Original and exclusive content has become the defining weapon in the streaming wars, and few platforms have delivered like Amazon Prime Video. From sweeping sci-fi epics to hilarious comedies and high-stakes thrillers, Amazon Prime Video shows have carved out a space in nearly every genre with a consistency that most streaming rivals can only envy.

As one of the first major streaming services to invest in original content, Amazon set the stage for what audiences now expect from prestige television. The platform has become home to ambitious, cinematic productions that rival network dramas and big-budget films – often exceeding them in depth, tone, and creativity.

The very best Amazon Prime Video shows stand out as pitch-perfect examples of what serialized storytelling can achieve. Whether they’re still ongoing or wrapped up with satisfying finales, these series represent the very best of Prime’s catalog. Across animation, espionage, drama, and fantasy, these titles deliver on every front – and they’re more than worth the binge.

10

Ripper Street (2012-2016)

A Gripping Victorian Crime Drama That Blends History With Emotional Depth

Originally a BBC series and later continued by Amazon Prime Video, Ripper Street is one of the most underrated gems in the platform’s library. Set in the shadow of Jack the Ripper’s killing spree, it follows Detective Inspector Edmund Reid (Matthew Macfadyen), Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg), and Sergeant Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn) as they confront crime, corruption, and personal demons in Whitechapel’s grim streets.

What makes Ripper Street stand out is its layered storytelling. It’s not just a period mystery – it’s a deep character drama set against a backdrop of societal upheaval. The show tackles the birth of modern policing, post-traumatic stress, class struggle, and the cost of justice. Each season expands its scope without ever losing the intimacy of its central trio’s bond.

When Amazon revived the series after its BBC cancellation, the writing grew even more confident. The final two seasons are among its best – taut, emotional, and unflinchingly brutal. Unlike many crime dramas, Ripper Street ended exactly when it needed to, giving every major character a fitting conclusion. It’s Prime Video at its most quietly brilliant.

9

The Man In The High Castle (2015-2019)

A Bold Alternate History Series That Ends As Strongly As It Begins

Based on Philip K. Dick’s chilling novel, The Man in the High Castle explores a terrifying world where the Axis powers won World War II. The series dives deep into its alternate 1960s setting, crafting a rich, lived-in reality that’s both disturbing and utterly compelling. The worldbuilding is phenomenal, painting a fractured America under Nazi and Japanese rule.

What sets this show apart is how confidently it evolves. While season 1 leans into its dystopian premise, later seasons introduce complex sci-fi elements, including the multiverse. Rufus Sewell as Obergruppenführer John Smith delivers one of the best antihero performances in streaming television – compelling, nuanced, and unpredictable right to the end.

Unlike many dystopian sci-fi shows that lose steam, The Man in the High Castle builds toward a conclusive and satisfying finale. It doesn’t just maintain tension, it escalates it with every season, proving that ambitious genre storytelling can be both thought-provoking and dramatically satisfying from start to finish.

8

Good Omens (2019-Present)

A Divine Comedy With Apocalyptic Stakes And Zero Missteps

Created by Neil Gaiman and based on the novel he co-wrote with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens is a uniquely charming fantasy series. With Michael Sheen as fussy angel Aziraphale and David Tennant as reckless demon Crowley, the show strikes a perfect tonal balance between comedy, theology, and impending doom.

The chemistry between Sheen and Tennant elevates every scene. Their celestial odd couple dynamic drives the story forward while anchoring its wildest moments in emotional truth. Even as angels and demons clash and the end of the world looms, Good Omens never loses its warmth or humor.

Visually striking and tightly written, Good Omens avoids the usual second-season slump, with its follow-up expanding the lore while deepening the characters. Whether viewers came for the dry British wit or the cosmic stakes, this is a Prime Video series that stays true to its quirky, heartfelt vision throughout.

7

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)

A Dazzling Period Comedy That Stuck The Landing With Style

Amy Sherman-Palladino’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is one of Prime Video’s most award-winning originals – and for good reason. Set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the show follows Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) as she transforms from Upper West Side housewife to fearless stand-up comedian in a male-dominated world.

The show’s dialogue is sharp and fast, its production design immaculate, and the costumes genuinely stunning. However, what makes it truly great is how confidently it blends wit with pathos. Brosnahan and Tony Shalhoub (as Midge’s eccentric father Abe) deliver masterclass performances season after season.

More impressive still, Mrs. Maisel managed to go out on a high. Many dramedies fizzle before the finish line, but this show stuck its final act perfectly. With character arcs fully realized and a finale that hit every emotional note, it closed the curtain with elegance, securing its place as a Prime Video classic.

6

Jack Ryan (2018-2023)

A Grounded Yet Thrilling Espionage Series That Never Lost Its Edge

Tom Clancy’s famous CIA analyst got a modern upgrade in Jack Ryan, and the result was four gripping seasons of globe-trotting espionage. John Krasinski brings a relatable humanity to the title role, grounding the action with emotional authenticity while still selling the physicality of a reluctant hero thrust into danger.

