Amazon Prime is my least favourite streaming service, so I’m on a mission to find movies worth watching. Here are 41 which you might not have watched yet, but all score decently on IMDb.
WYALAN Ranked, Rated and Recommended
WYALAN star rating explained:
- 5 stars – Highly enjoyed and would highly recommend as a must watch
- 4 stars – Enjoyed and would watch again in the future
- 3 stars – Glad I watched it once, but I’ll probably never watch it again
- 2 stars – Watched to the end, but I wouldn’t watch it again
- 1 star – DNF (did not finish)
Palm Springs (2020) – Sci-Fi/Romantic Comedy
For fans of: Groundhog Day, Russian Doll, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards for its inventive, time-loop twist on love and existential dread.
Heads of State (2025) – Action/Comedy
For fans of: Ride Along, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Beverly Hills Cop
In this globe-trotting buddy comedy, Idris Elba and John Cena play mismatched operatives forced to team up for a high-stakes mission involving political chaos, explosive set pieces, and plenty of wisecracks.
Kneecap (2024) – Musical/Crime
For fans of: Trainspotting, Beats, Sing Street
This Irish-language hip-hop crime drama is building cult buzz for its rebellious energy and genre-blending style.
Meet Cute (2022) – Romantic/Thriller
For fans of: Palm Springs, About Time, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson star in this time-loop rom-com with a dark twist that’s building a niche following.
The Pickup (2025) – Action/Comedy
For fans of: Beverly Hills Cop, Central Intelligence, The Hitman’s Bodyguard
Eddie Murphy returns to his wisecracking best in this high-stakes heist caper, playing a smooth-talking getaway driver caught between rival crews, a mysterious briefcase, and one very bad date.
Award Winners
Take Shelter (2011) – Psychological/Drama
For fans of: The Babadook, Martha Marcy May Marlene, A Serious Man
Won the Grand Prize at Cannes Critics’ Week and Best Actor from the Chicago Film Critics Association for Michael Shannon’s haunting performance.
Monster’s Ball (2001) – Drama/Thriller
For fans of: Precious, Moonlight, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in this emotionally raw Southern drama about grief, race, and redemption.
Contagion (2011) – Medical/Thriller
For fans of: Outbreak, Children of Men, The Constant Gardener
Named AFI Movie of the Year and won Best Ensemble at the Hollywood Film Awards for its eerily prescient pandemic narrative.
Glory (1989) – War/Drama
For fans of: 12 Years a Slave, Lincoln, The Patriot
Denzel Washington won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in this powerful Civil War story of the first all-Black regiment.
Thief (1981) – Crime/Thriller
For fans of: Heat, Drive, The Friends of Eddie Coyle
Michael Mann’s debut won Best Director at the Chicago International Film Festival, introducing his signature style of neon noir and existential cool.
The Impossible (2012) – Survival/Drama
For fans of: Everest, 127 Hours, The Rescue
Naomi Watts earned an Academy Award nomination and the film won Best Visual Effects at the Gaudí Awards for its harrowing tsunami recreation.
Critically Acclaimed
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) – Sci-Fi/Comedy
For fans of: The One I Love, Timecrimes, Palm Springs
This quirky time-travel indie earned strong reviews and won Best Screenplay at Sundance.
American Honey (2016) – Drama/Road
For fans of: Nomadland, Fish Tank, The Florida Project
Andrea Arnold’s sprawling youth odyssey won the Jury Prize at Cannes and was praised for its raw performances and visual poetry.
The Report (2019) – Political/Thriller
For fans of: Spotlight, The Post, Official Secrets
Adam Driver stars in this gripping investigation of CIA torture, praised for its urgency and moral clarity.
Margin Call (2011) – Drama/Thriller
For fans of: The Big Short, Glengarry Glen Ross, Inside Job
A financial firm faces collapse in this ensemble drama that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
The Way Back (2010) – Survival/Drama
For fans of: The Revenant, Tracks, Into the Wild
Peter Weir’s Siberian escape story earned acclaim for its realism and scope, with strong reviews across major publications.
Papillon (2018) – Survival/Drama
For fans of: The Shawshank Redemption, Rescue Dawn, Midnight Express
Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek star in this gritty remake praised for its performances and brutal depiction of endurance and friendship.
Brimstone (2016) – Western/Thriller
For fans of: The Nightingale, The Proposition, The Painted Bird
This brutal Dutch western divided critics but gained cult status for its unflinching portrayal of religious violence and survival.
The Dreamers (2003) – Drama/Romance
For fans of: Call Me by Your Name, Y Tu Mamá También, Last Tango in Paris
Bernardo Bertolucci’s erotic coming-of-age tale set during the 1968 Paris protests earned praise for its sensuality and cinephilia.
