New Prime Video movies: the best films to land in April 2023

Will Smith stands looking at a line of robots in I, Robot, one of the new Prime Video movies
I, Robot is one of numerous new Prime Video movies to catch right now. (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

New Prime Video movies land on Amazon’s popular streaming platform each week – sometimes even every day. In 2023 so far we’ve seen Prime Video add a fantastic selection of films both old and new, including tense thrillers, heart-warming romcoms, gritty dramas, dystopian sci-fi and almost every other genre you can think of. 

There’s such a brilliant library of movies on Prime Video – it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best streaming services in the world. But that means it’s challenging for us to pick only a handful of the best and newest Prime Video movies to add to this list. Having said that, some are definitely better than others and we’re here to help you decide which are worth your time and energy. 

We’re always on the lookout for the best new films as they arrive on the Prime Video platform, so check back regularly as we’ll update this list when new flicks land. What you’ll find below are the best movies that are new to Prime Video from February 2023 onwards. But if you’re looking for an exhaustive list of every single one of the top films instead, regardless of when they arrived, read our best Prime Video movies list.

New Prime Video movies: April 2023

On a Wing and a Prayer

A still from the Amazon Original movie On a Wing and a Prayer in which Dennis Quaid and Heather Graham are embracing each other.

Dennis Quaid and Heather Graham star in On a Wing and a Prayer. (Image credit: Amazon Original)

Release date: April 10

On a Wing and a Prayer is about a novice pilot called Doug (played by Dennis Quaid) who is grieving after losing his brother to a heart attack. He teams up with another pilot to fly his wife (Heather Graham) and daughters home for Easter and things take a scary and unexpected turn that test his flying abilities and his faith.

This isn't the kind of smart movie that'll set the world on fire. It's more of a family-friendly watch with a nice (if a little predictable) story. Having said that, there is plenty of tension here as it's hit or miss whether Doug will rise up to the challenge of landing the plane he finds himself suddenly in charge of. But at its core, On a Wing and a Prayer is a heartwarming movie with an explicit spiritual and religious thread running throughout.

Gangs of Lagos

A still from the movie Gangs of Lagos in which one of the characters looks ahead at the camera while holding a gun and a group of people waving weapons stands behind her.

Expect a lot of violence in Gangs of Lagos. (Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

Release date: April 7

Prime Video's first original African film, Gangs of Lagos follows the story of main character Obalola and the intertwining lives of his friends, Gift and Ify, as they grow up on the busy streets of Isale Eko, a neighbourhood in Lagos. The film explores the impact of violence and politically-affiliated gang culture in Nigeria, as well as covering themes of family, friendship and betrayal along the way.

As you might expect, Gangs of Lagos isn't an easy watch – especially when you learn that the film is based on true stories from Isale Eko – but it's an intense movie that would suit anyone looking for a gritty crime thriller or to gain a deeper understanding of the current real-life unrest in Nigeria. Interestingly, Gangs of Lagos is the first in a string of Amazon's international projects that should be arriving on Prime Video throughout 2023.

New Prime Video movies: March 2023

Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise standing in front of a plane in a still from Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise reprises his role as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick. (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Release date: March 24

Top Gun: Maverick blasted onto theater screens all over the world back in 2022, so it’s good to finally be able to enjoy it via Prime Video. As you might expect, this is a fast-paced, action-packed blockbuster with top-class performances, brilliant set-pieces that'll leave your jaw on the floor, and fantastic special effects. It's also got an entertaining if somewhat formulaic story. 

Fans of the original Top Gun movie are bound to find this sequel as fun, exciting, and edge-of-your-seat tense as the first. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying Tom Cruise is spectacular, reprising his role as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell with verve and panache here. The movie's younger stars really shine, too, especially Miles Teller as Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw. Check out our exclusive chats with director Joseph Kosinki about the mind-boggling number of cameras used on set and how the film got the green light in the most Tom Cruise way possible while you're here.

Nope

Daniel Kaluuya rides a horse in Nope, written and directed by Jordan Peele

Daniel Kaluuya shines in the leading role in Nope. (Image credit: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.))

Release date: March 21

Nope is a science-fiction meets horror movie that feels like a totally fresh take on the UFO genre. That shouldn't come as a surprise considering it’s written, directed and produced by Jordan Peele who was also the brains behind critically-acclaimed movies Get Out and Us. 

