Tesla

Tesla has built a devoted audience in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Philo and AMC+ Amazon Channel among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 376 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Ethan Hawke sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Tesla is worth clearing space for. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Tesla earns every emotional beat it goes for. The story of the Promethean struggles of Nikola Tesla, as he attempts to transcend entrenched technology—including his own previous work—by pioneering a system of wireless energy that would change the world. Ethan Hawke and Eve Hewson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2020. The performances in Tesla do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Tesla. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Ethan Hawke is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.