85 Hidden Gem Movies on Amazon Prime | Rotten Tomatoes

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The Last Black Man In San Francisco

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85 Hidden Gem Movies On Amazon Prime Video

Like most things with Amazon, when it comes to choosing a movie on Prime the sheer number of options can be paralyzing. The e-commerce and streaming giant’s movie selection is a beast, comprising of endless catalog titles and an increasing number of originals. Browsing the nooks and crannies of its library can feel like being trapped in a Blockbuster store the size of… well… an Amazon warehouse.

Don’t worry, though, we’re here to help. To get you straight to the good stuff, and specifically the good stuff you might not have realized was there, the Rotten Tomatoes team trawled through Amazon Prime’s movie offerings to pluck out a bunch of hidden gems for you to enjoy. The guide we’ve laid out below includes Amazon Originals you need to have on your radar (Selah and the Spades, Guava Island); recent Fresh flicks that for whatever reason flew under the radar (Olivia Wilde action film A Vigilante, James Gray’s epic The Lost City of Z); fantastic Certified Fresh indies (The Last Black Man In San Francisco, Lés Misérables); some cheesy staff favorites (Hot Rod, Dragonslayer); and classics you may be surprised to discover are included with your Prime subscription (everything from Roman Holiday to Sunset Boulevard).

On that note, all movies below are included with Prime; there’s nothing you have to pay extra to buy or rent. And we grouped the guide into genre categories so you can find exactly what you’re in the mood for, stat. Looking for something hilarious? Might we suggest The Overnight? In the mood for chills? Why not press play on The Hole in the Ground? And if you want to dig even further into Amazon Prime’s mega movie offerings, check out our list of the very Best Movies on Amazon Prime.

For now though, enjoy these hand-picked hidden gems, and let us know what you think of them.

Found a hidden gem on Amazon Prime Video that’s not on our list? Let your fellow fans know in the comments. 

Comedies

#4

Ghost Town (2008)
85%

#4
Adjusted Score: 92397%
Critics Consensus: Ricky Gervais' consistently sharp performance and beautifully dry execution transform this otherwise mainstream comedy into an endearing, funny, and altogether snappy romantic comedy. With ghosts.
Synopsis: After a near-death experience during a routine colonoscopy, people-hating dentist Bertrum Pincus is shocked to discover that he is suddenly... [More]
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell
Directed By: David Koepp

#24

Clue (1985)
71%

#24
Adjusted Score: 74038%
Critics Consensus: A robust ensemble of game actors elevate Clue above its schematic source material, but this farce's reliance on novelty over organic wit makes its entertainment value a roll of the dice.
Synopsis: Based on the popular board game, this comedy begins at a dinner party hosted by Mr. Boddy, where he admits... [More]
Starring: Eileen Brennan, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, Tim Curry
Directed By: Jonathan Lynn

#23

Rat Race (2001)
45%

#23
Adjusted Score: 49255%
Critics Consensus: Rat Race moves from one sight gag to another, but only a handful of them are genuinely funny.
Synopsis: In an ensemble film about easy money, greed, manipulation and bad driving, a Las Vegas casino tycoon entertains his wealthiest... [More]
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Directed By: Jerry Zucker

#21
#21
Adjusted Score: 55027%
Critics Consensus: Destination Wedding reunites Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder for a sour comedy whose initially promising misanthropic twist overpowers the chemistry of its leads.
Synopsis: When Frank and Lindsay meet on their way to a destination wedding, they soon discover they have a lot in... [More]
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, DJ Dallenbach, Ted Dubost
Directed By: Victor Levin

#4

Election (1999)
92%

#4
Adjusted Score: 97544%
Critics Consensus: Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.
Synopsis: Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), a well-liked high school government teacher, can't help but notice that successful student Tracy Flick (Reese... [More]
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell
Directed By: Alexander Payne

#20
#20
Adjusted Score: 54695%
Critics Consensus: The idea behind John Waters' latest has much potential, but the movie ends up being too sloppy and underdeveloped in terms of script and direction. Also, by today's standards, it fails to shock.
Synopsis: An insane action-comedy about a young lunatic director and his devoted cult of cinema terrorists who kidnap a movie goddess... [More]
Starring: Melanie Griffith, Stephen Dorff, Alicia Witt, Larry Giliard Jr.
Directed By: John Waters

#19

A Merry War (1997)
83%

#19
Adjusted Score: 83772%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When successful advertiser Gordon Comstock (Richard E. Grant) abruptly walks away from his career to pursue his dream of being... [More]
Starring: Richard E. Grant, Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Wadham, Jim Carter
Directed By: Robert Bierman

