The best classic movies on Amazon Prime Video in 2023

Amazon Prime Video is among the best streaming services on the market. Every week, you can access new movies. These include Prime Originals as well as a host of third-party titles that rotate regularly. And if you’re looking for something a bit older, you can check out the classic movies on Amazon Prime Video.

Amazon gives you the ability to filter your movie search by decade. So if you’re specifically looking for, say, a laugh-out-loud gem from the 1960s, you can type in comedy and then filter by the 1960s for perfect results.

Or, if you’d like to take a look at some of the best classics we could find on Amazon Prime Video right now, keep on reading. The movies range in style, genre, and period, so there ought to be something for everyone. We’ve also included a few titles you can watch for free on Amazon’s Freevee streaming service.

Best classic movies on Amazon Prime Video

Amadeus (1984)

What you need to know:

• Rating: PG
• Runtime: 160 minutes
• Director: Miloš Forman
• Main cast: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice
• Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
• IMDB score: 8.5

Antonio Salieri wants to be a famous composer. He puts his faith in God and works his way up to becoming a court musician. A chance encounter with Mozart years later reveals how devoutness had nothing to do with fame or success since Mozart has both but isn’t devout in the slightest. Angered, he renounces religion and starts plotting Mozart’s murder.

This classic movie on Amazon Prime delves into how being a genius isn’t all that and how pointless jealous plotting can be.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)

What you need to know:

• Rating: G
• Runtime: 97 minutes
• Director: Norman Tokar
• Main cast: James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, Jack Ging
• Genre: Drama, Family
• IMDB score: 6.8

A boy yearns for two Redbone Hound dogs, but his parents can’t afford them in this family film set in the Ozarks during the Great Depression. The heartwarming film follows the boy on his quest to get the dogs on his own.

Based on the novel of the same name by Wilson Rawls, this story about a boy and animal companionship fits well into the tradition of films like New Yeller, The Incredible Journey, Lassie, and Homeward Bound.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Charade (1963)

• Rating: Passed
• Runtime: 113 minutes
• Director: Stanley Donen
• Main cast: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau
• Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Romance
• IMDB score: 7.9

Regina Lampert, a married woman, falls for the charming and mysterious Peter Joshua while off on a skiing trip. When she returns home and finds her husband has died, Regina suddenly turns to Peter for help evading the men after her late husband’s stolen fortune. Nothing — and no one — is quite what it seems in this cat-and-mouse mystery that keeps you guessing until the credits roll.

This romantic mystery thriller is an absolute delight, infused with hints of everything from Alfred Hitchcock to James Bond. If you enjoy films like North by Northwest, you won’t want to miss Charade.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Chinatown (1974)

What you need to know:

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 130 minutes
• Director: Roman Polanski
• Main cast: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• IMDB score: 8.2

In the heart of 1930s Los Angeles, private investigator Jake Gittes investigates Hollis Mulwray on his wife’s command, who thinks her husband is unfaithful.

Mulwray is soon found dead, his wife turns out to be an imposter, and Gittes keeps investigating situations that are never what they seem to be. Fans of suspenseful mysteries won’t be disappointed.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Fist of Fury (1972)

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Director: Wei Lo
• Main cast: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, James Tien Chuen
• Genre: Action, Drama
• IMDB score: 7.2

Martial arts and cinema legend Bruce Lee plays a student of Kung Fu who must face off against foreign aggressors to defend China. When his master is killed, he seeks revenge against mighty foes, showcasing his incredible skill.

Lee’s second major acting role and one of the first titles to introduce him to a North American audience, Fist of Fury is required viewing for fans of action and Hong Kong martial arts cinema. Fans of Kill Bill, The Matrix, and other American action films will likely appreciate this influential title.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

His Girl Friday (1940)

• Rating: Passed
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Director: Howard Hawks
• Main cast: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• IMDB score: 7.8

Newspaperman Walter Burns knows he has one chance to win his ex-wife back when he learns she’s engaged and ready to settle down. Knowing Hildy can’t pass up a good story, he lures her to the courthouse to cover the case of a man on death row. When she realizes the man may be innocent, nothing will stop Hildy, much to her new fiancé’s consternation.

