For me, there isn’t a better way to unwind from a long day than by sitting down and engaging in a good movie. Luckily, Amazon Prime Video has plenty. This week’s mix includes a lingering taste of Halloween, current and classic comedies steeped in laugh-out-loud sardonic wit, a little bit of action mixed with bickering and brotherly love, and an inspiring drama based on the true story of the first Mexican American to go to space.
These are the five movies I’ll be watching this week on Prime Video.
5
Wolf Man (2025)
If you’re not yet ready to let Halloween go, and you enjoyed Julia Garner’s performance in this year’s most-talked-about horror movie, you’ll be blown away by her in Wolf Man.
Directed and co-written by Saw’s Leigh Whannell, the film’s plot follows a husband and father named Blake (Christopher Abbott, of It Comes at Night) who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his father vanishes and is presumed dead. As Blake and his family approach the house, they’re attacked by an unseen creature and, in the process of protecting his wife and daughter, he becomes infected. The transformation that ensues isn’t just physical—it’s also psychological and super intense.
Here’s the thing: Wolf Man isn’t your typical werewolf movie in the focal sense, and I love that. Here, Whannell places heavy emphasis on body horror and dysmorphia, which offers a unique lens through which to view what’s happening not just to Blake but also to his family. While its pacing might be a little slow and some themes muddled, that’s not the focus. Pay attention to the kind of all-around transformation Blake is experiencing and how he’s fighting to navigate that—rather, the awareness with which he tries to navigate it. Both Abbott and Garner give unforgettably visceral performances that impress upon you long after the movie has ended.
4
Bad Words (2013)
Bad Words is a movie I own and watch it every chance I get. Not only is it literally one of the most wickedly funny movies on the planet, but its endearing little narrative tucked amidst its gleefully amoral comedy makes for a fabulous serotonin boost, especially during a workweek.
Jason Bateman stars as Guy Trilby, a 40-year-old, off-putting misanthrope who upsets the childhood academic balance of fairness when he finds a loophole in the rules and enters the regional spelling bee, then wins. Hurling insults and wisecracks at every turn to everyone with whom he crosses paths, even kids, Guy advances his way to the national contest in Los Angeles, where he’s accompanied by a reporter (The Studio’s Kathryn Hahn). She knows he has a motive, and she plans to uncover it, despite how annoyed the two become with one another. Along the way, Guy forms an inexplicable bond with the young speller he insults the most, and it will give you all the fuzzy feels while—if you’re a dude—making you nostalgic.
Bad Words is your chance to see Bateman in one of his best comedic performances, which is one of my favorites. The film also solidifies the actor’s talented skills as a director—it’s his directorial debut. It’s sharply scripted, uproariously acted, and is the epitome of perfect timing. It’s a foul-mouthed, entertaining balancing act between hatred and humanity that’s littered with sarcasm, sanctity, and salaciousness. You can thank me later.
3
Brothers (2024)
Peter Dinklage (Dexter: Resurrection) and Josh Brolin (Weapons) not just as bickering, thieving brothers but as twins?? I’m all in. Brothers is a crime comedy that tells the story of reformed criminal Moke (Brolin), whose attempts to turn straight fail miserably when he reunites with his sanity-testing, heavy-mustache-sporting twin, Jady (Dinklage).
After cutting a deal with a crooked judge, Jady lops off a chunk of his burglary-and-assault prison sentence but remains under the watchful eye of the judge’s corrections officer son, James (Brendan Fraser, of The Whale). To retrieve what’s needed to uphold his end of the deal, Jady tries to recruit Moke for a dangerous heist that entails a road trip full of gunfights, family drama, and legal troubles. However, given that Jady’s schemes nearly landed him in prison before, Moke is a hard no … until Jady tests his sanity by invading his carefully constructed life.
Expect to giggle a good bit at this misguided attempt at family bonding and be entertained by its humorous heist aspects, especially as they’re complicated by family drama. You can also expect some high-quality on-screen comedic chemistry between Brolin and Dinklage in this lowbrow, popcorn-worthy flick that also features Glenn Close and Marisa Tomei, of the Spider-Man franchise.
2
Uncle Buck (1989)
Keep the sardonic wit rolling by jumping back to 1989 for a comedy classic featuring beloved comedy icon John Candy. Uncle Buck is one of my all-time favorite movies and is the type that gets better with each viewing.
Candy stars as the titular character Buck Russell. Unlike his successful brother Bob (Garrett M. Brown, of Good Trouble), Buck is laid back and irresponsible. He honestly doesn’t care one bit about falling in line with society and has zero experience with any of it. He’d rather remain single, have fun, and skate by, observing while enjoying a good cigar. Buck’s carefree life is turned upside down, though, when Bob calls, needing Buck to watch his three kids—one of whom is played by the lovably adorable, pre-Home Alone Macaulay Culkin.
Buck hilariously stumbles his way through navigating the complexities of running a household that includes cooking for, transporting, and parenting his rebellious, angry, attitude-ridden teen-aged niece Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly, of Girl in the Attic) and her younger twin siblings, the inherently inquisitive Miles (Culkin) and Maizy (Zero Day’s Gaby Hoffman). He also learns what it means to commit and opens himself to love, but not before engaging in 20 questions with Miles, threatening Tia’s disrespectful boyfriend with becoming a ritual killing, or putting Maizy’s prudish, authoritarian principal in her place and insulting the giant wart on her face.
Throughout his career, the late John Candy never made a boring movie, and if there’s any film that’s sure to rekindle your love for the comedy icon or even ignite it, it’s Uncle Buck.
1
A Million Miles Away (2024)
Everyone loves to watch a good drama on a Friday or Saturday night, so why not watch one that’s based on an inspirational true story?
A Million Miles Away tells the tale of the first Mexican American to go to space, José Hérnández, played by Unstoppable’s Michael Peña. His journey was neither easy nor simple. As a young migrant farmworker traveling with his family from Texas to California, José attended school when he could, and that’s where he fell in love with becoming an astronaut. For nearly two decades, he was faced with obstacle after obstacle as he applied to the Space Program and was rejected a whopping eleven times before overcoming enormous barriers and finally being selected to serve for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of their 19th class of astronauts. He served as the flight engineer on the 2009 14-day STS-128 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.
During his time with NASA, José was an unstoppable force of nature who never gave up on accomplishing his goals. To this day, he serves as a source of inspiration and heroism, not just to Mexican Americans but to everyone around him. Expect to laugh, expect to cry, and expect to feel complete elation at this true story of unrelenting strength and courage. Oh, you’ll also want to pay attention to the recipe of advice José uses to navigate life. It’s a lesson we all need to hear.
After you finish watching these movies on Prime Video, change lanes and check out some of the streamer’s binge-worthy TV shows that await your attention. Regardless of the genre, I guarantee you’ll find something that suits your mood and sails you right into next week.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, via Prime membership or $9/month
- Simultaneous streams
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3
- Live TV
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No
- Price
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Included with Amazon Prime subscription ($15/month or $139/year) or $9/month standalone
