Looking for the best Prime Video shows to stream today? We've got you covered. Below, we've handpicked 36 of the best series around on Amazon's primary streamer – a selection that includes plenty of Prime Video Originals and the odd licensed series.
While Prime Video generally prioritizes its movie library, which you can find in our best Prime Video movies list (you'll be happy to hear that every Bond movie has been added to Prime Video, as well as these five critically acclaimed films that have over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes), it also offers an extensive selection of top-tier TV shows like these three shows with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you're wondering what's recently been added, or want more recommendations for what to watch next to make the most out of your subscription, check out everything new on Prime Video in October 2024, which is packed with new movies and TV shows.
To make things even easier, you'll find our TV show picks categorized by their primary genre. You can use the navigation bar on the left hand side of this page to immediately jump to the kind of content you like to consume on Prime Video. So, what are you waiting for? Get reading!
Best action shows on Prime Video
Reacher
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Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~48 minute episodes
Main cast: Alan Ritchson, Willa Fitzgerald, Serinda Swan, Maria Sten, Kristin Kreuk, and Robert Patrick
Creator: Nick Santora
RT score: 95%
A bona-fide Prime Video hit, Reacher sees Alan Ritchson (Titans) play the main character – aka Jack Reacher – a drifter owning few possessions following his departure from the armed forces. Season one saw this man-mountain protagonist work alongside the cops in a small town in Georgia to clear his name after he was framed for murder. Meanwhile, Reacher season two reunites him with his former army mates when some of his ex-colleagues start getting killed by a mysterious individual. Season three is also in active development. In our review of Reacher season two, we said it was only guilty of one crime and that was being one of 2023's best shows. That makes it one to check out if you're a fan of action and mystery thrillers. If you need another reason, though, it was also the first Prime Video series ever to top Nielsen's streaming charts.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~49 minute episodes
Main cast: Donald Glover, Maya Erskine, and Paul Dano
Creators: Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover
RT score: 91%
A subversive TV remake of the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie-starring film of the same name, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a comedically dark espionage series that owes much of its success to its charismatic leads. Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play the titular duo; spies who are paired together (they also have to pretend they're married) to take on missions for the agency that recruited them years earlier. Along the way, the Smiths don't just get embroiled in all kinds of dangerous but funny hijinks, but also get to know each other intimately. In our view, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is everything Amazon's other spy original series Citadel isn't: bold, amusing, filled with great action, and surprisingly endearing. A wildly entertaining show that'll be back for a second season.
Gen V
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~47 minute episodes
Main cast: Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, and Asa Germann
Creators: Craig Rosenberg, Evan Goldberg, and Eric Kripke
RT score: 97%
Set between The Boys seasons three and four, Gen V season one is a hilariously macabre, thematically weighty, and drama-filled superhero spin-off. Jaz Sinclair stars as Marie Moreau, an orphaned Supe who earns a place at prestigious superhero school Godolkin University. There, she must navigate the preppy cliques, make friends for the first time in years, immerse herself in all aspects (you know, sex, drugs, etc) of campus life and – oh yeah – help to unravel a mass conspiracy within the bowels of the college itself. My review of Gen V's first six episodes reveals more about why it's considered to be one of the best Prime Video series around, while my Gen V season one ending explained article shows how it sets up key storylines in The Boys season four. Gen V season two is in the works, too, so we'll get another installment between the main show's fourth and fifth chapters.
The Boys
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Runtime: ~60 minute episodes
Main cast: Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, and Nathan Mitchell
Creator: Eric Kripke
RT score: 93%
The Boys is based on a simple premise: What if superheroes sucked? Like, really, really sucked? What if they were egotistical, selfish, corrupt and downright, well, unheroic? That's the crux of Amazon's live-action adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's R-rated comic series, which is one of the best Prime Video shows ever created. Now sure, many of those questions have been explored in other media, but Amazon's over-the-top series does it with visual panache, dollops of humor, plenty of gore and ultraviolence, and some tender moments. The first season showed plenty of promise, the second delivered on it, and The Boys' third season went above and beyond its predecessors. With The Boys season four out now, you'll want to read my spoiler-free review of The Boys' fourth outing to see if it's still as epic as before. Oh, and its recently announced fifth season will be its last.
