After sifting through hundreds of shows on Amazon Prime Video, we’ve chosen the best ones available for streaming, from the classics to new originals.
Amazon Prime Video is not just an aside to Amazon shopping. The streaming service offers tons of quality programming that is worth checking out if you are an Amazon Prime member. From original series like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Boys to popular titles like Flack and The Americans, content comes both from North America as well as other countries around the world. One thing that can get frustrating when searching through the library, however, is when you come across a great series only to realize you need a secondary subscription to watch it. We’re here to help with a list of the best of the best series you can watch on Amazon Prime Video right now, without needing anything but a base 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+. If you’re looking for your basic and predictable yet thoroughly entertaining crime procedural comedy-drama, Bones will fit the bill. And there are a dozen seasons to get through. As is typical of the genre, each episode deals with a new FBI case file involving human remains and the special agent who works alongside a forensic anthropologist to try and solve it. Stories also delve into the personal lives of the main characters. Loosely based on the life of real forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs and her novels, it’s an interesting look at the intersection and debates between science and empirical evidence and faith and intuition. Created by: Hart Hanson Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, Eric Millegan, T.J. Thyne, Jonathan Adams, Tamara Taylor Number of seasons: 12 Watch on Amazon Prime 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. Created by: Tig Notaro, Diablo Cody Cast: Tig Notaro, Noah Harpster, John Rothman Number of seasons: 2 Watch on Amazon Prime 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 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. Created by: Sam Esmail Cast: Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Carly Chaikin Number of seasons: 4 Watch on Amazon Prime A weekly column in The New York Times inspired this romantic comedy anthology series, which premiered in 2019 and features an impressive cast of A-list actors in the first season’s eight episodes. The series follows various residents of New York City as they deal with the trials and tribulations of finding romance and keeping it alive in the modern era. Among the actors appearing in the series’ half-hour episodes are Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, Andy García, Dev Patel, John Slattery, Catherine Keener, Cristin Milioti, Sofia Boutella, Ed Sheeran, and Judd Hirsch. The series was renewed for a second season by Amazon. Created by: N/A Cast: Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, Andy García, Dev Patel, Cristin Milioti, Ed Sheeran, Judd Hirsch Number of seasons: 1 Watch on Amazon Prime 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. Created by: Eric Overmyer, Daniel Pyne, Michael Connelly, Henrik Bastin, Pieter Jan Brugge, John Mankiewicz Cast: Titus Welliver, Annie Wersching, Amy Price-Francis Number of seasons: 7 Watch on Amazon Prime 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. Created by: Nathaniel Halpern Cast: Duncan Joiner, Rebecca Williams Number of seasons: 1 Watch on Amazon Prime This Indian action thriller, one of Amazon’s international original series, has become massively popular among viewers. Offered in Hindi, it has been described as being “edgy” with a plot that keeps viewers at the edges of their seats. Srikant is a seemingly average middle-class family man, but he harbors a secret: He actually works as an intelligence officer for the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC) within the National Investigation Agency. The series offers a nice balance of action and drama with some comedic elements, too. The first season maintains a solid 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Created by: Raj & D.K. Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani, Samantha Akkineni, Sharib Hashmi, Neeraj Madhav, Pawan Chopra Number of seasons: 2 Watch on Amazon Prime In her first big television role since True Blood, Anna Paquin trades vampire blood for high heels as Robyn, a public relations executive from America navigating the industry in Britain. Despite her best efforts, however, it seems that at every turn, her clients, which include high-maintenance personalities in entertainment, fashion, and sports, keep getting themselves into ridiculous messes, leaving her (alongside her sassy colleagues) to pick up the pieces. Ironically, while Robyn always knows just what to do to get her clients out of tough situations, her sharp wit translates to self-sabotage when it comes to her own personal life. Created by: Oliver Lansley Cast: Anna Paquin, Sophie Okonedo, Genevieve Angelson, Lydia Wilson, Rebecca Benson, Arinze Kene, Marc Warren, Rufus Jones Number of seasons: 2 Watch on Amazon Prime 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. Created by: Frank Spotnitz