#16
#16
Adjusted Score: 93163%
Critics Consensus: Seven Psychopaths delivers sly cinematic commentary while serving up a heaping helping of sharp dialogue and gleeful violence.
Synopsis: Boozy writer Marty (Colin Farrell) is a man in search of a screenplay. He has a catchy title but no... [More]
Starring: Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson
Directed By: Martin McDonagh

#15

Hot Rod (2007)
39%

#15
Adjusted Score: 43250%
Critics Consensus: Hot Rod has brazen silliness and a few humorous set pieces on its side, but it's far too inconsistent to satisfy all but the least demanding slapstick lovers.
Synopsis: For Rod Kimball (Andy Samberg), performing stunts is a way of life, even though he is rather accident-prone. Poor Rod... [More]
Starring: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride
Directed By: Akiva Schaffer

#14
#14
Adjusted Score: 62912%
Critics Consensus: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead struggles in its journey from stage to screen, but a well-chosen trio of veteran talents keep things consistently watchable.
Synopsis: Rosencrantz (Gary Oldman) and Guildenstern (Tim Roth) ramble obliviously through Elsinore Castle and its environs as the events of William... [More]
Starring: Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, Richard Dreyfuss, Iain Glen
Directed By: Tom Stoppard

#13

Cooley High (1975)
89%

#13
Adjusted Score: 90306%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career... [More]
Starring: Glynn Turman, Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Garrett Morris, Cynthia Davis
Directed By: Michael Schultz

#10

Heathers (1989)
95%

#10
Adjusted Score: 99878%
Critics Consensus: Dark, cynical, and subversive, Heathers gently applies a chainsaw to the conventions of the high school movie -- changing the game for teen comedies to follow.
Synopsis: Veronica (Winona Ryder) is part of the most popular clique at her high school, but she disapproves of the other... [More]
Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk
Directed By: Michael Lehmann

#9
#9
Adjusted Score: 71698%
Critics Consensus: Sharp, shrewd, and funny, Friends with Kids features excellent performances that help smooth over some of the story's more conventional elements.
Synopsis: In the wake of their friends' marriages and eventual offspring, longtime pals Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) and Jason (Adam Scott) decide... [More]
Starring: Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig
Directed By: Jennifer Westfeldt

#7

The Overnight (2015)
83%

#7
Adjusted Score: 89046%
Critics Consensus: Witty and unpredictable, The Overnight benefits from writer-director Patrick Brice's sure-handed touch and strong performances from a talented cast.
Synopsis: A seemingly innocent invitation to dinner turns into a night of seduction and temptation when two couples get together for... [More]
Starring: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godrèche
Directed By: Patrick Brice

#5

What If (2013)
74%

#5
Adjusted Score: 79715%
Critics Consensus: Its narrative framework may be familiar, but What If transcends its derivative elements with sharp dialogue and the effervescent chemistry of stars Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan.
Synopsis: A medical-school dropout (Daniel Radcliffe) tries to hide his attraction to his new friend (Zoe Kazan), a bubbly artist who... [More]
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park, Adam Driver
Directed By: Michael Dowse

#3

In the Soup (1992)
85%

#3
Adjusted Score: 85308%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Aldolpho (Steve Buscemi) is an aspiring writer-director who can't even claim to be scraping by. No one will touch his... [More]
Starring: Steve Buscemi, Seymour Cassel, Jennifer Beals, Pat Moya
Directed By: Alexandre Rockwell

#2

Entanglement (2017)
61%

#2
Adjusted Score: 62201%
Critics Consensus: Entanglement proves there's still room for charmingly quirky romantic comedies -- even if it flirts with a number of ingredients that typically lead to cutesy disaster.
Synopsis: While searching for the meaning of his existence, Ben Layten uncovers a family secret that leads him to a woman... [More]
Starring: Thomas Middleditch, Jess Weixler, Diana Bang, Randal Edwards
Directed By: Jason James

Horror

#15

Southbound (2015)
81%

#15
Adjusted Score: 82714%
Critics Consensus: Southbound doesn't entirely avoid the jarring shifts common to anthology films, but thanks to some thrilling twists and turns, this horror road movie is a surprisingly smooth ride.
Synopsis: Interlocking tales of highway terror revolve around malevolent spirits at a truck stop, a mysterious traveler, a car accident and... [More]
Starring: Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Kristina Pesic, Fabianne Therese
Directed By: Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath, Radio Silence

