The best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now (May 2024)
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There are so many great shows on Amazon Prime Video that it’s easy for some of the best hidden gems to pass you by while you focus on high-profile series like the latest hit, Fallout. But if you delve deep into the Amazon Prime Video library, you’ll find tons of great shows, new and old, originals and network classics, that are worth watching.
Once you sign up for an Amazon Prime subscription, you have instant access to Amazon Prime Video. You can watch shows with ads or upgrade to the ad-free tier for a few additional bucks per month. There’s also an option to sign up for Amazon Prime Video on its own if you don’t need fast and free shipping from Amazon. Why get a subscription? The best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now are constantly being updated with new titles and new seasons of popular shows that you won’t want to miss out on. We have curated this list to help you cut through the noise and find the best shows worth watching on the streamer.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, and the best movies on Disney+.
Eureka (2006) [New]
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 5
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Cast: Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton
Created by: Andrew Cosby, Jaime Paglia
Earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects for a Series the year after its debut almost two decades ago, Eureka is one of those great sci-fi series you haven’t heard about. The show, which originally aired on Sci-Fi Channel (which later became Syfy) is set in a secret fictional town called Eureka that’s guarded by an electromagnetic shield and run by a company called Global Dynamics. The town is populated by mostly scientific geniuses who have worked on all the biggest technological developments through the decades. In each episode, there’s an accident or nefarious act involving technology that the new fish-out-of-water town sheriff Jack (Colin Ferguson), working alongside the eccentric residents, must solve.
Eureka has drawn comparisons to shows like Twin Peaks and Northern Exposure, and the show was cancelled after five seasons. It was, however, given an extra episode to wrap up the story for a fitting send-off, making it worth watching the entire way through. It’s one of those hidden gems that’s satisfying from start to finish.
Clarkson's Farm (2021) [New]
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 3
Genre: Reality, Comedy
Cast: Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland
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.
Outer Range (2022) [New]
Metacritic: 60%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Western, Mystery
Cast: Josh Brolin, Tom Pelphrey, Tamara Podemski
Created by: Brian Watkins
Outer Range stars Josh Brolin as a rancher in Wyoming who undercovers supernatural mysteries while investigating the outskirts of his land. Presented like Yellowstone meets Stranger Things, the mystery thriller is sure to excite fans of either (or both) shows as well as those who grew up watching Brolin on screen (remember The Goonies?), or just came to know him as Thanos from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films.
With Brolin serving as an executive producer alongside a team that also includes Brad Pitt, there’s plenty of drama, intrigue, and chatter around this original show. While season one was shrouded in mystery, Amazon promises plenty of payoffs in the second season along with lots more twists, turns, and compelling character journeys.
Fallout (2024)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins
Created by: Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner
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)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Cast: Deborah Ayorinde, Pam Grier, Luke James
Created by: Little Marvin
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)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 8
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Cast: Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps
Created by: David Shore
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)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Cast: Donald Glover, Maya Erskine
Created by: Donald Glover, Francesca Sloane
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)
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Cast: Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons
Created by: Robert Kirkman (screenplay), Ryan Ottley, Cory Walker
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 Beef‘s 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.
Undone (2019)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast: Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, Constance Marie
Created by: Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Kate Purdy
From the creators of BoJack Horseman, Undone 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)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo
Created by: Lulu Wang
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)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Comedy, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Keith David
Created by: Vivienne Medrano
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.
Friday Night Lights (2006)
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 5
Genre: Drama
Cast: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Aimee Teegarden
Created by: Brian Grazer, Peter Berg
Follow the residents of the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, as they deal with everyday challenges centered around a high school football team. Friday Night Lights earned multiple Emmy awards and nominations during its run.
