Summary
- Amazon Prime Video offers a wide selection of TV shows, from comedies like
Fleabag
to dramas like
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
. - The content on Amazon Prime Video is regularly updated, with new shows being added and others leaving the platform.
- Two highly recommended shows to watch on Amazon Prime Video are
Hazbin Hotel
and
Swarm
, both offering unique and compelling storytelling.
Working out what show to watch on Amazon Prime Video can be a challenge, as Amazon’s streaming platform boasts hundreds of great TV series. Whether subscribers are looking for a cerebral comedy like Fleabag or a riveting crime drama like Bosch there’s always something cool to watch on Amazon Prime Video. The issue is an abundance of choice rather than a lack of it, which is why we’ve put together a curated list of the best 30 Amazon Prime TV shows to watch right now to make an easy selection without sifting through the dozens of available titles.
Amazon Prime Video has carved out a niche both as an original content creator — especially thanks to hit shows like The Boys and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — and the host of multiple licensed prime-time and high-end TV shows like Bosch and Downton Abbey. However, the content on Amazon Prime Video also changes regularly, with many titles coming to the platform, or leaving it, daily. Fortunately, our list of the best shows to watch on Amazon Prime Video right now is updated regularly, ensuring our curated selection always reflects the currently available content.
Best Comedy TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video
Sausage Party: Foodtopia (2024)
One of the best new comedy shows on Amazon Prime Video is a sequel to the raunchy animated comedy Sausage Party, and just like the 2016 feature-film, Sausage Party: Foodtopia is definitely an acquired taste. The humor in Foodtopia is typical of creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, which some consider tasteless, but others can’t get enough of. Prime Video subscribers who fall into the latter category will certainly find Sausage Party: Foodtopia a treat, and the fact that the likes of Kristen Wiig, Michael Cera, and Edward Norton returned to reprise their roles shows that the Sausage Party sequel does what’s needed for fans of the original movie especially well.
Somehow, the plot of Sausage Party: Foodtopia is even more bombastic than the original movie. Following the 2016 film, Frank (Seth Rogen), Brenda (Wiig), Barry (Cera), and Sammy Bagel Jr. (Norton) have managed to establish a safe-haven for sentient food in the superstore they previously took over after their violent uprising against humanity. However, after a flood, the food items are forced to work alongside humanity to ensure that they survive. This gives the Amazon Prime Video series some surprisingly post-apocalyptic elements that only serve to work in its favor.
Hazbin Hotel (2024)
Hazbin Hotel has had a significant following ever since the pilot debuted on YouTube in 2019. Created by Vivienne Medrano and produced by A24, the full series arrived on Amazon Prime Video in 2024 and more than delivered on expectations. The animated musical comedy deals with the complex relationship between Heaven, Hell, and whether damned souls can be redeemed and rehabilitated. Giving those sent below a second chance is the goal of central protagonist Chalie Morningstar, a princess of Hell and the owner of the titular Hazbin Hotel.
With a quirky sense of humor that will appeal to Amazon Prime Video subscribers who grew up in the golden era of networks like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon (albeit with a much more adult spin), and the Biblical lore reinterpretation of dramas like Good Omens and movies like Kevin Smith’s Dogma,the TV-MA rated Hazbin Hotel has a lot to offer. Season 2 of Hazbin Hotel is already confirmed, making it a great time to jump into what could be one of Amazon Prime Video’s new tentpole franchise.
Hazbin Hotel
had the largest global debut ever for a new animated series on Amazon Prime Video
(via
X
).
A League Of Their Own (2022)
Despite containing a healthy amount of drama and emotional moments, A League of Their Own stands out as one of the funniest shows on Amazon Prime Video for subscribers who enjoy their laughs with a healthy amount of social commentary. The series adapts the 1992 movie of the same name, and focuses on the players in the newly-formed women’s baseball team, the Rockford Peaches, in 1943.
