5 thrilling Prime Video movies to watch this week (May 25


As a movie enthusiast, I’m always looking for a good thriller with a unique story where tension, danger, and uncertainty reign supreme. Whether it’s psychological mind games, a high-stakes mystery, or pulse-pounding action, it should tap into something primal that keeps me on the edge of my seat, with my eyes glued to the screen.

This week on Amazon Prime Video, we’re diving into some thrilling movies that blend suspense with emotion, keep raising the stakes, and deliver unexpected twists. Our top pick is a fun genre-bender loaded with action.

5

Jack Ryan: Ghost War

A slick spy thriller

An extension of Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series, Ghost War picks up where the show left off. The CIA analyst-turned-operative has been pulled out of civilian life to return to the thrilling world of international espionage. John Krasinski (The Office) reprises his role as the titular character.

After a contact in Dubai is assassinated, Ryan reunites with CIA and MI6 operatives, where he discovers that a joint task force called Project Starling — a black-ops unit carrying out unsanctioned assassinations and terrorist plots — has gone rogue. Before they can cause an international incident, Ryan must go off-grid with his allies and dismantle the unit. In doing so, he faces a past he once thought was settled.

The Jack Ryan movie moves pretty quickly and rarely drags, so it makes for an easy watch. While its narrative might feel safe and lack depth, it does feature some thrilling car chases, exciting shootouts, and well-placed explosions. There’s even a behind-the-scenes featurette that goes inside the practical action to showcase its real-world, in-camera filmmaking.


tom-clancy-s-jack-ryan-ghost-war-poster.jpg

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War


Release Date

May 20, 2026

Runtime

105 Minutes

Director

Andrew Bernstein




4

Cottonmouth

Gritty revenge in the Old West

Currently snaking its way up the streaming charts in its genre, Cottonmouth is a gritty, thrilling Western with a dark revenge plot. It also features memorable performances by an ensemble cast that includes Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy), Esai Morales (La Bamba), Martin Sensmeier (1883), and Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire).

It’s 1895 in Oklahoma, and cowhand Ed Dantés (Sensmeier) is betrayed on his wedding day by his best man and framed for crimes he didn’t commit. After he’s sold to a sadistic warden (Perlman), he’s subjected to brutal experiments in a territorial makeshift prison. There, Ed learns the harsh outlaw ways, then escapes and rides for payback.​​​​​​​

Despite its pacing limitations and low budget, the movie delivers a satisfying tale of betrayal with a tense atmosphere and revenge-driven entertainment. There are even some surprise plot twists thrown in.

3

Most Dangerous Game

A psychological game of cat-and-mouse

A modern adaptation of Richard Connell’s classic 1924 short story, Most Dangerous Game is an edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring an award-worthy performance from two-time Emmy nominee Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds).

Dodge Tyler (Liam Hemsworth) finds himself rooted in desperation with time running out. His construction business is barely hanging on, and he’s leveraged every bit of debt and personal favor he can manage. He’s also suffering face-splitting headaches he’s told are the result of a brain tumor. When he meets Miles Sellars (Waltz) and hears his unlikely sales pitch, Dodge agrees to participate in a deadly game that will earn him $50,000 for every hour he survives the predators hunting him.

There’s an intellectual curiosity about human nature and survival that pulls viewers right into the protagonist’s terrifying dilemma. What’s most thrilling about this movie, though, is Waltz’s chillingly calm and charismatic portrayal of a wealthy mastermind. His performance elevates the movie to a psychological game of cat-and-mouse, accomplishing the thrill factor through morally ambiguous motivations, an appealing amoral delivery, and an element of voyeurism.

2

Killer Joe

Matthew McConaughey in a killer role

Released in 2011, Killer Joe is a Southern Gothic crime thriller directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist) and adapted from screenwriter Tracy Letts’ 1993 play of the same name. Juno Temple (Ted Lasso), Gina Gershon (Showgirls), Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild), and Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) star alongside McConaughey, who plays the titular role.

Killer Joe Cooper is a police officer who moonlights as a hitman. Chris Smith (Hirsch) is a low-level drug dealer who becomes desperate after his mother steals his stash and leaves him with a massive debt. As loan sharks threaten his life, Chris hires Joe to kill his mother so he and his family can cash in on her life insurance policy. However, he quickly learns that his dangerous new associate wants more than just money for payment. He wants Chris’s younger sister Dottie (Temple).

