The 50 best movies streaming free for Amazon Prime members (April 2021)

We’ve sorted the best movies on Amazon Prime for the month of April 2021.

A new month means more movies to devour from Amazon Prime’s extensive catalog, ranging from some old favorites to some new editions. We’ve sorted the best movies on the streaming service for the month of April. All of these movies are on Amazon Prime, unless they are noted with an arrival date.

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You can also check out some of our other lists:

Let’s get to Amazon’s best movies!

John Krasinski is practically begging to get into the Marvel universe

John Krasinski seems to be eyeing a spot in “Fantastic Four.”

It’s immediately obvious that John Krasinski is a good fit for the Marvel universe.

His work in comedy (“The Office”), thriller/action (“Jack Ryan”) and thriller/horror (“Quiet Place”) make for an impressive body of work, and one that would fit nicely into what Marvel seems to do so well: putting the universe at stake without sacrificing jocularity.

So it should come as little surprise that Krasinski made an appeal to the MCU overlords in an attempt to get him in on the action-packed universe. Krasinski seems to be eyeing a spot in the reboot of “Fantastic Four” as Reed Richards (or the elastic Mister Fantastic).

“You’re like, ‘Do you have any interest in not shattering people’s dreams?'” Krasinski told TotalFilm.com in a recent interview. “I would love to be in the Marvel universe. I love those movies because they’re fun, but I also think they’re really well done. And certainly a lot of my friends are in those movies. I have no idea what [Marvel] are thinking. But if they are considering me for Mr. Fantastic, continue to consider me because I would love it.”

Would he have any interest in directing one?

“Oh man, directing one of those things? I don’t think I’m your guy,” he said. “But if I was to act in one? I’d have so much fun.”

Perhaps Krasinski is too good of a fit: another handsome, jacked, white man. And perhaps Marvel needs to stray away from his type as they get into Phase 5. Krasinski was in the mix to earn a role as Captain America, which ultimately went to Chris Evans. Krasinski even admitted he was glad to see Evans get the role, because it allowed Krasinski to work on his abilities as a writer and director. But perhaps he’s still got some FOMO, because he’s practically begging to get into the MCU.

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The Mandalorian: What we learned in episode 3, ‘The Sin’

We learned a few major facts about the show’s little green star.

Finally, the Mandalorian managed an act worthy of a signet, even if he may never get one. For those not aware, a Mandalorian receives a signet when he or she has completed a task of significance. Saving Baby Yoda, the most MEME-able character in Star Wars history, should earn him a signet, but Mando declines the honor.

In episode three of Disney+’s The Mandalorian titled, “The Sin,” Mando (Pedro Pascal) seems to be on the verge of establishing himself within his tribe — though perhaps in the wrong ways. He delivers Baby Yoda to The Client (Werner Herzog) and takes the reward, which is a hefty portion of Beskar. It seems briefly that Mando believes that the end has justified the means, no matter the cost. And yet when the armorer offers him a signet on his new getup (made from the rewarded Beskar) after Mando defeated a mudhorn, he declines the offer, relaying that an “enemy” helped him in the battle, which seems to lead to the realization that Baby Yoda isn’t an enemy at all. Ultimately, Mando completes a rescue operation — with help from other Mandalorians — and saves Baby Yoda from The Client.

So here’s hoping Mando eventually ends up with Baby Yoda signet on his breast plate. In the meantime, here’s what we learned in the episode.

1. Mando does care!

There were subtle ambiguities in Mando’s behavior toward Baby Yoda in the previous episode, like when he checked on the napping Baby Yoda, who needed rest after an epic display of force power. There were questions about Mando’s motives. Was Mando monitoring the child’s well-being because he cared or because he knew he’d make more money if he delivered the child alive? It was probably both. In this episode, Mando delivered Baby Yoda but he ultimately used his rewards to save Baby Yoda from his captors.

It seemed Mando couldn’t sit with a guilty conscience about bringing Baby Yoda into the wrong hands. Mando sees the light (side of The Force).

