Prime Video: The 17 Absolute Best Movies to Watch


If it isn’t already, seriously consider using Prime Video as a streaming service for movies.

Amazon’s streamer is a source for quality originals, from the Bryce Dallas Howard-starring comedy Deep Cover to the Ben Affleck-directed drama Air. You’ll find those and more below, along with a rundown of the biggest releases each month. While a $15 monthly Prime membership grants you access to Prime Video and all of the films on this list, some of them are also available free with ads. 

What’s new on Prime Video in June

Note: These descriptions are taken from statement and official websites for the films. They’ve been lightly edited for style.

June 6

  • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024): Horror comedy. After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River in the sequel to Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice.

June 17

  • Your Fault: London (2026): Romantic drama. After the events of My Fault: London, life begins to pull Noah and Nick in different directions, and their relationship faces its toughest challenge yet.

Read more: Prime Video: The Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch

Best Amazon Prime Video original films

This list focuses on movies released in 2022 or later.

Thriller

Dean Rogers/Amazon

Crime 101 stands out for its stacked cast, which include two household names: Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo. Their characters pull off robberies and investigate them in the character-driven thriller. Halle Berry also plays an insurance broker who decides to work with Hemsworth’s jewel thief in the slick, entertaining film.

Prime Video

Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi star in Emerald Fennell’s much-talked-about black comedy thriller, which follows an outcast Oxford University student invited to a luxurious estate by another student. Expect obsession, deception and an infamous bathtub scene you may want to scrub out of your brain.

Prime Video

All the Old Knives (2022)

This Prime Video spy thriller didn’t impress every critic but it wasn’t totally panned, either. The movie introduces two former lovers and co-workers at the CIA’s Vienna station — played by Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton — who’ve reunited under not-so-sweet circumstances. A CIA mole could have played a role in a plane hijacking, and the agency sends Pine to question Newton. The twisty, flashback-heavy flick is engaging enough to fall back on if you need an evening escape.

Prime Video

At the start of this comedy-thriller, we learn that college seniors and best friends Kunle and Sean plan to become the first Black men to complete a “legendary tour,” a feat that involves fraternity party-hopping on an epic scale. But when the students find a young white woman passed out on the floor in their home, the night spirals into something else entirely. The film, which mixes comedy and social commentary, is at times tense and harrowing. A significant part is the bond between Kunle and Sean, played by an excellent RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins.

Comedy

Peter Mountain/Metronome Film

A trio of improv actors manage to infiltrate the London criminal underworld in Deep Cover — a new Prime Video entry that’s as entertaining as it sounds. Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso assistant coach Nate) star as the comics in the middle of the action, and there are multiple alums from HBO’s Game of Thrones shows (Sean Bean, Paddy Considine and Sonoya Mizuno).

Amazon

Catherine Called Birdy (2022)

This medieval film stars Bella Ramsey — who you may know as Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones or Ellie from The Last of Us — as the adventurous Lady Catherine, aka Birdy. Unlike those HBO dramas, this comedy sees the cunning teen come up with ways to circumvent the many wealthy suitors her father, portrayed by Ripley’s Andrew Scott, wants her to marry. Directed by Lena Dunham and based on Karen Cushman’s 1994 children’s novel of the same name, Catherine Called Birdy is witty and satisfying.

Drama

Skip Bolen/Prime Video

The Burial is an engrossing legal drama starring two Oscar-winning actors — two reasons to work it into this week’s streaming plans. Tommy Lee Jones’ funeral home owner teams with Jamie Foxx’s lawyer in the underdog tale inspired by actual events.

Amazon Studios

This crowd-pleasing sports drama is one of Prime’s better-known originals and worth a watch. Ben Affleck directs the Air Jordan sneaker origin story, which stars Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis and others. The tale’s ending is no surprise, but themes of working hard and taking big risks make the journey compelling. 

Saeed Adyani/Prime Video

Sitting in Bars with Cake (2023)

Who can resist a mouthwatering slice of cake? In this touching Prime Video dramedy, a pair of best friends perfect the recipe for meeting new people: bringing delicious desserts to bars. The two 20-somethings must navigate sugary success and a life-changing diagnosis in the friendship-focused story.

