The 10 Best Amazon Prime Original Movies From 2021, Ranked By IMDb

Every major streaming service these days seems to be producing its own original television shows and movies. Amazon Prime is right there with them and actually puts out more original films than pretty much everyone outside of Netflix. 2021 saw a handful of well-received ones hit the streaming platform.

There was a little bit of everything put out by Amazon Prime this past year, with films ranging from musicals to wild action flicks to trippy psychological thrillers to big-budget sci-fi tales to hilarious comedies. Using the ratings given out by users at IMDb, subscribers can get a true feel for what was the best of the year.

10 Coming 2 America (5.3)

One of the most anticipated movies to hit Prime this year was Coming 2 America as the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 classic comedy, Coming to America. This installment picks up 30 years after the original as Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) has to return to the United States with news that he fathered a son when he was first there.

Although some of the plot elements actually don’t make much sense, the film had plenty of strong comedic elements. The talents of Murphy, Arsenio Hall, and Shari Headley blended well with new cast members like Leslie Jones and Teyana Taylor. The true highlight is how it does a good job of subverting the expected gender roles and tropes.

9 Bliss (5.4)

In a lot of ways, Bliss feels like one of those movies that is a bit too contrived and trippy for its own good. Owen Wilson stars as a recently divorced man who gets fired and befriends a seemingly homeless woman (Salma Hayek), who takes him on a wild drug-induced ride.

During these drug sessions, the line between what’s real and what is fantasy becomes increasingly blurred and makes it hard to sometimes follow what’s going on. It was said that the film featured strong performances and had some good ideas but mostly didn’t live up to its potential.

8 Jolt (5.6)

One of the trends of 2021 was films where one female protagonist goes on an ass-kicking spree. It happened in Netflix’s Gunpowder Milkshake and Kate, while Amazon Prime had their own take on it with Jolt, let by the talented Kate Beckinsale.

The story centers on Lindy (Beckinsale), a bouncer with intermittent explosive disorder which causes some homicidal tendencies. She suppresses it with a special vest that she wears but upon the murder of a man she dates, Lindy embarks on a quest for revenge. Reviews found that it didn’t do much new but was still fun.

7 Without Remorse (5.8)

Based on a 1993 novel of the same name, Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse gave a starring role to one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, Michael B. Jordan. He plays John Kelly, a Navy SEAL who goes on a violent quest for vengeance after his pregnant wife is killed by Russian hitmen.

The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes actually does a good job of explaining the issues most viewers had with this. The patriotic vibes and some of the tropes of the genre felt played out though Jordan was heavily praised for delivering another standout performance. All in all, many felt it was disappointing.

6 The Voyeurs (5.9)

In a lot of ways, The Voyeurs worked as a throwback to the popular erotic thriller genre of the ’90s. It was similar to the likes of Basic Instinct, Wild Things, or 9 1/2 Weeks due to that. However, what truly helped set this movie apart were the young talents at the center in Sydney Sweeney, Justice Smith, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo.

The film sees a couple (Sweeney and Smith) move into a new apartment only to start spying on their very sexual neighbors across the street, which soon traps them in a web of lies, deception, and chaos. Though some of the plot twists were praised, others didn’t like how unrealistic they were.

5 Birds Of Paradise (5.9)

Another Amazon Prime film based on a novel, Birds of Paradise is an adaptation of 2019’s Bright Burning Stars. The story follows a pair of girls at an elite ballet academy who start as rivals and become best friends as they navigate the hardships of competing for a prestigious contract.

The chemistry between leads Kristine Froseth and Diana Silvers was certainly a highlight as were some of the intriguing plot developments. However, some were upset with the queerbaiting aspect between the two main characters and also compared it unfavorably to 2010’s Black Swan, which has similar vibes.

4 Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (6.2)

Instead of being based on a book, Everbody’s Talking About Jamie is actually a version of a stage play of the same name (which was also adapted from a BBC documentary). It tells the true story of a British teenager who must overcome bullying and prejudice in his hopes of becoming a drag queen.

Max Harwood received acclaim for his performance as the titular Jamie and the musical aspects were also adored. Seen as a great film for young members of the LGBTQ+ community, it is also an important movie. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie was nominated for several British Independence Awards.

3 The Tomorrow War (6.6)

The biggest release on Amazon Prime this year was certainly The Tomorrow War. Made on a massive $200 million budget, it’s one of the most expensive films in history. The story centers on a man who is drafted to fight in a war against aliens that takes place in the future.

Starring Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, and more, the movie was all about the action that you’d expect from something with such a big budget. While most critics didn’t find this bad, it was said that it was kind of easily forgettable despite some solid chemistry amongst the cast and entertaining set pieces.

2 The Mad Woman’s Ball (6.6)

Most audience members were first introduced to Mélanie Laurent in 2009’s Inglorious Basterds before she shined in 2013’s Now You See Me and 2019’s 6 Underground. However, you might not know that she has also worked as a director. After helming a documentary, Laurent made her feature film directorial debut with The Mad Woman’s Ball, better known as Le Bal des folles. 

This French thriller was also co-written by her (and on top of that she stars in it) and it sees a woman plot her escape from an asylum after being wrongfully institutionalized. Another film based on a novel, this was met with high praise, mostly for the acting performances.

1 The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things (6.8)

It seems like there are time loop movies being made everywhere you look. Some are set in the world of sci-fi like 2014’s Edge of Tomorrow, which others are romantic comedies like 2020’s Palm Springs. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things falls somewhere in the middle but closer to a rom-com.

The talented Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen star as two teens who find they are stuck together in a time loop that nobody else is aware of. While some were unhappy with the time loop genre being touched upon again, the film was lauded for being sweet and for the work of Newton.

About The Author