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The best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now (November 2024)

Alex Cross lighting candles in a church as others look on in Cross on Amazon Prime Video.
Keri Anderson / Amazon Prime Video

The best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now include a mix of Amazon originals, as well as older shows from other networks. You’ll find many shows you might have had on your radar for some time, but never got around to watching, like Hannibal, and The Night Manager. You’ll also find exciting new originals like Cross.

Whether you’re in the mood for drama, horror, thrills, comedy, sitcoms, or docuseries, Amazon Prime Video has you covered. And we also have you covered with this curated list of the best the streaming service has to offer in all these categories. Every title on this list can be watched with a base Amazon Prime or standalone Amazon Prime Video subscription; no channel add-ons are needed.

Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflixbest shows on Hulu, the best shows on Max, and best shows on Disney+.

Recently added to Amazon Prime

Cross (2024)

Cross
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Crime, Mystery
Stars
Aldis Hodge, Ryan Eggold, Isaiah Mustafa
Created by
Ben Watkins
Watch on Amazon

Alex Cross, a character from James Patterson’s series of novels, has been portrayed several times onscreen. Morgan Freeman played him in Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, while Tyler Perry did so in Alex Cross. In Cross, Aldis Hodge takes on the role of the detective and forensic psychologist obsessed with getting into the minds of both killers and victims to solve crimes.

Struggling to balance his work life and personal life as a single father grieving the death of his wife, Cross has his own methods, and he’s very good at his job. With Patterson himself counted among the executive producers, fans can expect the character to be true to his interpretation in the books. Ahead of its first season premiere, Cross was already renewed for a second season.

Hannibal (2013)

Hannibal
tv-ma
3 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Crime
Stars
Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne
Created by
Bryan Fuller
Watch on Amazon

One of those shows that was canceled far too soon, Hannibal aired for three riveting seasons. Based on the Thomas Harris characters from the novels Red Dragon, Hannibal, and Hannibal Rising, the series stars Hugh Dancy as FBI special investigator Will Graham and Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibel Lecter, a forensic psychiatrist who is treating Graham. While Graham is tortured in his hunt for a serial killer, he looks to Dr. Lecter for advice and counsel. Little does he know that Dr. Lecter is himself a vicious and cunning serial killer and cannibal. Graham is attending the sessions to help him through the trauma, but Dr. Lecter is using them to manipulate the investigator, fueling his darkest desires in the process. But eventually, the two develop an odd bond and mutual understanding.

Hannibal keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire way through as Dr. Lecter becomes fascinated with Graham’s unexpected sense of empathy for the psychopathic murderers he wishes to capture. Fabulously cast, tense, and psychologically thrilling, Hannibal is widely considered to be one of the best TV series of its kind.

The Night Manager (2016)

The Night Manager
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Crime
Stars
Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman
Created by
David Farr
Watch on Amazon

Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie are electric in this British spy thriller that’s based on the John le Carré novel of the same name. Hiddleston is Jonathan Pine, the night manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo. His life is fairly routine until his past as a former British soldier catches up with him and he finds himself back in battle, though in a different way. Angela Burr (Olivia Colman), the manager of a foreign office task force, recruits him to help her take down a dangerous arms dealer named Rickard “Dicky” Onslow Roper (Laurie).

Winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards, The Night Manager was renewed for a second season. However, it’s been eight years since the show first premiered in 2016. With the confirmation of a third season and no release date yet for season 2, it’s the perfect time to catch up with a season 1 binge, so you’re ready for what’s to come.

Three-Body (2023)

Three-Body
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Zhang Luyi, Yu Hewei, Chen Jin
Created by
Liu Cixin
Watch on Amazon

Have you fallen in love with Netflix’s 3 Body Problem? Amazon has its own interpretation of Cixin Liu’s novel The Three-Body Problem in the similarly named Three-Body. Released in China in 2023, Three-Body is now available to stream in Mandarin with English subtitles. This version has been lauded as a faithful adaptation of the book centered around an alien species depicted in a video game invading Earth. The show follows Wang Miao (Luyi Zhang), a nanotech specialist asked by detective Shi Qiang (Hewei Yu) to help investigate strange instances of suicides by scientists.

There was a backlash from China against Netflix’s version of the story; it doesn’t take place entirely in China, includes more racially diverse actors, and swaps the genders of some main characters. Three-Body is less controversial yet just as deep, complex, and exciting. You’re not going to enjoy the same pacing; there are 30 episodes in this series. But, it’s an exciting watch for those who have watched 3 Body Problem, allowing for the opportunity to compare and contrast how the story is delivered on screen.

The Devil's Hour (2022)

The Devil's Hour
70%
7.8/10
tv-ma
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery
Stars
Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi
Created by
Tom Moran
Watch on Amazon

Nothing good ever happens at 3 a.m. If you have ever heard this saying, you know that the time between 3 and 4 a.m. is known as the “Devil’s Hour,” and this is precisely when Lucy (Jessica Raine of Call the Midwife) keeps waking up, night after night, following the same recurring nightmare. The event, in fact, has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. It doesn’t help that Lucy’s eight-year-old son appears to be lacking emotion and is socially withdrawn.

