Best Amazon Prime Movies You’ve Never Seen

There is a deep bench of films tied to Amazon that fly under the radar, from intimate character pieces to bold genre swings and international gems, and they are packed with craft, big performances, and distinctive voices waiting to be discovered.

‘The Vast of Night’ (2019)

Director Andrew Patterson builds a single-evening mystery around a small-town switchboard operator and a late-night radio host who chase a strange audio signal. The film uses long tracking shots and old-school broadcast cues to pull viewers into its period setting. Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz lead a cast that leans on naturalistic dialogue and cues from live radio. The project won praise on the festival circuit before Amazon picked it up for a wider audience.

‘Blow the Man Down’ (2019)

Danielle Krudy and Bridget Savage Cole set their noir in a tight-knit New England fishing village with a matriarchal power structure. Sophie Lowe and Morgan Saylor play sisters who stumble into a criminal undercurrent after a sudden tragedy. Annette O’Toole, June Squibb, and Margo Martindale anchor an ensemble that leans into small-town codes and secrets. Amazon brought the film out of festivals to streaming with its distinctive blend of folk songs and coastal atmosphere.

‘The Report’ (2019)

Writer-director Scott Z. Burns dramatizes the investigation into post-9/11 detention and interrogation practices. Adam Driver plays Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones, with Annette Bening portraying Senator Dianne Feinstein. The film sticks closely to public documents and depicts the long grind of oversight and declassification. Amazon financed and released the project following its festival premiere.

‘Suspiria’ (2018)

Luca Guadagnino reimagines the supernatural dance-company story with a focus on political upheaval and ritual. Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, and Mia Goth lead a cast that trained extensively for the choreography. Thom Yorke composed an original score that blends voices and analog textures. Amazon backed the production and handled its release in the United States.

‘You Were Never Really Here’ (2017)

Lynne Ramsay adapts a novella into a lean thriller about a traumatized fixer who rescues missing girls. Joaquin Phoenix prepared with military and law-enforcement consultants and centers the role on physicality and silence. The film won awards for acting and screenplay at a major European festival. Amazon distributed it domestically following that festival run.

‘Paterson’ (2016)

Jim Jarmusch follows a bus driver who writes poetry during his daily routine in a New Jersey town. Adam Driver and Golshifteh Farahani ground the story in small rituals and recurring encounters. The film highlights poems by Ron Padgett and uses gentle repetition to mirror the writing process. Amazon handled U.S. distribution, bringing the film from festivals to a broader audience.

‘Cold War’ (2018)

Paweł Pawlikowski crafts a black-and-white romance that travels through music ensembles and shifting European borders. Joanna Kulig and Tomasz Kot portray artists whose careers and loyalties collide with politics. The soundtrack draws on folk arrangements and jazz clubs to mark each chapter. Amazon distributed the film in the United States after its awards-season breakout.

‘The Aeronauts’ (2019)

Tom Harper stages a high-altitude adventure inspired by historical balloon expeditions. Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne reunite to portray a scientist and a daring pilot who take meteorology to new heights. The production designed practical balloon rigs and used large-format aerial photography to capture the ascent. Amazon financed the film and paired a limited theatrical window with streaming.

‘Selah and the Spades’ (2019)

Tayarisha Poe sets a student power drama inside a Pennsylvania boarding school with strict social factions. Lovie Simone plays a senior who mentors a freshman while guarding her influence. The look pulls from fashion photography and music videos to define each clique. Amazon acquired the film after its festival debut and developed a follow-up project set in the same world.

‘Honey Boy’ (2019)

Alma Har’el directs a semi-autobiographical screenplay that tracks a young actor and his volatile father in parallel timelines. Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges play the performer at different ages, with Shia LaBeouf portraying the father figure. The production uses therapy sessions and memory vignettes to structure the narrative. Amazon released the film after a strong festival reception.

‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ (2019)

Paul Downs Colaizzo draws from a true story about a New Yorker who sets a goal to run the city’s famous race. Jillian Bell trained extensively and sheds the usual comedic beats for a grounded arc. Location work covers real neighborhoods, training routes, and race logistics. Amazon won the film in a competitive festival sale and brought it to a wide audience.

‘I’m Your Woman’ (2020)

Julia Hart reframes a crime story through the perspective of a mobster’s wife forced into flight. Rachel Brosnahan leads with a performance focused on fear, maternal instincts, and resilience. The film recreates period details through practical cars, wardrobe, and analog interiors. Amazon Studios produced and premiered the film directly to streaming.

‘All the Old Knives’ (2022)

Janus Metz adapts Olen Steinhauer’s spy novel into an interrogation duel that shifts between past and present. Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton play former lovers and colleagues who revisit a hijacking case over one long meal. The structure uses overlapping testimonies and subtle cues to unlock what happened. Amazon financed and released the film as part of its growing slate of original thrillers.

‘The Electrical Life of Louis Wain’ (2021)

Will Sharpe tells the story of the British artist whose cat illustrations became a cultural phenomenon. Benedict Cumberbatch portrays the painter across decades, with Claire Foy as his partner and collaborator. The film blends stylized production design with hand-painted elements to echo the artwork. Amazon released the film and highlighted its focus on creativity and mental health.

‘The Lost City of Z’ (2016)

James Gray adapts David Grann’s nonfiction account of an explorer who searched for a vanished civilization in the Amazon. Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson lead an ensemble that shot extensively in jungle locations. The production emphasizes period expedition logistics, including mapping, navigation, and river travel. Amazon handled U.S. distribution and positioned the film for awards consideration.

‘Chi-Raq’ (2015)

Spike Lee adapts a classic Greek play to address community violence through music, poetry, and choreography. Teyonah Parris, Nick Cannon, and John Cusack lead a large ensemble with appearances from Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson. The screenplay blends satire with contemporary Chicago vernacular and stage-like narration. Amazon Studios financed and released the film as one of its earliest original features.

‘The Neon Demon’ (2016)

Nicolas Winding Refn sets a psychological thriller inside the Los Angeles fashion scene. Elle Fanning plays a teenage model whose rise attracts attention from photographers, stylists, and rivals. The production uses elaborate lighting setups and synth-driven music to shape a dreamlike tone. Amazon handled U.S. distribution and placed the film on its platform after a Cannes debut.

‘The Wall’ (2017)

Doug Liman stages a two-hander about two American soldiers pinned down by a sniper in a remote desert. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena anchor the story through radio calls, field medicine, and survival tactics. The set uses a single crumbling barrier as the main location to heighten tension. Amazon Studios produced and released the film following a streamlined shoot.

‘Crown Heights’ (2017)

Matt Ruskin dramatizes the wrongful conviction of Colin Warner and the years his friend Carl King spent fighting to overturn it. Lakeith Stanfield and Nnamdi Asomugha portray the men at the center of the case. The film draws on court records, community interviews, and activist organizing to map the legal struggle. Amazon acquired the project after its festival premiere and brought it to a wider audience.

‘Wonderstruck’ (2017)

Todd Haynes interweaves two timelines about children drawn to a museum and to New York City. One storyline is presented in silent black and white while the other follows a contemporary journey. The production recreates period details with extensive location work and miniature modeling. Amazon supported the release and highlighted its connection to children’s literature and museum curation.

‘Gringo’ (2018)

Nash Edgerton directs a corporate caper that sends a mid-level executive into a tangle of schemes across the border. David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, and Joel Edgerton head an ensemble of fixers and pharmaceutical players. The plot tracks competing agendas through kidnappings, insurance scams, and shifting alliances. Amazon Studios released the film in theaters and on its platform.

