Prime Video is my favorite streaming service for watching classic movies, and now the platform has added a fresh selection of legendary films to its lineup.Prime Video's lineup for November 2024 includes what is often cited as the greatest movie of all time It includes a wealth of classic films, including a gangster drama and a pair of truly chilling horror films.

To be clear, when I say classic films, I don't mean films released within the last 10 years. Nor do I mean films released in my lifetime (I'm a child of the 90s). These are films that have stood the ultimate test of time, and yes, that means that some of these films are being shown in black and white, but in my opinion, that is a plus. Black and white is great.

If you enjoy some of the best feature films ever made and have an appreciation for the history of cinema, here are some of the classic films just added to Prime Video to watch this month.

“The Great Escape” is iconic for two reasons: the heart-pounding motorcycle jump in the final third and the classic, earworming main theme. While these two deserve a place in the pop culture lexicon, there are many other compelling elements to this historical epic, including a satisfying prison break story and great performances by Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough.

As the title suggests, The Great Escape focuses on a group of Allied soldiers attempting to escape from a German POW camp during World War II. The escape group is led by ultra-cool American Captain Virgil Hiltz (McQueen), who has a history of escaping from heavily guarded prison camps. On paper, the plan is relatively simple: dig a tunnel outside the prison grounds, but the stakes are high and a successful escape is only the beginning.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Stream it on Prime Video now

The film won Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder) and Best Screenplay at the 33rd Academy Awards. Starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, this is one of the most charming romantic comedies made on the premise of “Will-they-Won't-they” (will they or won't they?) and will capture your heart. It would be almost impossible to watch this film and not have a big smile on your face by the end.

“Apartment” features a humiliated insurance company employee named C.C. Baxter (Lemon) who reluctantly allows his boss to use his Upper West Side apartment for an affair. When Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), a corporate bigwig, uses the apartment to contact Fran (McLean), an elevator operator, Baxter is so heartbroken that she is sweet on herself. What follows is a heartwarming romantic comedy-drama in which Baxter tries to win her over and simultaneously climb the dangerous corporate ladder.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%Stream it on Prime Video now

Introducing “The Godfather” feels almost silly. It is one of the most widely recognized films in history, with lines and scenes that have become so famous that to call it iconic feels like an understatement. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this truly masterful crime drama is that, despite its titanic reputation, it still manages to live up to the hype. If you haven't seen it, what exactly are you waiting for?

Based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo. The Godfather is a gangster drama about the Corleone family. Led by Don Vito (Marlon Brando), the eponymous leader rules the streets with an iron grip. However, Vito's youngest son Michael (Al Pacino) is reluctant to follow in his father's footsteps, and as he is drawn further into the family business, he undergoes a radical transformation and falls into a cycle of violence and betrayal.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%Stream it on Prime Video now

Whenever I compile such lists, I usually limit myself to one film per franchise to avoid repetition, but this is an exception. The Godfather Part II is a rare sequel that rivals its predecessor, which is no small feat considering that the first “Godfather” film is probably considered the greatest film of all time. Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture (the first for a sequel), Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), “The Godfather Part II” is, like its predecessor, an indispensable film.

A prequel as well as a sequel to “The Godfather,” this second chapter chronicles the rise of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), who becomes the don of the Corleone crime family, as well as Vito Corleone's (De Niro) rise from Sicilian immigrant to the leader of the crime family that runs New York City. The film also depicts the growth of Vito Corleone (De Niro) from a Sicilian immigrant to the leader of a New York crime family. These parallel stories blend together beautifully, and Pacino and De Niro have never been better.

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%Stream it on Prime Video now

Adapted from Stephen King's groundbreaking novel, “Carrie” is a spine-chilling horror that steadily builds tension until its shocking conclusion. Centered around two masterful performances by Sissy Spacek as the titular character, Carrie, and Piper Laurie as her faithful mother, “Carrie” ranks among the best horror films of all time, but there is much more to the film than just cheesy thrills. If you can get under your nerves, you don't have to be a horror fan to give this chiller film a chance.

Clumsy teenager Carrie White (Spacek) is routinely ridiculed by her high school classmates and tormented at home by her fanatical mother Margaret (Lowry). When Carrie discovers she has supernatural telekinetic powers, kind-hearted Tommy (William Katt) invites her to prepare for prom, but on the fateful night, a cruel prank hunts Carrie down and exacts bloody revenge.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Stream it on Prime Video now

Speaking of chilling films, “Rosemary's Baby” is haunting from the very beginning. The opening title sequence is more disturbing than the entirety of many rival horror films, and the further you get into its twisted web, the more nightmarish it becomes. This is a shocking horror film that makes the most of its sense of mystery, and if you can avoid the urge to watch the trailer beforehand, I strongly recommend that you watch it with as little prior knowledge as possible.

Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) is married to Guy (John Cassavetes), an unsuccessful actor, and they have just moved into a historic New York apartment with a sinister history. Rosemary does not fit in with the apartment and is constantly under the watchful eye of her overbearing neighbors Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie (Ruth Gordon). Things get worse when Rosemary becomes pregnant and Guy's career takes off, and a terrible truth is revealed.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Now Streaming on Prime Video

If “The Great Escape” isn't enough jailbreak excitement for you, be sure to check out “Escape from Alcatraz” this month. This Clint Eastwood film sets a standard that many modern thrillers are still trying to match today, and this prison drama marks the fifth (and last) collaboration between the veteran actor and director Don Siegel. With a gripping story and strong characters, it is arguably their best work as well.

Frank Morris (Eastwood) is a tough professional criminal who has escaped from prison many times in the past. Sent to a maximum security facility on Alcatraz Island, where escape is considered impossible, Morris clashes with the cruel warden (Patrick McGoohan) and gets into a brawl with a fellow inmate named Wolf (Bruce M. Fisher). Determined to secure his freedom, Morris devises a daring plan to do the impossible and escape Alcatraz.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Now Streaming on Prime Video