When she becomes tied to a string of murders in town, Lucy questions her own sanity and why so much darkness surrounds her. The British psychological thriller The Devil’s Hour also stars Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) as a reclusive, murderous nomad, and Nikesh Patel (Starstruck) as a detective named Ravi who is investigating the killings. This show is dark, ominous, and totally creepy.

The Devil's Hour - Official Trailer | Prime Video

The Legend of Vox Machina (2022)

The Legend of Vox Machina
81%
8.4/10
tv-ma
3 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Marisha Ray
Created by
Matthew Mercer
Watch on Amazon
Fans of the game Dungeons & Dragons will love The Legend of Vox Machina, which is based on the D&D web series Critical Role. The adult animated fantasy series, which was initially funded by a Kickstarter campaign, is set in the fictional world of Exandria, on the continent of Tal-Dorei. The team known as Vox Machina set out for their first “grown up” mission to avenge the murder of several town rulers, including their own offspring, by an evil lord and lady. Adapting many other classic story arcs, The Legend of Vox Machina is widely praised for the action sequences, emotional storytelling, and for how faithful it is to the campaign.

Harlan Coben's Shelter (2023)

Harlan Coben's Shelter
tv-14
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Crime
Stars
Jaden Michael, Constance Zimmer, Adrian Greensmith
Created by
Harlan Coben, Charlotte Coben
Watch on Amazon

Despite being canceled after a single season, Harlan Coben’s Shelter is a gripping mystery drama that is perfect for a young-adult audience. An Amazon Original, the series is based on the author’s YA novel Shelter and follows Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael), a teenager who moves to a small town in New Jersey following the sudden death of his father. There, he gets caught up in the disappearance of fellow student Ashley Kent (Samantha Bugliaro) that leads him into a web of darkness and secrets in the seemingly quiet community.

Harlan Coben’s Shelter has eight episodes in its story, and there was no reason given for the cancellation, which happened alongside The Horrors of Dolores Roach and With Love, both shows that were met with rave reviews as well. The Australian’s Geordie Gray praises the series as one that can easily suck in adults as much as teens thanks to its “ludicrously twisty” nature while Neely Swanson of Beverly Hills Courier says she was hooked by the third episode. “Sometimes,” she adds, “It’s just fun to be totally lost in something.”

Red Oaks (2014)

Red Oaks
tv-ma
3 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Craig Roberts, Alexandra Socha, Paul Reiser
Created by
Joe Gangemi, Gregory Jacobs
Watch on Amazon

You could easily binge the entire three seasons of Red Oaks over a single weekend. Set during the 1980s, the show is centered on a young tennis player (Craig Roberts) who opts for a job at the exclusive Red Oaks Country Club during the summer between his sophomore and junior year of college.

What ensues is a warm and heartfelt nod to the sex comedies that were a staple of that decade like Porky’s and Class. Boasting dry humor and a solid ensemble that includes Ennis Esmer as the hilarious tennis pro Nash, Red Oaks rises above the raucousness to create characters you really care about.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
tv-14
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Stars
Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Morfydd Clark
Created by
John D. Payne, Patrick McKay
Watch on Amazon
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is one of the biggest fantasy franchises around that was turned into a movie franchise, and this TV series brings back the story of Middle-earth and the characters that have become part of pop culture history. While only some of the original characters appear in younger form, the show is set thousands of years prior to the events in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The time is the Second Age, when the Rings of Power were forged, the Dark Lord Sauron was rising to power and villainy, before the kingdom of Numenor had fallen. With a five-season order commitment worth $1 billion, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is officially the most expensive TV series ever made.

The Boys (2019)

The Boys
49%
8.7/10
tv-ma
3 Seasons
Genre
Action, Crime, Drama
Stars
Jack Quaid, Elisabeth Shue, Jessie T. Usher, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty
Created by
Eric Kripke
Watch on Amazon

Of all the superhero TV shows and movies out there, none of them are quite like The Boys. It’s a dark, depraved deconstruction of super-powered heroes and villains. Based on Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic book series of the same name, The Boys follows a group of vigilantes who take it upon themselves to police the super-powered heroes who abuse their abilities and take advantage of the trust the public has placed in them.

As grim and shockingly violent as it is clever, the series is set in a world in which superpowers, corporate greed, and media consolidation have bled together to create a particularly frightening form of corruption. The audience sees it all through the eyes of Hughie, an average guy whose chance encounter with a superhero changes his life forever.

Sausage Party: Foodtopia (2024)

Sausage Party: Foodtopia
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Animation, Comedy
Stars
Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Michael Cera
Watch on Amazon

Sausage Party: Foodtopia doesn’t offer riveting storylines and award-winning performances. But if you love raunchy humor, and you enjoyed the movie Sausage Party (or any works of Seth Rogen, for that matter), you’ll want to chew on Sausage Party: Foodtopia. As a continuation from the events in the movies, the anthropomorphic grocery items have escaped to the real world, and they realize things aren’t all utopian. A massive flood threatens to destroy their new world, and they must turn to who’s left of the very people they loathe to help them: humans.

