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Amazon’s ad-ed streaming service Freevee offers a diverse mix of content, and the best Freevee movies run the gamut from cinematic classics to modern masterpieces. Launched originally as IMDb Freedive in 2019, the platform eventually morphed into Freevee and established its own identity under the Amazon streaming banner. Unlike Amazon Prime Video, which requires a subscription, Freevee’s entire catalog is available to stream without cost and is supplemented with ad breaks. Despite a deluge of other free streaming apps on the market, Freevee succeeds because of its backing from Amazon, which includes an impressive catalog of movies and TV shows that can’t be seen anywhere else.
Since its debut, Freevee has been given an infusion of life from Amazon and has even played host to several notable Prime Video exclusive titles as a way to drum up interest. The catalog of Freevee movies changes from month to month, and the service has only gotten more popular as it continues to snatch up in-demand films. Not specializing in one genre or era, the movies available on Freevee have something for every audience which has helped the fledgling streaming service gain traction. Generally ranked highly among the best free movie apps, Freevee proves definitively that quality content is key.
10 Unseen (2016)
Unpacking the story of "The Cleveland Strangler," Unseen is a thought-provoking true-crime documentary that provides a scathing commentary on systemic neglect towards women who fell victim to Anthony Sowell’s serial killings. Unseen scored the Film and Video Production Award at the 2017 WorldFest Houston and received critical acclaim for providing a voice to Sowell’s victims and survivors. The film touched on the social and economic issues behind the crimes making it all the more thought-provoking. Through powerful interviews with those closely associated with the case, Unseen provides a harrowing, but enlightening viewing experience.
9 The Last Unicorn (1982)
Though it was largely overlooked upon its initial release, Rankin/Bass’ underrated animated classic The Last Unicorn has since earned the cult following it deserved. The simple-but-elegant fantasy tale follows the last remaining unicorn as she ventures from her protective forest to discover the fate of her kind. While not as well-known as other ‘80s fantasy films, The Last Unicorn set itself apart with its strong musical score, and interesting approach to fairytale tropes. The ending of The Last Unicorn is an allegorical summation of the story’s themes, and the film is a surprisingly deep addition to Freevee’s movie catalog for younger viewers.
8 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre tells the story of five young adults who get stuck in a home of cannibals and are terrorized by a masked killer while visiting the Lone Star State. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was inspired by the true story of Ed Gein's crimes, and the movie had a massive impact on the slasher subgenre, establishing notable tropes, such as a mask-wearing killer using conventional items as weapons and overt violence. Although it was initially heavily censored and outright banned in many countries, the horror classic has since launched a successful franchise that has continued up to 2022’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
7 Lion (2016)
Lion tells the true story of an Indian man named Saroo (Dev Patel), who sets out to find his birth family after he was separated from them when he was a child. Receiving six Academy Award nominations as well as a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Lion was a critical success, with many praising Patel and Nicole Kidman's performances. Lion excels because it transforms a very personal journey into one of cultural re-discovery that is accessible to all. The movie also made history by becoming one of the highest-grossing Australian films of all time (via Sydney Herald Times).
6 Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
Raise the Red Lantern is an emotional story about an educated young woman named Songlian (Gong Li) in 1920s China who is forced by her family to become the fourth wife to a wealthy man. This movie beautifully depicts the influence of the patriarchy within Warlord Era of Chinese history, a perspective not often discussed in cinema. So much more than another period drama movie on Freevee, Raise the Red Lantern is as much about the story of Songlian as it is about the sweeping cultural implications of her plight.
5 Sophie's Choice (1982)
Sophie's Choice follows the story of Sophie (Meryl Streep), a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, who struggles to make several hard choices while navigating herself through two potential relationships. Accruing five Academy Award nominations (and earning Meryl Streep her second Oscar) the movie was a critical success. Although Roger Ebert praised the film for not sugar-coating the trauma of human suffering, Sophie’s Choice did date itself quite a bit by perpetuating harmful stereotypes towards individuals with mental health conditions. Nevertheless, the brilliant script and performances have allowed it to stand the test of time.
4 Promising Young Woman (2020)
Promising Young Woman follows Cassie (Carrie Mulligan), a traumatized young woman living a double life—working as a barista during the day and exacting revenge at night. The feminist thriller held a mirror up to the corrupt, patriarchal system that perpetuates sexual abuse, while also telling the compelling story of an individual. Promising Young Woman received positive reviews and special attention was given to debuting director Emerald Fennell for her brilliant work behind the camera. Although the movie didn't win Best Picture in 2021, it did receive the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award.
3 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Representing one of the many classics among Freevee’s movies, The Manchurian Candidate is a political thriller that follows a Korean War veteran, Raymond Shaw (Lawrence Harvey), who is unwittingly brainwashed into working as a Soviet assassin. Behind the Cold War scare tactics of The Manchurian Candidate simmered an exciting thriller story that wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility. Supplemented with strong performances from the likes of Angela Lansbury, Harvey, and musician-turned-actor Frank Sinatra, The Manchurian Candidate was a Cold War chiller filled with paranoia and deeper commentary about the true nature of post-War America.
2 West Side Story (1961)
Generally considered to be one of Hollywood's best movie musicals, West Side Story brought the beloved stage play to life in vivid color on the big screen. Mimicking the structure of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story follows star-crossed lovers Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood) who fall in love despite belonging to different warring gang factions. Transferring the energy and excitement of the live stage show to the screen, West Side Story also enhanced the musical with huge set pieces and a sweeping score. Though the film is problematic for its implementation of brown face, it nevertheless scored 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
1 The Back To The Future Trilogy (1985, 1989 & 1990)
Available in its entirety in the catalog of Freevee movies, the Back to the Future trilogy represents the peak of ‘80s nostalgia. In the first film, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) travels back in time to the 1950s and must set the timeline right before he disappears forever. The sequels saw him on other various time-hopping adventures, and all were well-received. Unlike other popular ‘80s movies, Back to the Future has aged so well because of the timelessness of its story. Fox makes for such a likable protagonist that the story always feels rewarding, and the score from John Williams is the perfect punctuation on everything.