Unlike many action shows that burn out, Jack Ryan improved as it progressed. With each new mission, the stakes rose, and the supporting cast – including Wendell Pierce as James Greer and Michael Kelly as Mike November – only grew more engaging. Every season tackled a different geopolitical crisis without veering into jingoism or cliché.

What makes Jack Ryan stand out in Prime Video’s catalog is its precision. The pacing is tight, the action sequences feel cinematic, and the plots are complex without being convoluted. By the time the series wrapped, it had delivered everything fans could want from a modern spy thriller – and then some.

5

Invincible (2023-Present)

A Brutally Honest Superhero Saga That Doesn’t Flinch

Invincible wastes no time shattering expectations. What begins as a seemingly straightforward coming-of-age superhero tale quickly morphs into one of the most violent, emotionally intense animated series in recent memory. Based on Robert Kirkman’s comics, the show follows Mark Grayson (voiced by Steven Yeun), the teenage son of Earth’s most powerful hero, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons).

While the animation is vibrant and stylized, the storytelling pulls no punches. Themes of betrayal, identity, and legacy are explored with a maturity rarely seen in the superhero genre. The voice cast – including Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, and Walton Goggins – adds further weight to the show’s emotional moments.

Invincible season 2 only deepens the drama, pushing Mark into darker, more morally complex territory. In a crowded field of superhero content, Invincible stands out not just for its shocking violence, but for how it handles the consequences of that violence. It’s a perfect blend of genre thrills and genuine character drama.

4

Reacher (2022-Present)

A Tight, No-Nonsense Action Series That Gets Better With Each Season

Reacher is everything an action show should be – efficient, brutal, and smart. Alan Ritchson plays Jack Reacher with a quiet intensity and physical presence that finally captures the character as written by author Lee Child. He’s not a slick agent, he’s a relentless force of nature with a moral code.

Each season tackles a different mystery, allowing the show to function like a hard-boiled procedural with a fresh twist every time. Season 1 was a confident debut, but Season 2 upped the ante, delivering better pacing, more satisfying character arcs, and a standout supporting cast.

What makes Reacher so perfect is its clarity. It knows exactly what kind of show it is, and it excels at being just that. There’s no filler, no overreaching ambition. Just a highly competent action thriller that respects its audience’s time and intelligence. In a sea of bloated dramas, Reacher is lean, mean, and near-perfect.

3

The Expanse (2019-2022)

A Hard Sci-Fi Masterpiece That Stuck To Its Vision

Originally a Syfy series before being rescued by Amazon Prime Video, The Expanse is one of the most ambitious science fiction shows ever made. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, it delivers intricate politics, grounded technology, and unforgettable characters without sacrificing tension or spectacle.

The show follows a diverse ensemble, including James Holden (Steven Strait), Naomi Nagata (Dominique Tipper), and Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo), as they navigate interplanetary conflict and uncover cosmic mysteries. What makes The Expanse stand out is its unwavering commitment to realism, both scientific and emotional, even as the stakes escalate to existential levels.

Despite juggling dozens of characters and plotlines, the show ended on its own terms with season 6. Its finale was poignant, satisfying, and stayed true to the show’s core themes of unity, power, and survival. Amazon’s decision to continue the series after Syfy’s cancellation was a game-changer – The Expanse became a sci-fi epic worthy of its legacy.

2

The Boys (2019-Present)

A Subversive, Explosive Take On Superheroes That Keeps Raising The Bar

The Boys is anything but your typical superhero series. Created by Eric Kripke and based on Garth Ennis’ comic, it gleefully rips apart the mythos of superheroes by presenting them as corporate-backed narcissists. At the center is Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), whose vendetta against the “Supes” drives a bloody, endlessly surprising narrative.

What makes The Boys so essential is its balance of shocking violence with razor-sharp satire. Whether it’s dissecting celebrity culture, politics, or corporate PR, the show always has something relevant (and often outrageous) to say. Antony Starr’s portrayal of Homelander is a career-defining villain performance – terrifying, unhinged, and strangely sympathetic.

With every new season, The Boys manages to top itself without losing its core identity. It’s not just a superhero deconstruction – it’s a social commentary wrapped in the guise of action, blood, and dark comedy. It’s rare for a show this extreme to feel this focused, but The Boys nails it season after season.

1

Fleabag (2016-2019)

A Flawless Dramedy That Redefined Modern Television

Fleabag isn’t just one of the best shows on Prime Video – it’s one of the greatest shows of the century. Created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this British dramedy follows an unnamed woman navigating grief, guilt, sex, and existential crisis with biting humor and heartbreaking honesty.

What begins as a clever, fourth-wall-breaking comedy deepens into something far more profound. Waller-Bridge’s performance is magnetic, and the supporting cast – including Olivia Colman as a wicked stepmother and Andrew Scott as the unforgettable “Hot Priest” – elevate every scene. The writing is sharp, fearless, and emotionally devastating.

What truly sets Fleabag apart is its discipline. With just two short seasons, it tells a complete story that ends at the perfect moment. No filler, no missteps – just raw, beautiful television that balances humor with heartbreak. Every frame is purposeful, every line meaningful. On a platform full of great shows like Amazon Prime Video, Fleabag is absolutely perfect.