A League of Their Own won the GLAAD media award for Outstanding New TV Series in 2023. It received praise from audiences and critics alike for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes in a historical setting, as well as the biting script’s ability to bring modern sensibilities to the 1940s without ever feeling out-of-place (especially when it comes to some of the slang and cursing in the script). A League of Their Own was written by Will Graham and Abbi Jacobson, with Jacobson starring in the series as catcher Carson Shaw.
Fleabag (2016-2019)
Based on writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s acclaimed one-woman play of the same name, Fleabag became a viral sensation on release — and understandably so. A bitingly satirical comedy that isn’t afraid to showcase raw emotion, Fleabag never shies away from tackling complicated, often dark subjects.
Fleabag
is a joy to decipher and rewards repeat viewing
While the first season deals with the fallout following the main character’s friend’s suicide, the second offers a compelling meditation on religion and family. With its deliberately ambiguous and nuanced symbolism, Fleabag is a joy to decipher and rewards repeat viewing, and there are few better comedies available to watch on Amazon Prime Video right now.
Fleabag
received a slew of awards during its run, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2019, and the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 2020.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)
Loosely inspired by the life of Joan Rivers, Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a pleasant comedy-drama set in the ’50s and ’60s. Rachel Brosnahan plays the titular Miriam Maisel, a homemaker who discovers a talent for stand-up comedy after her husband unexpectedly leaves her.
The show’s stand-up scenes are consistently hilarious, yet Miriam’s personal struggles give the show a grounded realism that’s often incredibly emotional. Inspiring and uplifting, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been a roaring success for Amazon Prime Video and ranks as one of the best TV shows on the platform.
The dozens of award wins and nominations received by
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
include multiple Primetime Emmys and Golden Globe awards, and it continues to received recognition in 2024.
Best Drama TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video
My Lady Jane (2024)
2024 has been a strong year when it comes to new shows on Amazon Prime Video, with many fresh originals instantly finding their way to being considered among the best series on the platform. The latest is the fantasy drama My Lady Jane, a whimsical reimagining of the life of Lady Jane Grey, the 16th century British noblewoman who sat on the throne as Queen for an incredibly brief 9-day-reign, which has been adapated from the novel of the same name by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Hand.
Actor Emily Bader stars as the titular Lady Jane, with it being her most prominent role to date after appearing in 2021’s Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin and playing Chloe in five episodes of Charmed. Bader’s performance has been almost universally praised by critics, and the series itself holds a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Bader’s Lady Jane instantly cements herself as a historical heroine for the modern age, one that Prime Video Subscribers will find it almost impossible not to root for.
Daisy Jones & The Six (2023)
One of the best dramas to come out of 2023 on Amazon Prime Video, Daisy Jones and the Six quickly earned a reputation as one of the best. Based on the eponymous novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the miniseries is an account of a fictional rock group that found fame and was torn apart by drama within.
Just as the relationships and character arcs are compelling, Daisy Jones & the Six offers some truly great music, providing an authentic and thrilling look inside the world of a rock band.Daisy Jones and the Six isn’t just one of the best shows available on Amazon Prime Video but on any streaming platform, especially for those who love rock and roll.
Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
While the inner workings of an English estate in the early 1900s might sound like dry material, Downton Abbey managed to turn it into one of the most popular and riveting shows on television. The series follows the lives of a family of British aristocrats and the servants who work for them. The upstairs-downstairs narrative encompasses love, drama, and scandal, all while providing a cutting social commentary.
Downton Abbey boasts an impressive ensemble cast, and its success led to two spinoff movies. Downton Abbey stands out easily as one of the best period dramas available on Amazon Prime Video right now, although the platform boasts plenty of other options in the genre.
Best Crime TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video
The Killing Vote (2023-present)
A complex parable on vigilantism and the death penalty, The Killing Vote is a critically acclaimed South Korean drama in the same mold as shows like Squid Game. Centering on a mysterious masked individual known only as Gaetal, the show imagines a society in which Gaetal is able to hold public votes on whether criminals should be put to death, murdering them if enough people agree.
