The Amazon Prime Video catalog is growing by the month, and not only because a ton of old movies are jumping into the public domain. They’re getting their hands on Oscar and Emmy winners, along with an ever increasing selection of original programming. If you don’t have Amazon, now may be the time to consider signing up, if only because you’ve run out of stuff to watch on Netflix. Here are the best things coming to Amazon Prime Video this month.
Apocalypse Now
Available Now
Hands-down one of the best war epics ever released, Apocalypse Now isn’t just a movie about the Vietnam War; it’s a cinematic masterpiece that’s every bit as horrifying and maddening as it is weird, quirky, and beautiful. The film itself is a modern adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, adapted to fit the war. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, was nominated for both Academy and Golden Globe awards, and is considered one of the best films of all time—ever. It stars the likes of Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper, Robert Duval, and Larry Fishburne, and it is an absolute must-watch. That is, if you haven’t already. Original | Redux
Magnolia
Available Now
An acclaimed 90’s classic from the same man who gave the world Boogie Nights, Magnolia is a wild and crazy ride that takes place in the span of just one day. It follows the interconnected lives of several characters in California’s San Fernando Valley, including a boy genius, a gameshow host, a police officer, and a douchey pickup-artist scammer, among others. Every small nuance and detail come together to paint a beautiful and absurdly chaotic portrait. The all-star cast includes the likes of Jeremy Blackman, Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Melinda Dillon, William H. Macy, John. C. Reilly, and Julianne Moore, and yes, it’s just as ridiculous as you’re thinking. Watch
Long Strange Trip
June 2nd
Deadheads everywhere have long awaited this engrossing docuseries about one of America’s greatest rock and roll bands, and it finally arrives to Amazon Prime on June 02. Director Bar-Lev and Executive Producer Martin fucking Scorsese, using never-before-seen archival footage and personal interviews from the people who witnessed the Grateful Dead’s long and storied run, create the most honest and enthralling telling of the band’s history ever released. Long Strange Trip is long, but critics and fans agree it’s worth every damn second. Watch
Ocean’s Eleven/Twelve
June 5th
We know we’re kind of cheating with this one, but it’s really tough to pick the better of the two, here. So, that said, both Ocean’s 11 and Ocean’s 12 are making their way on June 4 to Amazon Prime streaming. The two comedic heist movies center around Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his crew of accomplished bandits and thieves as they crack plans to swindle obscenely wealthy people out of their loot. The entire Ocean’s trilogy is excellent, and if you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade and have somehow managed to not see these at some point, June is definitely the time to make it happen! Eleven | Twelve
I Am Not Your Negro
June 8th
We tend not to delve into the political arena here at Cool Material, but to ignore a film important as I Am Not Your Negro would be a great disservice. I Am Not Your Negro is a documentary film based on African-American writer James Baldwin’s unfinished memoir manuscript, Remember This House. The film is a truthful and brutal look into the history of racism in the United States, as well as Baldwin’s place in the Civil Rights movement and the memories of others involved in it. It’s moving, eye-opening, and provocative, and definitely worthy of your attention. Watch
Le Mans: Racing is Everything
June 9th
Le Mans is the longest-running sports car race the world has ever known, and for those interested in the sport of “endurance racing,” it’s an absolutely thrilling (but also grueling) ordeal. Le Mans: Racing is Everything is a tell-all reality series from the folks at Amazon, this time following around six racing teams for an all-access look into what, exactly, goes into preparing for the legendary 24-hour race. Three-thousand miles, 24 hours, and countless hours of training, determination, and prep go into every single second of Le Mans, and Amazon Prime viewers are about to get a front-row seat to all the action. Watch
All or Nothing Season 2
June 30th
All or Nothing is a reality sports show unlike any other because it’s regularly granted unprecedented access to the NFL teams they follow. In Season 1, viewers followed the Arizona Cardinals all the way up to their NFC Championship game against the Carolina Panthers (back in 2015). Season 2 will highlight the 2016 season of the LA Rams, and will cover their shaky move from St. Louis to Los Angeles, as well as their dismal 4-12 season, their QB debacle with Case Keenum and Jared Goff, and the departure (read: “firing”) of head coach Jeff Fisher. If you thought sparks were flying in Season 1, Season 2 is the downed electrical line thrashing in the middle of the street. Watch
Kung Fu Movies Galore
Available Whenever
If you’re a kung fu buff like us, June is going to be a superb month for you because you’re getting some really, really good kung fu flicks to peruse—old, new, popular, obscure; there’s a little bit of everything. Some of the titles include Bruce Lee Superstar, Dragon Eyes, Chinese Hercules, Drunken Arts & Crippled Fists, Drunken Monkey Floating Snake, Fatal Flying Guillotine, Invincible Obsessed Fighter, Shaolin Drunk Fighter, Shaolin vs. Lama, and several others we’re sure we’re missing. We don’t know what kind of jackpot the Amazon licensing buyers fell into this month, but we’re definitely grateful for the good stuff!
