Trying to figure out what to watch? There are new shows coming to Amazon all the time, as well as old favorites you might have missed. With a combination of both originals and linear network series, both recent and from past decades, Amazon offers a wide variety of content from which to choose.
Some shows on Amazon Prime Video, however, require that you sign up for an add-on subscription. That isn’t the case with any of the titles below. All of these shows are among the best shows on Amazon right now, and are completely free with your base Amazon Prime subscription.
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+.
Recently added to Amazon Prime
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- Carnival Row2019
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Hugh Grant, Ben Whishaw, Alex Jennings
Created by Russell T Davies, John Preston
Hugh Grant stars in this three-part British comedy-drama that dramatizes the story of the political scandal that led to the end of Jeremy Thorpe’s career as leader of the Liberal Party and Member of Parliament for North Devon in the late 1970s.
The story, based on the book of the same name by John Preston, focuses on both the scandal, as well as Thorpe’s life and events dating back more than 15 years prior. Having received glowing reviews when the series first premiered back in 2018, it was even named one of The Guardian‘s 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.
1 Season
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.
1 Season
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.
2 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne, David Gyasi
Created by Travis Beacham, René Echevarria
Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne, and Jared Harris star in this fantasy series about mythical creatures living among the general population after fleeing their war-torn land. With a string of murders plaguing the town, however, and linked to these non-humans, along with the adjustment of dealing with the growing immigrant population, maintaining the peace becomes increasingly difficult. Carnival Row debuted in the summer of 2019 and has run for two seasons.
1 Season
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 new Amazon original series is already receiving 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 The Walking Dead‘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.
2 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Created by Tracy Oliver
Executive produced by a team that includes Amy Poehler and Pharrell Williams and created by Tracy Oliver (The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl), this comedy fill a much-needed hole in the TV landscape for a series about Black female friendship. At the center of Harlem are four female friends who went to university together and are now in their 30s, living and working in Harlem, New York City. As with any show about female friendship, the women are navigating all the important elements of life, from careers to love, friendships, and personal growth. The star-studded cast includes lead actors like Meagan Good and Grace Byers with Whoopi Goldberg and Jasmine Guy in supporting roles. Harlem is a must-watch if you’re looking for a female-led show to sink your teeth into.
2 Seasons
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.
8 Seasons
Genre Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, James Bradshaw
Created by Russell Lewis
Into British detective dramas? Endeavour might just fit the bill. The series stars Shaun Evans as Endeavour Morse, a young detective constable (later sergeant) who investigates cases in his town of Oxford. Having studied at Oxford University gives Morse some advantages in his methods, but also sets him back in other ways. Set in the ’60s and ’70s, Endeavour is a spinoff of Inspector Morse, which aired from 1987 through 2000, and Lewis, which aired from 2006 to 2015. With nine seasons under its belt, eight of which are available to stream, Endeavour is one of those police procedurals you can watch any time to fill gaps between bigger shows.
5 Seasons
Genre Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Cast Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez
Created by Josh Schwartz
Watch all five seasons of the action-packed comedy/spy drama that introduced fans to Zachary Levi (Shazam!) and Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale). He plays the title character, an unassuming computer whiz working at a local AV shop who ends up with the entire CIA and NSA database embedded into his brain via encoded messages. She is Sarah, a CIA officer sent to investigate and help protect Chuck and the tremendous knowledge he now reluctantly and unintentionally possesses. Sarah must fend off assassins and terrorists while Chuck is taken aback by the gorgeous new protector posing as his girlfriend; not to mention a life with much more excitement (and danger) than he could have ever imagined.
5 Seasons
Genre Animation, Action & Adventure
Cast Greg Cipes, Scott Menville, Khary Payton
Created by Sam Register, Glen Murakami
Your favorite DC superheroes are teenagers in this animated series that’s pure silliness as Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy get up to plenty of antics while living in Titans Tower. They don’t just fight crime, including the evil villain Slade: these young kids are also dealing with typical coming-of-age challenges and the immaturities that are par for the course as they learn. With five seasons, Teen Titans, which originally aired on Cartoon Network and has been praised for its humor and character development, is fun after-school viewing for kids.
3 Seasons
Genre Action, Drama, Thriller
Cast John Krasinski, Abbie Cornish, Wendell Pierce
Tom Clancy’s “Ryanverse” franchise makes the leap from film to TV with this spy thriller 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.
1 Season
Genre Mystery, Crime
Cast Alfred Molina, Max Laferriere
Created by Louise Penny
Alfred Molina stars in this new mystery based on the Louise Penny novel series centered around the character of Chief Inspector Gamache. Armand Gamache (Molina) is not your ordinary detective: He can see things others do not. But when he travels to a small, quiet village in the Eastern Townships to investigate a series of murders of Indigenous women, he uncovers secrets about the seemingly tight-knit residents, and himself. Delivered in eight parts and set in Quebec, Three Pines has been compared to shows like Twin Peaks.