The quintessential fast-talking screwball comedy from director Howard Hawks and one of the best journalism films of all time, His Girl Friday moves at a quick pace, without a wasted moment.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Funny Girl (1968)

• Rating: G
• Runtime: 149 minutes
• Director: William Wyler
• Main cast: Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon, Lee Allen, Mae Questel
• Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
• IMDB score: 7.3

Fanny Brice wants to be the next big thing, working her way up from the New York vaudeville stage to fame and glory on Broadway. As she rockets to stardom, her relationship with husband Nick, whose return she awaits while he serves time in prison, is a more complicated matter.

This classic musical marked the start of Barbra Streisand’s film acting career, reprising her iconic Broadway role — and she took home an Oscar for it. Fans of Hello Dolly, Chicago, and other classic Hollywood musicals are sure to enjoy this beloved film.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Jackie Brown (1997)

What you need to know:

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 154 minutes
• Director: Quentin Tarantino
• Main cast: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• IMDB score: 7.5

Jackie Brown is caught smuggling money for an arms dealer and pulled into a dangerous game between the police and criminals. Jackie must use her wits and charm to play a double role, escape jail time, and perhaps come into a bit of money herself.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Moulin Rouge (2001)

What you need to know:

• Rating: PG 13
• Runtime: 127 minutes
• Director: Baz Luhrmann
• Main cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo
• Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
• IMDB score: 7.6

Moulin Rouge takes place in the bohemian world of Paris. It’s a love story between Christian, a young writer, and Saline, the city’s most sought-after courtesan. With the evil Duke getting in the way, is their love story going to work out, or is it doomed?

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

El Dorado (1967)

• Rating: Passed
• Runtime: 126 minutes
• Director: Howard Hawks
• Main cast: John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Paul Fix, Arthur Hunnicutt, Michele Carey
• Genre: Romance, Western
• IMDB score: 7.5

The McDonald family are being muscled out of their home by a heartless tycoon who wants to claim their land. There’s not much the alcoholic sheriff can do about it. That is until his gunslinging friend comes to town to lend a hand.

Amazon Prime Video doesn’t have too many westerns included with a subscription, which is too bad. That makes El Dorado a rare treat, though. For fans of the genre and its biggest stars, El Dorado is a must-see classic movie on Prime Video. Fans of Rio Bravo and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance won’t want to miss this one.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

What you need to know:

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• Director: Rob Reiner
• Main cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Steven Ford
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• IMDB score: 7.7

Can men and women ever just be friends? That’s the question posed by Harry and Sally as they journey through years of friendship, heartbreak, and laughter. From chance encounters to deep conversations, the pair navigates the complexities of male-female dynamics with wit and charm.

A delightful and insightful romantic comedy, When Harry Met Sally sets the bar for the genre with its authentic dialogue and timeless appeal.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

What you need to know:

• Rating: Passed
• Runtime: 132 minutes
• Director: Richard Whorf
• Main cast: Robert Walker, Van Heflin, Judy Garland, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra
• Genre: Biography, Musical
• IMDB score: 6.3

Jerome Kern attends a screening of the show that made him who he is: Show Boat. A few songs into the musical, he remembers his early days and takes us through them.

Join him as he recounts struggles, lost friends and loves, disappointment and redemption – with plenty of music to go with that.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

What you need to know:

• Rating: Approved
• Runtime: 123 minutes
• Director: John Ford
• Main cast: John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O’Brien, Andy Devine, Ken Murray
• Genre: Western
• IMDB rating: 8.1

When a senator returns to the town where he rose to fame for killing a notorious outlaw to pay his respects to a recently deceased friend, he reminisces and has the chance to set the record straight about what really went down all those years ago.

One of the best western films of all time and certainly among the best classic movies on Prime Video, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance explores the idea of American mythmaking, allowing for heroism and chivalry while poking holes in the official narratives we’re taught.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

The Fifth Element (1997)

What you need to know:

• Rating: PG-1
• Runtime: 126 minutes
• Director: Luc Besson
• Main cast: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
• IMDB score: 7.6

In a world set ahead of our time, cab driver Korben Dallas finds himself in a race against time to track down four elements to fight an evil that resurges every five years. Will he succeed?

