If you look at the movie offerings of Amazon Prime for December, you might think the streaming service is taking a few pages out of the Turner Classic Movies channel’s playbook. Among Amazon Prime’s best movies to stream in December are 19 films that were released before 1970, including two from the 1920s. (Here are the 25 best movies you’ve probably never seen.)
To determine the best movies to stream on Amazon Prime this December, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of December 2022, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Data on streaming availability, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
The scope of films on Amazon Prime teems with star power – from Barbara Stanwyck, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, and Paul Newman to Michael B. Jordan, Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Daniel Craig, and a galaxy of screen luminaries in between.
Among Amazon’s vintage movie offerings in December are “The Thief of Bagdad (1924),” “Stella Dallas (1937),” “Wuthering Heights (1939),” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961).”
Some of Hollywood’s greatest directors take a bow, with films from Alfred Hitchcock (“To Catch a Thief”), William Wyler (“Dodsworth”), Frank Capra (“Meet John Doe”), Lewis Milestone (“The Strange Love of Martha Ivers”), and Howard Hawks (“His Girl Friday”).
Click here to see the best movies to stream on Amazon Prime this December
Some of the more recent releases address themes of race (“Fruitvale Station”), the collision of cultures (“The Big Sick”), and the post-monster apocalypse (“Love and Monsters”).
The latter-day pantheon of directors with films on Amazon Prime includes Jackson, Sam Mendes, Ridley Scott, and John Woo. And all three Lord of the Rings motion pictures, directed by Peter Jackson, are on the Amazon Prime schedule. One installment of the trilogy is among the movies that have won the most Oscars.
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
50. Thelma & Louise (1991)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (144,492 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (170,275 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (72 reviews)
> Directed by: Ridley Scott
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
49. California Split (1974)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (6,516 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (2,929 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (25 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Altman
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
48. No Time to Die (2021)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (359,361 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (10,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (416 reviews)
> Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
47. Road to Perdition (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (257,017 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (188,984 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (214 reviews)
> Directed by: Sam Mendes
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
46. Face/Off (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (360,443 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (450,429 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (87 reviews)
> Directed by: John Woo
Source: Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures
45. The Naked Kiss (1964)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (7,465 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (3,156 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (14 reviews)
> Directed by: Samuel Fuller
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
44. Stella Dallas (1937)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (5,176 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (2,147 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (9 reviews)
> Directed by: King Vidor
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
43. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (67,993 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (48,740 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (42 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Oz
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
42. In the Line of Fire (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (98,094 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (55,121 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (71 reviews)
> Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of New World Pictures
41. Heathers (1989)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (95,825 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (75,561 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (56 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
40. The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (9,152 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (1,768 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (10 reviews)
> Directed by: Lewis Milestone
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures
39. The Big Combo (1955)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (7,137 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (2,213 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (14 reviews)
> Directed by: Joseph H. Lewis
Source: Courtesy of Bleecker Street Media
38. Captain Fantastic (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (205,102 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (22,458 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (229 reviews)
> Directed by: Matt Ross
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
37. Little Women (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (55,003 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (87,630 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (39 reviews)
> Directed by: Gillian Armstrong
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
36. Thief (1981)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (28,472 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (7,277 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (31 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Mann
Source: Courtesy of Summit Distribution
35. Source Code (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (499,931 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (125,685 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (263 reviews)
> Directed by: Duncan Jones
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
34. Meet John Doe (1941)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (12,873 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (4,584 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (22 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Capra
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Home Media Distribution
33. Love and Monsters (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (107,648 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (54 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (107 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Matthews
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
32. The Shootist (1976)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (23,342 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (9,640 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (23 reviews)
> Directed by: Don Siegel
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment
31. Superbad (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (543,101 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (634,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (209 reviews)
> Directed by: Greg Mottola
Source: Courtesy of Eureka Entertainment
30. Lucky (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (21,622 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (4,352 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (151 reviews)
> Directed by: John Carroll Lynch
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
29. To Catch a Thief (1955)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (69,121 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (52,106 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (50 reviews)
> Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
28. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (632,802 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (424,606 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (293 reviews)
> Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
27. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (91,371 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (54,058 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (44 reviews)
> Directed by: John Sturges
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
26. Ordinary People (1980)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (49,514 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (23,252 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (55 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Redford
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
25. Dodsworth (1936)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (8,708 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (1,474 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (21 reviews)
> Directed by: William Wyler
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Columbia TriStar Home Video
24. Passion Fish (1992)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (5,410 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (2,874 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (25 reviews)
> Directed by: John Sayles
Source: Courtesy of GEM Entertainment
23. Fruitvale Station (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (78,679 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (39,286 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (214 reviews)
> Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
22. True Grit (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (323,355 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (158,421 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (275 reviews)
> Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
21. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (172,751 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (242,815 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (53 reviews)
> Directed by: Blake Edwards
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
20. The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (5,940 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (2,302 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (28 reviews)
> Directed by: Raoul Walsh
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
19. Wuthering Heights (1939)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (16,674 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (8,793 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (23 reviews)
> Directed by: William Wyler
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
18. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (127,249 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (65,419 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (27 reviews)
> Directed by: Don Siegel
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
17. What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (19,816 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (52,290 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (58 reviews)
> Directed by: Brian Gibson
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
16. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (212,416 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (152,812 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (245 reviews)
> Directed by: Wes Anderson
Source: Courtesy of BBC Films
15. Pride (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (54,294 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (16,261 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (153 reviews)
> Directed by: Matthew Warchus
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Studios
14. The Big Sick (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (127,850 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (32,924 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (303 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Showalter
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
13. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (461,303 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1,033,117 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (60 reviews)
> Directed by: Tim Burton
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
12. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (44,085 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (47,635 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (47 reviews)
> Directed by: George Seaton
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
11. Red River (1948)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (29,715 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (8,571 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (30 reviews)
> Directed by: Howard Hawks & Arthur Rosson
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
10. Charade (1963)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (72,875 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (42,943 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (50 reviews)
> Directed by: Stanley Donen
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
9. Scarlet Street (1945)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (15,674 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (3,697 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (16 reviews)
> Directed by: Fritz Lang
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
8. My Man Godfrey (1936)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (22,597 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (7,668 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (37 reviews)
> Directed by: Gregory La Cava
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
7. His Girl Friday (1940)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (56,106 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (24,333 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (67 reviews)
> Directed by: Howard Hawks
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
6. Paper Moon (1973)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (44,587 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (11,421 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (41 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
5. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (14,002 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (5,423 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (30 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Reisner & Buster Keaton
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (1,710,236 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (34,679,773 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (275 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Jackson
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,731,527 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,355,751 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Jackson
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
2. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,332,128 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (847,443 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Demme
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,546,188 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,341,428 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (255 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Jackson
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)
Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Take the retirement quiz right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
