The 17 best movies on AMC+ in July 2024

A Ballerina’s Tale (2015)

Misty Copeland is one of the most well-known names in modern American ballet, and her story — told comprehensively for the first time in this 2015 documentary narrated by Copeland herself — is the kind that can inspire an entire generation of future performers. From starting formal dance training as a teenager to the injuries, body shaming, and racial slights she endured during her rise. Copeland isn’t your mother’s prima ballerina. What she is, however, is the first African American woman ever promoted to principal dancer status in American Ballet Theater’s history, and her story evokes just as much emotion as her dancing. The documentary was crowdfunded, thanks in part to a donation by Prince, so consider A Ballerina’s Tale a Prince-endorsed option. —Ilana Gordon

Where to watch A Ballerina’s Tale: AMC+

Director: Nelson George

Cast: Misty Copeland

Related content: The 13 best ballet movies that are en pointe

A Bucket of Blood (1959)

In this dark comedy from legendary director Roger Corman, definitive that-guy actor Dick Miller scored his greatest leading-man role as Walter Paisley, a busboy at a beatnik café. Although he’s decidedly out of place in the venue, he falls for his co-worker, Carla (Barboura Morris), and tries to make time with her by making a bust of her. Walter accidentally kills his neighbor’s cat and tries to hide his crime by covering it in plaster, but when Carla and her pals decide the makeshift tomb is high art, he tries to reproduce it with larger subjects… and that’s when things really get dark. —Will Harris

Where to watch A Bucket of Blood: AMC+

Director: Roger Corman

Cast: Dick Miller, Barboura Morris, Antony Carbone, Ed Nelson, Myrtle Vail, Bert Convy

Related content: Terminator and Gremlins actor Dick Miller dies at age 90

Cast Away (2000)

“Wilson! Willllsonnnn!!” Who knew a volleyball with a finger-painted face floating away could strike such an emotional chord? When Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) washes up on a South Pacific shore after a shocking plane crash, he’s forced to adapt to his lonely new reality. But even after much trial and error — mostly error… how do you open a coconut, anyway? — Chuck never loses sight of escaping the island’s grasp and finding his way back to the love of his life, Kelly (Helen Hunt). Hanks put his heart, soul, and physical self into Cast Away, losing over 50 pounds for the role and receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. —Johnny Loftus

Where to watch Cast Away: AMC+

EW grade: A- (read the review)

Director: Robert Zemeckis 

Cast: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy

Related content: Tom Hanks and Wilson the volleyball enjoy Cast Away reunion at Cleveland Guardians game

District 9 (2009)

In an alternate version of our universe, aliens (known as prawns) arrived on Earth in 1982 and were forced to live in a refugee camp segregated from the general population. A science fiction action film set in Johannesburg, South Africa, and directed by South African Neill Blomkamp, District 9 is a creative take on the genre with political resonance and relevance to spare. Relying primarily on “found footage” interviews, newscasts, and surveillance tapes to help tell the story of two unlikely partners — a human and a prawn — who join forces to take down the government and a corrupt weapons manufacturing company, District 9 is an allegory disguised as an alien movie. —I.G.

Where to watch District 9: AMC+

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James

Related content: The 40 best alien movies of all time

Boyhood (2014)

One of the more fascinating films of the past few decades, this Richard Linklater joint shows the highs and lows of growing up, as seen through the eyes of Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his sister (Lorelei Linklater), and his parents (Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke). What makes it so fascinating, however, is that Linklater filmed the feature for over a dozen years, using the same cast and capturing various life vignettes during each production session. It’s a remarkable piece of cinema, one that deftly balances drama and comedy with plenty of heart. —W.H.

Where to watch Boyhood: AMC+

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Richard Linklater

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Libby Villari, Marco Perella

Related content:  The Snub That Still Hurts: Boyhood grew on audiences – but wasn’t showy enough for the Academy

The Evil Dead (1981)

It’s the film that made Bruce Campbell into a cult superstar and put Sam Raimi on the map as a director. When Ash Williams (Campbell), his girlfriend, and three buddies head into the woods to stay overnight at a cabin, their leisurely plans abruptly change after stumbling upon an ancient book called the Necronomicon. Reading aloud from the book, the friends discover that they’ve accidentally unleashed a great evil, ultimately leaving Ash in a position where he may have to decide whether to save the world or himself. A true achievement in low-budget horror filmmaking, the bonkers practical effects and stripped-down setting still hold up to this day. —W.H.

