Whether they are considered classic or contemporary or anything in between, Amazon Prime has dipped into its film library in August to offer a wealth of great motion pictures from every decade starting with silent films from the 1920s.
To determine the best movies to stream on Amazon Prime this August, 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 early August 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, and ruled out documentaries. Data on streaming availability, also current as of early August, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
Seven of these motion pictures were awarded a perfect 100% Freshness rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics. Among those seven films are three Westerns: “Stagecoach” (1939), “The Big Country” (1958), and “El Dorado” (1966), two of three starring John Wayne. In addition, you’ll find plenty of Academy Award winners here. (These are the Best Picture nominees and winners you can stream right now.)
There are three films on the Amazon Prime schedule from the 1920s, and all of them have cultural importance. “The Thief of Bagdad” (1924) starred Douglas Fairbanks and featured Anna May Wong in one of the first significant roles for a non-white actress. The animated film “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” (1924) introduced audiences to Mickey Mouse, and “The Gold Rush” (1928), written, directed, and starring Charlie Chaplin appears on virtually every roster of the best films of all time. (These are Charlie Chaplin’s best and worst movies.)
Click here to read about the best movies to stream on Amazon Prime right now, according to data
Each decade is represented by at least one film that left a cultural imprint. “His Girl Friday” (1940) defined the era’s screwball comedy format. “Rebel Without a Cause” (1956) introduced a new kind of star in James Dean. George A. Romero’s zombie film “NIght of the Living Dead” (1968) launched a genre. Roman Polanski breathed new life into film noir with “Chinatown” (1974). “Scarface” (1983), starring Al Pacino, took the gangster film to a disturbingly violent level.
There are plenty of offerings from the 21st century on Amazon Prime, as well. The Creed prize-fighter franchise is represented by two movies. Films based on historical events and the people behind them include “Selma” (2014), “Frost/Nixon” (2008), “Hacksaw Ridge” (2016), and “The King’s Speech” (2010).
To determine the best movies to stream on Amazon Prime this August, 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 early August 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, and ruled out documentaries. Data on streaming availability, also current as of early August, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
50. A Shot in the Dark (1964)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (27,178 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (17,976 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (31 reviews)
> Directed by: Blake Edwards
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Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
49. Philomena (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (101,025 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (52,457 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (200 reviews)
> Directed by: Stephen Frears
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
48. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (205,660 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (396,152 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (74 reviews)
> Directed by: Rob Reiner
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
47. 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
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
46. The Day of the Jackal (1973)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (41,783 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (5,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (31 reviews)
> Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
45. Gaslight (1944)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (26,514 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (8,558 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (32 reviews)
> Directed by: George Cukor
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists Releasing
44. Creed III (2023)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (10,088 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (2,500 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (237 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael B. Jordan
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
43. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (86,895 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (58,628 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (52 reviews)
> Directed by: Nicholas Ray
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
42. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (530,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (55,854 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (280 reviews)
> Directed by: Mel Gibson
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Source: Rich Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
41. Frost/Nixon (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (109,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (109,887 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (259 reviews)
> Directed by: Ron Howard
Source: Courtesy of Rogue Pictures
40. Hot Fuzz (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (501,350 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (250,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (201 reviews)
> Directed by: Edgar Wright
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
39. The Fighter (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (371,534 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (121,585 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (254 reviews)
> Directed by: David O. Russell
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Source: Courtesy of National General Pictures
38. Little Big Man (1970)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (34,080 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (17,453 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (26 reviews)
> Directed by: Arthur Penn
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
37. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (79,521 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (34,285 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (57 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Wise
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
36. Scarface (1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (778,547 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (488,892 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (71 reviews)
> Directed by: Brian De Palma
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
35. Selma (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (92,432 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (61,564 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (313 reviews)
> Directed by: Ava DuVernay
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
34. Creed (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (258,408 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (76,266 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (311 reviews)
> Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
33. The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (10,492 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (6,847 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (32 reviews)
> Directed by: Sam Wood
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
32. The Train (1964)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (17,051 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (4,310 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (15 reviews)
> Directed by: John Frankenheimer
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Source: Courtesy of Republic Pictures
31. The Quiet Man (1952)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (36,647 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (30,453 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (45 reviews)
> Directed by: John Ford
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Studios
30. The Big Sick (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (137,232 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (32,924 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (303 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Showalter
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Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
29. The Imitation Game (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (774,531 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (104,116 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (285 reviews)
> Directed by: Morten Tyldum
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
28. The Public Enemy (1931)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (20,233 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (7,548 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (32 reviews)
> Directed by: William A. Wellman
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
27. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1,333,240 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (776,325 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (332 reviews)
> Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
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Source: Courtesy of Continental Distributing
26. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (121,700 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (130,710 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (74 reviews)
> Directed by: George A. Romero
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
25. El Dorado (1966)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (25,687 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (12,709 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (23 reviews)
> Directed by: Howard Hawks
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
24. Casino Royale (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (601,654 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (703,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (259 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Campbell
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Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
23. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (530,779 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (498,702 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (213 reviews)
> Directed by: Edgar Wright
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
22. Inherit the Wind (1960)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (30,791 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (9,656 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (26 reviews)
> Directed by: Stanley Kramer
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
21. 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
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
20. Stagecoach (1939)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (46,215 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (14,658 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (45 reviews)
> Directed by: John Ford
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
19. 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 The Weinstein Company
18. The King’s Speech (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (683,883 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (144,700 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (298 reviews)
> Directed by: Tom Hooper
Source: Courtesy of Batrax Entertainment
17. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (82,141 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (4,708 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (220 reviews)
> Directed by: Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
16. The Iron Giant (1999)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (180,630 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (204,968 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (142 reviews)
> Directed by: Brad Bird
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
15. 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
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
14. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (72,528 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (23,742 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (48 reviews)
> Directed by: John Ford
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
13. 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
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
12. The Big Country (1958)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (16,962 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (5,532 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (11 reviews)
> Directed by: William Wyler
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
11. 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
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
10. The Killing (1956)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (85,754 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (22,285 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (42 reviews)
> Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
9. The Apartment (1960)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (172,183 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (38,259 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (72 reviews)
> Directed by: Billy Wilder
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
8. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (693,881 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (312,983 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (212 reviews)
> Directed by: Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
7. Amadeus (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (403,732 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (180,242 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (100 reviews)
> Directed by: Miloš Forman
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
6. Chinatown (1974)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (309,557 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (78,076 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (76 reviews)
> Directed by: Roman Polanski
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
5. Paths of Glory (1957)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (199,155 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (35,412 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (62 reviews)
> Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
4. The Gold Rush (1925)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (106,473 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (20,591 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (50 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Chaplin
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
3. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (314,446 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (65,906 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: Sergio Leone
Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
2. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (422,428 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (219,179 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (87 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Capra
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 9.3/10 (2,465,102 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (887,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (77 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Darabont
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