Daniel Kaluuya (Black Panther, Get Out) and Keke Palmer play siblings who live out in the desert training and working with horses. They experience a terrifying series of UFO visitations and become laser-focused on capturing evidence of the alien presence. This movie is heart-stopping in places, funny in others, but overall delivers fantastic performances from the leads, as well as a story that’ll leave you feeling a little uncomfortable every time you look up into the sky long after the credits have rolled. If that’s not a testament to how much this movie gets under your skin, we’re not sure what is. A worthy inclusion in this new Prime Video movies guide.

Cloverfield

A still from the movie Cloverfield of the Statue of Liberty without a head and a damaged New York in the background.

Watch New York be destroyed by a monster in Cloverfield (Image credit: Bad Robot Productions)

Release date: March 1

Cloverfield is an incredibly tense and thrilling found footage movie about an attack on New York by a massive monster. The story follows six characters as they try to escape the multi-storey-tall beast, making their way across the city while avoiding the film's primary antagonist and other small but not less dangerous threats. 

On the surface, Cloverfield is a typical monster movie. its found-footage style, fantastic acting, and brilliant special effects, though, make it an incredibly compelling watch. A worthy inclusion (in our opinion, anyway) on our new Prime Video movies list.

The Machinist

A still of Christian Bale in the movie The Machinist looking scared.

Christian Bale went through a shocking transformation for The Machinist. (Image credit: Paramount Classics)

Release date: March 1

The Machinist is a cult movie for a whole host of reasons, but the most fascinating one is the amount of weight Christian Bale lost to play the leading role of Trevor Reznik, a machinist who struggles with paranoia after being unable to sleep for more than a year.

Bale pulls off the deeply upsetting and disturbing performance of a lifetime, mining the depths of this character with an emotional gravitas we've come to expect from the former Batman star. This isn't a family film or calming Sunday afternoon viewing. But, if you're looking for cerebral psychological thrillers, then The Machinist is a must-watch.

Annihilation

A still from the movie Annihilation in which a group of female scientists walk towards a shimmering forest.

Annihilation follows the story of female scientists on a mission into the unknown.  (Image credit: Skydance)

Release date: March 1

Based on Jeff VanderMeer's novel of the same name, Annihilation is a sci-fi movie about a group of smart women who must enter 'the shimmer', a quarantined forestry and coastline that's succumbed to a mysterious alien presence. 

Annihilation's fantastic cast is one of its greatest assets. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac, and Tessa Thompson all perform stellar jobs in their respective roles, convincing us of the eerie goings-on inside 'the shimmer' are more than just some form of psychological torment. It's also directed by Alex Garland (of The Beach, Ex Machina, and Men fame). Expect plenty of unsettling atmospheric moments, mysterious goings-on, and sci-fi weirdness. Fans of sci-fi and body horror are in for a treat with this recently addition to our new Prime Video movies guide.

New Prime Video movies: February 2023

Somebody I Used To Know

Alison Brie and Jay Ellis in a scene from Somebody I Used to Know

Alison Brie and Jay Ellis star in Somebody I Used to Know (Image credit: Prime Video)

Release date: February 10

Somebody I Used To Know is a brand-new Prime Video Original starring Alison Brie (GLOW). It's a sweet rom-com in which Brie plays Ally, a workaholic film producer who bumps into her first love, Sean (Jay Ellis) and spends an intense evening with him reminiscing about their younger selves. Confusing things further, Sean is about to be married, and the woman in question reminds Ally of who she used to be – leading her to question the path her life has taken.

Somebody I Used to Know doesn't reinvent the rom-com genre. Nonetheless, it's a sincere, well constructed movie about identity and the choices (good and bad) we make as we go about our lives. With endearing performances from Brie and Ellis, this one makes for a cosy evening watch. Just don't blame us if you start questioning your own life's choices, you hear?

I, Robot

A still from the movie I, Robot in which a cohort of robots stand together

I, Robot is an eerie watch considering how much AI is in the news these days. (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

Release date: February 1

Not Will Smith's finest film, but a solid movie nonetheless. I, Robot imagines the future we all fear – one in which robots get too powerful. The year is 2035 and robots fill public service positions all over the world. To stop them, y'know, overthrowing their human masters, they must abide by three key rules. And all is going well – until the U.S Robotics Founder Doctor Alfred Lanning is found dead, allegedly by suicide. 

Technophobe Detective Del Spooner (Smith) believes he was killed by one of the robots and starts to investigate, going on to uncover a conspiracy that could bring down humanity. Yikes. 

I, Robot wasn't a critical success, but it was certainly a commercial one. There's plenty to dislike about this film adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Hardwired short story but, if you're searching for a sci-fi flick that doesn't require you to engage your brain, you could do far worse.