2. “Him.”

That’s right: Baby Yoda is a him.

At least, that’s what a doctor from The Empire said: “Him.” That’s one of the few facts we know about Yoda Jr.

3. The empire wants to “extract the necessary materials” from Baby Yoda.

The Mandalorian overhears an important conversation between The Client and Dr. Pershing.

“Extract the necessary material and be done with it,” The Client says.

What materials?

Genetic materials? For cloning?

Midichlorians? For extraction and study?

Or another material, which could aid in Emperor Palpatine’s comeback? (Think in terms of how Voldemort made a comeback with unicorn blood, horcruxes and the deathly hallows. These sorts of magic substances are obviously conceptually transferrable.)

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4. We get a closer look at Mandalorian culture.

An important revelation: Mandalorians have a lot in common with luchadores, who are the actors/wrestlers that work in the Mexican version of WWE. So what makes luchadores different than American wrestles? Luchadores wear masks, and it’s their code that, so long as they win, they cannot be unmasked. When they lose, they lose their mask. So Mando is basically a luchadore.

We also learned the Mandalorian catchphrase: “This is the way.”

And the Mandalorians have a major beef with The Empire, due to The Purge, a moment in Mandalorian history when The Empire forcefully stole Beskar from their species. It sounds like Stormtroopers killed many in the process. That’s why Mando and another Mandalorian dueled over Mando taking Beskar from what appeared to be former Empire employees.

That’s also probably why those Mandalorians were so quick to aid Mando when he does the right thing and saves Baby Yoda. How did those Mandalorians know Mando needed help? Unclear. But it made for an epic battle scene. It was like watching Iron Men with blasters and flamethrowers, and I couldn’t have been happier about it.

Greef (Carl Weathers). Photo courtesy of Disney+

5. The Mando and Baby Yoda are facing a life on the run.

The first few episodes have stablished the basic plot points and characters in this story. Essentially, we’ve got a buddy cop drama, starring Mando and Baby Yoda. We know very little about both of them. Surely, their identities will become clear through the coming trials and tribulations.

But what will those look like?

It’s easy to imagine The Client and Greef Carga (Carl Weathers) will attempt to track down them down. (Let’s not even talk about how ridiculous of a coincidence it was that Greef had Beskar in the perfect pocket to save himself from Mando’s blast in the final moments of the episode.) That will probably be one of their first obstacles. But the show suddenly feels very open ended now that Mando is probably done with bounty hunting. Considering how well it has been crafted to this point, that infinite opportunity shouldn’t be a problem.

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5 things we learned in episode 2 of ‘The Mandalorian’

We get an introduction to that character we met in the final moments of episode one.

If you’re not interested in seeing spoilers from the latest episode of The Mandalorian, you’d be wise to exit out of this article now. 

The first episode of Disney +’s The Mandalorian revealed a major plot twist, with the introduction of a baby Yoda, who turns out to be the mark for the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), a bounty hunter.

The second episode of the show builds on that twist and helps expand on what little we know about Yoda’s species. So, what did episode 2 of the The Mandalorian show us? Here are the five big takeaways from “The Child,” which dropped Friday morning.

1. It is an undeniable fact that Yoda Jr. is cute

Baby Yoda is adorable. You can’t deny it.

When ranking the galaxy’s cutest characters, there’s Yoda Jr. and Ewoks — and then there’s everyone else. This seems like a silly takeaway, but I promise it’s meaningful. This cuteness doesn’t seem to be just about fan service. It’s probably what will bring together Yoda Jr. and “Mando,” a nickname Kuiil (Nick Nolte) gave the Mandalorian. (Also, I must say: Kuiil looks considerably like a frowny-face emoji.)

