50 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now

30. Mystic River (2003)

Written By: Brian Helgeland (Based on Mystic River by Dennis Lehane)

Directed By: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Tom Guiry, Spencer Treat Clark, Andrew Mackin, Emmy Rossum, Jenny O’Hara, Kevin Chapman, Adam Nelson, Robert Wahlberg

Mystery dramas have a tendency to get a bit too convoluted or require too much of a leap of faith from viewers to really be considered a truly great film. However, that’s not the case with the 2003 Clint Eastwood directed film Mystic River. Starring many of Hollywood’s elite actors, the film is an absolute master class in so many ways.

Jimmy (Penn), Dave (Robbins), and Sean (Bacon) were all friends growing up in Boston and experienced trauma early on when Dave was abducted and sexually abused. Flashing forward to the group as adults, their friendship has eroded as Jimmy is an ex-con, Dave works a 9-to-5, and Sean is a detective. Things get dicey though when Sean’s 19-year-old daughter Katie (Rossum) is murdered. Sean then begins going crazy as Dave is one of the suspects for the murder. As such, all hell breaks loose.

You’ll be on the edge of your seat throughout Mystic River no matter how many times you watch it. The acting, plot, and everything else is simply just that good.

Next: Cloverfield