Best animated shows on Prime Video
Invincible
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~48 minute episodes
Main cast: Steven Yeun, Mark Hamill, Lauren Cohan, Seth Rogen, and Zachary Quinto Creator: Robert Kirkman
RT score: 99%
Amazon's adaptation of Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Bill Crabtree, and Cory Walker's superhero comic series isn't for the faint of heart. Invincible is full of gore, violence, swearing, and other adult content. A kids animated show, this ain't, but it is one of the best Prime Video shows we've ever seen. It's a slow burn to begin with – well, apart from episode one's ending that shocked viewers who haven't read the comics before. However, its subversion of superhero tropes, emotional story beats, and ensemble cast will keep your attention until things really start to pick up from season one episode four, by which point you should be fully hooked. My review of Invincible season one, review of Invincible season two part one, and review of Invincible season two part two are all worth reading before you dive in. If you're up to date, check out my Invincible season three hub to see what to expect from its next entry.
The Legend of Vox Machina
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~26 minute episodes
Main cast: Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Taliesin Jaffe, and David Tennant
Creator: Brandon Auman
RT score: 100%
Set in the fictional Exandrian kingdom of Tal’Dorei, The Legend of Vox Machina tells the story of a band of mercenary misfits hired to eradicate an unnamed evil entity that’s plagued the realm. It isn't long, though, before the seven-strong group realize they've become embroiled in a battle against a far more sinister and potentially world-threatening enemy. In our season one review of The Legend of Vox Machina, we said it retains lots of what the original online DnD campaign such a hit. It's hilarious, action-packed, emotional, and full of twists and turns. It's also pretty gruesome and horror-esque on occasion, so those of a grisly inclination will get a kick out of it as well. The original Critical Role cast have returned to voice their characters, while there's a whole slew of famous actors who cameo as other individuals in this fictional fantasy world. The Legend of Vox Machina season three is also available to stream now.
- Watch The Legend of Vox Machina on Prime Video now
- Watch The Legend of Vox Machina's trailer on YouTube
Undone
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~23 minute episodes
Main cast: Angelique Cabral, Rosa Salazar, Bob Odenkirk, Siddharth Dhananjay, and Constance Marie
Creators: Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg
RT score: 97%
From the acclaimed minds behind BoJack Horseman, Undone is a beautifully animated comedy-drama series that weaves multiple genres and themes together with stunning and emotive effect. Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel) stars as Alma, a Texas-based millennial who's struggling to find purpose in her life. That is, until she's involved in a near-fatal car accident and finds out she has a new relationship with time itself. Infused with the ability to travel back (or forward) in time, Alma begins to develop her newfound abilities to get to the bottom of the death of her father Jacob (Better Call Saul's Bob Odenkirk). At least, that's the plan – providing her loved ones don't interfere and try to make out that her new powers are linked to the family's history of mental health. The show's melding of rotoscoping animation and live-action motion-capture really sets it apart. Meanwhile, Undone's exploration of relationships, mental health, and themes surrounding altering the past are expertly and sensitively handled.
Best comedy shows on Prime Video
Deadloch
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~59 minute episodes
Main cast: Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Nina Oyama, Alicia Gardiner, Pamela Rabe, and Holly Austin
Creators: Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan
RT score: 100%
I suspect this eight-episode comedy detective series wasn't in your thinking when it comes to the best Prime Video shows. But it's certainly one to start off with if you're looking for something new from this sort of genre TV show. Set in Tasmania, Deadloch follows two polar opposite investigators – Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) – who are forced to work together to solve the mysterious death of one of the local townsfolk. Thanks to some sharp, witty writing and two powerhouse comedic performances from Box and Sami, Deadloch is as satirically savage as it is dramatic. A tonally dark, yet equally hilarious, whodunnit that'll burrow its way into your mind and sit there for days.