#14
#14
Adjusted Score: 86884%
Critics Consensus: The Hole in the Ground artfully exploits parental fears with a well-made horror outing that makes up in sheer effectiveness what it lacks in originality.
Synopsis: One night, Sarah's young son disappears into the woods behind their rural home. When he returns, he looks the same,... [More]
Starring: Seána Kerslake, James Quinn Markey, James Cosmo, Kati Outinen
Directed By: Lee Cronin

#13
#13
Adjusted Score: 46365%
Critics Consensus: The Strangers: Prey at Night may appeal to fans of the original who've been jonesing for a sequel, but its thin story and ironic embrace of genre tropes add up to a bloody step back.
Synopsis: Mike and his wife Cindy take their son and daughter on a road trip that becomes their worst nightmare. The... [More]
Starring: Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson, Bailee Madison, Lewis Pullman
Directed By: Johannes Roberts

#11
#11
Adjusted Score: 94926%
Critics Consensus: Carnival of Souls offers delightfully chilling proof that when it comes to telling an effective horror story, less can often be much, much more.
Synopsis: Mary Henry ends up the sole survivor of a fatal car accident through mysterious circumstances. Trying to put the incident... [More]
Starring: Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist, Sidney Berger, Stan Levitt
Directed By: Herk Harvey

#10
#10
Adjusted Score: 83563%
Critics Consensus: Campy by modern standards but spooky and atmospheric, House on Haunted Hill is a fun, well-executed cult classic featuring a memorable performance from genre icon Vincent Price.
Synopsis: Rich oddball Frederick Loren has a proposal for five guests at a possibly haunted mansion: show up, survive a night... [More]
Starring: Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal
Directed By: William Castle

#9

Bone Tomahawk (2015)
91%

#9
Adjusted Score: 95368%
Critics Consensus: Bone Tomahawk's peculiar genre blend won't be for everyone, but its gripping performances and a slow-burning story should satisfy those in search of something different.
Synopsis: In the Old West, a sheriff (Kurt Russell), his deputy (Richard Jenkins), a gunslinger (Matthew Fox),and a cowboy (Patrick Wilson)... [More]
Starring: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins, Matthew Fox
Directed By: S. Craig Zahler

#8

The Wailing (2016)
99%

#8
Adjusted Score: 102389%
Critics Consensus: The Wailing delivers an atmospheric, cleverly constructed mystery whose supernatural thrills more than justify its imposing length.
Synopsis: Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger... [More]
Starring: Kwak Do-won, Jun Kunimura, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee
Directed By: Na Hong-jin

#6

Chopping Mall (1986)
55%

#6
Adjusted Score: 55259%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Eight teens are trapped in a shopping mall with three security robots out of control.... [More]
Starring: Kelli Maroney, Tony O'Dell, John Terlesky, Russell Todd
Directed By: Jim Wynorski

#5
#5
Adjusted Score: 42657%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A hooded madman stalks the lovers' lanes of Texarkana in this fact-based account of a 1946 killing spree.... [More]
Starring: Ben Johnson, Andrew Prine, Dawn Wells, Jimmy Clem
Directed By: Charles B. Pierce

#4

The Exorcist III (1990)
59%

#4
Adjusted Score: 62321%
Critics Consensus: The Exorcist III is a talky, literary sequel with some scary moments that rival anything from the original.
Synopsis: Police Lt. Kinderman (George C. Scott) notices similarities between his current murder investigation and the methods used by the "Gemini"... [More]
Starring: George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Brad Dourif, Jason Miller
Directed By: William Peter Blatty

#3

Q (1982)
73%

#3
Adjusted Score: 75390%
Critics Consensus: Q's campy charms may be lost on audiences who want their monsters frightening, but a game cast and lovingly retrograde visual effects give this kaiju romp some majesty.
Synopsis: A fleeing gangland flunky (Michael Moriarty) finds the New York nest of Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl, the man-eating flying serpent.... [More]
Starring: Michael Moriarty, David Carradine, Candy Clark, Richard Roundtree
Directed By: Larry Cohen

#2

I See You (2019)
75%

#2
Adjusted Score: 76442%
Critics Consensus: I See You gets tripped up on its own narrative contortions, but a solid cast and an effective blend of scares and suspense make this slow-building mystery worth watching.
Synopsis: Strange occurrences plague a small-town detective and his family as he investigates the disappearance of a boy.... [More]
Starring: Helen Hunt, Jon Tenney, Judah Lewis, Owen Teague
Directed By: Adam Randall

