The 21 best classic movies on Amazon Prime Video that still resonate today
The 21 best classic movies on Amazon Prime Video that still resonate today
Danny Horn, Kevin JacobsenSun, May 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC
0
Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as Mary Hatch Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life'; Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff in 'Wuthering Heights'; Molly Ringwald as Claire Standish in 'The Breakfast Club'
Credit: Everett (3)
In an era where streaming services prioritize the hottest new movies, there are a disappointing few that offer classic cinema, the Westerns, Technicolor musicals, stirring dramas, and good old-fashioned comedies of yesteryear. Amazon Prime Video is one of those select few streamers, with countless films from decades past among its offerings.
Whether it's snappy screwball comedies like Ball of Fire (1941), coming-of-age '80s favorites like The Breakfast Club (1985), or beloved literary adaptations like Wuthering Heights (1939), Amazon's selection includes some of the building blocks of cinema, influencing filmmakers for decades to come. Ahead, we're singling out the 21 best classic movies currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
01 of 21
Ball of Fire (1941)
Gary Cooper as Professor Bertram Potts and Barbara Stanwyck as Katherine 'Sugarpuss' O'Shea in 'Ball of Fire'
Credit: John Springer Collection/Corbis/Corbis via Getty
With a name like Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea, how can you not be intrigued? Such is the case for the group of professors living together in Ball of Fire, a screwball comedy classic from one of the genre's masters, Howard Hawks. Barbara Stanwyck stars as Sugarpuss, who works as a nightclub performer and meets one of the group's younger professors, the handsome Bertram (Gary Cooper). Sugarpuss is also involved with a powerful Mob boss, so she uses the professors' house as a hideout while trying to evade the police and teaches them a thing or two about the real world. Stanwyck deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for her effervescent performance. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch Ball of Fire: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Howard Hawks
Cast: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck
02 of 21
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Molly Ringwald as Claire Standish in 'The Breakfast Club'
Credit: Everett
Five teenagers from different social cliques converge for a day of detention in this seminal John Hughes classic: "Brain" Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), "Athlete" Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), "Basket Case" Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), "Princess" Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), and "Criminal" John Bender (Judd Nelson). Despite their surface differences, the quintet gets to know each other and realizes their shared commonality is difficult home lives.
The Breakfast Club has endured as one of the most defining teen comedies of the '80s and tops EW's list of the 50 best high school movies of all time. As EW's writer claims, "If hell is other people — and high school is hell — then John Hughes is the genre's Sartre, and this is his No Exit." —K.J.
Where to watch The Breakfast Club: Amazon Prime Video
Director: John Hughes
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
03 of 21
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Harold Russell as Homer Parrish and Dana Andrews as Fred Derry in 'The Best Years of Our Lives'
Credit: Everett Collection
Released in the aftermath of World War II, The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the very best films about American veterans' postwar experience. The film tracks the lives of three vets who return to their hometown, bonded over the traumas of war. One suffers from debilitating PTSD, another turns to alcohol to cope, while the third has to readjust to everyday life after losing both of his hands. The sensitively crafted epic won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. —K.J.
Where to watch The Best Years of Our Lives: Amazon Prime Video
Director: William Wyler
Cast: Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Harold Russell
04 of 21
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Lamberto Maggiorani as Antonio Ricci and Lianella Carell as Maria Ricci in 'Bicycle Thieves'
Credit: ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty
This profoundly affecting Italian neorealist classic conveys so much even with a relatively simple premise. Antonio (Lamberto Maggiorani) hopes to provide for his family by getting a job that requires a bicycle. Scraping together the money to purchase a bike at a pawn shop, Antonio is mortified when a thief steals his bike on his first day on the job, leading him and his young son, Bruno (Enzo Staiola), down an increasingly hopeless path to get it back. Casting then-nonprofessional actors Maggiorani and Staiola brings an inherent authenticity to the film, which starkly depicts life on the poverty line in postwar Italy. —K.J.
