If you're a Prime Video subscriber and a movie lover, it feels safe to admit it's been a pretty rough year, and hardly one befitting one of the best streaming services in the business.
Most of Prime Video's original movie output this year has been comprised of action-comedies that have varied in quality, a disappointing long-awaited sequel ("Another Simple Favor", forgettable romances, and quite possibly the worst movie of 2025: "War of the Worlds," starring Ice Cube.
'Deep Cover'
"Deep Cover" hit Prime Video back in June and, measured against the many action-comedies to come to the streamer this year, this fast-paced and genuinely funny romp is easily the best, by some margin.
Released in June, Tom Kingsley's "Deep Cover" revolves around improv actor, Kat (Bryce Dallas Howard). Kat's worried she has missed her shot at success and spends her time teaching improv comedy... but her life's turned upside down when an undercover cop (Sean Bean) approaches her with an opportunity: pretend to be a hardened criminal and break into gangland London. She recruits two of her students (Orlando Bloom and "Ted Lasso's" Nick Mohammed), and together the trio poses as dangerous criminals to break into the city's criminal underworld, and hilarity ensues.
Stream "Deep Cover" on Prime Video now
'Hedda'
Ahead of her forthcoming "28 Years Later" sequel, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," Nia DaCosta brought us "Hedda," a fresh spin on the classic Ibsen play, Hedda Gabler.
We follow newlywed Hedda (Tessa Thompson). She appears content on the surface, but is secretly simmering with discontent... until the charismatic Eileen Lovberg (Nina Hoss) reenters her life. It's a smoldering romantic drama that plays out across a lavish party, wherein long-repressed desires and tensions erupt.
Recommending "Hedda" earlier this year, Tom's Guide's Malcolm McMillan declared it "an absolute must-watch," thanks in no small part to "an excellent performance" from Thompson herself. Malcolm was far from the only fan, too; at the time of writing, this Prime Video watch is still sitting at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes,
Stream "Hedda" on Prime Video now
'Unstoppable'
The final Prime Video movie I'd shout out from 2025 is "Unstoppable," which dropped as a Prime Video original in January (after a brief theatrical run in the latter months of 2024).
This uplifting sports drama tells the true story of Anthony Robles (here played by Jharrel Jerome), a wrestler born without a right leg who, with the support of his mother Judy (Jennifer Lopez) and his coaches, fights against adversity to earn a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling team and go on to realize his dream: become an NCAA wrestling champion. It might not necessarily break the biopic mold, but it'll have you rooting for Anthony thanks to strong lead performances from Jerome and Lopez.
Stream "Unstoppable" on Prime Video now
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