Movies and shows you can stream on Amazon Prime right now

Actually, throw an asterisk on that “15 movies” assertion because we are starting with a film series that extends beyond 15 movies in and of itself. The James Bond films can be found on Prime, and it is extensive. All the Bond actors are accounted for, from the beginning with “Dr. No” all the way up to the most recent one, “No Time to Die.” Want to span the decades with 007? You can.

Amazon played a role in bringing "American Fiction" to the big screen, which is to the company's credit. The film earned five Oscar nominations, and it won Best Adapted Screenplay. Jeffrey Wright stars as a frustrated intellectual author who stumbles into an awkward circumstance after he writes a book under a pseudonym meant to be a huffy protest. What makes the movie work, though, is the well-considered characters that feel three-dimensional.

Jordan Peele grabbed everybody’s attention with “Get Out,” which led to a ton of anticipation for “Us” which was…a minor misfire. That perhaps led to “Nope” flying under the radar, but this is one to catch up on and check out. It may seem like some sort of alien invasion movie, but there’s a lot more to it. You’ll never think of high-concept sitcoms the same way.

Streaming is great for catching old classics and rewatching favorites, but it is also ideal for watching perfectly fine recent films that are worth a watch but weren’t worth a trip to the theaters. “Honor Among Thieves” is a sterling example of that. The cast is impressive, with Chris Pine and Hugh Grant standing out in particular, and it’s a serviceable, entertaining adventure story. Got to take a break to make dinner or something? This is the kind of film where you don’t have to feel bad about that, but you will probably want to finish it as well.

Speaking of classics, Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” is one of the defining films of the ‘90s. If you have never seen it, what are you waiting for? If you have, well, you’re thinking about stopping right here and going to watch it, aren’t you? Hey, we get it.

“Air” stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the Amazon original films (so much so the studio gave it a theatrical run before it hit Prime). Ben Affleck directs, as well as plays Phil Knight, alongside frequent collaborator Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, the Nike employee who went all-in to try to get Michael Jordan to sign with Nike on a shoe deal.

With all due respect to “Rocky,” the fact “All the President’s Men” or “Network” didn’t win Best Picture in 1976 was an error. If you enjoy a procedural drama, Alan J. Pakula’s film is one of the finest examples of that. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman play Woodward and Bernstein, the journalists who helped break the Watergate scandal that brought down Richard Nixon. You know, the kind of thing that certainly doesn’t feel relevant these days for any reason.

If you want a sense of the kind of blank check Christopher Nolan had in the 2010s (and arguably still has now), look no further than “Interstellar.” It’s a trippy, heady, melodramatic film about traveling through space and time. Hey, “Inception” was a huge hit, why not trust Nolan? “Interstellar” wasn’t quite as successful, but time has bolstered the reputation of the film, so why not give it a shot on Prime?

It’s a sports movie that is only sort of about sports, which is perhaps why it has so many admirers who aren’t sports fans. “Moneyball” was a hit that also earned several Oscar nominations. It helped that Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the GM of the Oakland Athletics determined to make the most of his work around the margins to find success.

The idea of a Batman movie, or even a superhero movie, was far from a sure thing when “Batman” hit theaters. Not only that, Tim Burton was unproven, and many questioned Michael Keaton’s casting. Now, of course, it’s considered a classic of the genre and it also earned itself a sequel. This is probably us letting you know where it is streaming so you can rewatch it, but just in case you’ve never seen it, if you like superhero movies at all, this is a must-see.

From out of nowhere, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” became an Oscar darling. It won Best Picture, Best Actress, and both supporting categories. Curious about the hype? Does “Everything Everywhere” live up to all those awards? Now is the time to come to your own conclusions!

Looking for some holiday fare outside the usual parameters? Well, “Violent Night,” the movie where David Harbour plays an ass-kicking Santa, is on Prime, but “Scrooged” has stood the test of time. It’s about as mean-spirited as a Christmas comedy gets, but Bill Murray is at center stage, which certainly helps.

There’s got to be something for the family to watch, right? How about a movie where Charles Grodin acts against a dog and absolutely kills it? “Beethoven” may be a ‘90s throwback that might make it a tougher sell to kids of a modern era, but on the other hand there’s a big dog. The dog is for the kids. Grodin is for the adults.

A couple of Quentin Tarantino movies are on Prime, but “Inglourious Basterds” is arguably his best movie. The war film is bold, but lacks much of the snide “Ain’t I a stinker?” energy that Tarantino brings at his worst. Plus, Christoph Waltz won an Oscar for this one, and he is indeed great.

We like some highbrow fare, like Shakespeare. Okay, so this is a PG-13 high school movie that loosely adapts “The Taming of the Shrew,” but it’s still Shakespeare. It also benefits from having Julia Stiles and the late Heath Ledger in the lead roles.

We have reached our 15th film without delving into the many older films available. Prime has a litany of noir crime movies, for example, though many of them are “programmers” that are slight, if usually enjoyable. This is no such film. “To Catch a Thief” is an Alfred Hitchcock movie starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. It personifies 1950s Hollywood glamor.

Before we get to a couple of Amazon originals, we start with the number-one thing worth streaming on Prime. The original, classic run of “Frasier” is now in the mix on Prime. We’re talking about a sitcom in the running for the greatest of all time. “Frasier” rules, and whether you are revisiting it or trying it for the first time, this has to be in the mix for a binge.

Prime has had a few niche hits (shout out to “Bosch”), but only a couple that have truly made a splash. One of those is “The Boys.” It’s something of a jaundiced take on the superhero genre, and it is not as family friendly as the MCU to be sure. No, it’s a violent, vulgar deconstruction of superheroes, but it’s also beloved. Also, if you watch “The Boys,” suddenly like a dozen more memes will make sense to you.

This period comedy is maybe not the major hit that “The Boys” is, but it has acclaim. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” has won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys, after all. Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, and Tony Shalhoub all have won Emmys for the show as well. Emmys have not poured in for Prime shows, which makes “Maisel” stand out.

“Psych” is a testament to the power of the procedural. It is something of the television equivalent to movies like “Honor Among Thieves.” The show about a fake psychic detective who solves crimes is not exactly “Mad Men.” It’s silly and slight, but often a ton of fun. It’s the sort of show you might find yourself throwing on over shows you think are of better quality, because “Psych” is a breezy watch you can let wash over you, in the best way possible.

Prime’s strength is in its classic sitcoms, including some underrated gems. Both “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Newhart” are on there. However, the latter is the better show. In fact, “Newhart” is one of the two or three best sitcoms of the 1980s, though its iconic series finale aired in 1990.

Michael J. Fox was a movie star who built his career on charm and scrappy energy. After his movie star waned, he moved to television where he headlined “Spin City.” He may not have been selling movies any longer, but he did not lose his charisma. The sitcom is set in the offices of the Mayor of New York City, and it has four high-quality seasons with Fox, and then two solid ones with Charlie Sheen after Fox’s Parkinson’s, which unfortunately led to him leaving the show.

How do you feel about Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally’s performances on “Will & Grace?” Your answer to that will determine if this show is up your alley. While they are supporting characters, they are primary supporting characters, and both are a lot. Like, A LOT. If you can get on the wavelength of Hayes and Mullally as Jack and Karen, then “Will & Grace” is either a favorite of yours, or it will be. If not, well, you’ll end up running to the hills.

Once again, something for the kids. Now, only six seasons of “SpongeBob” are on Prime. On the other hand, six is plenty. Nickelodeon’s most successful show of the new millennium (though it debuted in 1999) can bring Millennial parents and their children together with absurd humor and underwater burgers.

Prime is also home to a lot of British fare. This is not the Marvel film, but the classic British TV series about spies. If you are of the Anglophile ilk, “The Avengers,” or one of the many Hercule Poirot offerings, could be a reason to check out Prime.

We end, in a way, where we began. Before he was Bond, Pierce Brosnan was one of the stars of “Remington Steele.” We barely scratched the surface of the shows from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s you can find on Prime. There are the sitcoms, sure, but also procedural dramas like “Remington Steele.” You could watch “Goldeneye” and “Remington Steele” back-to-back if you wanted!

Projects based on video game properties are a mixed bag, but in recent years there has been an uptick in quality. That includes "Fallout." Based on a wry, darkly comedic video game series set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the show keeps that tone going. Having Walton Goggins around to play an undead gunslinger certainly helped.