Where to watch Bicycle Thieves: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Vittorio De Sica
Cast: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell
05 of 21
The Bishop's Wife (1947)
James Gleason as Sylvester, Cary Grant as Dudley, and Loretta Young as Julia Brougham in 'The Bishop's Wife'
Credit: Everett
When bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) prays for heavenly guidance, his prayers are answered by the prompt arrival of Dudley (Cary Grant), a smooth-tongued angel who installs himself as the bishop's assistant. However, Dudley's plan to help the spiritually needy takes a turn when he develops feelings for Julia (Loretta Young), Henry's wife. A bishop/bishop's wife/angel love triangle is an unusual premise, but the film, held together by Grant's effortless charm, manages to be both a romantic comedy and a careful fable about charity. —Danny Horn
Where to watch The Bishop's Wife: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Henry Koster
Cast: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven
06 of 21
Charade (1963)
Walter Matthau as Carson Dyle and Audrey Hepburn as Regina 'Reggie' Lampert in 'Charade'
Credit: Everett
A thrilling comedy romp through Paris, Charade sizzles with wit and hectic suspense. After Regina (Audrey Hepburn) learns that her estranged husband died mysteriously, she's threatened by several menacing men who demand an explanation for a cache of stolen money that she knows nothing about. The only person Regina can trust is a handsome stranger she meets by chance (a deliciously arch Cary Grant), although his name and motivations keep changing as she learns more about him. Hepburn and Grant play to their respective strengths, while the film transitions from silly to serious and back again. —D.H.
Where to watch Charade: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Stanley Donen
Cast: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau
07 of 21
City Lights (1931)
Charlie Chaplin as the Tramp and Virginia Cherrill as the Blind Girl in 'City Lights'
Credit: Courtesy Everett
Amazon Prime has numerous Charlie Chaplin classics among its streaming collection, but this 1931 romantic dramedy is the cream of the crop. Chaplin stars as his signature Little Tramp character, who falls in love with a young blind woman who mistakes him for a millionaire. After he befriends an actual millionaire, the Tramp hopes to secure the funds to help restore the woman's sight. Enduringly hopeful, this touching tale is sure to make you dissolve into happy tears by its conclusion. —K.J.
Where to watch City Lights: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: A+
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee, Harry Myers, Al Ernest Garcia
08 of 21
The Conversation (1974)
Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in 'The Conversation'
Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection
In an era filled with paranoia thrillers that reflected the growing distrust of institutions (largely stemming from the Watergate scandal), The Conversation stands above the rest. Gene Hackman stars as Harry Caul, a surveillance expert tasked by a client with monitoring a couple in San Francisco's Union Square. After he hears them discussing the threat of murder, Harry becomes troubled — especially after his recordings are stolen. With first-rate sound work and a committed performance by Hackman, The Conversation is a gripping time capsule that also resonates in today's surveillance-heavy world. —K.J.
Where to watch The Conversation: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Gene Hackman, Harrison Ford, John Cazale, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest
09 of 21
Guys and Dolls (1955)
Jean Simmons as Sister Sarah Brown (left) and Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson (second from left) in 'Guys and Dolls'
Credit: Everett
A high-class musical comedy about low-rent gamblers and seedy gangsters, Guys and Dolls transports the viewer to a colorful fantasy version of the New York underworld, where guys in flashy suits follow a single rule: no welshing on a bet. Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra) is trying to earn some dough, so he bets Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando, in his only musical) that he can't make a date with the pious sister from the Save-a-Soul Mission (Jean Simmons). The showstopper is Brando's "Luck Be a Lady," delivered during a craps game in New York City's cleanest sewer. —D.H.
Where to watch Guys and Dolls: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast: Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra
10 of 21
Heathers (1989)
Winona Ryder as Veronica Sawyer, Kim Walker as Heather Chandler, Lisanne Falk as Heather McNamara, and Shannen Doherty as Heather Duke in 'Heathers'
Credit: New World Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Before there was Mean Girls (2004), there was this dark satire about the impossible pressures of high school. The film follows high schooler Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) as she joins a popular but feared clique of girls, all with the same first name: Heather. Quickly exhausted by the Heathers, she befriends the new kid, J.D. (Christian Slater), who has dangerous ideas to help Veronica get back at them. Wickedly funny with sharp observational humor, Heathers is a (heightened) testament to the Gen X high school experience at its most cynical. —K.J.