While Friday Night Lights is, at its core, a sports drama, it’s really a show about family, coming-of-age, and the typical issues facing residents of a close-knit rural community in the U.S. Bottom line: You’ll love it if you love football and will appreciate it even if you don’t. Based on H.G. Bissinger’s nonfiction book, Friday Night Lights is one of those shows with a message, tone, and depiction of everyday challenges that’s timeless and relatable to people from all walks of life. All five seasons of Friday Night Lights can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Reacher (2022)
Metacritic: 68%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Seasons: 2
Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery
Cast: Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald
Created by: Nick Santora
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)
Metacritic: 65%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 11
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Evan Peters
Created by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk
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)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway
Created by: Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters
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)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Cast: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Zainab Johnson
Created by: Greg Daniels
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.
Spin City (1996)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 6
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Heather Locklear, Richard Kind
Created by: Gary David Goldberg, Bill Lawrence
Michael J. Fox was at the head of this ‘90s and early ‘00s sitcom until he had to depart the show due to worsening symptoms from Parkinson’s disease. After that, Charlie Sheen took over in the lead role for the final two seasons. You can now stream all six seasons on Prime Video.
Spin City centers around a fictional New York City local government office, with Mike Flaherty (Fox) as Deputy Mayor and later Charlie Crawford (Sheen) as new Deputy Mayor. The series explored the interpersonal relationships among staff members and the challenges they face running the city. With an eclectic mix of characters and plenty of humorous intertwining storylines and recurring gags, Spin City is easily one of the best yet most underrated sitcoms of the ‘90s.
The Wheel of Time (2021)
Metacritic: 61%
IMDb: 9.4/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Josha Stradowski
Created by: Rafe Judkins
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.
L.A. Law (1986)
Seasons: 8
Genre: Drama, War & Politics
Cast: Corbin Bernsen, Jill Eikenberry, Alan Rachins
Created by: Steven Bochco, Terry Louise Fisher
It’s the legal drama that arguably ushered in an entirely new subgenre. L.A. Law originally aired from 1986 to 1994 and centered around the staff, partners, and associates at a law firm in Los Angeles. Despite being from decades ago, L.A. Law touched on subjects that still remain topical today, from abortion to capital punishment, racism, sexual harassment, homophobia, and domestic violence.
Among its guest cast was a laundry list of unknowns at the time who have gone on to achieve superstardom, including Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Tambor, David Schwimmer, James Avery, Bryan Cranston, and Lucy Liu. Meanwhile, the main cast included actors like Harry Hamlin, Jimmy Smits, and Blair Underwood. The show earned 15 Emmy Awards through its run, four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series. L.A. Law is worth a rewatch or a first watch for a new generation to see how crime was solved and tried long before the internet and cell phones.
Good Omens (2019)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Cast: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Sam Taylor Buck
Created by: Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
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)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Cast: John Krasinski, Abbie Cornish, Wendell Pierce
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)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Comedy, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Brett Gray, Kara Young
Created by: Tze Chun, Boots Riley
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)
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 5
Genre: Comedy, Talk-Show
Cast: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May
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)
Metacritic: 80%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 5
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen
Created by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
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.
The Devil's Hour (2022)
Metacritic: 70%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Cast: Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi
Created by: Tom Moran
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 Lucy becomes tied to a string of murders in town, she begins to question her own sanity and why so much darkness surrounds her. The British psychological thriller The Devil’s Hour also stars Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi 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.
Freaks and Geeks (1999)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Cast: John Francis Daley, Linda Cardellini, James Franco
Created by: Paul Feig
Cancelled way too soon, it’s unbelievable to think back and realize that Freaks and Geeks only lasted a single season. But all 18 episodes are now available to stream. The Judd Apatow-produced teen comedy-drama stars a who’s who of the young comedy landscape who were, back then, relatively unknown actors. This includes Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel. Designed to depict the monotony of teenage life, the ‘80s-set series, which originally aired from 1999-2000, follows Lindsay (Cardellini) and her brother Sam (John Francis Daley) who each have their own unique cliques in school: Lindsay’s are known as the “freaks” and Sam’s are the “geeks.”
Having developed a cult following long after its cancellation, Freaks and Geeks has been named by sources like Time, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best TV shows of all time, despite its short run.
