ting Poo, Leo Scott
Watch on Amazon
Focused on and filmed over a span of more than 40 years by Val Kilmer, Val is an Amazon original movie about the mythical man who had legendary roles in Batman: Forever, Tombstone, The Doors, and Top Gun. A recent survivor of throat cancer who is still in recovery, Val Kilmer has decided to tell his story using home video footage that shines a remarkably frank light into his private life and the ways that it’s transformed over the decades of his career.
VAL | Official Trailer | Prime Video

The Report (2019)

The Report
66%
7.2/10
r
119m
Genre
Biography, Crime, Drama
Stars
Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm
Directed by
Scott Z. Burns
Watch on Amazon
An incredible Amazon Original chock full of award-worthy performances, The Report is a chillingly detailed rendering of the investigation into the morally dubious torture techniques used by the CIA in the aftermath of 9/11. Based on the true story of an investigative finding from Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones (Adam Driver), The Report follows his request to better understand the torture and who authorized it. Along the way, he uncovers some horrible information about the merciless and sometimes unprovoked torture tactics that his own country is using regularly.
The Report - Official Trailer | Amazon Original Movie | Adam Driver, Annette Bening | Watch Now

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Manchester by the Sea
96%
7.8/10
r
137m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler
Directed by
Kenneth Lonergan
Watch on Amazon
With career-defining performances from Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, and Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea is a stunningly raw portrayal of tragedy and what it can do to the human spirit. When Lee (Casey Affleck) finds out that his brother has died and has made him the guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges), he is forced to quit his job and move back to his hometown, where he comes face to face with all the trauma that drove him away in the first place.
Manchester by the Sea Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Casey Affleck Movie

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
7.7/10
r
116m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Drama
Stars
Chia-Hui Liu, Lieh Lo, Yue Wong
Directed by
Chia-Liang Liu
Watch on Amazon
A film that heavily influenced hip hop music group The Wu-Tang Clan, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is referenced by RZA as one of the very best Kung Fu films. When the Manchu government destroys his school, ravages his town, and kills his father, San Te (Chia-Hui Liu) travels to a Shaolin temple to learn the ways of Shaolin Kung Fu and be at peace. Needless to say, the fight choreography in this is incredible.
The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin (1977) - Shaw Brothers (2014 Trailer)

Sound of Metal (2019)

Sound of Metal
82%
7.7/10
r
120m
Genre
Drama, Music
Stars
Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci
Directed by
Darius Marder
Watch on Amazon
An Amazon original and a breakout starring role for Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal is an intensely dramatic film about a man torn between two lives as he loses his hearing. After hearing the distressing news that his hearing loss will only worsen, he tries to avoid relapsing even as he struggles with his new identity. Winner of best film editing and best sound editing at the 2020 Academy Awards, Sound of Metal was also nominated for a handful of other awards including best picture.
Sound of Metal – Official Trailer | Prime Video

The Big Sick (2017)

The Big Sick
86%
7.5/10
r
120m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Stars
Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano
Directed by
Michael Showalter
Watch on Amazon
The Big Sick is based on the real-life love story of comedian Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. The story follows Nanjiani as he struggles to build up a career in standup. After a run-in with a heckler named Emily (Zoe Kazan), the two quickly form a relationship. Shortly after they break up, though, Gordon falls into a coma, and Nanjiani is forced to figure out how what his role should be in supporting her. This original dramedy is one of the best romantic comedy movies to watch.
The Big Sick – Official US Trailer | Amazon Studios

One Night in Miami... (2020)

One Night in Miami...
83%
7.1/10
r
114m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge
Directed by
Regina King
Watch on Amazon
This film, which is loosely based on true events, follows four icons in their prime, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke, as they meet in Miami one historic night. As these figures come together in the mid-1960s, they discuss what their success and responsibility mean as they carry the weight of the world during the Civil Rights Movement. In Regina King’s directorial breakout, we get shades of gray from each of the four central characters as they attempt to navigate what it means to be Black and powerful in an era when the world was transforming. Boasting a handful of Oscar nominations, this film is a powerhouse packed with four incredible performances and ruminative, meaningful conversations.
One Night in Miami... | Official Trailer

The Lost City of Z (2017)

