11 Best Movies on Amazon Prime India

The first things that grab your attention in Nickel Boys are its beauty and technicality. Director RaMell Ross, a large-format photographer, ensures every frame relays something deep, intimate, and moving. Then there’s how he takes these shots: we see things unfold through the POV of Elwood and Turner, students at an abusive reform school in Tallahassee, Florida. The year is 1962, and even though the civil rights movement inspires Elwood and his peers to stand up for themselves, the political climate is as skewed and violent as ever. Nickel Boys tells the unfortunately common story of how Black men, in particular, had to endure unimaginable abuse during the Jim Crow era in the South. What is uncommon, though, is the sensitivity and boundless inventiveness with which Ross tells this story. Yes, violence is unavoidable in a story like this, but Ross swaps trauma porn with something more effective and chilling—a mixture of silence, archival photographs, time jumps, and that immersive POV, which forces you to be in Elwood and Turner’s shoes. The world before them may be brutal, but inside, they hold space for beauty, fun, relationships, and wonder, manifested in the film in dreamy visual sequences. What Ross does is art in the highest form, an unforgettable balance between style and substance.

Love can happen anytime and anywhere, but some of the best love stories are about the kind of love that fundamentally challenges the lovers in question, as well as the kind of people these lovers are. One such film that does that is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. It’s a simple holiday romance, but the straightforward plot works because of the leads’ playful chemistry and because of the way writer-director Aditya Chopra understands the characters of his directorial debut. While abroad, the two young adults are pushed to think about each other as they navigate an unfamiliar continent, but as they return to their regular lives– with Raj still remaining in Europe and Simran moving back to India– they’re challenged like many second-generation kids, to either return to the culture they grew up in, or adapt to the culture of where they’re going. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge suggests that being Indian and living abroad, as well as personal happiness and respecting one’s family, doesn’t have to contradict, and it’s these ideas that makes it a classic.

The Assessment is a psychological sci-fi thriller following Mia and Aaryan, a wealthy couple applying to be parents in the strictly controlled New World. Their final hurdle is to pass a seven-day assessment conducted by Virginia (Alicia Vikander), who makes sure to test every grain of Mia and Aaryan’s patience and sanity. The trials get more unusual, intrusive, and repulsive at every turn, but they’re not just shocking: they get you thinking about what it really means to raise a person when circumstances are bleak; what the world can come to once nature finally fights back; and what humans are capable of when deprived of humanity. These are weighty themes, but The Assessment carries them out with style and substance. It’s breathtaking to look at, and the performances (especially by Olsen and Vikander) will knock you off your feet.

Given the political nature of the story, it’s not surprising that The Mauritanian takes a somewhat safe and simple approach in depicting the real life Guantanamo Bay prisoner who was unjustly detained for more than a decade. Nevertheless, sticking to familiar procedural beats is effective, because of the powerful story itself, and the outstanding performances of Jodie Foster and Hollywood newcomer Tahar Rahim, who won and was nominated for a Golden Globe respectively. The formulaic approach helps the film carry the complexities of the case in a more concise manner, and sticking close to the story without much flair helps keep the focus on the real injustice. The Mauritanian thankfully works because of its talent.

Who doesn’t love a good wedding? It’s a lovely celebration anywhere in the world, but Hum Aapke Hain Koun depicted the Hindu wedding as one of a kind. The film depicts a traditional engagement and wedding ceremony in its most spectacular form, with catchy songs, elaborate sets, and colorful attire that set the standard for many South Asian weddings today. It’s so captivating that it’s easy to forgive the film’s long runtime and slow pace. That being said, certain aspects, such as the roles women take on, might not have aged well for modern viewers. Still, Hum Aapke Hain Koun remains a Bollywood classic for its undeniable impact.

There’s a pervasive myth in movies that struggle (financial, physical, or otherwise) makes you stronger, but the truth is that struggle makes you weaker. Adversity makes you more resilient and resourceful, sure, but it takes a lot more to be stronger. The Fire Inside, a biopic about American Olympic athlete Ressa Shields, understands that truth, so instead of being a romanticized rags-to-riches picture, it’s instead a sympathetic and thoughtful film about how Shields and her trainer, Jason Crutchfield, navigate the many hurdles and biases that they encounter as a Black and poverty-stricken athletic team. The film is a sports drama, but the excellent dialogue (written by award-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins) hits just as much as the boxing scenes. Unlike most sports movies, The Fire Inside’s story doesn’t stop at the crucial match—we get to see how Shield fares after all the hype and fanfare, which makes it all the more compelling and memorable.

A movie well-ahead of its time, WarGames follows high schooler David Lightman (Matthew Broderick) as he accidentally finds his way into the US Air Force’s supercomputer while trying to access a video game. Thinking it’s all still a game, he launches a nuclear simulation that could possibly start World War III. WarGames came out before computer hackers and cyberthrillers became popular, so it was rightly lauded by critics and audiences alike for being edgy and forward-thinking, even garnering three Oscar nominations at the time of its release. It may sound gimicky, but WarGames is saved by its smart script, which connects cybersecurity, the military, and gaming in interesting ways. It also features compelling performances by Broderick and The Breakfast Club’s Ally Sheedy. In fact, the film was so convincing that then-President Ronald Reagan, after having seen the film, had federal secruity review their digital defenses and came up months later with the the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. What other film can say that about their influence?

For better or worse, marriage links the fate of two people for the rest of their lives, even long after it has ended. So when separated because of kidnapping, of course a loving spouse would do all they can to reunite again. It’s this motivation that drives Roja, both the character and film. Through a couple torn apart, Roja urges the nation to bring them together by bringing the region and the whole of India together, by ensuring that the region doesn’t separate from the whole. Admittedly, the pan-India nationalism does somewhat detract from the couple’s struggle, as it includes some plot points that needlessly endanger both of them. However, Roja as a romance is quite compelling, maybe just enough to ignore its flaws as a political thriller.

Picture this: Hugh Grant falls for an American out of his league. Helping him boost his confidence are his long-time friends, a clique that includes a sibling and a kooky roommate. Grand professions of love are made and timing plays a crucial role in how Grant gets the girl. What you’ve just read may remind you of Notting Hill, but it’s actually true, too, of the lesser known but equally beloved Four Weddings and a Funeral. Both are written by Richard Curtis, but while Notting Hill is sleeker and smoother—more accessible to a wider audience—Four Weddings feels grungier and riskier. As the title suggests, it follows Charles (Grant) and his friends as they get invited to one wedding after another, which forces them to think about love and what it means in this day and age. Do people get married just to feel less lonely? Is true love a naive figment of our imaginations or is it real? Charles thinks it may be the latter when he meets Carrie ( MacDowell), but circumstances, bad timing, and his musings on love and relationships prevent him from fully committing. It’s a delightful romp, tempered with that trademark British wit and the genre’s irresistible sweetness. Four Weddings may not have gained the same box-office fame as Notting Hill, but its status as a cult classic tells you all you need to know about its quality.

If you’re craving for the fast-paced fights, hand-to-hand combat, and insane stunts of Hong Kong action cinema, you might enjoy Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. This novel adaptation has a gangster storyline we’ve seen before, but the action? Impeccable. The action sequences are unrelenting with its underground fighter protagonist stumbling into a convoluted web of alliances and enemies, so every moment feels thrilling, even during the quieter moments. The choreography is flashy, the stunts are great, and it’s all performed by some of the best action stars across generations. Admittedly, the occasional CGI can be a bit distracting. Still, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is a welcome throwback to Hong Kong action flicks.