Where to watch The Evil Dead: AMC+

Director: Sam Raimi

Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly

Related content: Sam Raimi would ‘love’ to make another Evil Dead film with Bruce Campbell

Frances Ha (2012)

Frances Halladay (Greta Gerwig), a 27-year-old aspiring dancer living in New York City with her college bestie, Sophie (Mickey Sumner), abruptly finds her life in upheaval when Sophie decides to move from Brooklyn to Tribeca…without Frances. Since she can’t afford the apartment by herself, Frances finds friends to share a place with, but then things at the dance company get weird for her, too. This snapshot of Frances’ life is an endlessly endearing series of ups and downs, winning our affection with each bumbling setback and stubbornly optimistic resolution. —W.H.

Where to watch Frances Ha: AMC+

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Noah Baumbach

Cast: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Summer, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen, Patrick Heusinger, Michael Esper

Related content: Frances Ha: Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach interview

Halloween (1978)

Any horror movie fan worth their salt already knows the mythos of this franchise backwards and forwards, but just in case you’re new to the story, then it’s time to say hello to Michael Myers. On October 31, 1963, 6-year-old Michael murders his 17-year-old sister and is placed in a sanitarium. 15 years later, Michael escapes from custody, makes his way back to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, and embarks on a new killing spree — but can his psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance), stop him before he slays his intended new target, teenager Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis)? A cornerstone of the then-burgeoning slasher subgenre, Halloween is John Carpenter’s masterclass in slow-burn suspense. —W.H. 

Where to watch Halloween: AMC+

Director: John Carpenter

Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles, Charles Cyphers, Kyle Richards

Related content: John Carpenter gives us his Halloween movie recommendations

Late Night With the Devil (2023)

In this unique mockumentary horror film, viewers are introduced to ‘70s talk show host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) of Night Owls, who, after a hiatus following his wife’s death, is desperate to boost ratings upon his return. To do so, he anchors his Halloween episode around a parapsychologist/author and her latest subject, a girl who is the last survivor of a Satanic church. What follows is edge-of-your-seat, wholly original storytelling that ranks among the best scary movies of the past year. —W.H.

Where to watch Late Night with the Devil: AMC+

Director: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes

Cast: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Georgina Haig, Josh Quong Tart

Related content: How Late Night With the Devil gave Satan the talk-show hot seat

Magic (1978)

After proving to be a failure as a magician, Corky (Anthony Hopkins) embarks on a new entertainment avenue: ventriloquism. Adopting a dummy named Fats, he finds enough success that he’s on the cusp of securing a TV gig. With Fats in tow, he returns to his hometown and reunites with an old flame (Ann-Margret), but his puppet seems far less enamored by the couple’s rekindling. In addition to a stellar zero-to-hero performance by a young Hopkins, this underseen gem spends much of its runtime in a fantastical gray area, in which we’re unsure whether Corky is insane or Fats is truly sentient (and sinister). —W.H.

Where to watch Magic: AMC+

Director: Richard Attenborough

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith, Ed Lauter, E.J. Andre, David Ogden Stiers

Related content: The best Anthony Hopkins roles

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Though it actually refers to them as “ghouls,” there’s no doubt that this film kicked off the zombie genre as we know it today. That legacy is precisely why director and co-writer George Romero continues to be revered long after his death. (Well, that and the massively influential franchise he crafted after this kick-off). Night of the Living Dead, which features zero big names in its cast, concerns the onset of cannibalistic corpses wandering through Pennsylvania’s countryside and the people dealing with that horror. It’s a black-and-white stunner that explores how human conflict during a crisis is far more dangerous than the looming threat outside the farmhouse door. —W.H.

Where to watch Night of the Living Dead: AMC+

EW grade: A+ (read the review)

Director: George Romero

Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Kyra Schon, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley

Related content: The 30 best zombie movies of all time, ranked

Predator (1987)

Sometimes you just want to see the strongest, sweatiest men get their asses handed to them by an alien. John McTiernan's beloved brawler stars a never-better Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of a paramilitary rescue team sent to save hostages in guerrilla-held territory of a Central American rainforest. There, flitting between the trees, is a humanoid creature with a plasma cannon and an invisibility cloak that proves more formidable than any guerilla grunt. Yeah, it's funny — "Stick around" and "Get to da choppa!" are all-time Arnold one-liners — but McTiernan gets his hands dirty, too, immersing us in the jungle's exotic terrors while building to a killer climax that strips away the technological frippery in favor of old-fashioned fisticuffs. It's grisly, relentless, and dripping with machismo. —Alex Galbraith