The show is a nuanced exploration of what it really means to deliver justice told in such a way that asks genuinely difficult questions of both the characters and the audience. There are many great international shows on Amazon Prime Video, and subscribers looking to dive into the wealth of content available from outside the US can’t pick many better starting points than The Killing Vote.
Bosch (2014-2021)
In many ways, Bosch‘s hard-boiled detective feels like a relic of a bygone TV era, yet the show never fails to make the character less than compelling. Titus Welliver plays Harry Bosch, a Los Angeles police detective who works his cases with total commitment but sometimes plays by his own rules. The premise might sound derivative, but Bosch exhibits a style and storytelling skill that elevates it above lesser examples of the genre.
The sequel series, Bosch: Legacy, is also available on the platform, and both titles have fast become flagship titles for Amazon and almost essential viewing when it comes to the available shows on Amazon Prime Video.
Best Thriller TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video
Batman: Caped Crusader (2024)
Batman is one of the most popular and widely-recognized superheroes of all time, and he also has an incredible legacy when it comes to animated TV shows. In particular, the 1990’s cartoon Batman: The Animated Series showed just what was possible when bringing a dark and complex hero from the page to the small screen. Now, in 2024, Batman: TAS creator Bruce Timm has returned to the character for an altogether darker and grittier take on the Dark Knight — Batman: Caped Crusader.
Inspired by the early Batman tales of the 1940s-1960s, Batman: Caped Crusader stands out as one of the best thriller TV shows currently on Amazon Prime Video — an impressive feat, given that it’s an animated show about a superhero. Critics have praised its exploration of themes like corruption and criminal psychology, as well as its incredible aesthetic and the performances of the Caped Crusader voice cast. Whether Prime subscribers are fans of superheroes or not, Batman: Caped Crusader is more than worth checking out, as it stands proud as a solid crime thriller as well as the latest take on a well-known hero.
Dexter (2006-2013)
Dexter was one of the defining crime thrillers of the late 2000s and early 2010s, and it’s now available for Amazon Prime Video subscribers to digest in its entirety (including the follow-up show Dexter: New Blood). While Dexter borrows many elements of procedural crime shows with most episodes featuring a case-of-the-week, it’s the overarching narrative of Angel-of-Death serial killer Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall) that kept fans coming back for more throughout its run.
To explain the premise in a nutshell, Dexter Morgan is a compulsive serial killer who keeps his urges in check by targeting other criminals and serial killers. He works as a crime scene photographer for his day job, which is both the perfect cover-up and provides him endless opportunities to get to the criminals of Miami before the police. Of course, Dexter’s identity as “The Bay Harbor Butcher” is nearly uncovered by various characters throughout the show, and despite the conclusion being somewhat divisive among the fanbase, Dexter remains one of the best crime thrillers of recent decades.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018-2023)
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan stars Jon Krasinski as the titular CIA analyst, and it’s secured itself as one of the best thriller shows available on Amazon Prime Video. All four series of the adaptation of Tom Clancy’s novels are riveting, nailbiting, and will have subscribers on the edge of their seats.
Krasinski is joined by an incredibly solid cast that also includes Michael Peña as Ding Chavez, who is getting his own spin-off. The “Ryanverse” could become on of Prime Video’s tentpole franchises, and Jack Ryan has built a more-than-stable foundation for what’s to come.
Mr. Robot (2015-2019)
Mr. Robot shows a chaotic underworld where technology can control everything, except the mind. The show is famous for its razor-sharp storytelling, spinning a narrative where no one can be trusted and everyone is under surveillance. Rami Malek’s breakthrough performance is also mesmerizing in this paranoid, ground-breaking series.
Almost a decade later it remains on of the best shows you can watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Mr. Robot debuted on the USA network before Amazon snagged exclusive streaming rights. Hitting the platform in 2016, Mr. Robot was one of the first hit titles on the streamer — and almost a decade later it remains on of the best shows you can watch on Amazon Prime Video.