Where to watch Heathers: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Michael Lehmann
Cast: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty
11 of 21
Advertisement
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
(Center): Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as Mary Hatch Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life'
Credit: Everett
Usually considered a Christmas viewing tradition, the endearing and enduring It's a Wonderful Life is a joy to watch during any season. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, a man on the brink of suicide after giving up his dreams to support his family and his community. Upon wishing that he was never born, he attracts the attention of guardian angel Clarence Odbody, who listens to George's story and shows him what the world would be like without him. Director Frank Capra injects optimism and warmth into the dark premise, expressing the always-timely message that everyone is connected and everybody matters. —D.H.
Where to watch It's a Wonderful Life: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Frank Capra
Cast: Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers
12 of 21
The Little Foxes (1941)
Bette Davis as Regina Hubbard Giddens in 'The Little Foxes'
Credit: Everett
Three scheming siblings jockey for money and power in The Little Foxes, a stirring melodrama starring Bette Davis as the villainous Regina. Their fight for control of a cotton mill consumes the family in a complex game of betrayal, blackmail, and loveless marriages, with the predatory Regina reigning above all. Davis' commanding performance garnered one of her five consecutive Oscar nominations for Best Actress, as she steals the show with an icy glare and a razor-sharp tongue. The callous climax in which Regina tells her husband how she really feels about him is devastating — and fascinating. —D.H.
Where to watch The Little Foxes: Amazon Prime Video
Director: William Wyler
Cast: Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, Teresa Wright
13 of 21
Liza With a "Z" (1972)
Liza Minnelli performing in 'Liza With a 'Z''
Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
The year was 1972. Liza Minnelli was receiving rave reviews for her performance in Cabaret, which was released in February and eventually won her the Best Actress Oscar. Then, in September, she starred in this dazzling concert special, cementing her status as one of the greats. The 53-minute special features Minnelli at her best, belting out American standards to an eager crowd and ending with a sensational medley of songs from Cabaret. It's good old-fashioned entertainment from a world-class entertainer. —K.J.
Where to watch Liza With a "Z": Amazon Prime Video
Director: Bob Fosse
Cast: Liza Minnelli
14 of 21
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Carole Lombard as Irene Bullock and William Powell as Godfrey Parke in 'My Man Godfrey'
Credit: Everett
My Man Godfrey is a gem of the screwball era, a social satire with rapid-fire witty dialogue. Carole Lombard plays Irene, the younger daughter in a family that's wealthy, though they’d rather you call them "eccentric." During a scavenger hunt, Irene discovers a "forgotten man" named Godfrey (William Powell), hires him as the new butler, and declares that he's her protégé. Godfrey takes to buttling and manages to tame the batty family — except for Irene, who keeps insisting that they love each other. —D.H.
Where to watch My Man Godfrey: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Gregory La Cava
Cast: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Gail Patrick
15 of 21
Penny Serenade (1941)
Cary Grant as Roger Adams and Irene Dunne as Julie Gardiner in 'Penny Serenade'
Credit: Everett
Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play the doting parents of an adopted child in this sentimental favorite about the power of familial love. Roger and Julie fall for each other and get married, but their dream of raising a child is dashed when Julie loses their unborn child during an earthquake. Hoping to adopt a 2-year-old boy, they bring home a 5-week-old girl instead — and fall head over heels in love with her. Their efforts to prove to the orphanage and the court that they're fit parents are both comical and deeply affecting. —D.H.
Where to watch Penny Serenade: Amazon Prime Video
Director: George Stevens
Cast: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Beulah Bondi, Edgar Buchanan
16 of 21
Stagecoach (1939)
George Bancroft as Curley, John Wayne as the Ringo Kid, and Claire Trevor as Dallas in 'Stagecoach'
Credit: Everett
Stagecoach was John Wayne's breakthrough film, boosting him from B-movies and straight onto the A-list. The story concerns a group of strangers brought together by circumstance, traveling on a stage bound for New Mexico through dangerous Apache territory. The mixed bag of passengers includes a sex worker, a pregnant wife, an alcoholic doctor, a stuffy banker, a shifty gambler, and Wayne as Ringo the Kid — an escaped convict who's gunning for the men who killed his brother. Wayne shines in both quiet moments and the fast-paced chase sequence when the stagecoach is attacked. It was the first of many hard-fighting everyman roles for the Duke. —D.H.