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

The Goonies (1985)

What you need to know:

• Rating: PG
• Runtime: 114 minutes
• Director: Richard Donner
• Main cast: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen
• Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
• IMDB score: 7.7

A group of kids discovers a pirate treasure map and sets out on an adventure. They face challenges, dodge bad guys, and come to understand the true value of friendship.

“The Goonies” is one of the classic movies on Amazon Prime that’s a perfect balance of childhood nostalgia and pure fun.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Barefoot in the Park (1967)

• Rating: G
• Runtime: 106 minutes
• Director: Gene Saks
• Main cast: Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Charles Boyer, Mildred Natwick, Herb Edelman, Mabel Albertson, Fritz Feld
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• IMDB score: 7

Based on the hit Broadway play, Barefoot in the Park follows a young couple of newlyweds as they navigate marriage despite their differences. After a double date with one of their mothers goes awry, the couple considers divorce.

One of many collaborations between Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, Barefoot in the Park is a romantic comedy classic for the ages. Fans of The Apartment, The Seven Year Itch, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s won’t want to miss it.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

What you need to know:

Rating: R
Runtime: 111 minutes
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Main cast: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
IMDB score: 8.2

A bride, left for dead on her wedding day, wakes from a coma, burning for revenge. Her mission? Track down and confront her former colleagues, a team of elite assassins, led by the enigmatic Bill.

With a Hattori Hanzo sword in hand, she embarks on a bloody, action-packed odyssey, slicing through adversaries in her quest for justice.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

The Celestine Prophecy (2006)

What you need to know:

• Rating: PG
• Runtime: 99 minutes
• Director: Armand Mastroianni
• Main cast: Matthew Settle, Thomas Kretschmann, Sarah Wayne Callies
• Genre: Adventure, Drama
• IMDB score: 4.8

In Peru, a teacher discovers an ancient manuscript. With every piece of the manuscript he finds, he gains new insights and realizes the teachings match many coincidences in his life.

He travels across continents searching for more of the manuscript, while on the run from people who do not want the teachings to be publicized for their personal interests.

This classic movie on Amazon Prime is inspiring without being preachy, and positive without being cliche.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)

• Rating: PG
• Runtime: 130 minutes
• Director: Frank Capra
• Main cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen
• Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy
• IMDB score: 8.6

George Bailey plans to end his life on Christmas, but his guardian angel instead shows him what a world without his good deeds might look like, revealing that even small acts can have great outcomes in this riff on Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.

Due to a clerical error, the film’s copyright was not renewed in 1974, paving the way for its perennial syndication during the holiday season when TV stations were looking for content to fill airtime. A beloved classic in its own right, this peculiar detail still helped cement it as a holiday classic in the public imagination.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Grace of Monaco (2014)

What you need to know:

• Rating: PG-13
• Runtime: 103 minutes
• Director: Olivier Dahan
• Main cast: Nicole Kidman, Tim Roth, André Penvern, Frank Langella
• Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
• IMDB score: 5.7

Former Hollywood star Grace Kelly is caught in a political war between Monaco and France when she marries into the royal family. It isn’t like royalty to act in movies, but she longs for it.

With the weight of her new royal role and the lure of her past in Hollywood pulling her in different directions, Grace struggles to do the right thing (which is what?).

A compelling glimpse into the life of a film icon turned royal, Grace of Monaco is a standout title for those seeking classic movies on Amazon Prime.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Prime Video.

Trees Lounge (1996)

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• Director: Steve Buscemi
• Main cast: Steve Buscemi, Chloë Sevigny, Carol Kane, Mark Boone Junior, Bronson Dudley, Anthony LaPaglia, Michael Buscemi
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• IMDB score: 7.1

Tommy is a loser who just got himself fired for stealing from the boss, who just so happens to be dating Tommy’s ex. Down on his luck, Tommy looks for a new job while hanging out at the local dive bar and starting an ill-advised romance with his ex’s underage niece.

While not as well known as many of the films on this list, Trees Lounge is a terrific, dark American indie with a well-earned cult following. It’s also the directorial debut of beloved character actor Steve Buscemi. Fans of High Fidelity, Ghost World, and the films of Noah Baumbach should be sure to check out this classic movie on Prime Video.

Ready to watch? You can find the movie right here on Freevee.

Those are our picks of some of the best classic movies on Amazon Prime Video. What are your favorites?