If you’re looking for something new to watch on Amazon Prime Video, the streaming service’s list of the top 10 most-watched movies is a great indicator of the flicks that are drawing the most attention from your fellow subscribers.
However, a high ranking in the list is certainly not an indicator of quality. For example, “Jackpot!” has been the No. 1 movie on Prime Video for several weeks now, and to be frank, it’s pretty terrible (it’s managed a poor 31% score on Rotten Tomatoes). So, to ensure you pick out the Prime Video flicks worth your time, I’m selecting the three top 10 movies you need to watch first.
Before diving into my selection, be sure to note that this article is based on the Prime Video top 10 as of Sunday, September 15 at 11 a.m. ET.
Best movies in the Prime Video top 10
'Passengers' (2016)
Critics weren’t too kind to “Passengers” lambasting it for its supposedly shallow story among other flaws, but this is one case where I think the critics got it wrong. “Passengers” is an excellent comfort watch. While it doesn’t move the needle for the romantic comedy genre, it pairs together two loveable leads, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, and makes good use of its slick sci-fi setting. It deserves more than its pitiful 30% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Set on a massive spaceship transporting thousands of colonists to a new planet, Jim Preston (Pratt) faces intense social isolation when his hibernation pod malfunctions and is awoken early. Still decades from the ship's final destination, and unable to handle being alone for the rest of his life, he makes the selfish decision to awaken another passenger, Aurora Lane (Lawrence), and while a romance between the two blossoms, the truth threatens to come out.
Watch on "Passengers" on Prime Video now
'Transformers' (2007)
Michael Bay’s “Transformers” franchise eventually went completely off the rails with a focus on flashy CGI over characters and story, but the first entry in the sci-fi action series remains very enjoyable (granted, it’s still pretty cheesy). Now also feels like an oddly appropriate time to watch, as the song “What I’ve Done” by Linkin Park became synonymous with the movie thanks to its use in the closing credits, and the American rock band has just recently reunited following a lengthy hiatus.
In “Transformers”, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) discovers that a race of robot aliens capable of transforming into various mechanical objects are living among us when his 1976 Chevrolet Camaro is revealed to be an Autobot named Bumblebee in disguise. Seeking the uber-powerful AllSpark, Bumblebee assembles his allies including leader Optimus Prime, and when the villainous Megatron breaks free from his containment, the war for Earth begins.
Watch "Transformers" on Prime Video now
'The Beekeeper' (2024)
Earlier this year “The Beekeeper” taught me a valuable lesson in the dangers of making assumptions. Before its January release, I dismissed this action-thriller as little more than another shlocky entry in Jason Statham’s already patchy filmography, but I was very wrong. This David Ayer movie is completely ridiculous but in the best possible way. It’s self-aware enough to get away with some questionable writing, and the action sequences are highly exhilarating.
In “The Beekeeper”, Statham plays Adam Clay, a former member of a secret service group known as “Beekeepers”. Having retired he lives a simple life tending to a hive of bees (why Clay is so obsessed with bees is never explained), but when a close friend is the victim of a phishing scam and commits suicide in the aftermath, Clay steps out of the shadows on a mission to claim vengeance. This quest for revenge brings him into contact with the very top of the United States government.
Watch "The Beekeeper" on Prime Video now
Prime Video top 10 movies right now
- "Jackpot!" (2024)
- "The Beekeeper" (2024)
- "Passengers" (2016)
- "Transformers" (2007)
- "Gifted" (2017)
- "Overboard" (2018)
- "The Doorman" (2023)
- "Minions: The Rise of Gru" (2022)
- "The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring" (2001)
- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009)