Where to watch Predator: AMC+

Director: John McTiernan

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers

Related content: How Prey reinvigorated the Predator franchise with a trip back in time — and a female warrior in the lead

Rocky (1976)

Almost half a century after the first Rocky film brained audiences with a knockout punch, Rocky Balboa’s legacy remains strong. Here, we rewind 47 years to when the world first saw Sylvester Stallone play a blue-collar Philly boy and amateur boxer with the heart of a champion and a dream of proving himself. When heavyweight title holder Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) challenges him to a big-time fight, it’s up to Rocky to show the world that you can never count out the underdog. Also starring Talia Shire as his girlfriend Adrian (of “Yo, Adrian” fame), Rocky is nostalgic, heartwarming, and endlessly quotable. — I.G. 

Where to watch Rocky: AMC+

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: John G. Avildsen

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith  

Related content: Sylvester Stallone condemns Rocky spin-off Drago, says franchise characters are being 'exploited'

Room 237 (2012)

It’s one thing to make a film about the making of a film, but with Room 237, Rodney Ascher has done something far more intriguing with his nine-segment exploration of Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining by Stephen King. Ascher dissects theories about everything from the movie’s arguably Native American subtext (given the Overlook supposedly rests on a Native American burial mound) to the claim that Kubrick allegedly directed the Apollo 11 moon landing footage. Whether you believe these claims or not, it’s still a fascinating documentary that caters to conspiratorial film buffs. —W.H.

Where to watch Room 237: AMC+

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Rodney Ascher

Cast: Bill Blakemore, Geoffrey Cocks, Juli Kearns, John Fell Ryan, Jay Weidner

Related content: Room 237: Exploring Stanley Kubrick’s Shining Influence

Snowpiercer (2013)

Bong Joon Ho has made a name for himself as a creative visionary with a zest for remixing genres, and his sci-fi thriller Snowpiercer is no exception. Set in 2031 aboard a speeding train that holds all the remaining human survivors of Earth’s lost battle with climate change, the film chronicles a class rebellion staged by those at the back of the convoy. As the train circumnavigates the globe, Curtis Everette (Chris Evans) leads a group of disenfranchised passengers through the cars to take down society’s elite, who live in luxurious compartments at the front of the vehicle. Bloody and full of unexpected twists, EW’s critic writes, “Snowpiercer sucks you into its strange, brave new world so completely, it leaves you with the all too rare sensation that you’ve just witnessed something you’ve never seen before…and need to see again and again.” —I.G.

Where to watch Snowpiercer: AMC+

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Cast: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Bremner

Related content: Snowpiercer saved by AMC, fourth and final season will debut in 2025

Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)

Tigers Are Not Afraid is too vast and beautiful to be restricted to one genre. A fusion of fantasy, crime, horror, and documentary-style filmmaking, this work was rejected by major festival circuits before being accepted into a horror fest where it was championed by genre fans. Following a Mexican child’s attempts to use three wishes to seek vengeance against the drug cartel that killed her mother, the film combines magical realism and hard-hitting historical and current realities to create something haunting, horrible, and true. Writer/director and writer Issa López cited Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, and Guillermo del Toro as major influences, and all three have since declared themselves fans of her films. —I.G.

Where to watch Tigers Are Not Afraid: AMC+

Director: Issa López

Cast: Paola Lara, Juan Ramón López, Ianis Guerrero, Rodrigo Cortés, Hanssel Casillas

Related content: How Tigers Are Not Afraid director made one of Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro's favorite new movies

Titanic (1997)

The tragic implosion of the Titan submersible last year proved, yet again, that the allure of the Titanic cannot be denied. The same can be said for James Cameron’s cinematic adaptation of the event, an over three-hour epic that layers a fictional love story on top of a historical catastrophe, tracing the ship’s trajectory from a world-class vessel to its final resting place at the bottom of the North Atlantic. Enriched by real-life characters and true accounts, Cameron’s film made Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet household names, revolutionized modern filmmaking, and created a banger of a Celine Dion ballad. A tale of love and loss, classism and delusion, Titanic is more than worthy of the 11 Academy Awards it took home. —I.G.

Where to watch Titanic: AMC+

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: James Cameron 

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill

Related content: James Cameron addresses Titan submersible tragedy: 'Struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster'