If you are one of those film fans who crave films from across the globe, Amazon Prime Video is your gateway to a global film festival without ever having to move out of your living room. Ranging from award-winning dramas to world-trotting animation, the platform is chock-full of global films and Academy Award winners that transport you into other worlds, other times, and other states of mind. So sit back, get cozy, and jump into these 13 best-of-the-best global and Oscar-nominated films streaming presently, counted down for maximum tension.
13. Ida
With its striking black-and-white photography and minimalist storytelling, this Polish film recounts the subdued, forceful story of a young nun finding hidden family history after World War II. Ida is as cinematically lyrical as it is emotionally resonant.
12. Another Round
In this Oscar-winning Danish film, a group of middle-aged schoolteachers put a theory to the test: life is more fun with a perpetual hum of activity. What follows is a heartwarming, frequently hilarious foray into friendship, remorse, and rejuvenation. It’s both gonzo-fun and unexpectedly moving.
11. The Girl with the Needle
This low-key Danish psychological thriller is the unlikeliest of horrors about a sinister adoption agency in the dark, moody underworld of post-WWI Denmark as seen by a suspicious young woman. It was Denmark’s submission for Best International Feature and packs a heavy dose of atmosphere.
10. The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Shot secretly in Iran, this politically explosive drama is about a judge whose universe collapses following a tragic accident and a lost gun. The tense mood and confrontational criticism of authoritarianism of the film attracted international attention and made it an Oscar contender.
9. Flow
Latvia’s first Oscar-nominated animation feature is a wordless, powerful tale that tells it all without saying a single word. A bunch of animals ride out a great flood in this visually stunning and deeply emotional movie. It’s an unobtrusive triumph of animation and storytelling.
8. Nickel Boys
Based on Colson Whitehead’s celebrated novel, this period drama transports audiences to a violent reform school in 1960s Florida. Focusing on the lives of two Black teenage boys, the film packs a gut-punch of truth and resilience, taking home mentions for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay.
7. The Brutalist
This epic period drama chronicles a Holocaust survivor who becomes an architect and rebuilds his life in America after the war. Starring Adrien Brody in a commanding central performance, the film earned 10 Academy nominations and took awards for cinematography and score. It’s grand and intimate at the same time.
6. Conclave
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore in the clandestine corridors of the Vatican, this gripping thriller takes place as a new Pope is chosen. With a remarkable eight Oscar nominations and one for adapted screenplay, which it won, Conclave skillfully integrates political suspense with religious substance.
5. A Complete Unknown
Timothée Chalamet embodies a young Bob Dylan in this high-energy biopic that gets to the heart of 1960s New York. With awards nods galore, including Best Picture and Best Actor, it’s a retro dive into the beginning of the life of a cultural icon.
4. Dune: Part Two
Denis Villeneuve’s return with a larger, more ambitious second chapter of his sci-fi epic. From towering sandworms to stunning battle sequences, this follow-up won widespread acclaim—and Oscars—for its sound and visual effects. It’s blockbuster filmmaking on its boldest scale.
3. Wicked
This spectacular remake of the hit Broadway musical reinvents the world of Oz with panache and feeling. Directed by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Wicked took over hearts and the Academy as well, winning awards for its grand production and costume design.
2. The Substance
Daring blend of horror, satire, and social commentary, this incendiary film featuring Demi Moore explores beauty and identity themes. The Substance, which took home a makeup and hairstyling award, makes an indelible mark.
1. Anora
Number one on the list is Sean Baker’s hysterical and emotional story of love, striving, and inadvertent stardom. Anora swept the 97th Academy Awards with victories for Best Picture, Best Actress, and more, with its charged storytelling and cutthroat direction. It’s a crazy ride that hits all the heartstrings.
From icy vampire lore to raucous romance and brooding period dramas, Prime Video has assembled an international slate of choice for cinemaphiles craving something more than the expected. These aren’t merely excellent foreign or Oscar-contending films—they’re unforgettable travels to the center of cinema.