If you’re looking for a new movie to watch — perhaps something to surprise your spouse, family, friends, roommate, or group for movie night — we have you covered. There are tons of underrated movies that so many people either don’t pay attention to or critique for all the wrong reasons.
In the true spirit of the holidays, two of the three underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in December are holiday-themed. One you can watch with the kids, the other is best to watch with adults only.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024)
You might be growing tired of the postapocalyptic genre, but don’t tap out just yet. Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End is a solid zombie action thriller to add to the mix. Available in Spanish with subtitles or English audio, it follows the journey of Manel (Francisco Ortiz), who has been living in such a depressive funk that he doesn’t notice a global pandemic has been turning humans into flesh-eating creatures. Once he clues in and tries to reunite with his family, the border is closed and he’s left on his own to survive. Ironically, now Manel must figure out how to get to his loved ones, something he never tried to do when he had the chance.
Called Apocalipsis Z: El principio del fin in its native language, Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End is heavily inspired by other shows of the same ilk, like The Last of Us. It’s perfect for superfans of the genre who can’t get enough of groaning monsters and the tearing of flesh. Plus, it’s a nice filler while you wait for season 2 of The Last of Us to be released next year. “Despite some of its predictability,” writes Claire Waheed of Decider in her review, “Apocalypse Z is a fun thriller for all audiences.”
Stream Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End on Amazon Prime Video.
Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually is certainly not an unknown movie, but it’s sorely underrated given the Christmas gem that it is. In fact, it’s often criticized by some as being among the worst Christmas movies ever made. Yes, Love Actually is a Christmas movie, no matter how you slice it. It’s just not one to watch with the kids. It’s an adults-only rom-com to put on once the kids are in bed or have gone home. It’s also one of the first mainstream comedies that inspired the popular ensemble cast format later seen in Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and other lesser pictures.
Indeed, the movie has a killer ensemble cast (think everyone from Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson to Emma Thompson and a young Keira Knightley) and follows 10 unique stories of love. This isn’t just romantic love, but complicated unrequited love, platonic love, first loves — you name it, Love Actually has it. That means heart-wrenching scenes interspersed with hilarious ones, and even Hugh Grant dancing and Andrew Lincoln before he was Rick Grimes. It’s the kind of movie to watch again and again, particularly during the holidays.
Stream Love Actually on Amazon Prime Video.
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger threw many people for a loop when he started making comedies like Jingle All the Way in the 1990s. He’s an action star and bodybuilder, isn’t he? Perhaps that’s partly the reason this Christmas family comedy was so underrated. Is it his best? No. But the film has all the elements that make for a great, corny Christmas comedy the entire family can enjoy.
In Jingle All the Way, Schwarzenegger is Howard, a father trying desperately to find a fictional Turbo-Man action figure for his son for Christmas. But he has competition because another dad, Myron (Sinbad), who is coveting this same hard-to-find item. It’s a situation every parent can relate to, inspired by toys of the past like Cabbage Patch Kids that all but started riots in stores.
Thus, it’s also a lighthearted mockery of the commercialization of Christmas. Knowing this is the last movie featuring the late Phil Hartman that was released before his tragic death (a few others came out posthumously) makes Jingle All the Way even more worth pulling out of the vault and watching again.
Stream Jingle All the Way on Amazon Prime Video.