In one of the first few scenes of the 27-minute episode, Yoda Jr. endears himself to Mando by trying to heal his wounds after three bounty hunters attempt to ambush them. When the baby repeatedly wanders from his crib and raises his hand to use the force, Mando brushes off the 50-year-old infant’s attempts, clearly not knowing what the baby is trying to do. (The Mandalorian reveals later in the episode that he’s unfamiliar with The Force. He can’t even put it into words.) It’s a sweet scene, with Yoda Jr. doting on Mando in the same ways Yoda doted on younglings in Star Wars Episode Two. Whether he’s Yoda’s kid or not, the child seems to have Yoda’s disposition.

But maybe I’ve buried the lede: THIS BABY HAS FORCE POWERS!

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2. The baby is as powerful as most imagined, and 3) the Mandalorian isn’t quite as powerful as he seemed.

Whether this is Yoda’s son, Yoda’s reincarnation or simply a lost member of Yoda’s species, the child seemed likely to be force sensitive.

We see a few uses of the force in the episode, and it’s largely as a product of Mando’s incompetence. Because while Mando’s abilities in battle were clean and impressive in the first episode, he’s clumsier in navigating the challenges in this episode.

We found out in the first episode that the Mandalorian’s spaceship was pre-Empire. Basically, it’s a collectible. So imagine getting back from the heist of the century to find that your getaway whip, a 1960s Corvette Stingray, has been gutted for parts. That’s how Mando must have felt upon finding that the Jawas dissembled his ride while he was off looking for Yoda Jr.

That was Mando’s first mistake of many in the episode.

The Jawas later blast Mando off the top Sandcrawler in an ensuing chase scene. With the Mandalorian attempting to scale the side of the moving vehicle, the scene felt like “Free Solo” meets “Indiana Jones.” His failure on the Sandcrawler forces negotiations with the Jawas — mediated by Kuiil. Mando and the Jawas decide on a compromise: the Mandalorian will procure an egg from a rabid space rhinoceros in exchange for the stolen parts. Seems fair, right?

That’s when Yoda Jr. looks a lot like Yoda Sr. The Mandalorian seemed to be on the verge of losing the fight with the rhino, but the baby stops the animal in its tracks and suspends it in mid-air. (That’s more than Luke Skywalker could manage in his early 20s when he failed to levitate his X-wing from the swamp on Dagobah in episode five.) That stops the beast’s momentum, so Mando can stab it and retrieve the egg.

The bond between Yoda Jr. and Mando grows deeper — the fuzzy, wrinkly nugget saved the steely, muscly cowboy’s life. Yoda Jr. needs a long nap after the display of force power, and Mando seems to be keeping close tabs on the baby’s health.

4. Few seem to know the enormity of Yoda Jr.’s presence.

The bounty hunters in the initial scene recognize that the baby is their mark, with one of them attempting to kill the child. But it’s unclear if they know the baby’s power or his intergalactic clout. (Although, was it just me or did the canyon lizards seem intent upon sneaking glances at the little, green prince?) No one in the episode seems to recognize who or what Yoda Jr. is.

“This is what was causing all the fuss?” Kuiil says looking at Yoda Jr.

“I think it’s a child,” Mando responds.

When the Mando explains Yoda Jr.’s use of the force against the rhino to Kuiil later in the episode, they are both befuddled. They’ve clearly never seen anything like it.

Word, apparently, does not get around in this galaxy far, far away.

5. The Mandalorian doesn’t care about the baby yet, but perhaps he will soon.

We’ve hit the classic (space) cowboy impasse: the loner protagonist has to bring himself to care about something. They’re recycling the tired trope (of toxic masculinity). Love? Attachment? Yuck.

In this case, it’s obvious the Mandalorian will come to care about Yoda Jr. But it’s unclear how long it will take him to adore the beautiful and bumbling baby that Star Wars nerds (like myself) surely already love.

“Good luck with the child. May it survive and bring you a handsome reward,” Kuiil says in the final moments of the episode.

The reward doesn’t have to be Beskar and money, like The Client (Werner Herzog) promised. The reward could be companionship and an existential purpose (like, say, helping restore order in the galaxy). I feel like we’ve seen another space pirate struggle with the same reward (*cough* Han Solo *cough*).