Fleabag
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~25 minute episodes
Main cast: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Andrew Scott, Sian Clifford, Brett Gelman, Olivia Colman, and Jenny Rainsford
Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
RT score: 100%
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has created two of the best TV shows of the modern age in Killing Eve and Fleabag. The latter is her self-starring comedy drama – adapted from Waller-Bridge's 2013 one-woman stage show – and it's a hilarious but sometimes painful portrait of a damaged person trying to keep it together. The supporting cast, which includes Andrew Scott's 'hot priest' in season two, helps make this one of the best shows around full stop. With six half-hour episodes per season, you could binge it in just a few days – I certainly did.
Harlem
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~35 minute episodes
Main cast: Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson, Meagan Good, Tyler Lepley, Shoniqua Shandai, and Jasmine Guy
Creator: Tracy Oliver
RT score: 98%
Tracy Oliver's latest comedy series earned rave reviews when it debuted on Prime Video in December 2021. With the show's second season finally airing in February 2023, it's about time you stuck Harlem on your must-watch list. The show follows four, thirty-something New York University alumni as they try to balance their work, love, and personal lives while living in – yep, you guessed it – Harlem. So far, so predictable, right? Not quite. Harlem's main cast are electrifyingly funny, and the manner in which they bounce off one another is reminiscent of some of best comedy character relationships of the last two decades. Fans of Insecure and Run the World will lap this up.
I'm a Virgo
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~30 minute episodes
Main cast: Jharrel Jerome, Olivia Washington, Brett Gray, Kara Young, Allius Barnes, and Carmen Ejogo
Creator: Boots Riley
RT score: 96%
A comedy series that's as absurd as it is creative. I'm a Virgo stars Jharrel Jerome as Cootie, a 13-foot-tall teenager who, for the first 19 years of his life, has been shielded from the world by his aunt and uncle. However, when a group of political activists accidentally stumble upon Cootie's *ahem* larger than life persona, he embarks on a surreal journey to find his place in the *double ahem* big, wide world. An utterly bizarre but no less funny, heartfelt, and highly original series, I'm a Virgo is a knockout show from Sorry to Bother You's Boots Riley. It's a toweringly imaginative endeavor; something that many more streamers should absolutely take a chance on if similar projects fall into their lap. Stick this on your watchlist ASAP.
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 5
Runtime: ~55 minute episodes
Main cast: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Kevin Pollak, and Caroline Aaron
Creator: Amy Sherman-Palladino
RT score: 90%
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel tells the story of '50s housewife Miriam 'Midge' Maisel as she attempts to become the best female stand-up comic in the US. After her husband confesses he's been having an affair, 'Midge' drunkenly gets on stage at a comedy club and discovers that she's utterly hilarious. In a time when women aren't encouraged to be publicly funny, Midge pursues her new-found comedic talent in the male-dominated stand up comedy world. But, unbeknownst to 'Midge', the journey is far from a straightforward one. A show filled with as much heart, and dramatic twists and turns, as jokes, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is a killer Prime Video show. No wonder it won so many awards during its five-season run.
- Watch The Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Prime Video now
- Watch The Marvelous Mrs Maisel's trailer on YouTube
Swarm
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~34 minute episodes
Main cast: Dominique Fishback, Chloe Bailey, Billie Eilish, Damson Idris, and Paris Jackson
Creators: Janine Nabers and Donald Glover
RT score: 87%
Donald Glover and Janine Nabers satirical and horrifyingly poke fun at the culture surrounding fandoms in Swarm, a disturbing drama-cum-dark comedy that occupied my mind for days. Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah) plays Dre, a young woman obsessed with a Beyoncé-like pop superstar who has her own diehard fandom known as 'The Swarm' (anyone else getting 'Bey Hive' vibes?). To say anymore would be to spoil Swarm's most shocking, hilarious, and suspense-filled moments. Rest assured, though, fans of Glover and Fishback will lap up this wild-but-no-less important tale on celebrity addiction and anti-hero culture.
