Top 10 Greatest Prime Video Series

The height of both brawn and brain, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher is unlike any figure in action literature. The iconic but miscast Tom Cruise introduced the military police major-turned-private investigator to the big screen. But everything is bigger and better on Amazon’s “Reacher”. Alan Ritchson embodies the hulking hero with both towering and snappy wit. As he drifts into a series of high-stakes conspiracies, the elaborate procedural is matched by extravagant and gritty action. No less important is the ensemble of memorable supporting characters who evolve the plot alongside Reacher himself. This airtight storytelling has everything to keep audiences hooked. Thus, “Reacher” is one of the most popular shows on Amazon, and one of the most talked-about action thrillers in streaming.

One of the fantasy genre’s defining titles and its equally celebrated film adaptations merely scratch the surface of J. R. R. Tolkien's epic. The prequel series “The Rings of Power” extensively draws on his books’ lore and original material to chronicle Middle-Earth’s Second Age. It also boasts the biggest budget in television history. The result is a sweeping, whimsical adventure to outdo any tentpole movie. Underscoring that, of course, is worldbuilding and morally ambiguous politics to give “Game of Thrones” some serious competition. It's hard to imagine “The Lord of the Rings” as a dark, ensemble-driven slow-burner after Peter Jackson’s blockbusters. But “The Rings of Power” ultimately stands on its own as a dramatically sound and technically fantastic feat.

Matthew Mercer’s “Dungeons & Dragon” campaign is so compelling that “Critical One” built a franchise on voice actors playing the game on camera. Never mind a fanbase strong enough to fund an animated series via Kickstarter. “The Legend of Vox Machina” is the quintessential saga of misfit mercenaries becoming unlikely heroes when the realm of Exandria is threatened. What sets this adventure apart, besides the surprising edginess, is the quality of its humor, emotion and animation. The journey has grown incredibly rich over time. Still, Critical Role Productions is dedicated to realizing fans’ vision with the same talented voice cast they fell in love with. With “The Legend of Vox Machina” winning many more fans, Amazon has scored a hit.

It took 22 years and more than a dozen books for Michael Connelly’s most iconic character to hit the screen. The brooding, jazz-loving Hollywood detective Harry Bosch sounds like your typical TV cop. In fact, one of Amazon’s first shows established the platform’s knack for pushing genres. Developed by Eric Overmyer of “The Wire”, “Bosch” is distinguished by impeccable dialogue and thorough police procedurals. Such sprawling storytelling still leaves plenty of room for hair-raising action. All the while, veteran character actor Titus Welliver effortlessly carries the layered lead across seven seasons. This continues on Freevee’s sequel series “Bosch: Legacy”. With more spin-offs in the works, one of Prime Video’s flagship brands has become its most enduring.

For all the dramatic retooling of superheroes lately, it’s rare in animation. An acclaimed noir like “Batman: Caped Crusader” couldn’t have happened without Amazon’s earlier success with a heavy super-toon. Developed by Robert Kirkman from his own comics, “Invincible” follows the teenage son of a gallant alien as he comes into his own as a hero. This burden is complicated by his father’s plot to conquer Earth. There are many superpowered adventures from there, with the usual lively humor and action. That just makes the brutal violence, elaborate storytelling and morally ambiguous characters even more impactful. “Invincible” pulls no punches with ultimate power. And with stunning and self-aware entertainment, backed by an all-star voice cast, it’s a genuine gem of the superhero age.

At a time when television is doing video game adaptations right, “Fallout” stands out. The spectacular production is true to Bethesda Softworks’ iconic aesthetic and lore built around the aftermath of nuclear armageddon. It also nails the bleak satire of the broken systems that humanity can't part with even at this point. At the same time, the many liberties and original storylines are nuanced enough to fit into this world. You don't have to be a gamer to get swept up in the epic drama, much less the gruesome action-adventure. Amazon's “Fallout” was a blockbuster project that more than paid off. Besides the critical acclaim and record viewership, it's considered a game-changer for video game adaptations.

Prime Video’s first adult animated series follows a young woman who gains the ability to navigate time after a car accident. This allows her to undo her father’s death, while exploring other anxieties and family secrets. “Undone” deals with some profoundly human concepts within the frame of an experimental animated fantasy. And yet, it feels organic for the rotoscope style that balances gorgeous imagery with the cast’s emotional expression. Dutch artist Hisko Hulsing [a]directs the whole series with respect to its sharp humor and thoughtfully developed drama. Unfortunately, it was hard to market the series’ avant-garde nature across two tightly plotted seasons. Nonetheless, “Undone” has earned a devoted following as one of its platform’s finest works of art.

Barry Jenkins is capable of expressing terrible hardship with great beauty. Both reach sweeping heights in his adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize winner “The Underground Railroad”. The miniseries portrays the network to liberate slaves from the American South as an actual train. This bold magic realism is wisely, tastefully handled to emote history in Jenkins's poetic style. At the heart of this artistry and an immense story is a realistic depiction of the horrors of bondage and the triumph in freedom. The deeply human saga was showered with accolades, winning the Golden Globe for Best Miniseries. It even entered the Criterion Collection in 2024. “The Underground Railroad” may be difficult viewing, but it is a must-watch masterpiece.

If you think superhero fatigue is a serious issue in real-life… Based on the diabolical comic series, “The Boys” is named for a vigilante group that targets the superhuman celebrities behind a corrupt status quo. It’s a pitch-black satire of everything from the superhero genre to American pop culture and politics. The stellar production values and ridiculously gory action still deliver as much as any blockbuster. So too does the uncompromising, brilliantly acted character drama. “The Boys” improbably injects intelligent prestige into twistedly funny spectacle. The award-winning show has inspired its own hit franchise, complete with spin-offs like the acclaimed “Gen V”. That doesn’t mean the long-running thriller has lost any of its power over superhero fans and more subversive consumers alike.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

John Krasinski Perfects a Literary Icon in This Complex Political Thriller

A Marriage Between Spies Finds a Darkly Funny & Dramatic New Spark

An Imposter Navigates the Criminal World & Family Dysfunction in This Dynamic Cult Classic

Pop Music Empowerment Goes Too Far in This Stylish & Bitingly Satirical Tragedy

Philip K. Dick's Harrowing Alternate History Is Expanded Into an Audacious Political Epic

The title says it all! Dramatic actor Rachel Brosnahan steps into the spotlight as a 1950s divorcée who pursues a career in stand-up comedy. Crackling with Amy Sherman-Palladino’s elaborate writing style, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” isn’t just hysterical on-stage and off. It also enriches a turbulent underdog story with astonishing period detail and worldbuilding. The gorgeously designed, ambitiously directed production is no less stunning. The show has dazzling delivery, but the storytelling is really what pulls you in. Brosnahan and Alex Borstein never miss a beat as the headliners of a colorful, deeply layered ensemble. “Mrs. Maisel” pushes all the boundaries as a comedy, drama, period piece and feminist expression. It's undoubtedly prime entertainment, and just might be Prime Video’s showstopper.

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