Featuring an ensemble cast of voice actors including Rogen as Frank the sausage, Kristen Wiig as Brenda the hot dog bun (naturally, his love interest), Edward Norton as Sammy Bagel Jr., a neurotic Jewish bagel, Sam Richardson as an orange named Julius, and Will Forte as Jack the human, among others, Sausage Party: Foodtopia is a wild ride filled with irreverent and immature humor to make you both cringe and belly laugh the whole way through.

Battlestar Galactica (2004)

Battlestar Galactica
tv-14
4 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Stars
Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber
Created by
Ronald D. Moore, Glen A. Larson
Watch on Amazon

If you’ve been looking to find where you can stream Battlestar Galactica since it left Peacock, Amazon Prime Video is the answer. A reimagining of the original series from 1978, Battlestar Galactica follows a group of humans traveling in space through planets known as the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. When an android race known as the Cylons launches an attack, however, it seems a small group aboard the title ship are the only surviving members of the military among the now almost fully decimated population. The fate of the human race is literally in their hands as they desperately try to locate the rumored 13th colony called Earth to where they might hopefully be able to survive.

The military sci-fi series has been ranked by outlets like Time and The New York Times as being among the best TV shows of this generation. The series has developed a following of die-hard fans who appreciate not only the high entertainment value but the deeper political themes and parallels; stories are often analyzed, dissected, and compared to real-life events from the past. When it comes to shows with great re-watch value, Battlestar Galactica ranks high on the list.

The Fall (2013)

The Fall
tv-ma
3 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Crime
Stars
Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, Niamh McGrady
Created by
Allan Cubitt
Watch on Amazon

Gillian Anderson (Scoop) and Jamie Dornan are a perfect match in this crime drama from Northern Ireland that is a must-watch for any fan of the serial killer sub-genre. Dornan convincingly plays Paul Spector in The Fall, a respectable family man and, ironically, a bereavement counsellor who has a dark secret — he’s also a ritualistic serial killer. While Paul has been getting away with it for some time, he meets his match in Metropolitan Police Superintendent Stella Gibson (Anderson). Slowly but surely, she starts to close in on him as being the unlikely perpetrator in a rash of deaths that all point to the same killer.

Intense, gripping, and wonderfully acted, The Fall will keep you at the edge of your seat the entire way through. While Paul’s identity as the killer is instantly revealed to viewers, the cat-and-mouse game as Stella’s acute instincts help her inch closer to catching him is absolutely nail-biting. If shows like Dexter and You are among your favorites, The Fall will be right up your alley, too.

Clarkson's Farm (2021)

Clarkson's Farm
tv-pg
3 Seasons
Genre
Reality, Comedy
Stars
Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland
Watch on Amazon

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run a farm? British TV presenter, journalist, and writer Jeremy Clarkson, best known for shows Top Gear and The Grand Tour, owns a farm in the Cotsworld. He uses his experience as a TV presenter to bring viewers fully into the experience in a compelling, educational, and engaging way in Clarkson’s Farm. The thousand-acre farm had been growing barley, rapeseed, and wheat before Clarkson decided to venture into farming himself and take over.

Humorously, Clarkson renamed the farm Diddly Squat in reference to the fact that it wasn’t producing much of anything. But together with viewers along for the ride, he learns the ropes and tries to make something of it. Inspirational, entertaining, and educational, Clarkson’s Farm takes you right from the first stages of running a farm (think learning how to use a tractor and seed drill) to running a farm shop, dealing with unexpected challenges (including the COVID-19 pandemic), herding cows, and by the end of the second season, opening his own restaurant. It’s a fascinating watch that sheds light on the importance and hard work of farmers and the farming community.

Fallout (2024)

Fallout
tv-14
1 Season
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Action & Adventure
Stars
Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins
Created by
Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner
Watch on Amazon

One of the most anticipated new series of the year, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic tale based on the popular role-playing video game franchise of the same name. When a nuclear exchange in an alternate history leads to the apocalypse, a retro-futuristic society emerges above ground. Beneath it, those who survived live in bunkers known as Vaults. Centuries later, a woman who grew up in the Vault and knows nothing about life above ground decides to venture outside into a sinister and dangerous world.

Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets) stars as Lucy, and Walton Goggins (The Righteous Gemstones) as The Ghoul, while the guest-starring cast includes Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Emerson, and Chris Parnell. With the story faithful to the game, gamer fans are excited to watch it play out in live-action form. Offering an interesting take on a post-apocalyptic scenario, however, Fallout will appeal to those who aren’t even familiar with the game, too.

Them (2021)

Them
tv-ma
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery
Stars
Deborah Ayorinde, Pam Grier, Luke James
Created by
Little Marvin
Watch on Amazon

The black mirror anthology series Them from Lena Waithe (The Chi) is back this month with a second season called Them: The Scare. The first season was set in the ‘50s and followed a Black family moving into an all-white neighborhood during the Second Great Migration. While they try to acclimate, evil forces and otherworldly events begin to haunt them.