‘Beautiful Boy’ (2018)

Felix van Groeningen adapts two memoirs about a father and son navigating addiction and recovery. Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet portray the family across relapses, treatment attempts, and reconciliations. The timeline uses jumps and home video fragments to mirror memory and setbacks. Amazon Studios distributed the film and supported its awards-season campaign.

‘Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot’ (2018)

Gus Van Sant follows cartoonist John Callahan’s path from a life-changing accident to artistic recognition. Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, and Rooney Mara appear across therapy groups, art workshops, and sponsor meetings. The film incorporates Callahan’s drawings to show how his style developed. Amazon handled U.S. distribution and made the film widely available on streaming.

‘Peterloo’ (2018)

Mike Leigh reconstructs the events leading to the Peterloo Massacre through debates, rallies, and newspaper organizing. The cast features working actors from across the United Kingdom who portray orators, workers, and officials. Costumes and crowd scenes emphasize the scale of civic gatherings and militia deployments. Amazon brought the film to American audiences after its European release.

‘Life Itself’ (2018)

Dan Fogelman tells interconnected stories across families and continents that converge through chance and tragedy. The ensemble includes Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Laia Costa, and Antonio Banderas. Structure and voiceover guide viewers between chapters that study how incidents cascade across generations. Amazon Studios financed the project and released it in the United States.

‘The Big Sick’ (2017)

Michael Showalter directs a romantic comedy based on the real-life courtship of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. The story involves stand-up comedy, cultural expectations, and a medical crisis that complicates a new relationship. Holly Hunter and Ray Romano play parents who become central to the narrative. Amazon acquired the film out of a major festival and brought it to theaters and Prime Video.

‘Bliss’ (2021)

Mike Cahill explores a man’s belief that his reality might be a simulation with the help of a mysterious guide. Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek lead scenes that move between conflicting environments and altered states. Production design contrasts two lifestyles to question what is authentic and what is constructed. Amazon premiered the film directly on Prime Video.

‘Annette’ (2021)

Leos Carax presents a rock opera about a comedian, an opera singer, and their extraordinary child. Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard perform original songs written by the band Sparks. The film uses onstage sets, puppetry, and stylized concert sequences to build its world. Amazon released the film for U.S. streaming after its Cannes opening.

‘Nanny’ (2022)

Nikyatu Jusu blends psychological horror with immigration and domestic labor in New York City. Anna Diop plays a Senegalese caregiver who pursues family reunification while experiencing unsettling visions. Folklore elements intersect with daily routines to reflect displacement and pressure. Amazon released the film following its prize-winning festival run.

‘Sylvie’s Love’ (2020)

Eugene Ashe crafts a romance between an aspiring television producer and a talented saxophonist in midcentury New York. Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha anchor a story that follows careers, rehearsals, and second chances. The production emphasizes period wardrobe, studio sessions, and network offices to chart time. Amazon financed and premiered the film on Prime Video.

‘Sound of Metal’ (2019)

Darius Marder follows a touring drummer whose life changes when he loses his hearing. Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke worked with musicians and used sign language coaches to ground the story. The sound design places viewers inside shifting auditory perspectives that mirror the character’s journey. Amazon acquired the film from festivals and guided it through a high-profile awards run.

‘Manchester by the Sea’ (2016)

Kenneth Lonergan centers a custodial worker who returns to his hometown after a family loss. Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams focus on the rhythms of daily tasks and fraught reunions. The production shot on real Massachusetts locations to capture winter coastal life. Amazon financed the film and partnered on a theatrical rollout before streaming.

‘Late Night’ (2019)

Mindy Kaling writes about a veteran talk show host who hires her first female writer to refresh the show. Emma Thompson and Kaling chart a workplace where staff turnover and ratings pressures collide. The story tracks monologue rewrites, rehearsal rooms, and network notes. Amazon picked up the film from a major festival and released it widely.

‘One Night in Miami…’ (2020)

Regina King adapts a stage play about four friends who gather after a historic boxing match. Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. portray public figures navigating private debates. The production uses a single suite and nearby locations to stage long conversations with precision. Amazon produced the project and premiered it directly to streaming.

‘Thirteen Lives’ (2022)

Ron Howard dramatizes the rescue of a youth soccer team trapped in a flooded cave system. Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton portray divers who map routes and plan extractions. The film uses underwater tanks and recreated passages to show the logistics of the operation. Amazon MGM Studios released the film globally on Prime Video.

‘Emergency’ (2022)

Carey Williams presents a night where three college friends face a crisis and a maze of misunderstandings. RJ Cyler, Donald Elise Watkins, and Sebastian Chacon move through house parties, campus patrols, and borrowed cars. The narrative follows decision points that stack up in real time. Amazon distributed the film after its award-winning festival debut.

‘The Map of Tiny Perfect Things’ (2021)

Ian Samuels adapts a short story about two teens stuck in a time loop who hunt for small wonders. Kyle Allen and Kathryn Newton chart a map through swimming pools, bookstores, and suburban streets. The story uses repeated days to build a catalog of details and near misses. Amazon released the film as a Prime Video original.

‘Chemical Hearts’ (2020)

Richard Tanne adapts a young adult novel about student journalists who connect while editing a school paper. Lili Reinhart and Austin Abrams explore grief, ambition, and how deadlines shape their days. The production leans on handwritten notes, hallways, and late-night layout sessions. Amazon financed and premiered the film on Prime Video.

‘I Want You Back’ (2022)

Jason Orley follows two strangers who team up to win back their exes through misguided schemes. Charlie Day and Jenny Slate move through gyms, classrooms, and karaoke bars as plans multiply. The plot tracks overlapping friendships and office dynamics that complicate the mission. Amazon produced and released the film as a romantic comedy original.

‘Coming 2 America’ (2021)

Craig Brewer returns to the royal household of Zamunda and a search for family in Queens. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall reprise multiple roles alongside a large ensemble. Costumes, music, and palace sets expand the world built decades earlier. Amazon acquired the finished film and launched it directly on Prime Video.

‘Being the Ricardos’ (2021)

Aaron Sorkin compresses a turbulent week behind the scenes of a landmark sitcom. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem portray artists balancing studio notes, headlines, and a marriage under pressure. The production reconstructs writers rooms, table reads, and live audience tapings. Amazon financed and released the drama with a limited theatrical run before streaming.

‘Encounter’ (2021)

Michael Pearce tracks a decorated Marine who believes a threat is spreading and takes his sons on the road. Riz Ahmed and Octavia Spencer anchor scenes that shift between family drama and uncertain evidence. The story uses motel rooms, patrol stops, and desert stretches to build tension. Amazon premiered the film after its festival launch.

‘Jolt’ (2021)

Tanya Wexler introduces a bouncer who manages violent impulses with an experimental device. Kate Beckinsale leads action sequences that move through nightclubs, safe houses, and backroom labs. The plot uncovers a corporate tangle while the protagonist hunts for answers. Amazon released the film as a Prime Video original.

‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)

Park Chan-wook adapts a novel into a tale of inheritance schemes and shifting loyalties. Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, and Ha Jung-woo anchor a story told through overlapping viewpoints. Production design builds sprawling estates, hidden compartments, and ornate libraries to serve the twists. Amazon handled U.S. distribution in partnership with a theatrical distributor before streaming.

‘Wiener-Dog’ (2016)

Todd Solondz connects four stories through a dachshund that passes between owners. Greta Gerwig, Kieran Culkin, Julie Delpy, and Danny DeVito appear across vignettes about art, caregiving, and missed chances. The film uses chapter title cards and interludes to move between lives. Amazon teamed with a distributor for theaters and later brought the film to its platform.

Share your own under-the-radar Prime picks in the comments so everyone can add a few new favorites to their watchlists.