The Lost City of Z
78%
6.6/10
PG-13
141m
Genre
Adventure, Drama, History
Stars
Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller
Directed by
James Gray
Watch on Amazon
An earnest examination of one explorer’s quest for greatness, The Lost City of Z is a film about Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), a British explorer who makes repeated journeys to the Amazon. Ultimately, Fawcett’s goal is to prove that there was once a civilized nation living there, and the movie is about his quest to do exactly that. At its core, though, The Lost City of Z is also a movie about one man’s singular focus on a life outside his home, and the toll it takes on everything else he’s supposed to love.
THE LOST CITY OF Z | Official HD Trailer

Small Axe: Lovers Rock (2020)

Small Axe: Lovers Rock
95%
7.5/10
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Daniel Francis-Swaby, Ellis George
Created by
Steve McQueen
Watch on Amazon
All of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe films are worth checking out, but Lovers Rock stands above the rest. Set in London in the 1970s, the film is set at a house party and exists primarily so the viewer can revel in the joy that it depicts. There is almost no plot to speak of in Lovers Rock, but the movie doesn’t need one. Instead, it gets by on the vibe that it puts off, one that serves as a reminder of the joy of the Black community, even in the face of the oppression that constantly threatens them.
Small Axe | Lovers Rock Trailer | Prime Video

Saltburn (2023)

Saltburn
131m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Thriller
Stars
Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike
Directed by
Emerald Fennell
Watch on Amazon
If you’re looking for something a little bit twisted and strange, then Saltburn may be just what you’re after. Telling the story of a poor boy who finds himself suddenly thrust into the world of the ultra wealthy in the U.K. in the early 2000s, the movie is unafraid of pushing past boundaries most movies would leave untouched. Thanks to the fearless central performance from Barry Keoghan, as well as sharp supporting turns from Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike, Saltburn is always entertaining and occasionally downright riveting. On top of all that, it doesn’t hurt that the movie features some truly wonderful cinematography.
Saltburn | Official Trailer

Memento (2000)

Memento
113m
Genre
Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
Directed by
Christopher Nolan
Watch on Amazon
If you’re looking for the movie where Christopher Nolan fully became the director he is today, Memento is probably the right place to start. The film is told both backward and forward, and ends exactly in the middle of its story, at least chronologically. Following a man with short-term memory loss as he discovers and then proceeds to forget things about his life, even as he quests after his wife’s killer, the movie is wildly inventive and deeply thrilling, in part because of Nolan’s fascination with the way stories are constructed on the screen. It’s a trick he would return to again and again throughout his career.
Memento (2000) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Sicario (2015)

Sicario
122m
Genre
Action, Crime, Thriller
Stars
Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin
Directed by
Denis Villeneuve
Watch on Amazon
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies are a landmark achievement, but before he ventured to Arrakis, the director was already making a name for himself with movies like Sicario. The film tells the story of an FBI agent who becomes embroiled in a battle between the U.S. government and Mexican cartels that makes her question the notions of justice she has long put at the center of her life. Thanks to a brilliant central performance from Emily Blunt, as well as compelling supporting turns from Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro, Sicario is both thrilling and thoughtful, and an important touchstone in Villeneuve’s career.
Sicario (2015 Movie - Emily Blunt) Official Trailer – “Hitman”

Air (2023)

Air
111m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman
Directed by
Ben Affleck
Watch on Amazon
Telling the story of the big bet that fundamentally transformed Nike, Air is a lot more inspirational than it has any right to be. The film follows a Nike shoe executive who wants to put money down on his bet that a young Michael Jordan will become a phenomenon. That bet paid off for both Nike and Jordan, turning Air Jordans into one of the most famous shoe brands in the world. The movie gracefully elides Jordan’s actual presence and manages to be an inspirational sports movie that’s actually about business people, which is quite a feat in and of itself.
Skydance | Air | Official Trailer (2023)

Challengers (2024)

Challengers
132m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor
Directed by
Luca Guadagnino
Watch on Amazon
Perhaps the best tennis movie ever made, Challengers chronicles the story of three professional tennis players over more than 10 years. The two men at the movie’s center find themselves fighting for the affection of Zendaya’s Tashi Duncan, a star tennis player who sustains a major injury and moves into coaching afterward. In Challengers, sex and tennis become almost the same thing, and Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist all deliver masterful performances. Challengers doesn’t have a ton of serious ideas on its mind, but it’s the kind of zippy, sexy fun that movies were made for.
CHALLENGERS | Official Trailer 2

