What's New on Amazon Prime Video (September 2020)

Chemical Hearts (2020): Best New Teen Drama for Hopeless Romantics

Chemical Hearts is an Amazon original movie based on Krystal Sutherland's romance novel Our Chemical Hearts. The story follows a shy teenage boy named Henry (Austin Abrams) who has a crush on the new girl in school (Lili Reinhart). When the two students become partners editing the school newspaper, their working relationship turns personal and painful.

Chemical Hearts a sweet story about first love that will tug at the heartstrings of young adults and the young at heart. The film isn't groundbreaking, but it's well-acted and has received positive reviews from audiences and critics.

World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji (2020): Most Intense Suvivialist Game Show Ever

One of the most ambitious game shows ever produced, the original Eco-Challenge series ran from 1995 to 2002. Like all good things from that era, it's been rebooted by Amazon for 2020.

World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji features 66 teams from all around the globe in a non-stop competition to make it from one side of the archipelago to the other. Without the luxury of smartphones or GPS devices, they must climb, bike, and paddle board their way to the finish line in hopes of winning $100,000. Even if you're not usually a fan of survivalist shows, this one may be worth watching just for the breathtaking scenery.

Clifford the Big Red Dog (2019): Best Reboot of a Classic Kid's Franchise

Speaking of reboots, the latest iteration of Clifford the Big Red Dog is now on Prime Video. Nine-year-old Emily (Hannah Levinson) and her talking dog Clifford (Adam Sanders) are back having adventures and raising eyebrows in their small town of Birdwell Island.

The stories are simple and made for small kids, and while they don't teach skills like reading or math, they do model good values like friendship and honesty. The flash animation may lack the charm of Norman Bridwell's original illustrations, but the show stays true to the style and spirit of the famous children's books.

The Primal (2019): Best Nicolas Cage B-Movie With Exotic Animals

An eccentric hunter named Frank Walsh (Nicolas Cage) runs into trouble while trying to smuggle a rare white jaguar from South America by boat. When an escaped killer who happens to be on the same ship releases the jaguar along with other exotic animals being transported, Walsh must put his big-game skills to the test and become an unlikely antihero.

While The Primal didn't get much praise from critics, the strong cast and extra element of killer animals makes it a memorable B-movie. If you like Nicolas Cage action flicks, you won't be disappointed. The Primal is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video starting August 31.

Capone (2020): Best Biopic About a Criminal Mastermind

Tom Hardy stars as the legendary mobster Al Capone in this unexpectedly emotional biopic. Instead of focusing on Capone's criminal enterprises, Capone picks up at the end of his decade-long prison sentence. Due to untreated syphilis, Capone's mind has deteriorated to the point that he's deemed no longer a threat to society. Suffering from dementia and PTSD, Capone tries to reconnect with his family.

Capone is a sympathetic look at one of America's most notorious gangsters. The script was criticized for taking liberties with Capone's life story, but Hardy's portrayal of the titular character is undeniably captivating.

The Courier (2019): Best Action Movie With a Strong Female Lead

While making a routine delivery, a motorcycle courier in London (Olga Kurylenko) discovers that she's carrying a bomb. After realizing that she's been unknowingly doing the dirty work for a mob boss (Gary Oldman), she decides to protect the one person who can bring him down.

The Courier has a distinct 1990s action-thiller vibe replete with cheesy dialogue, so if you go in with your expectations tempered, you'll probably have a good time. Fans of The Fifth Element, another Gary Oldman movie, might catch an Easter egg from the famous opera scene in that film. The Courier is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video starting August 31.

The Legion (2020): Best So-Bad-It's-Good Action Flick

The Legion reimagines the historical invasion of Parthia, in which Roman legions found themselves surrounded and starving in the snowy Armenian mountains. A Roman man known for his running skills (Lee Partridge) is tasked with delivering a vital message to the soldiers, so he must trek through enemy terrain to save the day.

Don't be deterred by bad reviews. If you love so-bad-it's good movies, The Legion is right up your alley. The film features some impressive sword fights and stunt work from Partidge.