Classics

#12

Roman Holiday (1953)
95%

#12
Adjusted Score: 103440%
Critics Consensus: With Audrey Hepburn luminous in her American debut, Roman Holiday is as funny as it is beautiful, and sets the standard for the modern romantic comedy.
Synopsis: Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) takes off for a night while in Rome. When... [More]
Starring: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie Albert, Tullio Carminati
Directed By: William Wyler

#11

The General (1926)
92%

#11
Adjusted Score: 104152%
Critics Consensus: Brilliantly filmed and fueled with classic physical comedy, The General captures Buster Keaton at his timeless best.
Synopsis: One of the most revered comedies of the silent era, this film finds hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster... [More]
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender, Jim Farley
Directed By: Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton

#10

His Girl Friday (1940)
99%

#10
Adjusted Score: 113480%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by stellar performances from Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, His Girl Friday is possibly the definitive screwball romantic comedy.
Synopsis: When hard-charging New York newspaper editor Walter Burns discovers that his ex-wife, investigative reporter Hildy Johnson, has gotten engaged to... [More]
Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy, Gene Lockhart
Directed By: Howard Hawks

#9

Harold and Maude (1971)
86%

#9
Adjusted Score: 91521%
Critics Consensus: Hal Ashby's comedy is too dark and twisted for some, and occasionally oversteps its bounds, but there's no denying the film's warm humor and big heart.
Synopsis: Cult classic pairs Cort as a dead-pan disillusioned 20-year-old obsessed with suicide and a loveable Gordon as a fun-loving 80-year-old... [More]
Starring: Bud Cort, Ruth Gordon, Cyril Cusack, Vivian Pickles
Directed By: Hal Ashby

#4

Sunset Boulevard (1950)
98%

#4
Adjusted Score: 114578%
Critics Consensus: Arguably the greatest movie about Hollywood, Billy Wilder's masterpiece Sunset Boulevard is a tremendously entertaining combination of noir, black comedy, and character study.
Synopsis: An aging silent film queen refuses to accept that her stardom has ended. She hires a young screenwriter to help... [More]
Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson
Directed By: Billy Wilder

#2
#2
Adjusted Score: 104593%
Critics Consensus: A landmark Sergio Leone spaghetti western masterpiece featuring a classic Morricone score.
Synopsis: There's a single piece of land around Flagstone with water on it, and rail baron Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) aims to... [More]
Starring: Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Charles Bronson, Jason Robards
Directed By: Sergio Leone

#1

The Party (1968)
83%

#1
Adjusted Score: 85437%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: While trying to tie his shoe, bumbling extra Hrundi V. Bakshi (Peter Sellers) unwittingly triggers explosives that destroy the set... [More]
Starring: Peter Sellers, Claudine Longet, Marge Champion, Gavin MacLeod
Directed By: Blake Edwards

Musicals and Movies with Music

#10

Stop Making Sense (1984)
100%

#10
Adjusted Score: 106040%
Critics Consensus: Jonathan Demme's Stop Making Sense captures the energetic, unpredictable live act of peak Talking Heads with color and visual wit.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Jonathan Demme captures Talking Heads and an ecstatic ensemble of musicians at their exhilarating best in this iconic live... [More]
Starring: David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison
Directed By: Jonathan Demme

#9
#9
Adjusted Score: 105632%
Critics Consensus: Smart, funny, and profoundly melancholy, Inside Llewyn Davis finds the Coen brothers in fine form.
Synopsis: In 1961 New York City, folk singer Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is at a crossroads. Guitar in hand, he struggles... [More]
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund
Directed By: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

#8

Love & Mercy (2014)
89%

#8
Adjusted Score: 99133%
Critics Consensus: As unconventional and unwieldy as the life and legacy it honors, Love & Mercy should prove moving for Brian Wilson fans while still satisfying neophytes.
Synopsis: In the late 1960s, the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson stops touring, produces "Pet Sounds" and begins to lose his grip... [More]
Starring: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti
Directed By: Bill Pohlad

#7

The Doors (1991)
56%

#7
Adjusted Score: 61041%
Critics Consensus: Val Kilmer delivers a powerhouse performance as one of rock's most incendiary figures, but unfortunately, Oliver Stone is unable to shed much light on the circus surrounding the star.
Synopsis: After a psychedelic experience in the California desert, Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer), lead singer of The Doors, and his bandmates... [More]
Starring: Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kevin Dillon, Kyle MacLachlan
Directed By: Oliver Stone

#6
#6
Adjusted Score: 83465%
Critics Consensus: Anna and the Apocalypse finds fresh brains and a lot of heart in the crowded zombie genre - not to mention a fun genre mashup populated by rootable characters.
Synopsis: A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven - at Christmas - forcing Anna and her friends to... [More]
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux
Directed By: John McPhail