The second season, which comes three years after the first, sees actress Deborah Ayorinde return to the series but in a completely different role and time period, though it still takes place in Los Angeles. It’s now the ‘90s, and she’s LAPD Detective Dawn Reeve, who is investigating a horrific murder. She soon discovers a serial killer is on the loose, and her family becomes wrapped up in the evil that surrounds her. If you’re looking for a show with jump scares and are not against graphically violent scenes, curl up to the blood-curdling Them: Covenant (season one) and Them: The Scare (season 2).

House (2004)

House
tv-14
8 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery
Stars
Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps
Created by
David Shore
Watch on Amazon

When it comes to surly, blunt doctors with special skills, none quite measures up to Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), the pain med-popping doctor who also happens to be a medical genius. But his bedside manner leaves much to be desired, both with patients and staff. Each episode of House, like other medical dramas of its ilk, follows House’s examination of patients, often who have strange and unexplained illnesses. He always figures it out, however, usually using unconventional, sometimes questionable methods.

The complicated relationship and back and forth between Dr. House and his boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), filled with tension because of his complete disregard for rules, is one of the most intriguing parts of the show. He refuses to listen and does things his own way, but there’s no one better. With a supporting cast that includes Jennifer Morrison, Omar Epps, Olivia Wilde, Kal Penn, and Amber Tamblyn throughout various seasons, House is one of the best medical dramas of the 2000s. The series aired for eight seasons, all of which are available to stream.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Donald Glover, Maya Erskine
Created by
Donald Glover, Francesca Sloane
Watch on Amazon

A loose TV interpretation of the 2005 action comedy starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. The spy series has been well received for its combination of action with comedy and romance. The pair, both spies, agree to pose as a married couple, assuming the names of John and Jane Smith. In each episode, they get a new case with instructions delivered by anonymous text. From intercepting a package to infiltrating a black-tie silent auction, the pair have skills they put to the test in unique scenarios. Through eight episodes, they complete various missions while also growing closer to one another, and their budding romance could complicate things.

The two leads, both comedic talents, are what make this show a fun modern-day interpretation of the story. If you love spy shows with comedic twists and a dash of romance thrown in for good measure, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is worth checking out.

Invincible (2021)

Invincible
8.7/10
tv-ma
2 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure
Stars
Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons
Created by
Robert Kirkman (screenplay), Ryan Ottley, Cory Walker
Watch on Amazon

With a star-studded cast and Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead universe, behind it, it’s no surprise that this Amazon original series has received rave reviews. While it’s an animated superhero series, Invincible isn’t a show to watch with the kids. As per Kirkman’s signature style, there’s a lot of violence and gore. At the heart of the story is Mark Grayson (voiced by Beefs Steven Yeun), the teenage son of the world’s most powerful superhero, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). Once Mark turns 18, he begins to develop his own superhero skills and must balance becoming Invincible with being a typical teenage boy, as well as learning the truth about his dad.

Keep an ear out for the members of the Guardians of the Globe superhero team, loosely based on the Justice League, all of whom are voiced by Walking Dead cast members, past and present. Also lending their local talents to the series are A-listers like Zachary Quinto, Gillian Jacobs, Walton Goggins, Seth Rogen, Mark Hamill, Mahershala Ali, and Zazie Beetz.

Invincible – Official Trailer | Prime Video

Undone (2019)

Undone
tv-ma
2 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Stars
Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, Constance Marie
Created by
Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Kate Purdy
Watch on Amazon

From the creators of BoJack HorsemanUndone is an Amazon Original Series that tells a young woman’s complex journey to solve the mystery of her father’s death and uncover the keys to her past. A genre-bending animated series, Undone sees Alma Winograd-Diaz (Rosa Salazar) come apart at the seams after a near-fatal accident induces visions of her late father, Jacob (Bob Odenkirk). The persistent visions begin to tap into a mysterious ability that allows her to pass through space and time, with the ultimate goal of stopping his untimely death.

As Amazon’s first-ever adult animated original series, Undone is a visual spectacle that uses a unique combination of live action motion capture and rotoscoping, giving a sense of fantasy to a very real and relatable story. After two seasons, the fate of Undone remains unknown, as the show has neither been renewed nor cancelled. Given the positive ratings, which includes a 97% score from critics on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, fans hope it will return for a third.

Expats (2024)

Expats
1 Season
Genre
Drama
Stars
Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo
Created by
Lulu Wang
Watch on Amazon

Nicole Kidman stars in Expats, a gripping drama based on the Janice Y. K. Lee novel The Expatriates. The series follows a group of American expatriates living in an affluent community in Hong Kong. Their lives become intertwined and linked by tragedy, and each person is on the brink of a breakdown.

The series explores the complications when your personal problems are never just your own. The series follows one woman grieving the disappearance of her child, another who is dealing with the inevitable breakdown of her marriage, and finally, a young woman trying to make a living in the bustling gig economy. Observational, emotional, and tense, Expats is a look into how privilege plays into every situation.