12 Seasons
Genre Drama
Cast Dennis Franz, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gordon Clapp
Created by Steven Bochco, David Milch
When it comes to police procedurals, NYPD Blue is up there among the best, and you can now stream the entire series, including all 12 seasons, on Amazon Prime Video. Originally airing on ABC from 1993 through to 2005, the New York City-set series follows the officers within a fictional Manhattan precinct as they deal with various cases. Often praised for its grit and realistic portrayals of both the professional and personal lives of law enforcement officers, the cast through its run included a list of pros in the genre like David Caruso, Amy Brenneman, Jimmy Smits, Rick Schroder, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.
1 Season
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast Chloë Grace Moretz, Gary Carr, Jack Reynor
Created by Scott B. Smith
Set in the future in the year 2032, Flynne (Chloe Grace Moretz) and her brother, Burton (Jack Reynor), earn extra money to support their dying mother by playing simulation games, both sharing the same on-screen avatar. But when Burton gets the opportunity to test a new Sim, the highly skilled Flynne takes over, playing as him. But what turns out to be a supposed break-in simulation turns out to be all too real and the discoveries paint a harrowing picture of the future of her family. The thrilling sci-fi series The Peripheral, an Amazon Original, is based on the novel of the same name by William Gibson.
1 Season
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.
4 Seasons
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. For car enthusiasts or Top Gear fans not satisfied by that show’s new hosts, The Grand Tour is a welcome return to form.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Claire Foy, Paul Bettany, Julia Davis
Created by Sarah Phelps
In 1963, the divorce proceedings between Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll and Chief of Clan Campbell, and his wife Margaret Campbell shook postwar Britain. At a time when the social and political climates were very different from today, as were attitudes toward women, the allegations of everything from adultery to violence, drug use, and more were salacious and scandalous. It was one of the most notorious legal cases at the time. Claire Foy and Paul Bettany beautifully portray the at-odds couple in this historical drama miniseries, which serves as a follow-up to 2018’s A Very English Scandal (more on that below) about the Thorpe affair.
1 Season
Genre Reality
Cast Lizzo, Jayla Sullivan, Isabel Jones, Sydney Bell
Lizzo has always been a proponent of promoting self-love and body positivity, and the singer puts this focus on full display in an unscripted reality show that sees her search for new dancers to join her next tour. It’s important that each dancer is confident, sensual, and talented. And, all of the candidates are plus-sized. Lizzo puts them through a series of competitions to see how they perform on stage, along with grueling rehearsals to test how well they can pick up routines. The show has garnered plenty of buzz for its positive message and strong entertainment value, particularly for fans of Lizzo’s music and everything for which she stands.
1 Season
Genre Drama, History, War
Cast Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Aaron Pierre, Joel Edgerton
Imagine if the Underground Railroad, the hidden routes and safe houses that were used to help enslaved Black people escape in the 1800s, was an actual railroad? This is the premise taken in this historical drama based on the novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead. Made by the same creative team that produced the Oscar-winning film Moonlight, critics praise the “superb ensemble” and director Barry Jenkins’ “singular eye” and call the story “challenging and necessary.” At the heart of the story is Cora, who meets Caesar, and together they try to make it to the train and ride toward freedom.
4 Seasons
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.
1 Season
Genre Action, Comedy, Crime
Cast Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jenny Slate
Created by Brian Gatewood, Alessandro Tanaka
In the 1980s, with the Cold War getting warmer, American pop culture produced a bounty of movies expressing the anxieties and patriotism of the era: Films like Red Dawn, or 1985’s lesser-known Invasion U.S.A. (starring Chuck Norris). Comrade Detective lifts the aesthetics of ’80s action cinema and filters them through a (sardonic) communist lens, following a pair of Romanian detectives investigating a plot by Western imperialists to subvert the communist order. The show — which is framed as an actual show from Romania, dubbed over in English with voices from actors like Channing Tatum and Joseph-Gordon Levitt — begins with detective Gregor Anghel (a hard-nosed cop who plays by his own rules but gets results) and his partner busting drug dealers, only for a sniper to shoot Anghel’s partner. Out for vengeance, Anghel and his new partner, Iosif Baciu, hunt the killer but stumble on a conspiracy of international proportions. Comrade Detective is a strange show even by the inventive standards of modern television, a parody wrapped in a layer of faux-authenticity, but its odd charms are worth watching.