#5

Funny Face (1957)
88%

#5
Adjusted Score: 93329%
Critics Consensus: A timeless and elegant musical feast, Funny Face thrives on the agile and vibrant performances from legendary screen titans Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire.
Synopsis: Dispatched on an assignment, New York City-based fashion photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) is struck by the beauty of Jo... [More]
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Kay Thompson, Michel Auclair
Directed By: Stanley Donen

#4

A Star Is Born (1937)
100%

#4
Adjusted Score: 103816%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When a young actress (Janet Gaynor) arrives in Hollywood with hopes of stardom, a chance encounter places her under the... [More]
Starring: Janet Gaynor, Fredric March, Adolphe Menjou, May Robson
Directed By: William A. Wellman

#3

Guava Island (2019)
74%

#3
Adjusted Score: 75386%
Critics Consensus: Thematically ambitious if occasionally somewhat obtuse, Guava Island adds another intriguing chapter to a talented team's burgeoning filmography.
Synopsis: A musician on Guava Island schemes his way into the good life.... [More]
Starring: Donald Glover, Letitia Wright, Rihanna, Nonso Anozie
Directed By: Hiro Murai

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

#7

Dragonslayer (1981)
84%

#7
Adjusted Score: 87020%
Critics Consensus: An atypically dark Disney adventure, Dragonslayer puts a realistic spin -- and some impressive special effects -- on a familiar tale.
Synopsis: A terrible dragon is terrorizing the medieval land of Urland in the 6th century. Representatives from the kingdom seek the... [More]
Starring: Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson, John Hallam
Directed By: Matthew Robbins

#6

The Stuff (1985)
73%

#6
Adjusted Score: 73594%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A private detective investigates a new consumer taste treat that's absolutely delicious and just possibly lethal.... [More]
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Andrea Marcovicci, Paul Sorvino, Garrett Morris
Directed By: Larry Cohen

#5
#5
Adjusted Score: 87854%
Critics Consensus: Filled with stunning imagery, The Man Who Fell to Earth is a calm, meditative film that profoundly explores our culture's values and desires.
Synopsis: Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie) is an alien who has come to Earth in search of water to save his... [More]
Starring: David Bowie, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, Rip Torn
Directed By: Nicolas Roeg

#4

Highlander (1986)
71%

#4
Adjusted Score: 74350%
Critics Consensus: People hate Highlander because it's cheesy, bombastic, and absurd. And people love it for the same reasons.
Synopsis: When the mystical Russell Nash (Christopher Lambert) kills a man in a sword fight in a New York City parking... [More]
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy

#3
#3
Adjusted Score: 100279%
Critics Consensus: Employing gritty camerawork and evocative sound effects, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a powerful remake that expands upon themes and ideas only lightly explored in the original.
Synopsis: This remake of the classic horror film is set in San Francisco. Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) assumes that when a... [More]
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Leonard Nimoy, Veronica Cartwright
Directed By: Philip Kaufman

Dramas and Thrillers

#16
#16
Adjusted Score: 103766%
Critics Consensus: An affecting story powerfully told, The Last Black Man in San Francisco immediately establishes director Joe Talbot as a filmmaker to watch.
Synopsis: Jimmie and his best friend Mont try to reclaim the house built by Jimmie's grandfather, launching them on a poignant... [More]
Starring: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Rob Morgan, Tichina Arnold
Directed By: Joe Talbot

#15

Warrior (2011)
84%

#15
Adjusted Score: 91636%
Critics Consensus: Warrior relies on many of the clichés that critics of the genre love to mock -- and it transcends them with gripping action, powerful acting, and heart.
Synopsis: An estranged family finds redemption in the unlikeliest of places: the MMA ring. Tommy (Tom Hardy), an ex-Marine with a... [More]
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison
Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

#14

King of New York (1990)
70%

#14
Adjusted Score: 71818%
Critics Consensus: King of New York covers familiar narrative ground with impressive style -- and leaves plenty of room for its talented cast to deliver gripping performances.
Synopsis: A crime lord plots to take control of New York's underground drug economy and distribute the profits to the poor.... [More]
Starring: Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Victor Argo
Directed By: Abel Ferrara

#13
#13
Adjusted Score: 63225%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A reclusive young woman who dreams of becoming a children's author finds an unlikely mentor in the rich curmudgeon who... [More]
Starring: Jessica Brown Findlay, Tom Wilkinson, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Irvine
Directed By: Simon Aboud