Hazbin Hotel (2024)

Hazbin Hotel
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Keith David
Created by
Vivienne Medrano
Watch on Amazon

Did we really need another adult animated sitcom? If the positive response for Hazbin Hotel is any indication, the answer is an emphatic yes. This musical comedy centers around Charlie Morningstar (voiced by Erika Henningsen), the princess of Hell. She’s a typical Gen-Z-er, seeing the best in everyone and believing she can rehabilitate these lost souls to grant them permission to enter Heaven. She calls her rehab facility Hazbin Hotel, and it’s where she gives demons a shot at redemption before they are killed in the next annual purge.

Naturally, there’s an antagonist, and that’s “Radio Demon” Alastor (Amir Talai), who joins her cause and helps her run the hotel, but secretly it’s just to amuse himself with the ridiculousness of her idea. Described as vibrant, colorful, fast-paced, potty-mouthed, and even sometimes grotesque by critics, Hazbin Hotel is a fabulous addition to the mix.

Reacher (2022)

Reacher
68%
8.5/10
2 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Mystery
Stars
Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald
Created by
Nick Santora
Watch on Amazon

The character first popularized on-screen by Tom Cruise on the big screen is now on TV in the Amazon original action show Reacher. Except this time, Alan Ritchson (Smallville) plays Jack Reacher, the former U.S. Army major who has moved on to travel the U.S., looking for whatever odd jobs he can find to take down bad guys.

The series is based on the Lee Child book series, and like the first movie, season 1 of Reacher focuses on the storyline from the debut novel Killing Floor. After being arrested for a murder he did not commit, Reacher  finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy. In season 2, the story is based on the events in the book Bad Luck and Trouble. With danger at every turn, it’s a thrilling ride all the way through.

American Horror Story (2011)

American Horror Story
65%
8.0/10
tv-ma
11 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Stars
Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Evan Peters
Created by
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk
Watch on Amazon
The horror anthology that is Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story, though novel, continues to surpass expectations with every passing season. Each essentially functions as a self-contained miniseries, focusing on a repertory cast of characters and a storyline that features its own beginning, middle, and end. Each season — whether it revolves around a coven of witches, an insane asylum, or a haunted house in the middle of Los Angeles — features lavish set pieces and campy aesthetics, which add to sterling performances from the likes of Lady Gaga and Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning Jessica Lange. Many of the seasons even take jabs at current social issues, and they often leave a weird and wonderful impression. Well, that, and an awful taste in your mouth.

Gen V (2023)

Gen V
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Stars
Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway
Created by
Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters
Watch on Amazon

Fans of The Boys will want to put Gen V on their radar. The superhero series spin-off follows a group of students at the Godolkin University School of Crimefighting who are tasked with competing in various battles as part of the deadly, special powers-filled curriculum. The goal? To see who is worthy of becoming a member of the next generation of supes for Vought International.

The series has an entirely new main cast, but there will be cameo appearances from a handful of fan-favorite characters from The Boys. Expect the same bloody gore and political satire while exploring the idea of how Vought gets its greedy, selfish grips on young supes in training. Each one has their own unique superpowers, and combined with the drive and determination to succeed (and survive), and the naivety about what’s in store, Gen V will get the blood boiling at the absurdity of it all.

Upload (2020)

Upload
67%
8.0/10
tv-ma
3 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Stars
Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Zainab Johnson
Created by
Greg Daniels
Watch on Amazon

In 2033, people who are near death can be “uploaded” into virtual reality afterlives of their choosing; but it will cost their families a pretty penny. These VR afterlives are run by six tech firms, setting up a new kind of corporate competition over human death. When Los Angeles party boy Nathan’s (Robbie Amell) self-driving car crashes, his girlfriend uploads him into the luxurious Lakeview digital afterlife. There, he meets Nora, a customer service representative for Lakeview, who onboards Nathan to his version of heaven.

The series follows their friendship as Nathan grows accustomed to life away from his loved ones while Nora balances her connection with the virtual Nathan with her real-life financial and personal struggles. But when Nathan, a talented coder who was on to something big before he died, discovers his death might not have been an accident after all, he must try to unravel what really happened. It all comes down to the economic disparity that continues to exist in Upload‘s afterlife just as strongly as it does in real life.

The Wheel of Time (2021)

The Wheel of Time
61%
9.4/10
tv-14
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure
Stars
Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Josha Stradowski
Created by
Rafe Judkins
Watch on Amazon
Moiraine, the member of a magical, all-female organization known as the Aes Sedai, takes five young people from their small village to embark on a dangerous adventure. She believes that one of them could be a powerful child who, as the reincarnation of the Dragon, was given powers of prophecies that could save the world (or destroy it). Filled with the stunning visuals and high action one would expect from a show in the epic fantasy genre, The Wheel of Time, based on the Robert Jordan novel series of the same name, was renewed for a third season in advance of the release of the second.

Good Omens (2019)

Good Omens
66%
8.1/10
tv-ma
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Sam Taylor Buck
Created by
Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
Watch on Amazon

Based on the Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, Good Omens sees the main characters, a demon named Crowley (David Tennant) and an angel named Aziraphale (Michael Sheen), trying to prevent Armageddon. The show follows various Christian themes as angels and the devil fight for control of humanity and the future.

Initially developed only as a limited series, the star-studded cast (along with a voice cast that includes Frances McDormand, Brian Cox, and Benedict Cumberbatch) and compelling story have seen it extended beyond that.