8 Seasons
Genre Drama, Mystery
Cast Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Robert Sean Leonard
Created by David Shore
Over the course of eight seasons, actor Hugh Laurie turned the irascible Gregory House into one of pop culture’s most iconic physicians in this medical drama that ranked among the most popular shows in the world during its run. The series followed House as he used his unique insights to diagnose puzzling illnesses while simultaneously battling his own addictions. Laurie’s unconventional medical genius was the show’s titular star, but his supporting cast played a big role in making House one of the highest-rated series in the U.S. between 2004 and 2012.
8 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cast Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine
Created by Andy Breckman
An eight-time Emmy Award winner, Monk casts Tony Shalhoub as private detective Adrian Monk, who assists the homicide department of the San Francisco Police Department with various cases. His powerful deductive skills are matched only by his myriad phobias, which — along with his obsessive-compulsive disorder — complicate his work with police investigators. The series concluded its eight-season run in 2009 with a finale that wrapped up one of the show’s longest-running mysteries.
6 Seasons
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.
9 Seasons
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.
7 Seasons
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.
6 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Mindy Kaling, Ed Weeks, Ike Barinholtz
Created by Mindy Kaling
Originally airing on Fox from 2012 through to 2014 then picked up for three more seasons on Hulu, running through to 2017, The Mindy Project is a hilarious and charming romantic comedy. Mindy Kaling stars as the title character, an obstetrician/gynecologist navigating her work life with her quirky co-workers and her dating life as a single woman living in New York City. It’s sweet and fun with a diverse list of guest stars who made appearances through the six-season run. You can now stream The Mindy Project in its entirety on Amazon Prime.
1 Season
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.
2 Seasons
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 death just as strongly as it does in real life.
1 Season
Genre Comedy, Mystery, Action & Adventure
Cast Matthew Holness, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry
Created by Richard Ayoade, Billy Brown, Matthew Holness
Perfect viewing for Halloween (or any time of the year, really), this British horror parody series centers on fictional horror author Garth Marenghi. He came up with the idea for a low-budget show set in the Darkplace Hospital where a doctor deals with both day-to-day life in the medical field and fighting forces of darkness. Through each episode, Marenghi and the original cast of the never-broadcast series discuss behind-the-scenes of the lost ’80s show, including the fashion, special effects, and hilarious concessions made thanks to the low budget. It’s presented as a spoof of cookie-cutter ’80s TV dramas. The series was not popular when it first aired in 2004 but has since developed a cult following.
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2 Seasons
Genre Drama
Cast Andres Parra, Karla Souza, Paulina Gaitan, Alberto Ajaka
Created by Armando Bo
In 2015, a corruption case went forth against officials and associates connected with the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), with more than a dozen people indicted. Former ANFP president Sergio Jadue, portrayed in this Chilean comedy/drama by Andres Parra, was central to the case. The story, told in a satirical way, follows an account of Jadue’s rise from the director of a small soccer club to heading up the Chilean soccer association and the power he amassed in this new position. While he was on top of the world, Jadue found himself thrust into aiding the FBI in their investigations of alleged money laundering and corruption. El Presidente‘s first season was made available with an English dub in 2020, and season 2 premiered in 2022.
4 Seasons
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.
2 Seasons
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.
2 Seasons
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, there are just six episodes in this fantasy comedy, making it a quick and easy binge. As the main characters try to prevent Armageddon, the show follows various Christian themes, from angels and the devil as they 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.
4 Seasons
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.
2 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Tig Notaro, Noah Harpster, John Rothman
Created by Diablo Cody, Tig Notaro
The death of a loved one does not seem like the most auspicious start to a comedy series, but One Mississippi is anything but conventional. Starring comedian Tig Notaro as a fictionalized version of herself, the show draws on several tragedies in her real life. Still reeling from breast cancer, fictional Tig returns to her hometown in Mississippi to witness her mother being taken off life support and decides to stay and reconnect with her stepfather and brother. Despite the depressing first chapter, One Mississippi is not an unrelenting drama. The show balances grief and joy in equal measure, examining the long, up-and-down process of trauma and recovery.
2 Seasons
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.
1 Season
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. Described to sound 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, fans can expect plenty of drama, intrigue, and chatter around this original show.
6 Seasons
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.
1 Season
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 show, based on the Robert Jordan novel series of the same name, was renewed for a second season in advance of the release of the first.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Sci-fi
Cast Duncan Joiner, Rebecca Williams
Created by Nathaniel Halpern
Inspired by the futuristic paintings and designs of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, the Amazon original series Tales from the Loop centers on a small rural town where people live above “The Loop,” a machine built to unlock and explore the mysteries of the universe. Duncan Joiner and Rebecca Hall star in this drama that aims to make the science fiction appear more real-life than ever.