The Man In The High Castle (2015-2019)
Set in an alternate reality, The Man in the High Castle imagines what America would be like had Germany and Japan had won World War II. The series follows a group of rebel heroes seeking to overthrow an oppressive regime in a gripping example of great “what if?” storytelling. The spy thriller mixed with historical fiction makes for a hugely entertaining ride with intrigue, action, and plenty of twists throughout.
It’s an example of why so many subscribers started taking Amazon seriously as an entertainment entity after decades of being primarily known for their delivery service.
The premise of the show is intriguing enough in itself, but the performances by the stellar cast and some impressive directing throughout cement The Man in the High Castle as an incredibly watchable show. One of the first prominent Amazon Studios releases, The Man in the High Castle remains one of the best shows you can watch on Amazon Prime Video. It’s an example of why so many subscribers started taking Amazon seriously as an entertainment entity after decades of being primarily known for their delivery service.
Reacher (2022-present)
Though Tom Cruise brought Jack Reacher to the big screen, many fans of the books by Lee Child prefer the more book-accurate take on the character in Reacher. Alan Ritchson plays the titular hobo, a former military police officer who gets wrapped up in a conspiracy in a small town.
The action thriller was a big hit for the service thanks to its seemingly unstoppable and charismatic hero, establishing itself as one of the best TV shows on Amazon Prime Video. Current fans are awaiting Reacher season 3, and with the second installment arriving recently, there’s never been a better time to start watching.
Best Sci-Fi TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video
Outer Range (2022-Present)
Outer Range is one of the most intriguing original Amazon sci-fi shows on the streaming service, and it’s re-entered conversations thanks to the release of season 2 in 2024. For Amazon Prime Video subscribers who may have missed this under-the-radar release when it debuted in 2022, Outer Range stars Josh Brolin, Impogen Poots, and a wide ensemble cast in what may be one of the most intriguing time-travel-based mystery thrillers of the last decade.
Brolin stars as ranch-owner Royal Abbott, a mysterious man who is nevertheless fiercely loyal when it comes to his land and family. However, Royal’s life is turned upside down when a mysterious void appears on his farmstead, followed by Autumn (Poots), an equally-mysterious girl who seems to have a strange level of knowledge when it comes to both the void and the Abbott family. To give anything further away would be providing show-ruining spoilers, but Outer Range is without doubt one of the most gripping shows currently on Amazon Prime Video, in sci-fi or any other genre.
Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009)
Battlestar Galactica is a modernized reboot of the 1978 series of the same name, and originally aired on the SyFy network. The show was widely acclaimed, and not just for its science fiction elements (which are impeccable and guaranteed to appease Amazon Prime Video subscribers seeking adventure and tension in the interstellar future). Battlestar Galactica is a genuinely gripping drama that chronicles the last surviving remnants of humanity as they flee the race that all-but-decimated their own — the Cylons.
For modern audiences, Battlestar Galactica still holds up both visually and as an example of solid sci-fi storytelling for the small screen. The cast is also notable too, in particular because it heavily features Katee Sackhoff, who, of course, is now known for her role as Bo-Katan Kryze in The Mandalorian. Sackhoff is joined by the likes of Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, and Jamie Bamber.
Fallout (2024)
Not only is Fallout one of the best new shows on Amazon Prime Video, it’s also one of the most anticipated new shows to arrive in 2024 on any platform. Based on the incredibly popular video game series of the same name, Fallout blends post-apocalyptic action with retro futurism and a healthy dose of social satire. Taking place after a nuclear apocalypse in a world based on 1950s ideas of how the modern world would look, Fallout focuses on Lucy, a young woman who grew up in an underground vault centuries after the world above was wiped out.
In the show, much like the games, Lucy (played by Ella Purnell) leaves the relative comfort and security of her vault to explore the world above. She finds that, far from being uninhabited, society in the nuclear wasteland has somehow managed to continue — to a degree, at least. The world Lucy emerges to is filled with radioactive mutant monsters, near-immortal “ghouls” who survived the initial blast, and all other manner of threats and danger.
