Credit: Amazon
Life
What to watch on Amazon Prime: the best films and TV shows available right now
By Lauren Geall
Updated 5 years ago
Amazon Prime Video is jam-packed with some incredible content right now, but that makes it all the more difficult to pick something to watch. To make your life just that little bit easier, here’s Stylist’s guide to making the most of your subscription.
With so much content out there nowadays, it can sometimes feel like half the free time you want to use relaxing in front of the TV is actually spent sifting through the hundreds of TV series, films and documentaries vying for your attention.
Let’s face it: that’s a whole lot of effort none of us really need at the end of the day.
So, whether you’ve just taken the plunge and decided to invest in an Amazon Prime subscription, or remain a dedicated fan of the streaming platform, we’ve compiled this list of all the best content to watch to make your life just a little bit easier.
Whether you’re looking for a gripping new TV show to binge watch or a hilarious romantic comedy, there’s something for everyone on Amazon Prime, and this is your guide to finding all the stuff you actually want to watch, with minimal effort.
The best TV series to watch on Amazon Prime
Outlander
Cast: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin.
What do time travel, a Second World War nurse and kilts have in common? They’re all an essential part of Outlander, the successful TV show based on Diana Gabaldon’s book series of the same name.
The series follows the story of Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), who finds herself transported from 1940s Scotland to 1740s Scotland after stepping through an ancient stone circle while on honeymoon with her husband. Thrown into an unknown world full of political conflict and hidden dangers, Claire meets a young man called Jamie who transforms her life – and helps her to understand the unsettled country she now inhabits.
The best bit? Amazon Prime boasts all five seasons (with the most current season being released on a weekly basis) so you’ve got plenty to watch.
Read all of Stylist’s Outlander content here.
Modern Love
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Cristin Milioti, Tina Fey, Catherine Keener, Dev Patel, Julia Garner, Olivia Cooke, John Slattery, and Andrew Scott.
Modern Love is an Amazon Original series based on The New York Times’ much-loved column of the same name.
Each half-hour episode of Modern Love follows the real-life love stories of readers who submitted their stories to the newspaper column. According to Amazon, the series looks to “explore love in all of its complicated and beautiful forms, as each standalone episode brings some of the column’s most beloved stories to life with a stellar cast.”
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Cast: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein and Michael Zegen.
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel follows the story of a 50s Jewish housewife who finds she has a talent for stand-up comedy.
The brainchild of Gilmore Girls’ creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is whip smart, funny and delightfully addictive. The third season is set to arrive on Amazon Prime on 6 December, and it’s safe to say we’re a tad excited.
Read Stylist’s guide to the upcoming third season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel here.
Hanna
Cast: Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman.
Hanna is an action-packed coming-of-age style drama which follows the story of a girl called Hanna, who has been raised in the forest. The drama follows the young girl as she evades the relentless pursuit of a CIA agent, and tries to uncover the truth behind her identity.
Expect lots of high-drama fights and chase scenes: this one will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Homecoming
Cast: Julia Roberts, Stephan James, Bobby Cannavale, Shea Whigham, Sissy Spacek and Alex Karpovsky.
Julia Roberts makes her TV debut in this psychological thriller, and her performance definitely doesn’t disappoint.
Homecoming follows the story of Heidi Bergman, a military caseworker who works in a facility which helps soldiers to integrate back into civilian life. Based on a podcast of the same name, Homecoming follows Heidi as she leaves the facility – only to realise there’s a whole other story behind the one she’s been telling herself.
Plus, season two is currently in production.
Modern Family
Cast: Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Ariel Winter, Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ed O’Neill, Sofîa Vergara, Rico Rodriguez, Jeremy Maguire, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.
Modern Family has now been on our screens for an incredible ten years, and you can watch the hilarious first seven seasons for free with an Amazon Prime subscription.
The sit-com follows the story of the Pritchett/Dunphy family as they navigate all the realities of modern life – and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with all the characters just as quickly as we did.
Fleabag
Cast: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Andrew Scott, Sian Clifford, Olivia Colman and Brett Gelman.
If you’re yet to tune in with Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s highly popular (and award winning) comedy Fleabag, then get started with season one on Amazon Prime.
The story follows one central protagonist played by Waller-Bridge herself (known only as Fleabag) as she navigates the reality of being a young woman living in London while simultaneously dealing with tragedy and grief.
The best films to watch on Amazon Prime
Beautiful Boy
Cast: Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell star.
Beautiful Boy is an Amazon original film based on the best-selling memoirs from David and Nic Sheff, which explore the impact of addiction on their family.
Chronicling how the family deal with survival, relapse, and recovery over a number of years, Beautiful Boy is raw, emotional and moving.
Paddington 2
Cast: Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Imelda Staunton and Jim Broadbent.
Everyone’s favourite marmalade sandwich eating bear has appeared on the big screen twice throughout his career, and now you can enjoy it for yourself at home.
The live-action comedy films, which are based on the Paddington Bear stories by Michael Bond, are both available on Amazon Prime. In the second film (trailer above), Paddington tries to get a present for his aunt’s birthday, before being framed for a crime he didn’t commit.
Green Book
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco, Don Stark and Dimiter Marinov.
Green Book follows the story of a successful African-American pianist and his white driver and security guard as the pair embark on a national tour of America. Facing racism and segregation along the way, Green Book isn’t always an easy watch, but the confrontational relationship at the heart of the film is important and thought-provoking.
Plus, it won the award for best picture at the 2019 Oscars.
Image: Amazon
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