Jack Ryan (2018)

Jack Ryan
64%
8.1/10
tv-ma
4 Seasons
Genre
Action, Drama, Thriller
Stars
John Krasinski, Abbie Cornish, Wendell Pierce
Watch on Amazon
Tom Clancy’s “Ryanverse” franchise makes the leap from film to TV with the spy thriller Jack Ryan that premiered in 2018 and casts John Krasinski as the titular CIA analyst who finds himself investigating one far-reaching international threat after another. Lost co-creator Carlton Cuse serves as co-creator and executive producer on the Amazon Original series, along with Krasinski and Michael Bay (among others). The show has been praised for its captivating action sequences and likable cast members. The show ends with its fourth and final season that sees Ryan as Acting Deputy Director of the CIA, back on his home turf to fight corruption, terrorism, and a drug cartel.

I'm a Virgo (2023)

I'm a Virgo
tv-14
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Jharrel Jerome, Brett Gray, Kara Young
Created by
Tze Chun, Boots Riley
Watch on Amazon

American film director, producer, screenwriter, rapper, and communist activist Raymond “Boots” Riley (Sorry to Bother You) is behind this absurdist comedy about a 19-year-old Black man who stands 13 feet tall. Cootie is played by Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight, When They See Us), who actually stands about 5 feet, 8 inches The illusion of height is achieved through the use of old-school camera tricks (think Will Ferrell in Elf), not CGI.

I’m a Virgo follows Cootie as he comes out of hiding for the first time to join a society he knows nothing about, with the support of a new group of welcoming teenage friends. Meanwhile, there’s a vigilante superhero trying to make the city right by using brute force against minor criminals, and Cootie has attracted his attention. I’m a Virgo is worth a watch even just to see how they pull off the special effects without any use of CGI. But it’s also a unique coming-of-age story like no other that will have you laughing the whole way through.

The Grand Tour (2016)

The Grand Tour
8.7/10
tv-14
5 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Talk-Show
Stars
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May
Watch on Amazon
For years, the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond drove cool cars and clowned around with each other on the BBC’s Top Gear. Despite their departure from that series, however, the good times keep rolling on The Grand Tour, which reunites the three snarky hosts for a show that is very similar in format to Top Gear. Episodes often feature studio segments and test drives on the show’s test track, the “Eboladrome.” As with Top Gear, the best episodes are the ones where the hosts venture to foreign lands, testing unique vehicles on unfamiliar terrain. This includes The Grand Tour: Eurocrash, where they take a 1,400-mile journey across Central Europe in a Japanese Al Capone gangster car. For car enthusiasts or Top Gear fans not satisfied by that show’s new hosts, The Grand Tour is a welcome return to form.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
80%
8.7/10
tv-ma
5 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen
Created by
Amy Sherman-Palladino
Watch on Amazon

If you want to watch a star being born, stop what you’re doing and immerse yourself in Rachel Brosnahan’s work as Miriam “Midge” Maisel on the 1950s-set comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Midge is a housewife who pursues a career in stand-up comedy after her husband, Joe Maisel (Michael Zegen), unexpectedly leaves her.

After a drunken, impromptu, and mile-a-minute stand-up set that ends with Midge being arrested, hard-nosed venue employee Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein) takes Midge under her wing in hopes of molding a diamond in the rough. The show has won numerous well-deserved awards, solidifying its place among the best period comedy-dramas you can watch right now.

Jury Duty (2023)

Jury Duty
1 Season
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Ronald Gladden, James Marsden, Alan Barinholtz
Created by
Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg
Watch on Amazon

A sleeper hit for Amazon one of 2023’s best comedies, Jury Duty is available through the streaming service’s Freevee channel, an ad-supported video-on-demand (VOD) option formerly known as IMDb TV. It’s worth sitting through the short ads, however, to enjoy the unique docu-comedy about those who end up called in for the most dreaded task: jury duty. But there’s a twist: the case isn’t actually real, and all but one person knows it.

Ronald Gladden stars as himself, a juror who happens to be the only one who doesn’t realize the trial is not actually real. James Marsden also stars as a parody of himself, an alternate juror, while the other jurors are up-and-coming actors with backgrounds in improv. Hailing from the producers of The Office, Jury Duty is not your typical workplace comedy. It’s a fun, semi-improvised series that critics have been mixed on, but fans seem to truly enjoy, giving it an almost perfect score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

Dead Ringers (2023)

Dead Ringers
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Mystery
Stars
Rachel Weisz, Emily Meade, Jennean Farmer
Created by
Alice Birch
Watch on Amazon

Rachel Weisz takes on a dual role in this gender-reversed interpretation of the 1988 David Cronenberg psychological thriller of the same name. Playing the roles initially portrayed by Jeremy Irons, she’s a set of codependent twins named Elliot and Beverly who both work as gynecologists. They’re also unafraid to bend the rules in the name of delivering proper women’s health care.

The show is reportedly not for the faint of heart, with graphic depictions of childbirth and various medical procedures. But Dead Ringers combines hearty laughs with plenty of foul language, drugs, and debauchery. Elliot and Beverly are very different from one another, but both have the same goal: change the system, at any cost, in a way they think it should be done.

