Prime Video is about to lose one of the best Leonardo DiCaprio movies you (probably) haven't watched — stream this 90%-rated war thriller while you still can
Years later, and with that dusty DVD copy probably now in a landfill somewhere or sitting neglected in a thrift store, 'Blood Diamond' is a movie I don't hear people talk about very often.
In some ways, that's a little surprising considering it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Michael Sheen and Djimon Hounsou, so there are a lot of recognizable names involved. Plus, Leo scooped an Oscar nomination for his work on the picture.
While scrolling the list of movies being removed from Prime Video at the end of this month (on June 29, 2025), I stumbled across 'Blood Diamond' and figured now would be a good time for a long-overdue rewatch while it's still available on one of the best streaming services.
The movie is carried mostly by the strength of its cast and isn't without its flaws, but if you're looking for something to watch on Prime Video this week, 'Blood Diamond' is a chunky action-thriller that viewers really love.
Set in 1999, "Blood Diamond" opens as Sierra Leone is in the midst of a bloody civil war, with a ruthless revolutionary force roaming the countryside and forcing locals to harvest valuable diamonds to fund their campaign of terror.
Stuck in the middle of the conflict is Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a fisherman separated from his family and forced into a work camp. After discovering a seemingly priceless diamond and burying it in the ground to avoid having to give it up to the authorities, he becomes involved with a South African mercenary, Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio).
The two strike up a reluctant agreement to work together to retrieve the diamond, along with help from an American journalist (Jennifer Connelly). But getting back to the stone's location will force them to venture into rebel territory, a price that might be too great for even such a valuable treasure.
'Blood Diamond's' biggest asset is definitely Leo. The A-lister gives one of his finest performances as Danny Archer, and completely captures your attention in every single scene.
Archer is a well-realized character, at first seeming entirely self-serving but eventually revealing a capacity to care for others and striking up a romance with Connelly's Maddy. And his tragic backstory only adds more dimension.
DiCaprio brings Archer to life beautifully. No wonder he was nominated for an Academy Award. Plus, he's got a pretty great South African accent to boot.
But that's not to say DiCaprio completely outshines his castmates. Djimon Hounsou is the movie's heart, and rightfully received an Oscar nomination of his own. Vandy's emotional journey to be reunited with his family is the movie's best character arc, and by the end, don't be shocked if you shed a few tears.
The movie's biggest failing is that it gets bogged down repeating its thesis. Its comments on man's greed and the craven exploitation of the innocent civilizations in society (particularly during periods of conflict) are valuable. However, this worthwhile commentary is too often presented in a rather cookie-cutter, very Hollywood manner. Some subtlety would be nice.
But even when 'Blood Diamond' verges into emotional manipulation, DiCaprio and Hounsou are so darn good that they easily sell you the material. And while it presents an African continent torn apart by Civil War, it still manages to highlight the undeniable beauty of the region.
Viewers wanting bombastic thrills and frenetic firefights are well catered to, with several high-production action sequences. While the adrenaline-pumping moments perhaps feel at odds with the movie's message, they are quite well crafted, and there is one scene in particular involving Hounsou's son, which is smaller in scale, but it really leaves a devastating mark.
The movie received a mixed reception from critics. It currently scored a middling 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, viewers found a lot more to like about 'Blood Diamond,' rating it a strong 90%.
Recent reviews praise the cast, and one even calls it 'one of the greatest films of all time.' I'm not sure I'd echo that sentiment, but clearly lots of viewers liked this one quite a lot.
As noted, you have until Sunday, June 29, 2025, to watch 'Blood Diamond' on Prime Video. So don't throw this one in your wishlist and forget about it (we all do it!), give it a stream as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, if you want some alternative picks which aren't expiring soon, here's a rundown of everything new heading to Prime Video this month.
Watch "Blood Diamond" on Prime Video until June 29, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
3 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
From KL Premieres To Singapore Staycays: Ross Butler Is Taking Asia By Storm (Again!)
Ross Butler, the Singapore-born American actor, recently embarked on a whirlwind press tour across Asia for his new romantic comedy, Worth the Wait. The film, which features an ensemble cast of Asian-American actors, provided a special opportunity for Butler to connect with his heritage and experience a kind of homecoming. The tour included stops in Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and his birthplace, Singapore, where he engaged in a mix of promotional activities and personal exploration. In Kuala Lumpur, the tour included a premiere for the film, giving Butler the chance to witness firsthand how audiences reacted to an all-Asian cast in a non-traditional "Asian story." He expressed his hope that such projects would encourage Hollywood to move beyond stereotypical portrayals and create more diverse content. Beyond his official duties, Butler took the time to explore the city's vibrant culture, with his activities often documented on social media. He visited famous landmarks such as Batu Caves and Dataran Merdeka, and even explored local markets like Petaling Street. During his stay, Butler revealed his deep affection for Malaysian food, particularly durian, which he confessed to being a "big durian guy" after trying it fresh for the first time. The actor also shared his love for curry laksa, proving he was fully embracing the local cuisine. The tour also brought Butler back to Singapore, a place he hadn't visited since 2008. The return was especially meaningful for the actor, who was born there. In an interview with Vogue Singapore, he spoke about the changes he had observed and what Asian representation means to him today. He emphasized the importance of telling stories where Asian characters are simply "normal people," not defined solely by their ethnicity. While in Singapore, Butler's activities focused on press engagements and interviews, allowing him to reflect on his career and the significance of his latest role. He also spent time reconnecting with the city, enjoying a "staycay" experience and appreciating the local atmosphere. The tour not only promoted the film but also served as a personal journey for Butler, allowing him to celebrate his heritage and inspire a new generation of Asian storytellers and actors. Come back soon again, Butler!