#12

The Handmaiden (2016)
96%

#12
Adjusted Score: 106483%
Critics Consensus: The Handmaiden uses a Victorian crime novel as the loose inspiration for another visually sumptuous and absorbingly idiosyncratic outing from director Park Chan-wook.
Synopsis: With help from an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri), a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) devises an elaborate plot to seduce... [More]
Starring: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong
Directed By: Park Chan-wook

#11

Les misérables (2019)
88%

#11
Adjusted Score: 97656%
Critics Consensus: Les Misérables transcends its unwieldy story with compelling ideas and an infectious energy that boils over during a thrilling final act.
Synopsis: Members of a Parisian anti-crime squad become overwhelmed by simmering neighborhood tension and violence.... [More]
Starring: Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, Djebril Zonga, Issa Perica
Directed By: Ladj Ly

#10
#10
Adjusted Score: 92271%
Critics Consensus: A smart, well-acted, and refreshingly messy coming-of-age story, Selah and the Spades suggests a bright future for debuting writer-director Tayarisha Poe.
Synopsis: Five factions run the underground life of a prestigious east coast boarding school. The head of The Spades walks a... [More]
Starring: Lovie Simone, Jharrel Jerome, Celeste O'Connor, Ana Mulvoy-Ten
Directed By: Tayarisha Poe

#8
#8
Adjusted Score: 92783%
Critics Consensus: This post-Watergate thriller captures the paranoid tenor of the times, thanks to Syndey Pollack's taut direction and excellent performances from Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway.
Synopsis: On a seemingly ordinary day, Joe Turner (Robert Redford), a quiet CIA codebreaker, walks into his workplace and finds that... [More]
Starring: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow
Directed By: Sydney Pollack

#7
#7
Adjusted Score: 85206%
Critics Consensus: The Virgin Suicides drifts with a dreamlike melancholy that may strike some audiences as tedious, but Sofia Coppola's feature debut is a mature meditation on disaffected youth.
Synopsis: In an ordinary suburban house, on a lovely tree-lined street, in the middle of 1970s America, lived the five beautiful,... [More]
Starring: James Woods, Kathleen Turner, Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett
Directed By: Sofia Coppola

#6

Amores perros (2000)
93%

#6
Adjusted Score: 97498%
Critics Consensus: The brutality of Amores Perros may be difficult to watch at times, but this intense, gritty film packs a hard wallop.
Synopsis: "Amores Perros" is a bold, intensely emotional, and ambitious story of lives that collide in a Mexico City car crash.... [More]
Starring: Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Goya Toledo, Álvaro Guerrero
Directed By: Alejandro González Iñárritu

#2

A Simple Favor (2018)
84%

#2
Adjusted Score: 98023%
Critics Consensus: Twisty, twisted, and above all simply fun, A Simple Favor casts a stylish mommy noir spell strengthened by potent performances from Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.
Synopsis: Stephanie is a widowed, single mother who works as a vlogger in Connecticut. Her best friend, Emily, seems to have... [More]
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Ian Ho
Directed By: Paul Feig

#1

The Machinist (2004)
77%

#1
Adjusted Score: 81316%
Critics Consensus: Brad Anderson's dark psychological thriller about a sleepless factory worker is elevated by Christian Bale astonishingly committed performance.
Synopsis: Factory worker Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) suffers from insomnia so severe that his condition has taken its toll on his... [More]
Starring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian
Directed By: Brad Anderson

Action and Adventure

#15

Arctic (2018)
91%

#15
Adjusted Score: 98826%
Critics Consensus: Arctic proves that a good survival thriller doesn't need much in the way of dialogue to get by -- especially when Mads Mikkelsen is the one doing the surviving.
Synopsis: A man stranded in the Arctic after an airplane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of... [More]
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir, Tintrinai Thikhasuk
Directed By: Joe Penna

#13

A Vigilante (2018)
90%

#13
Adjusted Score: 91338%
Critics Consensus: Led by Olivia Wilde's fearless performance and elevated by timely themes, A Vigilante is an uncompromising thriller that hits as hard as its protagonist.
Synopsis: A vigilante helps victims escape their domestic abusers.... [More]
Starring: Olivia Wilde, Morgan Spector, Tonye Patano, Kyle Catlett
Directed By: Sarah Daggar-Nickson

#12

Death Wish (1974)
66%

#12
Adjusted Score: 69087%
Critics Consensus: Death Wish is undeniably exploitation fare -- and also undeniably effective.
Synopsis: Once a mild-mannered liberal, New York City architect Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) snaps when intruders break into his home, murdering... [More]
Starring: Charles Bronson, Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, Steven Keats
Directed By: Michael Winner

