Prime Video is one of the strongest streamers in the game when it comes to original content. From epic fantasy offerings and gritty superhero shows to contemporary dramas, Prime Video’s lineup has a wide range of heavy hitters. Regardless of category, the quality tends to be solid across the board, giving the platform’s catalog a number of titles that can be dubbed near-perfect masterpieces — and dug into accordingly.
Of course, not every Prime Video original I’d personally recommend is a masterpiece. The ones that stand out as such deliver strong writing, memorable performances, and solid storytelling throughout. From the streamer’s two hit superhero shows to its most impressive dark comedy, these fit the bill, making them essential viewing.
Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve been writing about pop culture for a decade, and television is my primary beat. I served as an editor on ScreenRant‘s TV team, and I now cover TV topics as an editor for MovieWeb. Needless to say, I’ve watched a lot of shows over the years. Prime Video continues to be one of my favorite platforms for original content.
Honorable Mentions
- The Expanse: I was conflicted about whether to include The Expanse, as it didn’t start as a Prime Video original. The sci-fi adaptation aired its first three seasons on the Syfy channel, only moving to Amazon’s streaming service after the company saved it from cancellation. However, the show is one of the greatest sci-fi feats of the last 25 years and deserves applause. If we’re counting it despite its beginnings, consider it added to the list.
- Reacher: Reacher is a tough one, as the show is a masterpiece for what it’s meant to be. It’s a solid adaptation of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, and it’s smartly written and put together. It serves the function it’s intended to as an action show, but I can’t get past some of the ways it bucks believability. That said, Alan Ritchson is fantastic in the lead role.
- The Mighty Nein: I’m confident in calling The Legend of Vox Machina a 10/10 series, but The Mighty Nein is still too new for me to fully get on board. That being said, the spin-off is already making a strong case for achieving that status. Perhaps after Season 2, I’ll be sold.
‘The Boys’ (2019-2026)
The Gritty Superhero Show Stays True to Itself
The Boys Season 5’s ending is a divisive one, but as someone who feels the show mostly stuck the landing, I’m inclined to call the series a masterpiece overall. There aren’t many shows that could keep one-upping themselves the way The Boys did as it was released. It never mattered how absurd the gritty superhero parody got; it would still find a way to top itself next season. It’s the conflict at the heart of the show that really sells it though. Following a group of antiheroes as they sink to questionable levels to defeat much worse — and more powerful — figures, The Boys is both timely in its commentary and timeless in its larger themes of greed and corruption.
Its cast sells that story perfectly, with standouts like Antony Starr and Karl Urban leading the charge. It’s well made, gripping, and knows how to balance high stakes and hopelessness with outlandish humor. There are some pacing issues in the middle, sure, but they don’t take away from the greater experience.
‘Invincible’ (2021-)
Prime Video’s Other Superhero Hit Is Also a Masterclass
Prime Video is doing great work when it comes to gritty, unconventional superhero shows, as The Boys isn’t the only one in its catalog; it’s not even the only near-perfect one it’s created. Invincible is equally impressive, albeit for different reasons. The adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s comics has the bloody realism that sets The Boys apart, and that’s one thing that makes it special. However, it demonstrates more sincerity and optimism in its exploration of the genre.
To be clear, Invincible still unpacks common tropes and conventions, flipping many of them on their heads. However, Mark Grayson is sincere and easy to root for in his efforts, giving viewers a believable hero to latch onto. The other characters also feel fully fleshed out and flawed, and the story itself manages to build its intensity from season to season, even as it works in side quests. The animation and action are gorgeous, proving that Invincible is hitting all the right notes.
‘Fallout’ (2024-)
Prime Video Is Delivering One of the Best Video Game Adaptations
Prime Video is delivering one of the greatest video game adaptations of all time with Fallout — and although it’s only two seasons into its run, it’s already achieved masterpiece status in my mind. It would need to work hard to undo the legacy it’s building, which is one that blends high-quality production and performances with post-apocalyptic storytelling that’s sharp and somehow fun. Despite the weighty questions that loom over the show, like whether it’s possible to maintain a moral code in a landscape where it’s every man for themselves, Fallout is surprisingly charming. Much of that comes down to Ella Purnell’s performance as the naive Lucy MacLean.