Daniel Daza/Prime Video

A Million Miles Away (2023)

This captivating biopic stars Michael Peña as José Hernández, a former NASA astronaut. The film focuses on Hernández’s decades-long journey to space — achieved with the support of his family — and is based on his autobiography, Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut.

Amazon Studios

When 12 young Thai soccer players and their coach became trapped in a flooded cave in 2018, it brought about an extraordinary global effort to save them. This dramatization of the rescue attempt, directed by Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, How the Grinch Stole Christmas), depicts the extreme lengths divers and volunteers went to to bring the boys to safety. The star-studded cast includes Joel Edgerton, Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell.

Documentary

Amazon MGM Studios

This must-watch music documentary shows Celine Dion’s battle with the rare neurological disorder, stiff-person syndrome. The film touches on the pop diva’s extraordinary, decades-long career with footage of her performing hits like The Power of Love and My Heart Will Go On and provides a raw look at her health struggles.

Amazon MGM Studios

A documentary about Frida Kahlo that focuses on her own words, Prime Video’s Frida could deepen your appreciation for the iconic Mexican painter. Through narration by Fernanda Echevarría del Rivero and lyrical animation, the film offers insights from Kahlo’s illustrated diary, letters, essays and print interviews. The filmmakers had access to research materials unseen by the general public.

Prime Video

Do you love Lucy? How about insightful, nostalgic documentaries? If so, you’ll need to engage with this Amy Poehler-directed examination into the lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The feel-good doc draws on home movies and audio provided by Ball and Arnaz’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz, and charts everything that led up to the pair’s iconic run in the ’50s sitcom I Love Lucy. When you’ve wrapped up, a fictional film about the stars, Being the Ricardos is also on Prime Video.

Romance

Prime Video

The Idea of You broke a record for streaming movies with its trailer, and the buzzy romantic drama is a hit with critics, too. Based on the book by Robinne Lee, the movie stars Nicholas Galitzine as a boy band singer and Anne Hathaway as the mom of a fan. The two start a relationship after unexpectedly meeting at Coachella, leading to swoon-worthy moments, although their different lives (and ages) complicate things. Hathaway, predictably, makes for a charming lead.

Amazon MGM Studios

“For as long as I can remember,” Rudy, the protagonist of Música, explains in the film, “everyday, regular sounds, I turn into rhythm.” A semi-autobiographical flick from Vine and YouTube star Rudy Mancuso, Música follows a young man with synesthesia at a romantic crossroads. The 90-minute coming-of-age story is vibrant and heartwarming.

Prime Video

Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)

With an enemies-to-lovers plot and sizzling chemistry, this adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s 2019 novel is a must-see for rom-com fanatics. The film follows the son of a US President and a British prince who are rivals, but after they have to convince the public otherwise, it opens the door for romance. If you need another reason to get swept up in the love story, a sequel that includes the original movie’s stars — Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine — is in development.





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  • Saunas and steam rooms use heat to improve circulation, support muscle recovery, and reduce stress.
  • Regular heat exposure may benefit heart health, mood, and inflammation, though more research is needed.
  • Different types of saunas and steam rooms offer similar benefits, so choosing one depends on personal preference and goals.

People have been using the heat therapy from saunas and steam rooms for centuries to improve well-being and promote relaxation. Not only do these tools support muscle recovery after an intense workout, but they also boost circulation and reduce stress.

What Happens to Your Body in a Sauna?

Regular sauna use can have a positive impact on your body. Short bursts of intense heat raise your skin and body temperature, which researchers have found triggers your brain to start regulating your temperature. This activates systems in your body that control your stress levels and your hormones. You may notice changes like an increased heart rate, improved blood flow to your skin, and sweating.

Sauna use causes blood vessels to widen and may, over time, support reduced inflammation and cellular stress responses—but it’s not a direct or immediate cure-all for cell damage or inflammation.

Some researchers believe that the stress from the high heat may also mimic exercise and could be useful for people with limited mobility. However, more research is needed to fully understand the health benefits.

