The 11 best movies on Amazon Prime in May – full list

There’s nothing like settling in with a film that takes you back – to a bygone era, a dusty frontier, or the thrill of a cinema classic. And with these 11 titles, it’s never been easier to rediscover the films that shaped generations.

From Indiana Jones’s whip-cracking adventures to noir-tinged British dramas and 90s supernatural favourites, these films – all recently added to Amazon Prime Video’s catalogue – is built for comfort, quality and a little bit of grit where needed.

The Revenant (2015)

Set on the American frontier in the 1820s, this epic survival drama follows Hugh Glass, a fur trapper left for dead after a bear attack and betrayal by his own hunting party. Alone and gravely injured, he embarks on a brutal journey across unforgiving terrain to stay alive – and seek revenge.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film also stars Tom Hardy and Domhnall Gleeson and won three Oscars in total. It was filmed using only natural light in remote, often freezing locations in Canada and Argentina, contributing to the immersive and punishing realism that defines the story.

The Stars Look Down (1940)

Set in a North East England mining town, this British drama tells the story of Davey Fenwick, a miner’s son who seeks to improve life for his community by pursuing education and entering politics. As he moves between ambition and loyalty, the film explores themes of class, exploitation and collective struggle.

Michael Redgrave leads the cast alongside Margaret Lockwood and Emlyn Williams. Directed by Carol Reed, it is widely regarded as a key example of early British social realism. The film is based on the 1935 novel by A.J. Cronin, which drew heavily on real conditions in mining communities. Its stark portrayal of injustice and the need for reform still resonates.

Indiana Jones series (1981–2008)

The Indiana Jones films follow the daring exploits of archaeologist Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones as he travels the globe in search of ancient relics while fending off villains, rival treasure hunters and supernatural dangers. The series began with Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, followed by Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989), and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).

Harrison Ford stars in the title role, joined by actors such as Karen Allen, Sean Connery and Cate Blanchett across the four instalments. Collectively, the series has won six Academy Awards and earned 13 nominations. Raiders of the Lost Ark was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 1999 for its cultural significance.

The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

This early British sci-fi horror film centres on a rocket that returns to Earth after a space mission goes wrong. Only one of the three astronauts survives – but he begins to mutate, infected by something alien. As the creature’s transformation accelerates, Professor Quatermass races to contain the threat.

Brian Donlevy plays the lead role in a film that marked one of Hammer Film Productions’ first major successes. Known in the U.S. as The Creeping Unknown, it was based on a 1953 BBC television serial and became a landmark title in the British horror genre. Its success paved the way for decades of Hammer horror to follow.

Tread Softly Stranger (1958)

Set in a grimy Yorkshire steel town, this noir-influenced drama follows two brothers reunited by chance and drawn into criminal activity after falling under the spell of a nightclub hostess. George Baker and Terence Morgan play the siblings, while Diana Dors delivers a sultry, commanding performance.

The film balances melodrama with social tension, offering a look at desperation, betrayal and fractured masculinity in post-war Britain. It was adapted from the stage play Blind Alley by Jack Popplewell.

Jaws 2 (1978)

In the follow-up to Steven Spielberg’s original blockbuster, Police Chief Martin Brody finds himself once again trying to convince the town of Amity Island that a great white shark is lurking offshore. When teenagers become the target, Brody’s warnings gain urgency – but town officials remain reluctant to act.

Roy Scheider reprises his role, joined again by Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton. Although it didn’t match the critical acclaim of the 1975 original, Jaws 2 was a financial success and solidified the film’s legacy as a franchise.

The Terminal (2004)

Inspired by real events, this character-driven drama tells the story of Viktor Navorski, an Eastern European traveller stranded in JFK Airport when a sudden political upheaval renders his passport invalid. Unable to enter the United States or return home, he must make the terminal his new home.

Tom Hanks plays Viktor with warmth and quiet determination, supported by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stanley Tucci. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film was loosely based on the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who lived in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris for nearly two decades. The film was praised for its emotional core and inventive setting.

The Last Journey (1936)

This short, suspense-filled British thriller follows a retiring train driver who, consumed by jealousy and suspicion, considers derailing his train during one final journey. The drama unfolds mostly aboard the train, creating a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere.

Godfrey Tearle plays the troubled engineer, and the cast also includes Hugh Williams and Judy Gunn. Directed by Bernard Vorhaus and produced at Twickenham Studios, the film is a classic example of a “quota quickie” – low-budget British films made to meet domestic screening requirements – that punches above its weight.

Conclave (2024)

Based on the bestselling novel by Robert Harris, this Vatican-set political thriller begins with the death of a Pope and follows the secretive process of electing his successor. Inside the Sistine Chapel, the College of Cardinals faces not only ideological division but a dangerous secret that could challenge the ideals of the entire Church.

Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Lomeli, with Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini rounding out a strong cast. Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), the film received eight nominations at the 97th Academy Awards – including Best Picture – and won Best Adapted Screenplay.

Ghost (1990)

This romantic fantasy drama became one of the biggest hits of the 1990s. When banker Sam Wheat is murdered during a mugging, he remains on Earth as a ghost to warn his partner Molly of looming danger – and enlists a reluctant psychic, Oda Mae Brown, to communicate with her.

Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg star in this emotional and genre-blending film, directed by Jerry Zucker. Ghost won two Academy Awards, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Goldberg, and earned over $500 million at the global box office.

Fight Club (1999)

This psychological drama follows a disillusioned office worker who forms an underground fight club with a soap salesman named Tyler Durden. As the club grows into a chaotic anti-consumerist movement, the line between reality and delusion begins to blur.

Edward Norton stars alongside Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter in a film directed by David Fincher and based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk. Initially divisive on release, Fight Club gained cult status over time and is now considered a defining film of the late 1990s.