Upload
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Runtime: ~32 minute episodes
Main cast: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards, and Kevin Bigley
Creator: Greg Daniels
RT score: 90%
Set 15 years in the future, Upload tells the tale of Nathan Brown (Robbie Amell), a computer programmer who's mysteriously murdered and uploaded to a 'virtual afterlife' location called Lake View. As he adjusts to his new life, Nathan finds himself romantically drawn to his customer service angel Nora Antony (Andy Allo), despite Nathan still technically being involved with his still-alive girlfriend Ingrid Kannerman (Allegra Edwards). It isn't long, too, before Nathan and Nora begin to unravel the wider mystery surrounding his death. If that all sounds a bit dramatic and bleak, don't fret: Upload is one of the funnier Prime Video shows out there, one that straddles multiple genres including comedy, drama, whodunnit, and horror. It also offers an intriguing look into the real world's technological-based future, metaverse and all. A fourth and final season is coming soon.
Best drama shows on Prime Video
Joe Pickett
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~50 minute episodes
Main cast: Michael Dorman, Julianna Guill, Sharon Lawrence, and Skywalker Hughes
Directors: John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle
RT score: 100%
Based on the book series by C.J. Box, Michael Dorman stars as the titular Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett as he investigates crimes in and around the town of Saddlestring. While Yellowstone reigns supreme when it comes to neo-Western dramas, Joe Pickett is still a great addition to the hugely popular genre and is an ideal alternative while I wait for Yellowstone season five part two. Unfortunately, Joe Pickett was canceled by Paramount Plus after two seasons, but that didn't stop me from diving into this nail-biting story set in an epic Western landscape on Prime Video.
Dead Ringers
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~59 minute episodes
Main cast: Rachel Weisz, Britne Oldford, Poppy Liu, Emily Meade, Michael Chernus, and Jennifer Ehle
Creator: Alice Birch
RT score: 85%
If there was any doubt about how extraordinarily talented Rachel Weisz is, Dead Ringers proves it once and for all. Amazon's TV remake of David Cronenberg's hauntingly good psychological thriller film (itself based on the book of the same name) is, simply put, terrific. Weisz plays twin sisters Elliot and Beverly Mantle – gynaecologists who share everything from lovers to drugs and pushing the boundaries of medical ethics. On the surface, it doesn't sound overly appealing, but there's more to Dead Ringers than meets the eye. Weisz is absolutely electric as she inhabits dual roles, while the story's biggest shocks and turning points will alarm and entertain you in equal measure.
Elementary
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 7
Runtime: ~43–46 minute episodes
Main cast: Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Jon Michael Hill, Aidan Quinn
Creator: Robert Doherty
RT score: 95%
There's been plenty of Sherlock Holmes adaptations over the years but out of all the titles I've seen, Elementary was one of the most unique and fun takes on the classic detective drama. Set in a modern period – and starring Jonny Lee Miller as a Sherlock Holmes figure and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson – the show takes the Conan Doyle characters we know and love and gives them a fresh twist. Though the series ended in 2012, all seven seasons have been added to the streamer as part of everything new on Prime Video in September, so you can relive the episodes or experience them for the first time if you're new to it. Elementary is up there with one of my favourite Sherlock Holmes twists!
House
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 8
Runtime: ~44 minute episodes
Main cast: Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Lisa Edelstein, Jesse Spencer, and Jennifer Morrison
Creator: David Shore
RT score: 90%
Medical dramas have been around for decades, but few were as riveting and funny as House was during the early 2000s. Hugh Laurie stars as Gregory House, a misanthropic, sarcastic medical genius (and slight drug addict) at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey, who was tasked with solving a new, inexplicable medical case every episode. It was an intriguing idea for a medical drama to begin with but, as the seasons went on, it started to become stale. Still, while this aspect of the show started to run out of steam in latter seasons, House made up for it with its complex characters, humorous moments and emotional story beats. There are plenty of twists and turns, too, which kept me engaged right up to the series' final episode.