Jury Duty (2023)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Ronald Gladden, James Marsden, Alan Barinholtz
Created by: Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg
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)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Emily Meade, Jennean Farmer
Created by: Alice Birch
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.
Billions (2016)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 6
Genre: Drama
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman, Toby Leonard Moore, David Costabile, Condola Rashad
Created by: Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Andrew Ross Sorkin
Check out the first four of the current six seasons of this riveting Showtime drama that follows Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis), a ruthless hedge fund manager in New York who continues to grow his wealthy portfolio, and increase the power that comes with it.
He doesn’t accomplish this on the up-and-up, though, and his sometimes illegal dealings have caught the attention of prosecutor Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti), who is intent on taking Axelrod down. With a mix of fiction and storylines that mirror real-life financial crimes, the series has been lauded for its fresh narrative each season and new character introductions that represent a who’s who of the A-list Hollywood scene.
The Power (2023)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Toni Collette, Halle Bush, Ria Zmitrowicz
Created by: Naomi Alderman
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)
IMDb: 7.5/10
Seasons: 1
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Emily Browning, Caitlin Stasey, Megan Smart
Created by: Kacie Anning
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)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Dominique Fishback
Created by: Donald Glover, Janine Nabers
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)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Riley Keough, Camila Morrone, Sam Claflin
Created by: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
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)
Metacritic: 40%
IMDb: 8.2/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast: Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, Constance Wu
Created by: David DiGilio
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 Legend of Vox Machina (2022)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Marisha Ray
Created by: Matthew Mercer
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 was renewed for a third season ahead of its second season release.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast: Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Morfydd Clark
Created by: John D. Payne, Patrick McKay
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 new 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 will 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. And we’ll soon learn if it was worth that investment.
Mr. Robot (2015)
Metacritic: 80%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Cast: Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Carly Chaikin
Created by: Sam Esmail
As information technology creeps into every aspect of life, one can’t help but look at the people controlling that technology (corporations, government agencies) with a wary eye. The modern world, at times, seems like the prelude to a cyberpunk dystopia, at least in the way Mr. Robot portrays it. The show follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a paranoid security engineer who, in addition to his day job working for a massive corporation, engages in acts of vigilante hacking. When Elliot is courted by a mysterious activist-hacker known as “Mr. Robot,” he has a chance to use his skills for more than acts of petty justice. Mr. Robot has a grand plan to topple society, and Alderson could play a key role. Mr. Robot is a cyber-thriller with a keen grasp of the technology it represents, but don’t mistake technical accuracy for realism — the show dives headfirst down a rabbit hole of paranoia and espionage, with a plot that constantly challenges the viewer’s perceptions.
Downton Abbey (2010)
Metacritic: 80%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 6
Genre: Drama, Romance
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter
Created by: Julian Fellowes
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
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 7
Genre: Crime, Drama
Cast: Titus Welliver, Annie Wersching, Amy Price-Francis
Created by: Eric Ellis Overmyer (developed for television by)
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)
Metacritic: 82%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson
Created by: Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson
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)
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cast: Christopher Walken, Stephen Merchant, Darren Boyd
Created by: Stephen Merchant, Elgin James
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)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Cast: Gael García Bernal, Lola Kirke, Malcolm McDowell, Bernadette Peters
Created by: Alex Timbers, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman
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)
Metacritic: 92%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Ben Aldridge, Sian Clifford
Created by: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
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)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 6
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Cast: Thomas Jane, Steven Strait, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper
Created by: Daniel Abraham, Mark Fergus, Ty Franck
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)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Genre: Drama, Sci-fi, Thriller
Cast: Alex Davalos, Luke Kleintank, Geoffery Blake, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank
Created by: Frank Spotnitz
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.
The Boys (2019)
Metacritic: 49%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Cast: Jack Quaid, Elisabeth Shue, Jessie T. Usher, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty
Created by: Eric Kripke
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.