Shot Caller (2017) – Crime/Drama
For fans of: Felon, Brawl in Cell Block 99, Animal Kingdom
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau transforms from businessman to prison gang leader in this gritty thriller praised for its realism and tension.
Fracture (2007) – Legal/Thriller
For fans of: Primal Fear, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Firm
Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins face off in this slick courtroom thriller praised for its performances and pacing.
Thirteen Days (2000) – Historical/Thriller
For fans of: JFK, Bridge of Spies, The Post
This Cuban Missile Crisis drama earned critical praise for its tension and historical accuracy.
A Monster Calls (2016) – Fantasy/Drama
For fans of: The Lovely Bones, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Fall
Praised for its emotional depth and visual storytelling, this grief-driven fantasy was nominated for nine Goya Awards.
The Man Standing Next (2020) – Political/Thriller
For fans of: The Spy Gone North, The President’s Last Bang, Decision to Leave
South Korea’s Oscar submission explores political assassination with chilling precision and historical resonance.
Joe (2014) – Drama/Thriller
For fans of: Mud, Winter’s Bone, Out of the Furnace
Nicolas Cage’s restrained performance earned praise in this Southern gothic about violence, redemption, and fatherhood.
Ammonite (2020) – Historical/Romance
For fans of: Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Carol, The Favourite
Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan star in this slow-burning period romance that earned critical acclaim for its performances and atmosphere.
Love and Other Drugs (2010) – Romantic/Drama
For fans of: The Big Sick, Silver Linings Playbook, One Day
Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal star in this pharma-laced romance praised for its chemistry and emotional honesty.
Cult Favourites
The Booth at the End (2011) – Psychological/Mystery
For fans of: Black Mirror, The Twilight Zone, The Man from Earth
A mysterious man in a diner offers deals that test morality in this minimalist, dialogue-driven cult series.
The Pine Barrens (2022) – Horror/Thriller
For fans of: The Blair Witch Project, Skinamarink, Noroi
This lo-fi horror set in New Jersey’s haunted woods has gained underground traction for its atmosphere and ambiguity.
Last Breath (2019) – Survival/Documentary
For fans of: The Rescue, The Deep, 127 Hours
This real-life diving survival story has built a cult following for its tension and immersive underwater visuals.
Triangle (2009) – Psychological/Thriller
For fans of: Timecrimes, Coherence, The Machinist
Melissa George stars in this time-loop thriller aboard a mysterious ship, lauded for its structure and eerie ambiguity.
Suspiria (1977) – Horror/Thriller
For fans of: The Neon Demon, The Witch, Rosemary’s Baby
Dario Argento’s surreal ballet-school horror became a cult classic for its colour palette, score, and dreamlike dread.
The Way (2010) – Drama/Spiritual
For fans of: Into the Wild, Wild, Tracks
Emilio Estevez’s Camino de Santiago pilgrimage film has found a loyal audience for its introspective tone and emotional resonance.
Gold (2016) – Drama/Thriller
For fans of: The Big Short, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street
Matthew McConaughey’s performance anchors this mining scandal drama that’s gained cult traction despite mixed reviews.
Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014) – Comedy/Drama
For fans of: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Eat Pray Love, About Schmidt
Simon Pegg’s global quest for joy didn’t win awards but found a loyal audience for its earnest tone and whimsical style.
The Island (2005) – Sci-Fi/Action
For fans of: Oblivion, Minority Report, The Matrix
Michael Bay’s clone conspiracy thriller has gained cult traction for its premise and visual style.
Unthinkable (2010) – Psychological/Thriller
For fans of: Eye in the Sky, Rendition, The Mauritanian
Samuel L. Jackson stars in this controversial interrogation thriller that sparked debate and found a niche audience.
The Choir (2014) – Drama/Music
For fans of: Mr. Holland’s Opus, August Rush, Whiplash
This boarding school music drama starring Dustin Hoffman has built quiet cult appeal for its emotional arc and classical soundtrack.
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021) – Sci-Fi/Romance
For fans of: The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Infinite Man, Palm Springs
This charming time-loop teen romance earned a cult following for its optimism and emotional resonance.
Non-Stop (2014) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Flightplan, The Commuter, Unknown
Liam Neeson stars as an air marshal in this high-concept thriller that became a sleeper hit with genre fans.
In Time (2011) – Sci-Fi/Thriller
For fans of: Equilibrium, Gattaca, Looper
Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried race against the clock in this dystopian thriller with a loyal fanbase despite mixed reviews.