#11
#11
Adjusted Score: 51039%
Critics Consensus: Christopher McQuarrie may exhibit a way behind the camera in the stylish The Way of the Gun, but his script falters with dull characterization and a plot so needlessly twisty that most viewers will be ready to tune out before the final reveal.
Synopsis: They make no excuses. They don't ask forgiveness. Their story is without compromise, brutal and simple. For contemporary desperados Parker... [More]
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Benicio del Toro, James Caan, Juliette Lewis
Directed By: Christopher McQuarrie

#8
#8
Adjusted Score: 97759%
Critics Consensus: The Lost City of Z's stately pace and visual grandeur hearken back to classic exploration epics, and Charlie Hunnam turns in a masterful performance as its complex protagonist.
Synopsis: At the dawn of the 20th century, British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon, where he discovers evidence of... [More]
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland
Directed By: James Gray

#7

Runaway Train (1985)
83%

#7
Adjusted Score: 85826%
Critics Consensus: Charging forward with the momentum of a locomotive, Runaway Train makes great use of its adrenaline-fueled premise and star presences of Jon Voight and Eric Roberts.
Synopsis: Escaped convicts (Jon Voight, Eric Roberts) and a stowaway girl (Rebecca De Mornay) ride an unmanned diesel speeding out of... [More]
Starring: Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, Rebecca De Mornay, Kyle T. Heffner
Directed By: Andrey Konchalovskiy

#6

Harry Brown (2009)
63%

#6
Adjusted Score: 67600%
Critics Consensus: Its lurid violence may put off some viewers, but Harry Brown is a vigilante thriller that carries an emotional as well as a physical punch, thanks to a gripping performance from Michael Caine in the title role.
Synopsis: A retired soldier and widower (Michael Caine) doles out his own brand of justice after young hoodlums murder his best... [More]
Starring: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Liam Cunningham, Iain Glen
Directed By: Daniel Barber

#2

The Phantom (1996)
44%

#2
Adjusted Score: 46798%
Critics Consensus: The script gives Billy Zane little to work with, and thus he plays the Phantom as a friendly but completely one-dimensional hero.
Synopsis: A purple-costumed superhero (Billy Zane) tries to thwart a master criminal's (Treat Williams) acquisition of mystical skulls with legendary powers.... [More]
Starring: Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, Treat Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Directed By: Simon Wincer

#1

Maniac Cop 2 (1991)
62%

#1
Adjusted Score: 62286%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Renegade police officer Matthew Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) once roamed the streets of New York City unleashing his murderous brand of... [More]
Starring: Robert Davi, Claudia Christian, Michael Lerner, Bruce Campbell
Directed By: William Lustig

Family

#6

Rango (2011)
88%

#6
Adjusted Score: 97046%
Critics Consensus: Rango is a smart, giddily creative burst of beautifully animated entertainment, and Johnny Depp gives a colorful vocal performance as a household pet in an unfamiliar world.
Synopsis: A chameleon (Johnny Depp) who has lived as a sheltered family pet finds himself in the grip of an identity... [More]
Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty
Directed By: Gore Verbinski

#6

Megamind (2010)
73%

#6
Adjusted Score: 80106%
Critics Consensus: It regurgitates plot points from earlier animated efforts, and isn't quite as funny as it should be, but a top-shelf voice cast and strong visuals help make Megamind a pleasant, if unspectacular, diversion.
Synopsis: Though he is the most-brilliant supervillain the world has known, Megamind (Will Ferrell) is the least-successful. Thwarted time and again... [More]
Starring: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill
Directed By: Tom McGrath

#5
#5
Adjusted Score: 88157%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A poor but proud girl (Shirley Temple) searches army hospitals for her father, reported dead in the Boer War.... [More]
Starring: Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Arthur Treacher, Anita Louise
Directed By: Walter Lang, William A. Seiter

#3

Charlotte's Web (1973)
76%

#3
Adjusted Score: 77439%
Critics Consensus: That's some pig, with spirited vocal performances and a charmingly family-friendly adaptation of E.B. White's winsome story spun around him.
Synopsis: E.B. White's beloved children's tale is brought to life in this animated film, which finds the young farm pig Wilbur... [More]
Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Paul Lynde, Henry Gibson, Rex Allen
Directed By: Charles A. Nichols, Iwao Takamoto

