When it comes to streaming service, it has been clear for almost as long as anyone can remember that Netflix sits at the top of the mountain. People everywhere know that Netflix Originals are released almost weekly, with a fair number of those being popular films. However, Amazon Studios might have a leg up on them in terms of quality.
Often releasing their movies to their Prime streaming service, Amazon Studios has been behind some fantastic films since their inception back in 2015. Their catalog includes creative sci-fi flicks, terrifying horror stories, hilarious comedies, and even a few Oscar winners. Rotten Tomatoes is a good place to find the best of their releases, not counting documentaries.
Honey Boy (94%)
Shia LaBeouf has had one of the more interesting careers of anyone in Hollywood. From his time as a child star on Even Stevens to the Transformers franchise to his current run of impressive outings in indie films, it's quite the mixed bag. His high point might be Honey Boy.
Released in 2019, Honey Boy is both written by and stars LaBeouf in a semi-autobiographical tale. It centers on a young actor who struggles with fame, family, and his own mental health. LaBeouf was praised as both actor and writer, while the whole thing was said to be fascinating.
The Handmaiden (95%)
A lot of the earlier Amazon Studios releases were co-productions and The Handmaiden is among those. This 2016 thriller was also produced by Magnolia Pictures. The South Korean picture is based on a 2002 novel of the same name and was an immediate success.
The story is focused on a woman who is hired as the handmaiden of a famous heiress, only she's actually there as part of a plan to defraud her. The film was met with widespread acclaim, was a box office success, and won a handful of awards.
The Salesman (96%)
Another co-distribution, this time with Cohen Media Group, The Salesman is one of the lesser-known Amazon Studios pictures out there. That being said, those who have seen it have been overwhelmingly positive, heaping praise on it. There's a reason this won Best Screenplay and Best Actor at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
The Salesman follows a married couple who, while preparing to perform a stage adaptation of "Death of a Salesman," sees the wife get assaulted. That sends the husband on the hunt for the attacker. This emotional tale managed to win the Academy Award for Best International Film.
Love & Friendship (96%)
The earliest Amazon Studios film on this list, Love & Friendship was first released in March of 2016. Period dramas are all the rage when it comes to award season and things like that but period comedies get less shine, though The Favourite from 2018 stands out.
Love & Friendship is also a delight. In it, a recent widow visits her in-laws and uses her cunning ways to try and secure new wealthy husbands for herself and her daughter. It was praised for how much fun it was but also for its strong cast led by Kate Beckinsale.
Paterson (96%)
Thanks to his role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Adam Driver has become a household name. However, his best acting performances have probably come in smaller independent movies. Among them is his outstanding starring role in 2016's Paterson.
Winner of the Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Paterson focuses on a simple story. It follows the titular character for a few days and details his observations over that time. Sometimes, a film doesn't need to do anything out of the ordinary and can just be a breath of fresh air.
Manchester By The Sea (96%)
For the longest time, this was probably the most famous of Amazon Studios' film. That's because this co-distribution with Roadside Attractions was a hit during awards season. 2016's Manchester By The Sea even went on to win two of the biggest Academy Awards.
Casey Affleck took home Best Actor, while Kenneth Lonergan won Best Original Screenplay. It was also up for four other awards, including Best Picture. The heartbreaking drama centers on a man struggling with grief and guilt after his children die, who has to take custody of his nephew after his brother passes away.
Sound Of Metal (97%)
There is just so much to like about Sound of Metal. Debuting at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and then hitting the Prime streaming service in late 2020, it quickly took the world by storm. At the upcoming Oscars, it is nominated for six awards.
They include Best Picture and Best Actor for Riz Amhed. Sound of Metal tells the remarkable story of a drummer who starts to lose his hearing and must cope with the new change in his life. It's emotionally gripping, well-written, features tremendous acting, and uses sound expertly.
Blow The Man Down (98%)
Although it hasn't been racking up the heavy praise and award nominations everywhere as some others, Blow The Man Down still proved to get strong reviews from the majority of the critics who saw it. The 2019 film is among the best dark comedies released in a long time.
Set in a small town, it sees two young girls kill a man who tried to attack them. As they struggle to cover up what they did, they realize that there are surprising criminal secrets around every corner of their seemingly innocent hometown. It was praised for being original and clever.
One Night In Miami... (98%)
Like Sound of Metal, 2020's One Night in Miami... has been a critical darling and has been named everywhere when it comes to award discussion. In fact, Academy Award winner Regina King has already been nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes.
The film gives a fictionalized telling of a meeting at the Hampton House in 1964 between boxer Muhammad Ali, activist Malcolm X, NFL star Jim Brown, and singer Sam Cooke. The powerful movie is already an instant classic and it's up for three Oscars.
The Big Sick (98%)
Co-distributed with Lionsgate, 2017's The Big Sick quickly became the talk of the cinema world when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It was written by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani and is loosely based on their real life romance together.
The Big Sick centers on a couple who runs into major cultural differences after the woman (played by Zoe Kazan) suffers a serious lung infection. Along with the performances and the writing, this was praised for being both hilarious and heartwarming.