Small Axe
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~96 minute episodes
Main cast: Malachi Kirby, Micheal Ward, Shaun Parkes, John Boyega, Letitia Wright, Daniel Francis, and Sheyi Cole
Creator: Steve McQueen
RT score: 97%
Traversing the boundaries between film and TV, Small Axe is a compilation of feature-length stories centred around London's West Indian population between the '60s to the '80s. Directed by Steve McQueen, the first stars Letitia Wright (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) as part of the Mangrove 9, who faced trial following the harassment of a black-owned restaurant by racist police officers. Another features John Boyega (Star Wars, They Cloned Tyrone) training to be the first black police officer in the London MET. None of them, especially Lover's Rock, are to be missed due to their harrowing depictions of racial segregation in the UK that, in some instances, still exists today. Another McQueen show – Uprising – is also available to stream on Prime Video.
The Night Manager
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~58 minute episodes
Main cast: Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Debicki, Tom Hollander, and Olivia Colman
Creator: David Farr
RT score: 91%
The Night Manager tells the story of Jonathan Pine (Loki actor Tom Hiddleston), an ex-British soldier and the titular night manager who's pulled back into the world he left behind. Tasked by Foreign Office task force leader Angela Burr (Oscar winner Olivia Colman) to infiltrate the inner circle of illegal arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie), Pine soon finds himself in over his head in an international political chess match where nobody is who they seem. A tightly paced, thrill-a-minute miniseries complete with towering performances from Hiddleston, Laurie, Colman, Tom Hollander (Major Lance Corcoran), and Elizabeth Debicki (Jemima Marshall). Sign up to this John le Carré TV adaptation immediately.
Troppo
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~55 minute episodes
Main cast: Thomas Jane, Nicole Chamoun, Ling Cooper Tang, and Lucas Linehan
Creator: Yolanda Ramke
RT score: 100%
Australian detective series Troppo landed on Prime Video as one of the three new crime dramas with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes in July and it certainly lives up to its stellar score with its captivating mystery, gripping twists and amusing dynamic between the two unlikely main characters Amanda Pharrell (Nicole Chamoun) and Ted Conkaffey (Thomas Jane). Based on the best-selling novel Crimson Lake by Candice Fox, Troppo follows disgraced former police officer Ted who helps Amanda, an eccentric private investigator with a criminal past to look for a Korean tech pioneer in Queensland. The two must put aside their differences and difficult pasts in order to solve the disappearance, which proves to be an addictive watch.
The English
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~53 minute episodes
Main cast: Emily Blunt, Chaske Spencer, Stephen Rea, and Tom Hughes
Creator: Hugo Blick
RT score: 84%
This UK-US venture – Amazon co-developed it with the BBC – has earned plenty of plaudits, with critics describing The English as a bold, violent, and operatic Western that puts a new spin on the ageing but no less popular genre. Emily Blunt (Jungle Cruise, A Quiet Place) and Chaske Spencer (Twilight, Echo) star as its two leads, aka Lady Cornelia Locke and Eli Whipp, who join forces in 1890s middle America to get revenge on those who ruined their lives in countless ways. The English is a sweeping, brutal, and oft-times emotionally difficult watch, but it's nonetheless an immediately gripping series that deserves your time and attention. Expect it to remain a key staple of this best Prime Video shows list.
Best documentary shows on Prime Video
Clarkson's Farm
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 3
Runtime: ~48 minute episodes
Main cast: Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland, Lisa Hogan, and Gerald Cooper
Director: Gavin Whitehead
RT score: 100%
This Prime Video original sees Jeremy Clarkson try his hand at being a farmer. Yes, its premise is that simple. In 2008, Clarkson bought a 1,000-acre plot of land, including Curdle Hill Farm, in Oxfordshire in the UK after its former caretaker retired. Clarkson, in his infinite wisdom, decides to try farming the land himself – and it goes about as well as you'd expect. Clarkson's Farm is as ludicrous as it sounds, and it seems pretty scripted for a comedy-styled docuseries but it's actually a decent watch. Clarkson's rapport with his helpers – most notably Kaleb Cooper, the show's breakout star – is endearing, humorous, and at-times maddening. But, if you're a fan of Clarkson (not many people are these days, admittedly) or amusing documentary-style shows, this is one to check out.