Walton Goggins’ Ghoul and Aaron Moten’s Maximus are also compelling and unpredictable, and the latter makes for a gripping journey over Fallout‘s two seasons. The series does a seamless job of weaving its various storylines together, all while making us care about these complicated characters. There’s also great world-building and lore, with the show successfully expanding on its source material. Assuming Fallout Season 3 continues its upward trajectory, I’m comfortable calling it a masterclass.
‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022-)
The Animated Series Is Amazon’s Best Fantasy Offering
Prime Video’s best-known fantasy series are The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time, but neither of them is a 10/10 (as much as I controversially adore the former). The Legend of Vox Machina, however, manages to be a near-perfect experience. That makes it much more frustrating that it’s a niche offering compared to the other two. Based on Critical Role’s first D&D campaign, The Legend of Vox Machina follows a band of unlikely heroes as they set out to save their world. It’s a setup most fantasy regulars have seen before, yet it hits in new ways across the series’ four seasons.
The passion that goes into making The Legend of Vox Machina — the members of Critical Role are heavily involved and voice their characters from the campaign — shines through in every element of the series. As a result, the world is immersive, the characters and their relationships get deeper with every season, and there’s a great mix of drama and humor. The Legend of Vox Machina is approaching its fifth and final chapter. If it ends on a high note, it will be one of the best fantasy shows of the 21st century. (Despite only being one season in, its spin-off, The Mighty Nein, already looks like a 10/10, too.)
‘Bosch’ (2014-2021)
Titus Welliver’s Crime Thriller Stands Out
In the area of crime thrillers, Bosch is often hailed as a masterpiece — and once you watch Titus Welliver’s seven-season series, it’s not hard to understand why. Based on Michael Connelly’s books, Bosch follows Welliver’s detective as he tracks down murders and unravels conspiracies. It may sound like most procedurals, but everything from Welliver’s incredible performance to the show’s gritty realism helps set it apart.
Because of the latter, Bosch is able to go places that not all procedurals do. It showcases the day-to-day experience of police work, as well as the politics and corrupt practices that so often plague it. It’s honest in that regard, yet still manages to be charming. It’s also true enough to the books while bringing its own take to the table.
‘Tales From the Loop’ (2020)
A Sci-Fi Series That Leans Into Humanity
Tales From the Loop is probably the least well-known series on this list, but Prime Video’s sci-fi show tells a perfect story — or, more accurately, several of them. Inspired by the digital artwork of Simon Stålenhag, Tales From the Loop spins separate tales across its eight episodes, but they come together to form a larger picture. They each involve the denizens of the fictional Mercer, Ohio, and they juggle intriguing sci-fi concepts with more personal human dilemmas.
The episodes that utilize time travel do so in a way that doesn’t overthink it, and it’s incredibly refreshing. Tales From the Loop takes that approach on a broader level too, putting the emotional journeys of its characters before a larger, more attention-grabbing sci-fi plot. It works to its advantage, reminding us that the best sci-fi stories are the ones that lean into their humanity.
‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ (2017-2023)
Another Clever Story From the Creator of ‘Gilmore Girls’
After five strong seasons, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a Prime Video original that doesn’t get nearly as much love as it should. That doesn’t stop it from being a near-flawless masterpiece, however. The series, which is set in the 1950s and follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel as she explores her passion for stand-up comedy, is cleverly written and empowering. Considering it hails from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, I suppose those qualities are hardly a surprise.
Like Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has witty dialogue in abundance and great energy. It captures the time period it’s set in well, delivering a believable and colorful backdrop. And finally, it takes Midge on a journey that’s satisfying and unafraid to tackle gender norms and expectations head-on. Every season of the show has above a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, if that tells you anything.
‘Fleabag’ (2016-2019)
One of Prime Video’s Most Impressive Originals to Date
Proving that TV shows can satisfy at just two seasons, Fleabag is one of Prime Video’s most impressive masterpieces to date. Like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, it sees a woman facing life’s challenges, though her story is set in the modern era instead of the ’50s. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character is also more destructive, grim, and messy than Midge, but she’s no less charming for it. The depiction of grief she embodies is brilliantly done, ensuring that Fleabag is as emotionally devastating as it is comedic.
The show is sharply written, which is how it achieves that balance, and it’s also stunningly performed. Waller-Bridge and Andrew Scott are the standouts, but the entire cast does great work throughout. The fact that Waller-Bridge’s lead frequently breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the viewer also sets it apart from similar fare and forms an emotional connection audiences won’t soon forget.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
