Adventure films have a habit of following familiar formulas: a hero, a mission and a race against time. In the moment they're great but some can leave you underwhelmed – or, worse still, have you scrolling your feed mid-watch.
Thankfully, all is not lost on the adventure front, if you know where to look. Prime Video's latest roster of films and series promise to keep your eyes glued to the screen and heart racing.
Catering to a variety of interests (there are sheep solving crimes and AI justice systems), these weird and wonderful stories take all the predictability out of a crowded genre for a viewing experience that will have you chasing one more scene. Here’s our top picks. Friendly advice? Make sure you’ve got time to spare because you won’t want to pause.
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is the type of fantasy epic you want to save for a slow summer day, when you need action and laughs in equal measure. Directed by Travis Knight and based on the 80s animated series of the same name (which itself took inspiration from a retro doll), this sword-and-sorcery comedy proves that contemporary adventure films don’t need to be dark and woefully serious to really grip audiences.
In fact, self-aware humour, considered action sequences and thoughtful world-building make for a riotous ride. Nicholas Galitzine stars as Adam, a forgotten prince who dreams of returning to his home planet to salvage what remains after an invasion at the hands of evil warlock Skeletor (Jared Leto). Reunited with his all-important sword of power, he returns to Eternia and rallies a ragtag group of warriors to face off against Skeletor.
Peppered with familiar faces (Idris Elba and Camilla Mendes serve as the brains to Adam’s bumbling hero) and thrillingly true to the He-Man lore (there’s a character called Fisto because why not), it’s one you’ll watch and instantly want to talk about when the credits roll.
Included in Prime
The Sheep Detectives
Think you’ve seen every take on a classic whodunnit? Think again. The Sheep Detectives is here to prove just how much can be achieved with clever casting and a smart spin on a tried and tested format.
Based on Leoni Swann’s quirky novel Three Bags Full, this kooky adventure follows the story of George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a quiet shepherd who spends most of his nights reading detective novels to his flock of sheep – believing them to be smarter than humans perceive. After George is murdered (not a spoiler, it’s in the trailers), his determined flock take it upon themselves to solve his murder and find justice. No, seriously.
There are the expected elements: lies, dangerous leads and a group of delightfully suspicious characters. But it's also packed with unexpected moments, quick wit, sharp humour, and moving commentary on themes of grief and mortality.
Add to that some impressive sheep sleuthing and you’ve got a can't-look-away mystery the whole family can enjoy.
Special mention also goes to the impressively stacked vocal cast including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Regina Hall, Chris O'Dowd, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey and Brett Goldstein as some of George’s crime-solving flock.
Included in Prime
Project Hail Mary
Having watched our fair share of film and TV (and then some), we know a good book to screen adaptation when we see one. Project Hail Mary is a great one.
Based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name (Weir also wrote the thrilling space masterpiece The Martian), this science-y adventure is just the right level of nerdy to keep existing fans happy and new viewers intrigued.
Ex-biologist Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship with little recollection of how he got there or who he even is. He soon discovers that he’s the sole surviving crew member aboard a one-way interstellar voyage. The mission? Save all of humanity from a mysterious substance.
Visually thrilling (it deftly bounces from space to Earth via flashbacks), it's full of life too. Alien-turned-friend Rocky (voiced by James Ortiz) brings bounces off of Gosling's charisma to turn the solo voyage into a fun, buddy-style adventure.
Will Grace accomplish his mission and save the sun from dying? What was the cause of his amnesia? You’ll want the answers to these questions, sure, but you’ll probably care more about his unlikely friendship with a rock companion.
Included in Prime
Ride or Die
Ever considered what it'd be like to discover your best friend of 20 years had been keeping a secret of epic proportions from you? Maybe not, but Ride or Die on Prime Video will certainly make you consider it.
Set against the thrilling backdrop of espionage and clandestine operations, it follows best friends Debbie (Octavia Spencer) and Judith (Hannah Waddingham) who think they share everything. As they soon find out, thanks to a botched assassination, this is far from true.
Judith is forced to reveal her true identity as a professional assassin, and so begins a high-stakes game of cat and mouse as Debbie gets dragged into Judith’s world of danger, lies and mystery.
It’s got all the makings of classic buddy-comedy mixed with fast-moving action and serious adventure courtesy of the chaotic race across Europe.
Bill Nighy (a spy-thriller regular), Ed Skrein (Jurassic World Rebirth) and Sylvia Hoeks (Mother) round out the supporting cast, bringing just enough menace to balance the effortless chemistry between Spencer and Waddingham. The result is an action-comedy that's as thrilling as it is funny.
Included in Prime
Mercy
Allow us to set the scene for this next adventure. It's the year 2029. An LAPD officer gets framed for his wife’s murder. He’s on trial for the crime and has no memory of the event. The judge presiding over his trial is an artificial intelligence leader who also rules the justice system. Oh, and he only has 90 minutes to prove he’s innocent before being executed. Need we say more?
Mercy is the kind of race-against-the-clock film you can’t help but keep your eyes on – after all, it moves in real time so every minute of screentime literally counts.
Starring Chris Pratt as Detective Christopher Raven (the man on trial) and Rebecca Ferguson as Judge Maddox (an AI hologram solely in charge of deciding someone’s guilt), this thought-provoking sci-fi thriller takes cues from shows like The Capture in asking questions about the reliability of technology in an increasingly AI-driven world.
It also puts a fresh spin on action, with much of it unfolding through body cameras and surveillance footage. Line this one up when you're after a crime thriller with a side of sci-fi commentary.
Included in Prime
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