#2
#2
Adjusted Score: 55161%
Critics Consensus: While a dull affair for parents, Clifford's Really Big Movie should charm its intended preschool audience.
Synopsis: A gigantic red dog (John Ritter) leaves home and becomes the main attraction at a traveling circus.... [More]
Starring: John Ritter, Wayne Brady, Jenna Elfman, John Goodman
Directed By: Robert Ramirez

Documentaries

#8
#8
Adjusted Score: 86899%
Critics Consensus: Every bit as good-natured as longtime fans might hope, I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story offers heartwarming behind-the-scenes perspective on a cultural icon.
Synopsis: Caroll Spinney is the 80-year-old who has been creating the Muppet characters of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since... [More]
Starring: Frank Oz, Roscoe Orman, Sonia Manzano, Caroll Spinney
Directed By: Dave LaMattina, Chad N. Walker

#8
#8
Adjusted Score: 108922%
Critics Consensus: I Am Not Your Negro offers an incendiary snapshot of James Baldwin's crucial observations on American race relations -- and a sobering reminder of how far we've yet to go.
Synopsis: In 1979, James Baldwin wrote a letter to his literary agent describing his next project, "Remember This House." The book... [More]
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson
Directed By: Raoul Peck

#8
#8
Adjusted Score: 95242%
Critics Consensus: Fascinating and insightful, Every Little Step is a thoroughly engrossing behind the scenes look at Broadway performers.
Synopsis: Filmmakers James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo explore the genesis and legacy of the Broadway musical "A Chorus Line."... [More]
Starring: Candy Ann Brown, Michelle Liu Coughlin, Mara Davi, Natascia Diaz
Directed By: Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern

#7

The Imposter (2012)
95%

#7
Adjusted Score: 100008%
Critics Consensus: Despite its true-crime trappings, The Imposter is an utterly gripping and sometimes heartbreaking documentary thriller cleverly told with narrative flair.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Bart Layton chronicles the tale of Frederic Bourdin, a con artist who seemingly tricked a Texas family into believing... [More]
Starring: Adam O'Brian, Anna Ruben, Cathy Dresbach, Alan Teichman
Directed By: Bart Layton

#6

Samsara (2011)
76%

#6
Adjusted Score: 78477%
Critics Consensus: It's a tad heavy-handed in its message, but Samsara's overwhelmingly beautiful visuals more than compensate for any narrative flaws.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Ron Fricke creates a global travelogue with pictures and music, exploring the Himalayas, the American Southwest, European cathedrals, and... [More]
Starring: Balinese Tari Legong Dancers, Hiroshi Ishiguro
Directed By: Ron Fricke

#5
#5
Adjusted Score: 26458%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A documentary by director Julien Nitzberg, this film focuses on the renowned West Virginia outlaw Jesco White and his eccentric... [More]
Starring: J. Parker Bazzle II, Big & Rich, Ponty's Camper, Derek Wayne Castle
Directed By: Julien Nitzberg

#4
#4
Adjusted Score: 95278%
Critics Consensus: Dear Zachary is a both a touching tribute to a fallen friend and a heart-wrenching account of justice gone astray, skillfully put to film with no emotion spared.
Synopsis: In 2001, 28-year-old Dr. Andrew Bagby is found dead in a park in Pennsylvania. He had been shot by his... [More]
Starring: Kurt Kuenne
Directed By: Kurt Kuenne

#3

Time Is Illmatic (2014)
98%

#3
Adjusted Score: 99103%
Critics Consensus: Comprehensive yet brisk, Nas: Time Is Illmatic offers an absorbing look at a hip-hop classic and the life of the artist who made it.
Synopsis: Rapper Nas recalls his youth in his city's housing projects, his parents' influence and the recording of his 1994 debut... [More]
Starring: Nas, Cornel West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz
Directed By: One9

#2

Cartel Land (2015)
89%

#2
Adjusted Score: 93271%
Critics Consensus: Raw, brutal, and bitter, Cartel Land offers a ground-level look at vigilante efforts to thwart organized crime at the Mexican-American border.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Matthew Heineman examines the the state of the ongoing drug problem along the U.S.-Mexican border.... [More]
Starring: Enrique Peña Nieto
Directed By: Matthew Heineman

#1

Grizzly Man (2005)
92%

#1
Adjusted Score: 97076%
Critics Consensus: Whatever opinion you come to have of the obsessive Treadwell, Herzog has once again found a fascinating subject.
Synopsis: Pieced together from Timothy Treadwell's actual video footage, Werner Herzog's remarkable documentary examines the calling that drove Treadwell to live... [More]
Starring: Werner Herzog, Jewel Palovak, Warren Queeney, Carol Dexter
Directed By: Werner Herzog

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