The movie delivers its thrills through a masterful combination of neo-noir tension and shocking dark comedy. It thrives on unpredictable, morally bankrupt characters and claustrophobic dread, keeping us on edge as escalating stakes culminate in a jaw-dropping, brutal, and wildly bizarre climax.

1

The Hunt

Brutal, genre-bending action

Released in 2020, The Hunt is a subversive satire about a group of elites who get their thrills in life by kidnapping and hunting ordinary Americans for sport. Betty Gilpin (Glow), Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby), Emma Roberts (American Horror Story), Amy Madigan (Weapons), Ethan Suplee (My Name Is Earl), and Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project) star.

When 12 strangers wake up in a clearing, they have no idea where they are or how they got there. Elsewhere, on the isolated property, in the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, ruthless elitists gather to hunt them. When one of the hunted (Gilpin) turns the tables, their master plan starts to fall apart.

Intense, over the top, and full of adrenaline, this satire of partisan politics is an unapologetic, gory survival thriller rampant with bloody, B-movie violence; creative, unpredictable deaths; relentless pacing; and core suspense from a no-nonsense underdog.


These films deliver an adrenaline rush that keeps viewers fully engaged. What makes them especially appealing is their accessibility right at your fingertips on Prime Video, whenever the mood strikes.

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Recent Reviews


Robot mowers on a yard

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

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The perfect robot mower for you is not nearly as fancy and feature-heavy as you may think. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it’s not the lawn mower, it’s all about the yard. A robot mower may be a market leader with top-of-the-line specs and still not be a good fit for your yard.

Here’s the great news: There’s a perfect robot mower for almost any yard. As someone who’s tested numerous types of robot lawn mowers, I’ve learned that many of the specs that brands market as groundbreaking are simply not vital for most shoppers. A mostly flat, fenced-in 0.10-acre yard doesn’t need the power that a hilly, sectioned, unfenced one-acre yard does.

Also: I tested the Ferrari of robot mowers for a month – here’s my verdict

If you’re looking to choose the best mower for your home, be sure to check out ZDNET’s robot mower buying guide

Here’s what you don’t need to stress over when buying a robot mower

Eufy E15 Robot Mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET
For yards with… Best robot mower type Examples
No fences A wired boundary is best, but a great GPS/RTK robot mower can stick to the map you make with it. Yardcare E400, Mammotion Luba 3
Fences A LiDAR robot mower that can be dropped to mow with little setup and learn its map as it navigates. Eufy E15, Ecovacs Goat A3000
A lot of trees A LiDAR or wired boundary mower, since trees can interfere with satellite signals. Husqvarna iQ series (optional wire, EPOS)
Unbordered garden beds A GPS/RTK robot mower that you can set up to avoid flower beds when mapping. Mammotion Luba 3, Husqvarna iQ Series
Bordered garden beds A LiDAR, GPS, or wired boundary robot mower works for these yards. If you choose a wired boundary, you may have to bury wire around the flower beds, unless the borders are tall enough for the mower to avoid. Mammotion Yuka, Navimow Series H
pets A LiDAR robot mower that can adjust its navigation in real-time in reaction to its surroundings. Mova LiDAX Ultra 2000, Segway Navimow i2
Hills and uneven terrain An AWD robot mower capable of handling steep slopes, regardless of the navigation type. Mammotion Luba 3, , Husqvarna iQ

1. Don’t focus on: ‘AI-powered’ or other marketing buzzwords

Segway Navimow X3 Series robot mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Artificial intelligence (AI) has surpassed the popularity of acid-wash jeans in the 80s and Baby G watches in the early 2000s. And tech companies — including robot lawn mower manufacturers — are capitalizing on its appeal.

Most of these “AI-powered” or “intelligent mowing” terms are vague, geared to grab shoppers’ attention with buzzwords. That doesn’t mean that the robots don’t use AI to navigate, however. 

The key is to find out how the robot uses AI to its benefit, and whether that will meet your AI expectations. 

Also: This robot mower took care of my lawn for months – and it’s currently $300 off

AI algorithms typically process data captured by the robot’s hardware to help it make quick decisions and adjustments. For example, a robot lawn mower may have a set of sensors and cameras to capture its surroundings. The robot’s processor then uses AI to convert that information into actionable data, so it knows whether to swerve to avoid an obstacle or slow down around a retaining wall.

