The 7 best movies streaming on Prime Video right now
The 7 best movies streaming on Prime Video right now
Spooky season brings ‘Carrie,’ ‘The Purge,’ and a ridiculous number of James Bond movies.
It’s spooky season, which means you’re going to see a barrage of darker movies on my lists in the coming weeks. But don’t let that scare you (get it?), because I’m not actually that big a fan of nightmare fuel features. I prefer a dark, twisted thriller or a horror comedy to a pure horror movie, and this Prime Video movie list reflects that. And if you avoid Halloween altogether, I’ve also included a new action movie, a rom-com, and 27 other movies all landing at No. 1 (yes, seriously). So, here are my picks for the best movies streaming on Prime Video right now.
Top 7 movies streaming on Prime Video right now:
No. 7: ‘The Purge’ (2013) | Horror thriller
“The Purge” has a premise I wish I’d come up with (though my ideas don’t tend to get this twisted): for one night every year, all crime in America becomes legal… including murder. Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey play parents who lock their family inside their heavily fortified home to ride it out until their son lets a stranger inside and a group of masked killers comes looking for him.
It’s more of a home-invasion thriller than pure horror, but it moves fast while getting a lot out of what’s essentially one location. Oh, and it launched an entire franchise and a TV series to boot. If you want spooky without downright terror, it’s the perfect Halloween movie.
The Purge
Given the country’s overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.
No. 6: ‘Carrie’ (1976) | Supernatural horror
“Carrie” may be the most famous Stephen King novel I haven’t read yet. The good news is there’s a fantastic movie adaptation to keep both you and me occupied until the new TV series drops on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
In this classic, Sissy Spacek plays Carrie White, a shy teenager bullied at school and terrorized at home by her religious fanatic mother. Well, there’s more to Carrie than meets the eye as she discovers she’s got telekinetic powers. The prom scene climax is still one of the best of all time, and 50 years later, this movie still works.
Carrie
Withdrawn and sensitive teenager Carrie White faces bullying from her classmates and abuse from her fanatically pious mother. When she begins to suspect that she has supernatural powers, things take a dark and violent turn.
No. 5: ‘Livestream From Hell’ (2026) | Horror comedy
Horror comedies are in vogue right now with the massive success of “Widow’s Bay.” And now Kevin Hart, Kai Cenat, and Druski are throwing their hats in the ring when a massive internet broadcast turns into a murder mystery in “Livestream From Hell.” The three are livestreaming from Hart’s ridiculously high-tech mansion when the pranks suddenly become very real, and people start dying… the question is: who’s the killer?
The world wants to know because they’re watching the livestream, remember? This one is just over an hour and fifteen minutes long, so if you’re like me and sometimes choose your movie based on what time you can go to bed at, it’s the perfect silly, weird, funny (early bedtime) watch.
Livestream from Hell
In Livestream From Hell, an ambitious, high-stakes internet broadcast hosted by the chaotic trio of Kevin Hart, Kai Cenat, and Druski spirals into absolute madness. What begins as a massive, influencer-driven live event inside a sprawling house quickly turns into a literal nightmare when a priceless handmade vase is shattered and real dead bodies start turning up. Forced to broadcast to a massive, captivated online audience in real time, the panicked trio must frantically scramble to hide a corpse, survive escalating jump scares, and navigate emergency situations like a SWAT team raid, all while desperately trying to keep their viewers entertained and unaware of the actual body count.
No. 4: ‘Meet Joe Black’ (1998) | Fantasy romance
This is my Prime Video Halloween pick for those NOT looking for another blood-soaked horror movie. Brad Pitt literally plays Death in “Meet Joe Black.” And if that wasn’t enough star power, you also get Anthony Hopkins as the wealthy businessman Bill Parrish, who’s turning 65 when Death shows up with a strange request: be his guide and show him what it’s like to be human.
In exchange, Parrish gets a few more days alive. He takes the deal, and what follows is a beautiful (albeit long) supernatural story that’s sentimental, a little offbeat, and lovely to watch.
Meet Joe Black
Bill Parrish has it all - success, wealth and power. Days before his 65th birthday, he receives a visit from a mysterious stranger, Joe Black, who soon reveals himself as Death. In exchange for extra time, Bill agrees to serve as Joe’s earthly guide. But will he regret his choice when Joe unexpectedly falls in love with Bill’s beautiful daughter Susan?
No. 3: ‘The Runner’ (2026) | Action thriller
Gal Gadot spends most of “The Runner” doing pretty much what the title literally says: running. She plays Maia, a lawyer whose son is kidnapped during her morning run, leaving her with one hour to race across London and follow a stranger’s instructions that get more and more dangerous. If she wants her son back, she has to do it.
The pace of this one is quick, like Gadot’s stride (sorry) as she sprints and fights across some of London’s most beautiful locations. For better or worse, it won’t require much brainpower on your part, and if the premise strikes you, then give it a shot.
The Runner
Maia Marten, a brilliant London lawyer, has her life shattered by a single call on her morning run: her son has been taken. To get him back, she must keep running, obey every ruthless command, and trust no one-each second a test of how far a mother will go to save her child.
No. 2: ‘The Love Hypothesis’ (2026) | Rom-com
Tara and I watched “The Love Hypothesis” almost the night it dropped, and I was seriously surprised in the best way. I’m not into the really heavy-handed love stories, and I prefer my rom-coms more com than rom. But this one strikes the balance: it’s moving AND genuinely funny.
Lili Reinhart plays Olive Smith, a Stanford Ph.D. candidate who makes a deal with the curmudgeonly professor Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman) to fake date so that 1) Smith’s best friend will feel okay dating Smith’s crush, and 2) Carlsen’s boss will see he has a girlfriend and is committed to sticking around Stanford. Of course, the pretend love becomes real love. But it’s not even really about that. It’s about smart, emotionally developed adults striving after what they want. And love becomes a by-product of trying to be a better person. And that’s nice to see.
The Love Hypothesis
Olive Smith, a biology PhD candidate, and Dr. Adam Carlsen, a hotshot professor and well-known tyrant, enter into a fake relationship, seeing each of their carefully calculated theories on love get thrown into chaos.
No. 1: All the ‘James Bond’ movies (1962-2021) | Spy thriller
Okay, so I broke the rules and No. 1 isn’t a movie. It’s 27 of them. The entire “James Bond” movie franchise, from Sean Connery’s “Dr. No” to Daniel Craig’s final appearance in “No Time To Die,” has landed on Prime Video.
Hot dang, that’s a lot of epic spy thriller action. I’ve read every Ian Fleming James Bond novel, and I can confidently say that many of these movies fully capture the quality of the novels — and if you’re a big reader, you know how rare that is. I plan to watch all 25 of these back-to-back (only 57 hours) to help pass the time until we get the official James Bond casting news. Kidding… but maybe not?
James Bond Movies
The James Bond Collection is a legendary spy film series based on Ian Fleming’s novels, following MI6 agent 007, James Bond, as he takes on global threats with style, gadgets, and charm. Produced by EON Productions, the franchise spans 25 official films (1962–2021) and has featured six actors, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig. Known for its thrilling action, iconic villains, Bond girls, and unforgettable theme songs, the series remains a cornerstone of the spy genre. With espionage, luxury cars, and shaken-not-stirred martinis, Bond continues to captivate audiences worldwide.