Cast: Alex Davalos, Luke Kleintank, Geoffery Blake, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank Number of seasons: 4 Watch on Amazon Prime 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. Created by: Brian Gatewood Cast: Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jenny Slate Number of seasons: 1 Watch on Amazon Prime It’s 1981, President Ronald Reagan has just been elected, and like most Americans, Elizabeth ( Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings ( Matthew Rhys) are enjoying the country’s rising prosperity as the Cold War heats up. Unlike most Americans, however, the Jennings are actually KGB spies. From that singular premise emerges one of the most exciting thrillers on the air today. The political intrigue is exciting, but what makes The Americans stand out is its focus on the Jennings’ marriage. In examining the tensions of married life, the show demonstrates that personal issues like spousal conflict can be every bit as exciting as geopolitical maneuvers. Created by: Joseph Weisberg Cast: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Holly Taylor Number of seasons: 6 Watch on Amazon Prime 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. Created by: Barry Jenkins Cast: Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Aaron Pierre, Joel Edgerton Number of seasons: 1 Watch on Amazon Prime Taking Jeff Lindsay’s dark and disturbing series of novels and turning them into a compelling crime drama mystery series, Dexter is easily one of the best shows to ever grace the small screen. The sub-par ending aside (redemption may come with the limited series revival), the story of a vigilante serial killer who learns to follow his father’s code and harness his dark urges to only kill criminals who “deserve it” will quickly get you addicted to its unique premise. Viewers find themselves puzzlingly rooting for and sympathizing with the title character (Michael C. Hall), even though he’s, well, a cold-blooded killer. Dexter struggles to appear “normal” despite just going through the motions of life, mimicking the behavior of others. His day job helps him accomplish his after-hours pleasures with ease: He’s a skilled blood-spatter analyst for the Miami police, using his access to research victims before he kills. It’s a deliciously devilish series that’ll have you anxious for the upcoming revival. Created by: James Manos Jr. (based on Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Erik King, Lauren Velez, David Zayas, James Remar, C.S. Lee, Desmond Harrington Number of seasons: 8 Watch on Amazon Prime 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 diagnosis 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. Created by: David Shore Cast: Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Robert Sean Leonard Number of seasons: 8 Watch on Amazon Prime This satirical sitcom created by and starring Tina Fey was inspired by her experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live and ran for seven seasons, earning an astounding 103 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and winning 16 times over the course of its run. The series follows the showrunner of a sketch comedy series who’s forced to juggle the competing interests of her brash network boss, narcissistic actors, and sensitive writers as she attempts to keep her show on the air and successful. Along with Fey, the series’ impressive cast included Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Judah Friedlander, among other familiar faces. Created by: Tina Fey Cast: Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin Number of seasons: 7 Watch on Amazon Prime Red Oaks doesn’t offer much in the way of length. However, while you could easily binge the entire three seasons over a single weekend, the casual pacing makes it more suitable for quick installments. Set during the 1980s, the show is centered on a young tennis player (Craig Roberts) who opts for a job at the exclusive Red Oaks Country Club during the summer between his sophomore and junior year of college. What ensues is a warm and heartfelt nod to the sex comedies that were a staple of that decade. Boasting dry humor and a solid ensemble that includes Ennis Esmer as the hilarious tennis pro, Nash, Red Oaks rises above the raucousness to create characters you really care about. Created by: Gregory Jacobs, Joe Gangemi Cast: Craig Roberts, Jennifer Grey, Paul Reiser Number of seasons: 3 Watch on Amazon Prime People who watched Fox in the early 2000s may have vague memories of a short-lived superhero sitcom called The Tick (based on the comic of the same name), in which a blue-costumed superhero played by the unmistakable Patrick Warburton dealt with supervillains and awkward situations. Amazon’s The Tick is a fresh adaptation of the franchise, with no Warburton in sight (he was just as disappointed as we were), but it maintains the comic’s absurd, cheerful sense of humor. The show follows a superhero called The Tick (Peter Serafinowicz) and his companion, Arthur (Griffin Newman), who fight crime and investigate a conspiracy involving an infamous supervillain called The Terror (Jackie Earle Haley).