Where to watch Stagecoach: Amazon Prime Video
Director: John Ford
Cast: Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine, John Carradine
17 of 21
A Star Is Born (1937)
Fredric March as Norman Maine and Janet Gaynor as Esther Blodgett in 'A Star Is Born'
Credit: Everett
It's the quintessential Hollywood story: A naive girl leaves the farm to make it big as a movie star, works as a waitress at a swanky party, and catches the eye of a passing bigwig. Esther (played by a sparkling Janet Gaynor) gets her big break when she meets Norman (Fredric March), a well-known actor on the verge of a steep downturn in his own career. You may be familiar with one of this movie's three remakes, which reframe the main character as a singer. Watch this version for a nostalgic tour through the mythology of vintage Tinseltown. —D.H.
Where to watch A Star Is Born: Amazon Prime Video
Director: William A. Wellman
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Fredric March
18 of 21
Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928)
Ernest Torrence as William 'Steamboat Bill' Canfield Sr. and Buster Keaton as William Canfield Jr. in 'Steamboat Bill Jr.'
Credit: Everett
Steamboat Bill Jr. is a true classic starring the king of deadpan physical comedy. Ernest Torrence plays a gruff steamboat captain who is astonished when his son (Buster Keaton) returns from college as a slim, mild-mannered sensitive type with a beret, a mustache, and a ukulele. Bill's attempts to toughen Bill Jr. up are continually undermined (even choosing the proper hat becomes a hilarious four-minute set piece). The cyclone sequence at the end notably includes one of Keaton's best-known stunts, in which he avoids being flattened by the falling front side of a house. —D.H.
Where to watch Steamboat Bill Jr: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Charles Reisner
Cast: Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence, Marion Byron
19 of 21
Stella Dallas (1937)
Barbara Stanwyck as Stella Dallas in 'Stella Dallas'
Credit: Everett
Stella (Barbara Stanwyck), a working-class woman aspiring to a higher station, marries a rich man (John Boles) and has a daughter, Laurel. As Stella and Stephen drift apart, she puts all her energy into raising Laurel, ultimately making great sacrifices to give her daughter a better life. Stella Dallas is a great character piece for Stanwyck, who earned her first Academy Award nomination by nailing Stella's brassy, comedic side and her grand, tear-jerking devotion to her daughter's happiness. —D.H.
Where to watch Stella Dallas: Amazon Prime Video
Director: King Vidor
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, Anne Shirley
20 of 21
The Third Man (1949)
Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins and Bernard Lee as Sergeant Paine in 'The Third Man'
Credit: Ernst Haas/Getty
This indelible film noir has some of the best cinematography (and storytelling) to be found in the classic genre. Joseph Cotten plays Holly Martins, an American author in postwar Vienna, hoping to secure a job from his friend. The only problem? His friend has suffered an accidental death, leading Holly to investigate what exactly happened. Falling in love with his friend's girlfriend in the process, Holly eventually uncovers a shocking truth, turning the whole narrative on its head. Let's just say, there's never been a more impactful "character stepping out of the shadows" moment in all of cinema. —K.J.
Where to watch The Third Man: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Carol Reed
Cast: Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard
21 of 21
Wuthering Heights (1939)
Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff and Merle Oberon as Catherine Earnshaw Linton in 'Wuthering Heights'
Credit: Everett
If you're going to watch an adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, we insist on the original: Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon's 1939 masterpiece of doomed romance on the wild moors. Heathcliff and Catherine have loved each other since childhood, but their class difference separates them until Heathcliff returns to Wuthering Heights with a fortune, determined to win her away from her husband. Catherine and Heathcliff are passionate, frustrating, willful creatures, so entangled with love, hate, and revenge that it consumes them — and everyone around them. —D.H.
Where to watch Wuthering Heights: Amazon Prime Video
Director: William Wyler
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon, David Niven
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