The Expanse (2015–2022)
Across 6 seasons, The Expanse gained both a reputation as one of the best modern sci-fi shows and an intensely loyal following to match. Amazon’s decision to cancel The Expanse before season 7 was controversial at the time, though every episode still remains on the platform and can be enjoyed as a complete story. Based on the novels by James S. A. Corey, this sci-fi show on Amazon Prime Video has won multiple awards and focuses on an ensemble range of characters embroiled in a conspiracy that threatens to wipe away the fragile interstellar peace holding humanity together.
It’s clear upon viewing why it’s managed to stand out among the many shows and movies with similar premises.
The visuals in The Expanse are a notable highlight, but the intriguing plot and well-rounded characters are why it’s regarded as one of the best shows currently available on Amazon Prime Video. Even subscribers who don’t necessarily count science fiction among their interests will find something endearing within The Expanse, and it’s clear upon viewing why it’s managed to stand out among the many shows and movies with similar premises.
Invincible (2021-present)
An animated superhero series that doesn’t pull its punches, Invincible is as gnarly and blood-soaked as any live-action alternative. The story revolves around a young hero who tries to follow in the steps of his father, the world’s most powerful superhero, unaware that he’s a heartless mass murderer.
Despite the changes Invincible season 1 makes from the comics, few stories in the genre tackle the possibility of mass destruction that every superhero brings along with them this well. The result is an exceptional animated Amazon Prime Video show with unforgettable combat scenes that frequently push boundaries of violence and taste.
The Boys (2019-present)
A biting satire on the modern obsession with superheroes, The Boys is a blisteringly brutal indictment of modern consumerism. Set in a world in which heroes not only exist but are frequently corrupt and actively evil, The Boys subverts hopeful genre properties such as the MCU. Following a group of vigilantes who intend to reveal the truth about superheroes that recklessly abuse their power, The Boys is one of the most popular shows on Amazon Prime Video and is a refreshing antidote to omnipresent comic book blockbusters.
The Boys season 4 arrived on Amazon Prime Video in June, making it the perfect time for newcomers among subscribers to jump on the bandwagon. The most recent season has continued the show’s themes of subverting common superhero tropes, though the social commentary is now fully cemented in the most recent batch of episodes. With the recent confirmation that The Boys season 5 will be the end of the show, the complete story is shaping up to be one of the best TV shows of the modern era, whether it’s on Amazon Prime or otherwise.
Gen V (2023 – Present)
The first live-action spin-off of The Boys quickly gained a reputation as one of the best shows to watch on the platform in its own right, as 2023’s Gen V is just as riveting as its parent show. While it also explores superhero satire, Gen V flips up the formula yet again by focusing on the students of Godolkin University — a loose parody of well-known comic book properties like the X-Men or movies like Sky High.
However, Gen V paints the idea of a school for superheroes as part of a dystopian corporate nightmare. Intrigue and M-Rated violence abound throughout Gen V, just like The Boys, but the spin-off adds in a healthy dash of college drama and comedy that makes it stand out on its own as one of the coolest shows currently available on Amazon Prime Video.
Heroes (2006-2010)
Between 2006 and 2010, Tim Kring’s show Heroes flipped the superhero genre on its head, paving the way for shows like Invincible and The Boys by showing that a world full of superpowered characters didn’t need to be defined by capes and cowls. Heroes has a plot that almost mirrors X-Men, with multiple individuals around the world discovering they have extraordinary abilities, such as flight, invisibility, mind-reading, and many more.
Heroes was also notable for helping to launch the careers of the likes of Hayden Panettiere, Zachary Quinto, and Milo Ventimiglia. The plots are deep and intricate, and at the time it drew many comparisons to shows like Lost. Heroes may now be a little dated compared to some of the other sci-fi shows currently available on Amazon Prime Video, but what it lacks in the quality of special effects it more than makes up for with its deep, twist-filled narrative and intricate character development.