Comrade Detective (2017): Best Bingeworthy Buddy Cop Show

Comrade Detective presents itself as a "found footage" television show from communist Romania. Following the tropes of American buddy cop films, detectives Gregor Anghel (Florin Piersic Jr/Channing Tatum) and Iosif Baci (Corneliu Ulici/Joseph Gordon-Levitt) team up to thwart capitalist influences in their country.

Comrade Detective has received praise for its social commentary on the nature of propaganda. Although the show is filmed with Romanian actors, the dialogue is dubbed in English by an all American cast.

The Tick (2018): Best Off-Beat Superhero Satire

In this live-action reboot of the classic 90s cartoon, everyone's favorite parody superhero The Tick (Peter Serafinowicz) and his sidekick Arthur (Griffin Newman) join forces to clean up the criminal underbelly on their city. The Tick's creator, Ben Edlund's, serves as an executive producer.

Unlike other modern superheroes stories, The Tick doesn't take itself too seriously. The show debuted to near-universal positive reviews, which is why it's heartbreaking that the show wasn't renewed for a third season on Amazon.

Ghost (1990): Best Supernatural Romance Story

Ghost is a paranormal story about a love that endures beyond the grave. Following his murder, the ghost of a young man (Patrick Swayze) seeks the help of a psychic (Whoopie Goldberg) to save his wife (Demi Moore), who he believes is in mortal danger.

Ghost was a huge hit when it came out, receiving five Academy Award nominations. It took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and Whoopie Goldberg won Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989): Best Classic Sci-Fi Comedy

Of all the teen slacker duos of the late 80s and early 90s, Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) hold a special place in the hearts of their generation. With the help of their mentor Rufus (George Carlin), the two high school slackers use a time-traveling phone booth to save their failing history grade in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.

With a new Bill & Ted movie coming out later this year, there's no better time to rewatch the original. You can also watch its follow-up, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, on Amazon as well.

Saw (2004): Best Psychological Thriller That Started a Horror Franchise

The original Saw introduced the world to one of cinema's most sadistic killers: Jigsaw. While the latter films are best known for their over-the-top gore, the first entry in the series is a well-written psychological thriller. That said, it's certainly not for the faint of heart.

Made on a relatively small budget, Saw went on to be one of the most financially successful horror films ever made. You can watch the first four Saw movies all on Prime Video.

Undercover (2016): Best British Crime Drama Mini-Series

Undercover is a BBC mini-series about an attorney named Maya Cobbina (Sophie Okonedo) who works to overturn wrongful convictions. Unbeknownst to Maya, her undercover cop husband (Adrian Lester) is hiding a terrible secret that could end both of their careers.

Undercover features strong performances and clever writing that explores race relations and the criminal justice system in the U.K. There are only six episodes, so you can watch the whole series in a weekend.

The Salesman (2017): Best Emotionally-Charged, Foreign Language Thriller

This Persian-language movie starts out as a story about a married couple (Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti) co-starring in a stage production of Authur Miller's Death of a Salesman. When the wife is assaulted, their relationship is upended. The Salesman received international praise, winning an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and two Cannes Film Festival awards for Best Screenplay and Best Actor. The Salesman is a must-watch for fans of emotionally charged thrillers, so long as you don't mind reading subtitles.

Gina Brillon: The Floor is Lava (2020): Best Inspirational Stand Up Comedy Special

The Floor is Lava is Gina Brillon's first standup comedy special exclusively for Amazon Prime Video. The 2012 winner of NBC's Standup For Diversity competition in 2012, you may recognize Brillon from her recurring roles in The Conners and Kevin Can Wait.

In her special, Brillon reflects on growing up poor in the Bronx and her subsequent move to the midwest. The jokes are funny, but the comic's story is also inspirational. The set concludes with a powerful appeal to human kindness and a call for greater equality for all.

7500 (2019): Best Amazon Original Action Movie in a Plane

7500 is an action movie that takes place primarily in the cockpit of a plane. An international collaboration between Austria, Germany, and the U.S., 7500 premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2019 before landing on Prime Video in 2020.

This movie about a terrorist hijacking is more of a psychological thriller than a standard action flick. Patrick Vollrath's directorial debut isn't a masterpiece, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt's intense performance will definitely keep your attention for an hour and a half.