Prime Video just got one of the best sci-fi thriller movies of all time — and it's 90% on Rotten Tomatoes

Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman in "10 Cloverfield Lane" (2016)
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

There’s something about a dramatic sci-fi movie that feels so thrilling when you watch it for the first time. I had the same experience when I saw "10 Cloverfield Lane" years ago, and I had no idea what I was getting into. I was expecting another run-of-the-mill sci-fi thriller, but what I got instead was a tense, claustrophobic masterpiece that actually made me sweat a little. 

Now that it’s available on one of the best streaming services, I can't recommend it enough. With a very impressive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie has earned its place as one of the best sci-fi thrillers ever made, and if you haven't seen it yet, you're in for a wild ride. Here’s why you should stream "10 Cloverfield Lane" on Prime Video right now...

What is '10 Cloverfield Lane' about?

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE | Official Trailer - YouTube 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE | Official Trailer - YouTube
Watch On

"10 Cloverfield Lane" is a thrilling movie about a woman named Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who wakes up in a hidden bunker after a car crash. The man who rescued her, Howard (John Goodman), claims that a terrible disaster has made the outside world unsafe. 

As Michelle tries to figure out what really happened, she starts to wonder if Howard is being completely honest with her considering the time of events didn’t add up. The movie dives into trust, survival and the fear of the unknown, as Michelle realizes that the biggest threat might actually be coming from inside the bunker. With its tight spaces, gripping plot and surprising turns that you genuinely won’t expect, the movie does an excellent job at making you think (and you’ll probably be thinking about it for days after). 

The less you know about '10 Cloverfield Lane', the better

I have to be honest — when I first sat down to watch "10 Cloverfield Lane", I knew almost nothing about the plot (aside from the synopsis above) just because I hadn’t bothered to research it. But that’s exactly how I’d recommend going into it. The less you know, the better the experience. Not knowing what was coming next made the twists and turns even more thrilling. It’s a rare movie where the suspense is heightened by your own uncertainty, and trust me, you’ll want to experience every unexpected moment as it hits.   

If you do want some insights from critics, then I can share some here. The movie has an impressive score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes (with a 79% rating from audiences). David Edelstein from New York Magazine/Vulture said: "10 Cloverfield Lane does what it needs to do: make you sit and squirm and want very badly to know. It has the appeal of suspense radio plays from the '30s and '40s and even a touch of Orson Welles's most infamous Mercury Theater broadcast." 

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone's Peter Travers said that "the movie comes loaded with everything a psychological thriller needs to shatter your nerves — and then kicks it up a notch." 

Stream '10 Cloverfield Lane' on Prime Video now

John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in "10 Cloverfield Lane" (2016)

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

You really don’t want to miss out on the intense experience that "10 Cloverfield Lane" offers. With its continuously gripping suspense, unexpected twists and standout performances, it’s a thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. This movie is definitely one of the most unforgettable psychological thrillers of recent years. 

On the lookout for more quality movies? Check out this classic sci-fi movie on Prime Video before it leaves at the end of the month. You can also find the best Prime Video movies in our guide. 

Stream "10 Cloverfield Lane" on Prime Video now. 

More from Tom's Guide

Alix Blackburn
Staff Writer, Streaming

Alix is a Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer for Screen Rant and Bough Digital, both of which sparked her interest in the entertainment industry. When she’s not writing about the latest movies and TV shows, she’s either playing horror video games on her PC or working on her first novel.

Read more
Emily Baldoni as Em in "Coherence" (2013)
One of the most mind-bending sci-fi thrillers ever made is streaming free on Prime Video — and I’m still thinking about it
Prime Video logo appears on a tablet surrounded by a can of soda, spilled popcorn, headphones and a cactus
7 new to Prime Video movies with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes
Ryan Reynolds in "Life" (2017)
Prime Video just got one of the best sci-fi thriller movies of all time — and the ending still shocks me
Sophie Thatcher as Iris in New Line Cinema’s “Companion”, a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
One of the best sci-fi thriller movies of 2025 so far is now streaming — and it’s 94% on Rotten Tomatoes
helen Hunt in "I See You"
One of the most mind-twisting psychological thrillers is streaming free right now — and it’s full of surprises
Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow
7 new to Prime Video movies to stream right now with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes
Latest in Prime Video
Kat Graham in Tyler Perry's "Duplicity" on Prime Video
Prime Video’s new mystery thriller movie has already crashed the top 10 — but there’s a problem
(L-R) Carey Mulligan as Cassandra and Bo Burnham as Ryan in "Promising Young Woman"
I haven’t stopped thinking about this thriller for 5 years — and it’s steaming for free on Prime Video right now
Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones sit on the hood of a truck in "Twisters"
Prime Video top 10 movies — here's the 3 worth watching now
Miracle Mile
Prime Video has one of the most unsettling apocalyptic thrillers I’ve ever watched — here's why you should stream it
Richard Gere in Arbitrage
5 must-see mystery movies on Prime Video you (probably) missed I'd stream right now
Jesse Eisenberg as Simon / James in the film "The Double"
One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever seen is streaming free on Prime Video — and I can't get it out of my head
Latest in News
NFL Sunday Ticket logo for YouTube
NFL Sunday Ticket 2025 pricing revealed — and it's bad news
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in "Andor" season 2 trailer
New ‘Andor’ season 2 trailer teases more explosive action and a darker edge to the hit ‘Star Wars’ show
Russian flag with padlock smashing through glass
47 VPNs could be axed from Google Play Store following Russian demands
ChatGPT on iPhone
ChatGPT was down — updates on quick outage
Emma D'Arcy in House of the Dragon season 2
‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 has officially begun filming — what it could mean for the potential release window
AirPods Max in various colors
AirPods Max is getting a big update with lossless audio and ultra-low latency — here's how it works