The Power (2023)

The Power
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Toni Collette, Halle Bush, Ria Zmitrowicz
Created by
Naomi Alderman
Watch on Amazon

Based on the Naomi Alderman novel of the same name, this British sci-fi drama takes place in a future world where teenage girls develop a strange power: they can electrocute others using nothing but their fingertips and sheer will. The mysterious power arrives without warning and becomes hereditary and unremovable. These young women feel the thrill of having a deadly power that can fend off attackers and effectively get them whatever they want. But when they discover that they can awaken the same power in older women, the world and its power dynamics change dramatically.

This raises the stakes considerably in The Power, which examines a matriarchal society and how tremendous power might corrupt, liberate, and change the course of the world. The Power stars Toni Collette, Auli’i Cravalho, and John Leguizamo. Ted Lasso’s Toheeb Jimoh also appears as Tunde, an aspiring journalist who becomes fascinated with covering the story.

Class of '07 (2023)

Class of '07
7.5/10
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Emily Browning, Caitlin Stasey, Megan Smart
Created by
Kacie Anning
Watch on Amazon

It’s like a more light-hearted version of Yellowjackets meets The Afterparty. When a group of women who attended an all-girls high school a decade prior come together again for a 10-year reunion, they wind up stuck at the school literally, and figuratively stuck in the past. A tidal wave hits causing the apocalypse, and the ladies must band together at the top of an island peak where their high school campus is located to try and survive.

The women, now grown, however, can’t help but revert to their adolescent selves. This forces them to deal with unresolved high school drama. A fun comedy, Class of ’07 will have you reliving your high school days and the friendships you made in an unbelievably absurd way.

Swarm (2023)

Swarm
66%
7.3/10
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Dominique Fishback
Created by
Donald Glover, Janine Nabers
Watch on Amazon

Donald Glover is behind this horror thriller about a young woman named Dre (Dominique Fishback), who is obsessed with a pop star (that bears an eerie resemblance in look and style to Beyoncé). Dre isn’t just a member of The Swarm, the name coined for the pop star’s followers (once again, similar to Beyoncé’s “BeyHive” group of die-hard fans), she takes her obsession to dark and troubling levels.

Swarm also stars Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish), Damson Idris (Snowfall), Paris Jackson (American Horror Stories), pop singer Billie Eilish, and Rory Culkin (Under the Banner of Heaven). Interestingly, Swarm also counts Malia Obama, daughter of President Barack Obama, among its writers.

Daisy Jones & the Six (2023)

Daisy Jones & the Six
1 Season
Genre
Drama
Stars
Riley Keough, Camila Morrone, Sam Claflin
Created by
Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Watch on Amazon

While Daisy Jones & The Six is a fictional band created by author Taylor Jenkins Reid for her novel of the same name, the story is loosely inspired by Reid’s own experiences growing up watching the band Fleetwood Mac. The 10-episode miniseries is presented like a documentary, providing background interviews with the band members. Set in the ‘70s, the look and feel is that of the wild, hippie-centric world of music during that pivotal decade.

Follow Daisy Jones & The Six and their rise from unknown rock band to one of the biggest bands in the world, along with their subsequent downfall when the members shockingly decide to split at the height of their success. The series, which stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin and hails from Reeese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine, shares parallels with many other popular rock bands of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and beyond that music lovers will enjoy dissecting.

The Terminal List (2022)

The Terminal List
40%
8.2/10
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Action & Adventure, Drama
Stars
Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, Constance Wu
Created by
David DiGilio
Watch on Amazon

Based on the Jack Carr novel of the same name, The Terminal List stars Chris Pratt as Reece, a military man who is ambushed while his platoon is on a mission. Following his return home and his struggles with severe PTSD from these events, Reece begins to question what he remembers and what his role might have been in what happened. Through his investigation, Reece realizes that there might be more at play. And there are people working against him, which puts both himself and his family in danger.

The action thriller also stars Taylor Kitsch, Constance Wu, Riley Keough, and Patrick Schwarzenegger. While it was met with mixed reviews, The Terminal List has been renewed for a second season.

The Terminal List - Official Trailer | Prime Video

Downton Abbey (2010)

Downton Abbey
80%
8.7/10
tv-pg
6 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Romance
Stars
Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter
Created by
Julian Fellowes
Watch on Amazon
Set in the English countryside shortly after the turn of the 20th century, Downton Abbey follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their hierarchy of servants. A fascinating look at the English aristocracy at the dawn of the modern age, Downton Abbey deftly balances historical drama with the steamy character-driven conflicts that exist within the family and the staff.

Bosch

Bosch
73%
8.4/10
tv-ma
7 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Titus Welliver, Annie Wersching, Amy Price-Francis
Created by
Eric Ellis Overmyer (developed for television by)
Watch on Amazon
Titus Welliver plays Los Angeles homicide detective Harry Bosch in this Amazon Studios original series based on Michael Connelly’s series of novels. The first season of the critically acclaimed series has Bosch standing trial for the killing of a serial murder suspect while simultaneously confronting his past when a cold case involving a missing boy suddenly heats up again. After six well-received seasons, Bosch was renewed for a seventh and final season in February 2020.