Best Fantasy TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video
Good Omens (2019-)
Perfectly augmented by Michael Sheen and David Tennant’s inimitable onscreen chemistry, Good Omens is a hugely successful adaptation of the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett novel of the same name. Following an angel and a demon as they enjoy a relatively peaceful existence on Earth, the show slyly rewrites biblical history, introducing a rich new mythology to established stories.
The first season sees the pair attempt to thwart the apocalypse in order to preserve their comfortable lives, while season 2 continues the story post-COVID-19 lockdown. Hugely entertaining and extremely watchable, Good Omens is a triumph for Amazon Prime Video’s original programming.
Good Omens
season 3 is confirmed
and currently in development, making it the perfect time for Amazon Prime Video subscribers to catch up with Neil Gaiman’s spin on Biblical lore.
The Wheel Of Time (2021-present)
An ambitious blend of world-building and spectacle,The Wheel of Time is a largely successful attempt to wrestle with Robert Jordan’s sprawling and unwieldy source material. Following the journey of the “chosen one,” whose power can turn the whole kingdom against him and his friends, Amazon Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time explores an inventive magic system and a fantastical setting.
Given its intricate plot, the series is remarkably accessible and certainly counts as one of Amazon Prime Video’s best fantasy TV shows.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (2022-present)
The success of the Lord of the Rings books and movie trilogy was enough to ensure that The Rings of Power found an audience, but few believed Amazon’s billion-dollar production could re-imagine J. R. R. Tolkien’s world in such an evocative way.
Middle-earth looks visually stunning, and the show takes its time to introduce different cultures, creatures, and, of course, enemies, that put at stake the balance between good and evil. The Rings of Power takes place thousands of years before the events of Lord of the Rings, making it a great precursor to the original films.
American Gods (2017-2021)
Neil Gaiman is behind many excellent fantasy adaptations, including Coraline, Good Omens, The Sandman, and the Starz Original American Gods continues that trend. Starring Ian McShane and Ricky Whittle, American Gods is another ambitious project based on the author’s works, creating a mythology of its own by introducing actual gods who must adapt to the modern world through the eyes of Shadow, an ex-convict.
A blend of centuries-old legend and modern storytelling, the series is a riveting and inventive drama.
Best Horror TV Shows On Amazon Prime Video
From (2022-Present)
There are plenty of horror TV shows on Amazon Prime Video, but few can claim to have as gripping a mystery running throughout as From. One of the surrealest yet engaging TV series of the decade so far, From focuses on the inhabitants of a nightmare-like town that’s trapped every resident. The frightened citizens must try to figure out why they’re unable to leave while also contending against the various monsters and demonic entities that make their existence a hellish one.
From is best described as Lost meets Silent Hill, but no premise can really capture how deep the series is with any shred of accuracy. The cast of From has helped ensure that viewers remain hooked, with the likes of Harold Perrineau and Catalina Sandino Moreno delivering stellar performances throughout. Two seasons of From have been released so far, with the third due in September 2024, making it the perfect time for Amazon Prime Video subscribers to catch up with the show.
Swarm (2023)
From the minds of screenwriter Janine Nabers and Atlanta and Community star Donald Glover, 2023’s Swarm is one of the best new horror series to arrive on Amazon Prime Video in several years. The psychological horror can be incredibly tense, a tone buoyed in no small part by Dominique Fishback’s incredible performance as Andrea “Dre” Greene. The show focuses on Dre as she descends into the darkest depths of obsession, with the object of her fascination being popstar Ni’Jah (Nirine S. Brown).
While the plot itself is intriguing and both the script and performances stand out, one of the real joys of
Swarm
is the aesthetic.
To reveal where Dre’s journey takes her would mean giving away key spoilers, but suffice it to say her fracturing psyche sends her down an incredibly dark — and murderous — path. While the plot itself is intriguing and both the script and performances stand out, one of the real joys of Swarm is the aesthetic. The show juxtaposes its darkest and bleakest themes with some incredibly bright and crisp visuals — and it works incredibly well.