All or Nothing
Age rating: TV-14 to TV-MA
Seasons: 14
Runtime: ~46 minute episodes
Directors: Steve Trout , Julia Harmon, and Jay Jackson
RT score: between 80% and 100%
This collection of sports docuseries is must-see for all, well, sports enthusiasts out there. With 14 different fly-on-the-wall shows to stream across a breadth of popular sports, including soccer, American football, rugby union, and ice hockey, All or Nothing is a superb documentary franchise that caters to a wide audience. That's true for long time fans of these sports as well as newcomers, too, with each series providing an eye-opening glimpse into the pressures of trying to remain on top and for sports stars/teams to do their vociferous, passionate fanbases proud.
Best fantasy shows on Prime Video
Good Omens
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~52 minute episodes
Main cast: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Jon Hamm, and Miranda Richardson
Creator: Neil Gaiman
RT score: 86%
Before he passed away in 2015, Terry Pratchett reportedly made Neil Gaiman promise he'd adapt Good Omens into a TV series. Gaiman delivered on that front – and the result is an addictive, bonkers, and heart-warming tale about good and evil, friendship, demons, angels, and a future-gazing witch. It's brilliantly British, has one of the most stellar casts imaginable, and can be binged in one weekend – or one sitting if you can't face waiting a whole night for the final few episodes. It brings a few fresh characters and twists to the story, but is also faithful enough to the book to give those who have been fans for nearly thirty years a real treat.
The Rings of Power
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~60 minute episodes
Main cast: Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Sophia Nomvete, Markella Kavenagh, Charlie Vickers, and Ismael Cruz Cordova
Creator: Patrick McCay
RT score: 83%
Set during Middle-earth's Second Age, The Rings of Power tells the multi-narrative tale of the forging of the titular rings, Sauron's ambitiously evil masterplan to become the world's dictatorial ruler, and Middle-earth's various races uniting to stop him. That's the basic premise, anyway. There's more to Amazon's non-canon The Lord of the Rings prequel show than that – it's a majestic, sweeping, and epic fantasy series that long time Tolkienites and Lord of the Rings newcomers will thoroughly enjoy. Simply put, it's one of the best Prime Video shows around. Read my review of The Rings of Power season one to find out more. The Rings of Power season two debuted on Prime Video on August 28. Read my article breaking down The Rings of Power season two's first trailer while you're here, as well as all my other exclusive features and The Rings of Power season three guide under our Amazon Prime Video coverage.
The Wheel of Time
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~60 minute episodes
Main cast: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Madeleine Madden, Zoë Robins, Josha Stradowski, and Marcus Rutherford
Creator: Rafe Lee Judkins
RT score: 83%
Based on Robert Jordan's beloved book series, The Wheel of Time is a fantasy show that blends the best of Game of Thrones, The Witcher, and The Lord of the Rings. Rosamund Pike (I Care A Lot, Gone Girl) plays Moiraine, a powerful sorceress whose quest to find the Dragon Reborn – a prophesised champion who can defeat the Dark One – leads Moiraine and her Warder companion Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney) to rescue five young adults from the Dark One's forces – only for the duo to realize that one of this quintet is the so-called Dragon Reborn. Expect plenty of drama, R-rated violence, a dashing of humor, and plenty of fantastical elements that'll wow and shock you. Read my review of The Wheel of Time season one and review of The Wheel of Time season two before one of the best Prime Video shows returns for a third season.
Best horror shows on Prime Video
Bates Motel
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 5
Runtime: ~43 minute episodes
Main cast: Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot, and Olivia Cooke
Creators: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin, and Anthony Cipriano
RT score: 93%
Bates Motel serves as a prequel to Alfred Hitchock's legendary 1960 horror flick Psycho which delves into the disturbing and sadistic relationship between future serial killer Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga). The dark series is a contemporary spin-off that explores the events of how he became one of the most infamous motel murderers. At first glance, Bates Motel may not sound appealing to a dedicated Hitchcock fan, but you'll be happy to hear that it manages to stay faithful to the source material while also allowing the story to go its own way. But what really sells Bates Motel are the two powerhouse performances from Highmore and Farmiga, who perfectly embody a monster ready to pounce and an unstable matriarch.