The Kids in the Hall (2022)

The Kids in the Hall
82%
8.5/10
tv-ma
1 Season
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson
Created by
Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson
Watch on Amazon
From 1989 to 1995, legendary Canadian sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall delighted fans with their hilarious show that starred mainly the five members playing every character. Now, almost 30 years after the show originally ended, the five performers, Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson, have reunited for a limited eight-episode revival that will see many of the Kids‘ best characters once again resurrected, including Gavin, Kathie and Cathy, Head Crusher, and McCulloch’s psychotic squash player, The Eradicator. In addition to the new season, you can also stream the first five original seasons as well. Dubbed a continuation of the original show, The Kids in the Hall is the first Amazon Original series to hail from Canada.

The Outlaws (2021)

The Outlaws
75%
7.7/10
tv-ma
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Stars
Christopher Walken, Stephen Merchant, Darren Boyd
Created by
Stephen Merchant, Elgin James
Watch on Amazon
Co-created by and starring Stephen Merchant, The Outlaws centers around seven very different, quarreling strangers fulfilling their community service time who find themselves embroiled in scandal when they come across a bag full of money. While it initially seems like they struck gold during otherwise unfortunate circumstances, it turns out the owners of the bag aren’t exactly kind — there are dangerous individuals who are out for blood and want their money back. With a strong supporting cast that also includes Christopher Walken, the BBC crime thriller comedy has been praised by critics for the portrayal of its “merry band of miscreants,” making it, if nothing else, a fun and entertaining watch.

Mozart in the Jungle (2014)

Mozart in the Jungle
76%
8.1/10
tv-ma
4 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Stars
Gael García Bernal, Lola Kirke, Malcolm McDowell, Bernadette Peters
Created by
Alex Timbers, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman
Watch on Amazon
One of Amazon’s first original series was created by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Alex Timbers and stars Gael García Bernal, Malcolm McDowell, and Bernadette Peters as luminaries in the modern classical music scene. Not a bad get for the platform’s first show. Bernal stars as Rodrigo, the brash new conductor of the New York Symphony Orchestra, whose style clashes with the more straight-laced symphony benefactors behind the scenes. However, his talent is undeniable, and as he strikes up a friendship with an up-and-coming oboist (Lola Kirke), it becomes clear that the two of them can bring out the best in each other.

Fleabag (2916)

Fleabag
92%
8.7/10
tv-ma
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Ben Aldridge, Sian Clifford
Created by
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Watch on Amazon
At times introspective and moody, at others absurd and raunchy, Fleabag defies easy categorization. In its funnier moments — such as the intro, which is an elegant, extended soliloquy ending in a sudden smack of a sex joke — it is one of the sharpest comedies around (season 2 won the 2019 Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series), but underneath it, all runs a current of sadness. The show follows a lady known only as “Fleabag” (Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who took home Emmys herself for acting and writing), a neurotic woman juggling a failing business and disastrous personal life. The term fleabag immediately conjures images of filth, and the protagonist’s problems run deeper than her name. Selfish, wanton, and a compulsive liar, she fits in with the various antiheroes that have become popular on television. Uniquely, Fleabag does not keep its damaged lead at a distance; she frequently speaks directly to the viewer in frantic monologues, offering insight into her unquiet mind.

The Expanse (2015)

The Expanse
72%
8.5/10
tv-14
6 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Stars
Thomas Jane, Steven Strait, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper
Created by
Daniel Abraham, Mark Fergus, Ty Franck
Watch on Amazon
Imagine a future in which humans have colonized every part of the solar system. The Expanse turns that hypothetical future into a powerhouse sci-fi drama. The series is set 200 years from now and centers on a conspiracy that threatens to wipe out the human race. Don’t let the CGI effects and space setting fool you — The Expanse is a riveting drama that tackles the nuances of human conflict in a way that rivals shows like Game of Thrones and Westworld. The sixth and final season completes the story. Here’s a list of the best sci-fi movies on Amazon if you’re looking for more like this.

The Man in the High Castle (2105)

The Man in the High Castle
73%
8.0/10
tv-ma
4 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-fi, Thriller
Stars
Alex Davalos, Luke Kleintank, Geoffery Blake, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank
Created by
Frank Spotnitz
Watch on Amazon
World War II seems to be the most common source for the “What if?” scenario in fiction. The Man in the High Castle, based on Philip K. Dick’s novel of the same name, starts with the premise that not only did the Axis powers win the war, but they also occupied the United States afterward, with Imperial Japan governing the West Coast and the Nazis controlling the territory east of the Rockies. The show follows a few different characters living in different regions as they try to endure the occupation and simultaneously investigate a mysterious film reel that depicts an alternate universe where the Allies actually won the war. Dick was a true visionary author, and The Man in the High Castle captures the otherworldly, authoritarian nature of the world he imagined. Rich with intrigue and superb direction, The Man in the High Castle is an exciting thriller. The series wrapped up its impressive run with November 2019’s season 4.
Movie images and data from:
Christine Persaud
Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about…
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