The Help

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer hug

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer deliver phenomenal performances in The Help. (Image credit: Dreamworks)

Release date: February 1

Based on Kathryn Stockett's novel of the same name, The Help is a period drama that explores racial relations in 1960s Mississippi. The premise is that an aspiring author decides to write a book about life in servitude to a white family, interviewing the Black women involved and turning lives upside down in the process. 

The Help has been criticised for enacting a "white saviour narrative", with even star Viola Davis expressing regret for the way the film focused on the stories of its white characters over its Black cast. Still, it's worth watching for the brilliant performances from Davis and Octavia Spencer alone.

Almost Famous

Group of teens stand together in the movie Almost Famous

Almost Famous is a must-see coming-of-age movie – especially for music lovers. (Image credit: Dreamworks)

Release date: February 1

Almost Famous is a smart coming-of-age comedy set against the background of the 1970s music scene (but made in 2000). Fifteen-year-old William (Patrick Fugit) is a music super-fan who manages to land an interview for Rolling Stone magazine with an up-and-coming rock band. His overprotective mother isn't onboard, which gives him something to rail against. 

Funny and poignant, this is a deep dive into the life of a band on tour as seen through the lens of an idealistic teenager – groupies and all. It plays as a love letter to rock, set at the turning point of the music scene before disco took over. Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson also star. 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Donald Sutherland looks terrified pointing at the camera in a still from the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers features a fantastic performance from Donald Sutherland.  (Image credit: Solofilm)

Release date: February 1

This 1978 remake of the classic sci-fi horror film stars Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, and Jeff Goldblum – and many consider this version to be the best of the four created so far. When alien pods land on earth, residents of San Fransisco start to notice their friends and family acting differently. What's happened? The clue's in the title. 

Phillip Kaufman made this film because he liked the original so much, and realized his remake could be a variation on the original themes rather than an out and out replica. The themes remain resonant decades after the movie, with the Cold War-esque ideas of infiltrators coming to spy on you only becoming more relevant with the increase in technology. Perhaps that's why there have been so many versions of this tale. Definitely one for your new Prime Video movies watchlist.

The Talented Mr Ripley

Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Matt Damon look off camera

Matt Damon is outstanding in his starring role as Tom Ripley. (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Release date: February 1

Matt Damon plays the brilliantly creepy Tom Ripley in this suspense thriller that will stay with you long after the credits roll. 

Set against the backdrop of always-sunny, seemingly carefree Italy in the 1950s, Tom is sent to bring back playboy Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) as Dickie's father mistakenly believes Tom knows his son from Princeton. Inherently shy and softly spoken, Tom has dreams of being accepted by his peers and, as he becomes obsessed with Dickie, his friends, and his lifestyle, events take a dark turn. 

Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Talented Mr Ripley was nominated for a roster of awards (including five Oscars) and was followed up with two sequels. It's almost 25 years old now, but it's still one of the best suspense-thrillers of our time.

Rambo

Sylvester Stallone is holding and gun and looking angry in this still from the movie Rambo

Sylvester Stallone is unforgettable as Rambo.  (Image credit: Millenium Films)

Release date: February 1

He might be best known for starring as the titular and legendary boxer in the Rocky movie franchise – find out more in our guide on how to watch the Rocky movies in order – but Sylvester Stallone's Rambo film series is as captivating a watch as his other most famous role.

Of the series' quintet of films, 2008's Rambo is pegged as the most average of the lot. That's to say, it's not brilliant, but it's not completely terrible, either (we're looking at you, First Blood Part II and Rambo: Last Blood...). Directed and co-written by Stallone, this one is the fourth film in the series and focuses on a wave of political protests in Burma, with Rambo leading a rescue mission to free a group of Christian missionaries.

Though it was criticised for its unsubtle approach to the political situation (at the time, at least) and its gratuitous violence, Stallone's direction and performance has been widely praised. If you like gory action sequences, this is one for you.

For more Prime Video-based coverage, see our list of the best Prime Video shows. Alternatively, find out how much a Prime Video subscription costs.

Freelance Writer and Editor

Georgia began her freelance writing and editing career over on Tech Radar's sister site, Creative Bloq, and is also now delighted to be working with Tech Radar on its Entertainment channel. You'll find her writing and updating all types of streaming content, to the top Disney Plus deals available to the Netflix movies you've got to watch. 


A TV mega-fan, Georgia enjoys (and has opinions on) all types of entertainment, but particularly loves being immersed in a nostalgic show or film with standout retro design and evocative visuals. She also has a particular soft spot for the shows that are bingeable in a day or two (because auto-play will get us all in the end). 

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