Excellent original programs and live sports
Even if you cut the cord, you can keep current with the latest TV series and movies by subscribing to one or more video streaming services. Amazon Prime Video offers a vast library of quality original content and a decent collection of movies and TV shows. Subscribers also have the option to download content for offline viewing and to watch 4K titles. On top of that, Amazon hosts an impressive catalog that’s available for rent or purchase. However, it doesn’t have as many high-quality shows as top rival services such as Netflix, and it continues to lose third-party content.Amazon Prime Video’s Movies and TV Shows
Although Amazon Video began as a place to purchase and watch TV shows and movies, it eventually embraced the world of unlimited, buffet-style streaming for a single monthly fee. Take, for example, Amazon’s growing library of excellent original content, such as Bosch, The Boys, Catastrophe, Electric Dreams, Flack, Fleabag, Good Omens, Hanna, Homecoming, Hunters, Invincible, Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Patriot, Tales From The Loop, Undone, Upload, Utopia, and The Wheel of Time.
In addition, Amazon saved The Expanse from cancellation, and it’s working on adaptations of acclaimed video games Disco Elysium and Fallout. Amazon’s highest-profile original show by far, though, is the recent epic fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
The list of originals continues to grow, and while it’s not as large as Netflix’s or Max’s (formerly HBO Max) collection, many of the shows are on par, quality-wise. Prime Video’s original shows also edge out Hulu’s, which feels like a secondary adult alternative to Disney+.
You get more than just Amazon’s originals with Amazon Prime Video, including The Americans, Chuck, Burn Notice, Hannibal, and Mr. Robot at no additional cost. Note that Prime Video has already lost shows, such as Justified, Veronica Mars, and The X-Files, to Hulu. Other HBO and NBC shows are leaving soon, too. Amazon Prime Video has the most shows of any streaming service, but when you filter for quality, Netflix and Hulu are better options.
Prime Video’s library also includes a rotating library of popular movies, plus a surprising number of classic films. Like Netflix, it also creates original movies, such as Blow the Man Down, The Big Sick, Honey Boy, Manchester by the Sea, My Spy, The Report, Troop Zero, and The Vast of Night. Many of these movies have not fared as well as Netflix’s The Irishman, El Camino, or Roma, but Sound of Metal won an Academy Award. Prime Video has more movies than any other service, but when you filter for quality, its numbers are in line with Netflix’s. Of course, if you love B movies (and even C and D movies), you may disagree! Amazon bought MGM for $8.45 billion, however, which has boosted the movie library here and on MGM+.
Dedicated movie streaming services tend to offer more curated selections of titles with more supporting content. The Criterion Channel and Mubi are both excellent options for cinephiles.Documentaries on Amazon Prime Video
Amazon has cranked out original documentaries over the years; examples include Generation Wealth, Gimme Danger, One Child Nation, and Time. For pure entertainment, check out Hamilton: One Shot to Broadway and The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, which chronicles the life and times of an eccentric West Virginia family.
All In: The Fight for Democracy is a documentary about voter suppression, while Citizenfour covers NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Lower-budget documentaries about spirituality and non-traditional medicine, such as Food as Medicine, round out its library. Anime on Amazon Prime Video
The addition of the smash hit Invincible notwithstanding, Amazon Prime Video falters when it comes to anime and cartoons, though it has a good range of animated kids’ shows and some anime titles. Crunchyroll is our Editors’ Choice for watching anime, thanks in part to its massive library of series and films, though Hulu and Netflix offer some anime titles, too. In terms of other animated shows, Netflix leads the pack with originals such as Bojack Horseman and Matt Groening’s Disenchantment. Hulu is another good option for animated shows that premier on traditional cable networks.
Our feature on everything arriving on Prime Video can help you keep up with changes to the library.Live Sports on Prime Video
In addition to on-demand content, Prime Video is the exclusive broadcaster of Thursday Night Football games. That means die-hard football fans must subscribe to Prime Video in addition to one of several other NFL streaming services; no longer will a single live TV service cover all your gridiron needs.
Amazon has streamed regular-season WNBA games, as well as the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game. For New York residents, the service began broadcasting select Yankees baseball games, too. Both initiatives hint at Prime Video’s growing live sports ambitions. For now, ESPN+ is still a better sports streaming service in this price range, because of its extensive live coverage of college and international sports.
Amazon lets subscribers add sports-centric channels, such as MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, and PGA Tour Live to their subscription, too. Of course, each of these channels adds a significant cost to your monthly or annual subscription.
Some other primarily on-demand services also stream live sports or have begun to recently. For instance, Paramount+ gets you access to all national sports events that air on CBS, and Peacock’s premium tiers include Premier League and IndyCar coverage. Max features live MLB, NBA, and NHL games.
How Much Does Amazon Prime Video Cost?
There are two ways to get access to Amazon’s video content: a standalone Prime Video subscription or an Amazon Prime subscription. A Prime Video subscription costs $8.99 per month and includes access to Amazon’s streaming video library. Alternatively, you can pay $14.99 per month (or $139 per year) for an Amazon Prime subscription that includes Prime Video, as well as other perks such as free two-day (and same-day, when available) shipping, music streaming via Amazon Music Prime, a Twitch Prime membership, and discounts at Whole Foods. Both tiers give you access to the same content. Amazon’s Prime Day events are always just around the corner, which includes deals for Prime subscribers, too; check out our Prime Day coverage to stay up to date.
If you no longer want or need your subscription, follow our instructions on how to cancel your Amazon Prime account. This will take away your access to Prime Video, as well.
Students can sign up for an Amazon Prime subscription at a discounted rate of $7.49 per month or $69 per year. This plan includes all the perks of the regular Amazon Prime subscription, including Prime Video and Music (not to be confused with Amazon Music Unlimited).