The Three Main Types of Saunas, Explained

There are several different types of saunas, such as dry saunas, infrared saunas, and steam rooms. Here's what you need to know about each.

Dry Sauna (Traditional Sauna)

A traditional or dry sauna offers high heat and low humidity and is usually found in local gyms and spas. Typically, the air is dry with 10% to 20% humidity, and the room is heated to a high temperature of at least 176 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes higher.

Steam Sauna

A steam room uses water vapor to create a warm, moisture-filled room with dense, misty air. For comfort, most steam rooms operate at a lower temperature than saunas, typically around 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, but can feel warmer due to the humidity. Like saunas, you can find them at gyms and spas.

Infrared Sauna

These saunas are dry saunas that emit infrared light waves to heat the body directly and do not use water or humidity. They can run a wide range of temperatures, from 113 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. These types of saunas are popular in wellness spaces or among those who practice “biohacking.”

Potential Health Benefits and Risks of Saunas

Regular use of saunas and steam rooms can support heart health, improve circulation, and boost muscle recovery, as heat therapy increases blood flow and reduces tension.

There’s also some limited evidence that it can rid your body of impurities and heavy metals. However, more research is needed to fully understand the health benefits of heat therapy. Heat therapy is not widely studied, particularly regarding steam rooms.

The available research is promising. Here are some ways you might benefit from using a sauna or steam room.

  • Boosts heart health: A long-term, 15-year study found that visiting a sauna two to three times a week lowered the risk of dying from heart disease by 25% compared with once per week. Meanwhile, using the sauna four to seven times a week decreased this risk by 77%.
  • Enhances exercise benefits: One study found that combining regular sauna use with regular exercise can improve heart health by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
  • Promotes longevity: Your lifespan could potentially be longer when you use a sauna regularly, according to a 2021 review of several large studies. Researchers found that sauna use can slow aging, largely due to its cognitive, heart, and muscle benefits.
  • Improves mood: Regular sauna users may experience less depression and anxiety, and can be a useful tool for people in high-stress jobs.

Who Shouldn't Use Saunas?

While there are a number of benefits to utilizing a sauna or a steam room, these tools are not right for everyone.

For instance, people with certain heart conditions or those who are heat-sensitive may experience more adverse reactions than benefits from heat therapy.

Overuse can also cause dehydration, muscle cramps, and electrolyte loss. Consult with a healthcare provider before using a sauna or steam room, especially if you have any underlying health concerns.

Is One Type Actually Better for You?

There is little research identifying which type of heat therapy is best for overall health and well-being. Instead, both have benefits and can help you achieve your wellness goals. Most of the well-supported benefits come from heat exposure itself, rather than from the specific sauna type.

When deciding between the two, choose the sauna or steam room based on which you have the most access to—you will benefit from either. However, if you have access to both a sauna and a steam room, use the one you prefer and are more likely to stick with in order to see long-term benefits.

If your goal is health (especially heart health), consistency matters far more than the type of sauna you pick.

Which Sauna Should You Choose Based on Your Goals?

If you are fortunate enough to have regular access to both a sauna and a steam room, then you can make a choice between the two based on your goals:

  • For skin concerns: A steam room. If you suffer from dry skin or want to open your pores, the moist heat can hydrate your skin, encourage detoxification, and boost skin health.
  • For detoxification: A dry or infrared sauna. Because saunas cause you to sweat, your body may flush out toxins and impurities. There’s also some evidence that using a sauna can help rid your body of heavy metals.
  • For improved circulation and heart health: A dry or infrared sauna. These can help dilate your blood vessels and improve blood flow. These changes, when done consistently, could benefit heart health.
  • For improved breathing: A steam room. Moist heat is effective at opening your airways. Some people find that saunas are helpful for conditions like asthma.
  • For relaxation: Any. Not only does the atmosphere of saunas help reduce stress levels, but it also can improve mood and overall well-being.
  • For muscle recovery: Any. In a steam room, the moist heat will soothe sore muscles and joints and can be useful for conditions like arthritis or muscle stiffness. Meanwhile, dry or infrared saunas can promote relaxation, soothe muscle tension, and reduce pain and discomfort.



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