Instead, look for: The navigation tech under (and on) the hood

Instead of AI and other buzzwords, you should focus on matching the robot lawn mower’s hardware and navigation system to your yard. This includes whether the robot uses RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) for positioning, and whether it features LiDAR, cameras, and sensors. 

Then look at real user reviews to assess how accurately the robot mower maps and how well it performs around various types of obstacles.

There’s no blanket rule for robot mowers, but most do well with the following guidelines.

2. Don’t focus on: Premium extras

Yardcare E400 robot lawn mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Skip the premium extras that don’t match your yard. You really don’t need the most advanced robot mower; you need the one that will best handle your lawn. 

Most US homeowners have mostly flat lawns, simple rectangular layouts, minimal obstacles, and small yards. Yet some of the most popular mowers advertise features that don’t match this, and you don’t want to spend an extra few hundred dollars on advanced features that won’t deliver a noticeable difference in your yard.

Instead, look for: Only as much as you need

Do you have a mostly flat lawn with no fences and need a robot that can navigate to several sections separated by paths? Then you can skip AWD models and commit to superior mapping and navigation features, like multi-zone intelligence.

Also: I let a modular yard care robot mow my lawn – here’s my verdict after a month

Similarly, if you have a yard with dense trees covering most of it, it’s safe to skip the RTK models and go for LiDAR or boundary wire options instead. 

3. Don’t focus on: Flashy app features

Mammotion Luba 2 robot mower path

The path lines created by the Mammotion Luba 2, as captured by our Bink Outdoor camera, is one flashy app feature I can’t quit.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Any dependable robot lawn mower requires an equally reliable mobile app to let you use it effectively. However, manufacturers market many flashy app features that end up being unnecessary for many users. 

Don’t make app features the deciding factor unless it’s something you genuinely care about. Many users don’t rely on voice control to run their mowers and don’t mind using a separate app for their robot rather than integrating it into an existing home automation system.

Also: I let a smart planter maintain itself for 2 months – here’s the result

A robot lawn mower with mediocre navigation and cutting performance can still have a flashy app — all while leaving behind missed patches or taking longer to finish mowing.

Instead, look for: The features you’ll actually use

Most robot mower users keep them running on a schedule to get the lawn-cutting chore off their minds. The majority of the most popular models offer basic features beyond scheduling, such as remote start and stop, basic mapping, automatic rain delay, and theft protection. 

It’s easy to find robot lawn mowers with these features, but if you’re looking for anything beyond that, just be sure that the feature is worth it, especially if you’re paying extra for that model.

Also: I’ve tested robot mowers for years – here’s my expert advice for every yard type

An example of a flashy app feature that is completely unnecessary, but I love having? The Mammotion’s pattern cutting. I can select the cutting pattern I want on the Mammotion app, whether I want lines or checkered, but I can also have the robot cut in custom patterns, like letters and numbers. I don’t care for mowed letters in my yard, but I like that it always has that freshly mowed checkered patterned with no effort from me. 

4. Don’t focus on: Cutting system extras

Segway Navimow X3 Series robot mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The cutting width and system specs are important, as they can determine whether a robot can cover a given area in a day. However, most robot mowers use similar multiple-blade mulching systems. 

Unlike traditional lawn mowers with large blades for aggressive cutting in a single pass, robot mowers typically feature a set of small blades that constantly spin. Because of this, robot mowers trim smaller amounts of grass with each pass than a traditional mower, but they also cut more frequently and leave behind smaller grass clippings that decompose naturally.

Also: I powered my 3,000-sq-ft home with an EcoFlow battery in a blackout – here’s how it kept my AC on

Because the robot mowers have a smaller, compounding cutting system, the real-world differences between the cutting systems from one brand to another are often smaller than you’d expect. Other issues, like poor navigation, will be glaringly obvious before small differences in blade design.

Instead, look for: Cutting width and yard size

The average US yard would benefit more from navigation quality, consistency, and connectivity than blade design. Instead, you should focus on matching the mower to your yard size.

The robot’s capacity is measured in how many acres it can cover in a day. Among other features, this is calculated based on your robot’s battery size and cutting width. Essentially, most users want a robot that can mow an entire yard in a day, so you can set it and forget it and always come home to a mowed yard. You get this by getting the appropriate robot for your yard size.





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