So, now that you’ve watched the first two episodes of the highly anticipated Lord of the Rings prequel, The Rings of Power on Prime Video, you might be wondering if there is anything else worth watching on the service. Well, Amazon Prime Video have slowly (and quietly) been adding to their library of content and recently we spent some time going over the service to find all the best non-original content that is now available on the service. Here are 15 feature film titles that we think you should take note of.
ALL THE BONDS
There is only one place to start and that is with the recent purchase of EON Productions, and with that, the availability of the entire James Bond franchise on one service. In fact, all 25 official Broccoli produced Bonds, AND the unofficial 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again are on Prime Video. The only one missing is the David Niven 1967 Casino Royale.
Note: Prime Video’s library is generally a mess. If you search for “James Bond” in the search function, only a handful show up. But if you search for all the individual titles you will find that all the movies are there.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS & THE HOBBIT
This may not come as a surprise seeing as how the much anticipated prequel Rings of Power is now out on the service, but what is a surprise is that Peter Jackson’s epic double trilogy only arrived on the service in early August.
HEAT
With Michael Mann actively pushing the Heat 2 novel online, what better time to watch the original 1995 crime drama.
THE VVITCH
Robert Eggers’ 2015 feature directorial debut following a Puritan family set in the 1630s Americas is high on many a horror must watch list.
WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
Enjoyed the recent Steven Spielberg remake? Then you absolutely owe it to yourself to watch the original musical from 1961. I reviewed it here.
CANDYMAN
2021’s Jordan Peele written Candyman never made it to Malaysian shores but this direct sequel to the classic 1992 horror film is just the thing to watch to get yourself in the mood for Halloween.
SCARFACE
Brian De Palma’s excessively violent drug fuelled story of a Cuban refugee hitting the big time in the Miami drug scene. Say hello to my little friend.
SOUND OF METAL
Another film that never made it to Malaysian cinemas, Sound of Metal is criminally underseen. Released in 2019, the movie tells the story of Riz Ahmed’s Ruben Stone, a metal drummer who loses his hearing but slowly starts to find a new identity and place in the world. We reviewed it back in March 2021.
THE ITALIAN JOB (1969)
This 1969 British comedy caper has everything that you could want in a heist movie. Planning, car chases, an incarcerated financier, and a true cliff hanger of an ending. That 2003 movie can’t hold a candle to the original.
JAWS
The movie about a shark that isn’t really a movie about a shark, has been widely credited as being the first “summer blockbuster” movie. Steven Spielberg’s 1975 thriller has influenced several generations of filmmakers and movie goers.
THE BIRDCAGE
This Mike Nichols comedy from 1996 features Nathan Lane and Robin Williams as gay partners trying to butch it up for their son’s future in-laws, conservative Republican senator Gene Hackman. Hilarity ensues!
CHILDREN OF MEN
Alfonso Cuarón’s dystopian action thriller film set in the (now not so distant) future tells the story of humanity’s collapse and the pregnant young girl who could push society in one direction or the other. In 2016, Children of Men was ranked 13th in the BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.
THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)
It might not be the first prison escape movie, but it definitely is one of the finest. This 1963 heavily fictionalized classic is based on a true story and features Steve McQueen as an American leading a group of prisoners out of a Nazi POW camp. The Great Escape also features one of the finest stunts ever performed for the screen.
SUSPIRIA (2018)
This 2018 remake of a Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian horror is one of those rare supernatural movies that features ballet and witches. It is a must watch for students of the psychological horror genre.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
Sergio Leone’s epic – almost four hour long – film tells the story of the rise of Jewish gangsters in the world of 1930’s New York organised crime. An absolute classic of the mob genre, Once Upon a Time in America regularly features on lists of the greatest films of all time.
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