Being Human
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 5
Runtime: ~58 minute episodes
Main cast: Lenora Crichlow, Russell Tovey, Aidan Turner, and Sinéad Keenan
Creator: Toby Whithouse
RT score: 100%
Being Human is a real genre blender as it combines fantasy, horror, comedy and drama to tell the story of a ghost, werewolf and vampire in a house share as they try to live a "normal" life despite their supernatural tendencies. While the premise may sound silly, the acting and subtle British humor had me sucked in (no pun intended) from the start. Despite the supernatural plot, Being Human mirrors real-life struggles through their desire to fit in with society and making good and bad decisions.
Best romance shows on Prime Video
My Lady Jane
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~50 minute episodes
Main cast: Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Anna Chancellor, Rob Brydon, Henry Ashton, and Dominic Cooper
Creator: Gemma Burgess
RT score: 94%
Period dramas are forever captivating us with their romance and glamor, with regency romp Bridgerton being one of Netflix’s most-watched shows. Now there's another royally fun contender in the form of My Lady Jane, which sees Emily Bader star as Lady Jane Grey in an epic tale of true love and adventure which doesn't involve her losing her head. With swordfights, king killers, magical realism, charming banter and irresistible chemistry, it was enough for me to tune into this stand-out period drama. So you can understand my disappointment when I heard that Prime Video had canceled My Lady Jane after one season. If you've already seen My Lady Jane, check out these three highly-rated period dramas on Prime Video in the meantime.
Catastrophe
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Runtime: ~25 minute episodes
Main cast: Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney, Ashley Jensen, and Mark Bonnar
Creators: Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney
RT score: 98%
Written by and starring Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe follows Irish professor Sharon (Horgan) and American advertising executive Rob (Delaney), who start dating after he gets her pregnant on a wild business trip to London. Their newfound relationship has constant complications given that they live in different countries and the pregnancy is not without risks. While romantic comedies may have lacked their spark for some time, Catastrophe proves that the simple genre is still well-loved through the lead actors having great chemistry and jokes that genuinely make you laugh-out-loud.
Best sci-fi shows on Prime Video
The Expanse
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 6
Runtime: ~45 minute episodes
Main cast: Steven Strait, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Cas Anvar, and Frankie Adams
Creators: Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck
RT score: 95%
Arguably the best sci-fi show since Battlestar Galatica (we suspect Apple TV Plus' diverse and acclaimed sci-fi offerings will have something to say about that), The Expanse is based on the series of novels by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. It's set in a future where humans have colonised most of the solar system, but there are big divisions between the occupants of Earth, Mars, and 'Belters', who reside on space stations beyond the asteroid belt. It's full of politics, heart-wrenching and emotional stories, and some of the most breath-taking scenes of outer space I've ever seen. If you're a fan of sci-fi, you'll love this.
Fallout
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~59 minute episodes
Main cast: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, and Moises Arias
Creator: Tim Cain
RT score: 94%
Based in the same universe of Bethesda's beloved Fallout game series, this live-action show is not only canon in the studio's post-apocalyptic sci-fi action franchise, but it's also incredibly entertaining. Set 200 years after the games' landmark moment where a brief but cataclysmic nuclear war occurred, Amazon's Fallout TV show follows three individuals – Vault-33 dweller Lucy, The Brotherhood of Steel member Maximus, and The Ghoul – who cross paths as they quest for a MacGuffin for, well, let's not get into spoilers right now, eh? My Fallout season one review explains why the multi-genre series is wonderfully brilliant. In short, though: it's awkwardly hilarious, action-packed, dramatic, bizarre, and at-times soul-crushing. It's not as devastatingly bleak as The Last of Us' own TV adaptation, either. Fallout season two is in on the way, too.