NBC News
5 hours ago
- NBC News
Is 'War of the Worlds' the worst movie of 2025?
It's got an epic title, a big-name star as its lead and a major studio behind it. But since it was released on Amazon's Prime Video on July 25, 'War of the Worlds" has become an all-time ratings bust. The new adaptation of H.G. Wells' book was ranked as one of the worst films of all time by the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. The film stars Ice Cube as Homeland Security surveillance and threat assessment expert Will Radford, who uses government technology to spy on, and later help, his children amid an unfolding alien invasion. Radford is at his desk the entirety of the film, watching events unfold in front of him on a computer screen. Eva Longoria, Michael O'Neill, Olivia DeLaurentis and Clark Gregg also star in the movie, which was directed by Rich Lee. On Rotten Tomatoes, the sci-fi movie has a paltry 3% rating on the "Tomatometer," which tracks critic reviews, and 21% on the "Popcornmeter," which tracks audience reviews. Rotten Tomatoes' 'Worst Movies at All Time' list ranks 'War of the Worlds' 88th. The 2002 sci-fi thriller ' Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" is No. 1. The only other title from 2025 to make the list is Sylvester Stallone's 'Alarum.' Just one critic, Jordan Hoffman of Entertainment Weekly, gave "War of the Worlds" a certified fresh ranking, writing, " It's certainly stupid, but it's also a great deal of fun." Most others described the film as the worst take on Wells' 1898 novel about Martians invading Earth. Past adaptations include the Orson Welles-directed CBS Radio broadcast in 1938, a Gene Barry-starring 1953 Technicolor film and Steven Spielberg's 2005 film, which starred Tom Cruise. Lee 'butchers the classic sci-fi parable on humankind's colonialist ills and creates an obnoxiously dull, utterly braindead (arguable bootleg) exercise in capitalist, surveillance state propaganda,' wrote one Rotten Tomatoes critic. Some online noted that they felt like the movie's tagline — which is 'It's worse than you think' — is an appropriate way to summarize their reactions to the film itself. Lee and the cast have not publicly addressed the reaction. Neither Universal Pictures, which produced the film, nor Amazon Studios, which distributed it, responded to requests for comment. (Universal Pictures is a division of NBC News' parent company, NBC Universal.) But as with some other films that receive poor reviews, the reaction to "War of the Worlds" has also made it buzzy. Many viewers have transformed Ice Cube's reactions in various scenes into memes and GIFs. The film has solidified a place on the online database Know Your Meme. The website attributes the rise in online traction to a July 21 post on X from the user 'PoorOldRoloTony,' who shared a clip from the film. The user wrote, 'War of the Worlds (2025) is the worst adaption of the source material to date. It had no ideas beyond the found footage approach.' The post had been viewed 1.9 million times as of Tuesday. Users across TikTok and X have also continued to poke fun at the acting, dialogue, oversimplified device hacking and heavy-handed messaging about mass government surveillance and conspiracy theories. 'Sounds like Ice Cube is reading directly from a script that he had never seen before...,' a TikToker wrote in the text of their video, which featured a clip from the film. The video has been viewed 1.1 million times. One TikToker even impersonated Ice Cube, recording themselves dressed as him and reciting lines from the movie. Some viewers have also criticized the movie's placement of Amazon products, including scenes that feature a Prime Air delivery drone and a character receiving a $1,000 Amazon gift card. Vetz, a YouTube channel that ranks and review movies, cited the product placement as one of the main reasons the film ranks on its 10 worst movies of 2025 list. 'The worst product placement I've ever seen in my life,' said Joel, a reviewer for the channel, which has 261,000 subscribers. On the popular movie tracking platform Letterboxd, the film averaged just 1 star from the roughly 90,000 people who logged having watched it.
5 hours ago
Colorado boy youngest American to climb the Matterhorn in the Alps
After becoming the youngest person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite by rope, 11-year-old Sam Evermore is now also the youngest American to climb the Matterhorn in the Alps. David Muir shares his story.
