Each month, new films and TV shows are added to Amazon Prime Video’s New Zealand library. Eliza Janssen presents her picks for titles worth watching. For the full list of everything arriving on the platform, scroll down.
Top picks
A Very Royal Scandal (September 20)
This is kinda awkward, since Netflix already put out a dramatisation of Prince Andrew’s reputation-destroying TV interview with BBC’s Emily Maitlis. In this three-part limited series, Michael Sheen portrays the sweaty and disgraced royal, looking a fair bit more like Andrew than Rufus Sewell did, I reckon. Ruth Wilson is Maitlis. By simply re-enacting the shattering interview practically in real time, Netflix’s movie managed to make some impact, so hopefully this new production can accomplish a similar, uncanny sense of deja vu.
Top picks: movies + specials
Gladiator (September 1)
To whet your whistle for Sir Ridley Scott’s upcoming sequel, Prime Video is making the man’s Best Picture-winning hit available for a rewatch. It’s a blend of the best drama the swords ‘n sandals genre has to offer, plus the majesty of contemporary effects and a stirring lead performance from Rusty. Amazon recently mounted their own TV show set in the bad old days of Rome, which cuts right to the gristly good bits of gladiatorial struggle and excess. But there’s no way it can eclipse the crowd-pleasing power of this modern classic; the ultimate Sunday afternoon watch with your dad.
Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (September 5)
It seems like every prestige-y Australian story these days is about some sleuth uncovering the dark truth of a small-town mystery, in a remote locale such as a thirsty desert setting or foreboding woodlands. Eric Bana has ticked off both environs in his role as Agent Aaron Falk, returning in this sequel to get to the bottom of a work retreat gone horribly wrong. Featuring Jacqueline McKenzie and Anna Torv, the frostier, foresty follow-up to 2020’s outback noir The Dry takes place in the Victorian mountain ranges, with Falk trying to find out what happened to his informant after she disappears on a corporate hike. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another adaptation of Jane Harper’s novels on the way: maybe Falk could enjoy some surf next time around?
Killer Heat (September 26)
A neo-noir mystery set on the island of Crete…dare we hope for a murderous version of Mamma Mia? Featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as private eye Nick Bali, this twisty whodunnit casts a powerful Greek shipping family as its suspects, all under Nick’s eye after the death of young magnate Leo. Shailene Woodley and Richard Madden co-star, presumably enjoying a lot of sunshine and feta appetisers in the process of making an updated, thrilling murder mystery.
It’s based on a short story by Norwegian crime novelist Jo Nesbø, and we don’t even have a trailer or any imagery to offer you: so enjoy this nice photo of Crete at sunset! Opa!
All titles arriving on Prime Video New Zealand in September
September 1
Curse of the Pink Panther
The Equalizer 2
Gladiator
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
Invaders From Mars
The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther (2006)
The Pink Panther 2
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
The Return of the Pink Panther
Revenge of the Pink Panther
A Shot in the Dark
Son of the Pink Panther
The Terminator
Trail of the Pink Panther
Where the Wild Things Are
September 5
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
WNBA: Seattle Storm at New York Liberty
September 6
Call Me Bae: Season 1
Elisabeth Rioux: Unfiltered: Season 1
Lego Dreamzzzz: Season 2
WNBA: Washington Mystics at Phoenix Mercury
September 11
Manes: Season 2
Self/Less
Thiago Ventura
September 13
The Grand Tour: One for the Road
WNBA: New York Liberty at Dallas Wings
September 15
Asphalt City
September 17
American Assassin
September 19
WNBA: Indiana Fever at Washington Mystics
September 20
Fabrizio Copano Stand-Up Special
Ingebrigtsen Born to Run: Season 1
The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal: Season 1
A Very Royal Scandal
September 22
Can You Keep a Secret?
September 25
Hotel Artemis
September 26
Killer Heat
September 27
Previously Saved Version