Children of Men (2006)

Children of Men
109m
Genre
Drama, Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars
Clive Owen, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Directed by
Alfonso Cuarón
Watch on Amazon
A brilliant dystopian action movie from one of the great directors of his era, Children of Men is set in a future where humanity has stopped reproducing. When one cynical former activist discovers a single woman who is pregnant, it becomes his job to make sure she’s able to navigate this dystopian future safely. Children of Men features several virtuoso sequences, a slew of great performances, and one of the most perfect endings in the history of filmmaking. It’s the kind of original, blockbuster-adjacent filmmaking that we should all want more of.
Children of Men Official Trailer #1 - Julianne Moore, Clive Owen Movie (2006) HD

What movies are coming to Amazon Prime Video in December?

December 1

  • A Haunting in Venice
  • A Scanner Darkly
  • After Hours
  • Alexander the Great (1956)
  • All Dogs Go to Heaven 2
  • Almost Famous
  • Amistad
  • An All Dogs Christmas Carol
  • An Inconvenient Truth
  • Anger Management
  • Back to School
  • BALLS OUT
  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition
  • Bio-Dome
  • Born to Be Wild
  • Bulletproof Monk
  • Cadillac Man
  • Child’s Play
  • Chorus Line
  • Cop Land
  • Critters
  • Death on the Nile
  • Deep Cover
  • Dick
  • Duck You Sucker – A Fistful of Dynamite
  • El Cantante
  • Fatal Attraction
  • Ghost Town
  • Green Room
  • Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)
  • Hansel and Gretel
  • Havoc
  • Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth
  • Hellraiser IV: Bloodline
  • Hellraiser VII: Deader
  • Hellraiser: Hellseeker
  • Hellraiser: Hellworld
  • Hellraiser: Inferno
  • Hercules
  • Hostile Witness
  • Hot Under The Collar
  • If Looks Could Kill
  • Imagine That
  • Jackie Chan’s First Strike
  • Joker
  • Justice League
  • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
  • Last Vegas
  • Lawman
  • Lions for Lambs
  • Lost & Found
  • Major League
  • Mata Hari (1931)
  • Men at Work
  • Miami Blues
  • Monster Trucks
  • Mr. Nanny
  • Murder on The Orient Express
  • Nutcracker: The Motion Picture
  • Once Upon A Time in the West
  • One Crazy Summer
  • Osmosis Jones
  • Out of Time
  • Overnight Delivery
  • Paycheck
  • Pet Sematary Two
  • Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
  • Rain Man
  • Red Dawn
  • Revolutionary Road
  • Road to Perdition
  • Sabrina (1954)
  • Shooter
  • Sicario
  • Sicario: Day of the Soldado
  • Soapdish
  • Stephen King’s Thinner
  • Stop-Loss
  • SubUrbia
  • Tank Girl
  • TEEN WOLF
  • The 11th Hour
  • The Adventures of Pluto Nash
  • The Art of War
  • The Batman
  • The Battle of Britain
  • The Brady Bunch Movie
  • The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
  • The Golden Child
  • The Great Train Robbery
  • The Island of Dr. Moreau
  • The Land that Time Forgot
  • The Last Waltz
  • The Perfect Holiday
  • The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
  • The Thomas Crown Affair
  • The Thomas Crown Affair
  • The Untouchables
  • The Warriors
  • The Witches
  • The Wood
  • Thelma & Louise
  • Total Recall
  • Twilight Zone: The Movie
  • Under Fire
  • Vision Quest
  • Walking Tall
  • With Honors
  • Witness

December 3

  • Jack in Time for Christmas (Amazon Original)

December 5

  • The Red Virgin (Amazon Original)

December 10

  • The Bikeriders

December 11

  • Knives Out

December 13

  • Beau Is Afraid

December 19

  • The Creator

December 25

  • The Equalizer 2

December 27

  • Culpa Tuya (“Your Fault”) (Amazon Original)
  • When You Finish Saving the World

December 31

  • A Quiet Place: Day One
Movie images and data from:
Joe Allen
Contributor
Joe Allen is a freelance culture writer based in upstate New York. His work has been published in The Washington Post, The…
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