Outer Range
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Runtime: ~51 minute episodes
Main cast: Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Tamara Podemski, Lili Taylor, Tom Pelphrey, and Lewis Pullman
Creator: Brian Watkins
RT score: 85%
Billed as a sci-fi mystery thriller, Outer Range stars Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War, Dune) as Royal Abbott, a Wyoming-based rancher fighting to keep his land out of the hands of a rival herder. When a mysterious black hole suddenly appears on the Abbott estate, Royal uses the seemingly infinite void to his advantage – including disposing of a body of one of his rival's sons following a tragic accident. But, when a drifter called Autumn (Imogen Poots) catches Royal in the act, the head of the Abbott family must fight for his family, to maintain their secret, and keep Autumn – who seems to have supernatural ties to the black hole – on side as his foes (and the police) close in around him. Despite its often muddled and weirdly paced plot, it deserves to be part of our best Prime Video shows article due to some powerhouse performances, its curious mystery, and foreboding atmosphere so you can understand why I was disappointed that Prime Video decided to cancel Outer Range.
Best thriller shows on Prime Video
Harlan Coben's Shelter
Age rating: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~49 minute episodes
Main cast: Jaden Michael, Constance Zimmer, Adrian Greensmith, Abby Corrigan, Sage Linder, and Brian Altemus
Creator: Harlan Coben
RT score: 88%
Harlan Coben is the master of twisty thrillers with a number of his books being made into hugely successful TV shows, including Fool Me Once, Stay Close and The Stranger on Netflix (which are all incredible by the way). Now, his brilliant mind comes to play once again in this Prime Video series, based on his young adult books about Mickey Bolitar. Harlan Coben's Shelter follows Mickey (Jaden Michael) who starts a new life in Kasselton, New Jersey after his father's sudden death and becomes embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of student Ashley Kent (Samantha Bugliaro), leading him and his friends to discover a dark underworld in the seemingly quiet town. Coben constantly hits the nail on the head when it comes to captivating thrillers and this series unsurprisingly had me hooked from start to finish, much like his other projects.
The Consultant
Age rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Runtime: ~33 minute episodes
Main cast: Christoph Waltz, Nat Wolff, Brittany O'Grady, and Aimee Carrero
Creator: Tony Basgallop
RT score: 80%
Billed as a twisted comedy-thriller, The Consultant stars Christoph Waltz as Regus Patoff, the newly-installed consultant of CompWare, an app-based company. When the mysterious and somewhat sinister individual starts asking his employees to perform tasks outside of their remit, though, it's up to CompWare's staff to decide how far they'll go in the pursuit of greatness. With shades of hit Apple TV Plus shows Severance and Mythic Quest, The Consultant should fill the workplace genre void in your life. Waltz delivers another suitably outstanding performance as the enigmatic Patoff, while there's enough payoff from the show's other elements to make it worth watching.
How we choose the best Prime Video shows
Our entertainment experts have put in the hard yards to ensure that the 35 shows listed above are the best of what the streaming giant offers, so you'll know that they come highly recommended.
In order to book a place in this guide as one of the best TV series on Prime Video, the show must pass both of these tests: have a critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (RT) equal to or higher than 80% and be personally recommended by one of the members of the TechRadar streaming team, which includes Matthew Bolton, Amelia Schwanke, Tom Power, Lucy Buglass and Grace Morris.
Using this criteria, we aim to offer a varied selection of shows across a wide-range of genres. If you're wondering why we haven't categorized this list by sub-genres, the reason is to make sure that there is at least more than one recommendation for each of the broader, primary genres. Of course, a lot of shows these days very rarely fit it into just one genre, so you can expect some genre-blending.
Not all of these shows are the most-watched on the best streaming services either. We've opted to instead make sure that we're also including hidden gems, whether that be shows with a smaller production or that were released some time ago, for example. With Prime Video always adding and removing shows every month, make sure to check back in on this list for our latest picks.
For more Prime Video-based coverage, read our guides on the best Prime Video movies, all of the new Prime Video movies that have arrived this month, or a full list of our Prime Video movie of the day picks.