4 Seasons
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.
Genre Documentary
Delivered in three parts, the Steve McQueen and James Rogan docuseries analyzes three different events that took place in 1981 and had a huge impact on race relations in the U.K. The first episode delves in the New Cross house fire, which resulted in the deaths of 13 Black teenagers, while episode 2 covers the organized mass protest of more than 20,000 Black British citizens. The final episode shifts to the Brixton riot of April 1981. Dubbed a “powerful oral history” by The Financial Times, the Amazon original maintains a perfect 100% score on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.
3 Seasons
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.
1 Season
Genre Action & Adventure, Mystery
Cast Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald
Created by Nick Santora
The character first popularized on screen by Tom Cruise in the movies is now available on the small screen in this Amazon original. Except this time, Alan Ritchson (Smallville) plays Jack Reacher, the former United States Army major who has moved on to travel the U.S., looking for whatever odd jobs he can find to take down bad guys. Based on the Lee Child book series, and like the first movie, season 1 of Reacher will focus on the storyline in the debut novel Killing Floor. After being arrested for a murder he did not commit, Jack finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy. With danger at every turn, it’s a thrilling ride all the way through.
3 Seasons
Genre Adventure, Comedy
Cast Michela Luci, Saara Chaudry, Nicola Correia-Damude, Amish Patel
Created by J.J. Johnson
If you’re looking for a family-friendly series for the young dinosaur enthusiast in your household that adults can enjoy as well, add Dino Dana to the list of must-see TV. The popular Amazon Original series is a spinoff of the Dino Dan series but improves on the original show’s formula with better dinosaur effects, clever dialogue, and a diverse cast of characters that both kids and older viewers will find endearing. The series follows a young girl named Dana (Michela Luci) who uses her ability to see dinosaurs in the world around her to conduct “dino experiments” that not only teach her about the aforementioned creatures but often teach a valuable lesson about life. The series encompasses three seasons and a feature-length film, Dino Dana: The Movie, followed.
3 Seasons
Genre Action, Drama
Cast Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman
Created by David Farr
Esme Creed-Miles stars as the title character, a young teenager who was raised in isolation in a remote forest in Poland with a man named Erik (Joel Kinnaman), who escaped the CIA with her. She was part of a program called UTRAX where children were given enhanced DNA to become super soldiers. But when Erik fell in love with Hanna’s mother, he fled with her to protect the young girl. Based on the 2011 film of the same name and called a “gritty reimagining” of it, season 2 follows Hanna along her journey now that she knows who and what she is. She also discovers that UTRAX never actually shut down after her escape and that there might be other “sisters” out there like her.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno
Created by Gabrielle G. Stanton, Jenny Han
Giving off To All The Boys and Never Have I Ever vibes, The Summer I Turned Pretty promises a similar coming-of-age story about a 16-year-old young woman named Isabel who visit Cousins Beach with her family every summer. But she has a feeling that this summer will be different, and she’s right when a love triangle ensues between the brothers of her mom’s childhood best friend, with whom they vacation. It’s about love, heartbreak, and a young woman coming into her own during one pivotal summer that will change everything. Based on the book of the same name by popular YA novelist Jenny Han, the show generated plenty of buzz before it even debuted.
4 Seasons
Genre Animation, Adventure
Cast Christopher Downs, Zac McDowell, Alex Trugman
Created by Drew Hodges
Tumble Leaf, Amazon’s heralded foray into the realm of children’s programming, is a stunning example of what a children’s show should be. The recent stop-motion title is based on the short film Miro and aimed at preschool-aged children, though it remains charming enough to entertain adults who want to further engage with their children. Each episode follows Fig the Fox (Christopher Downs) and his science-centric escapades around the whimsical world of Tumble Leaf, a woodland locale laced with a melange of quirky creatures with whom Fig is friends. Together, the humanoid creatures discover how reflections, shadows, and other facets of our natural world work, examining the value of friendship and kindness as they do so. The scenery is as vibrant and colorful as the characters, rendering it both eye candy and a conversation starter.
6 Seasons
Genre Animation, Short, Comedy
Cast John Sparkes, Justin Fletcher, Richard Webber
Created by David Fine, Alison Snowden, Richard Starzak
From Aardman Studios — the creators of Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, and Creature Comforts — comes the children’s series Shaun the Sheep. Shaun is a sheep who doesn’t follow the herd. In fact, he often brazenly leads them into all sorts of madcap shenanigans around Mossy Bottom Farm. The show also features the iconic studio’s stop-motion animation and remains free of dialogue, which is actually a welcome reprieve for parents who simply can’t get on board with the high-pitched voices and exuberant makeup of many modern children’s shows.
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