Family Encyclopedia >> Entertainment

Top 15 Amazon Prime Shows You Need to See

In a straight fight between Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, most people would rank Amazon Prime last. Several years ago, I would have agreed. But now? Amazon Prime has some of the best shows on the planet available to stream, and not just for US users.

Go ahead and check out the best shows to enjoy on Netflix. Netflix's AZ shows you what to binge watch. Netflix's AZ shows you what to watch excessively. Z list of shows for you to come excessively. Enjoy! Read More and Some You Can't Miss TV Shows on Hulu 16 You Can't Miss TV Shows on Hulu Right Now 16 You Can't Miss TV Shows on Hulu Right Now Netflix, Amazon are the current kings of streaming online. However, it would be a mistake to dismiss Hulu out of hand, as it hosts a number of truly must-see TV shows. Shows like these… Read more. But don't forget that the best shows on Amazon Prime are on par with the best of them...

1. Band of Brothers (2001)

IMDb:9.5

Easily one of the best miniseries ever produced, Band of Brothers is a historical dramatization of the journeys made by the soldiers of "Easy" Company during World War II. It begins with their training, then follows them through various missions throughout the war, with a focus on the impact the war has on them.

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of Band of Brothers is the way it weaves actual interviews of actual “Easy” Company soldiers throughout the series. This documentary approach is what elevates this miniseries above conventional television. Even if you're not a military or history buff, you need to see it.

Watch Band of Brothers on Amazon Prime

2. The Wire (2002)

IMDb:9.3

The Wire is not just a TV show; It is an experience that transcends mere drama and entertainment. The five seasons are intricately intertwined to tell a grand story that is greater than the sum of its parts. The Wire is one of the few shows where it feels like real life is unfolding before you. It is impossible not to get carried away by it..

On the surface, The Wire is about cops and robbers. But as the seasons go on, you'll realize this is really a show about Baltimore, and more than that, a show about social institutions and how they fail people. The Wire will change your perspective on life, or at least make you rethink much of what you've always held true.

Watch The Wire on Amazon Prime

3. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)

IMDb:8.8

Without a doubt, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the best new show of 2017. Not only is it one of the best original shows on Amazon Prime 15 of the best Amazon originals you've never heard of 15 of the best Amazon originals You've Never Seen The Heard Of Amazon Prime Video features a lot of original content, but some of the shows don't get the praise or publicity they deserve. Here are some great Amazon Originals you've probably never heard of. Read More Yes that is good. It even won two Golden Globes!

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows a Jewish housewife in 1950s New York whose perfect life comes crashing down around her, causing her to find refuge and creative expression in comedy. The show is hilarious, witty, respectful of her characters, with high-quality acting and production, and extremely engaging..

Watch the wonderful Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime

4. Deadwood (2004)

IMDb:8.7

Imagine the kind of TV show Shakespeare would write if he were alive today, and imagine if that TV show took place in the 1870s during the heyday of the American Wild West. That's Deadwood in a nutshell.

Deadwood focuses on a frontier camp and its growth into a full-fledged town. It's about life in lawless territory and what it really takes for civilization to thrive. This show has a massive cast with fully realized characters inspired by real and historical people. It's incredibly well-acted and not just one of the best shows on Amazon Prime, but one of the best dramas of all time.

Watch Deadwood on Amazon Prime

5. Six Feet Under (2001)

IMDb:8.7

Six Feet Under is a dark comedy-drama that centers on a family funeral home and how the family copes when the father is killed in a sudden and tragic accident. Few shows dare to tackle death and mortality and all the themes that flow from it, but Six Feet Under handles it with aplomb, resulting in one of the most moving shows ever made.

Watch Six Feet Under on Amazon Prime

6. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)

IMDb:8.7

Curb Your Enthusiasm is a realistic comedy that follows the misadventures of a satirized Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld. The episodes often feature guest stars who also play lampooned versions of themselves, with most of their humor coming from the awkward situations Larry finds himself in. If you like boring comedy, this is the epitome of the genre.

Watch Curb Your Enthusiasm on Amazon Prime

7. Friday Night Lights (2006)

IMDb:8.6

Friday Night Lights is NOT a football show. Well, it is, but you don't have to know anything about soccer to enjoy one of the best shows on Amazon Prime. This is a show about family, integrity, glory, perseverance, and standing tall in the face of hardship. Featuring some of Grace TV's best and deepest characters, Friday Night Lights is one of the most poignant and moving shows ever written.

Check out Friday night lights on Amazon Prime

8. Justified (2010)

IMDb:8.6

What happens when a law enforcement officer gets tired of being hampered by bureaucracy and protocol and starts doing whatever it takes to bring justice to criminals? You get Justified, a stylized cop show unlike any other.

Give it time to grow into you. The first season is mostly stand-alone episodes, but the show starts to span arcs throughout the season with the second season, and that's when the characters and stories really start to come onto the screen.

Watch Justified on Amazon Prime

9. Parks and Recreation (2009)

IMDb:8.6

Parks and Recreation is one of the most brilliant and uplifting comedies ever created. It's full of characters who are outsiders or outsiders, but deep inside each of them is a warm heart that genuinely cares about others.

Filmed in the same fictional style that made The Office famous, Parks and Recreation is the perfect show to watch when you want to be among the joyous company. But whatever you do, I recommend you skip the jam-packed first season. The writers didn't find their footing until the second season.

See parks and recreation on Amazon Prime

10. Hannibal (2013)

IMDb:8.6

Hannibal is definitely one of the best shows on Amazon Prime, but it's also not for the faint of heart. Not only is this police drama extremely gruesome and bloody, it weighs on the soul with its dark subject matter and unbearable psychological tension. It's an amazing show, that fact is up for debate, but you probably shouldn't watch it if you're not in a good mood.

Watch Hannibal on Amazon Prime

11. Poldark (2015)

IMDb:8.4

Based on a series of historical novels of the same name, Poldark follows the life of a British soldier who returns home from fighting in the American Revolutionary War only to learn that his father has died. Life isn't so familiar after all the years he's been gone, and the struggles keep piling up as he learns to run the mine inherited from his father...

Poldark is an incredibly well-done period drama, comparable to Downton Abbey but with a much smaller cast. Although a little slow in the first couple of episodes, it grows into something big that grabs you and refuses to let go.

See Poldark on Amazon Prime

12. In Treatment (2008)

IMDb:8.3

In Treatment ambitiously aired as a five-episode-a-week program, centered on one therapist, with each day devoted to a session with one of his patients. Over eight weeks, he will learn more about each patient and how they progress in their therapy, as well as the effects they have on the therapist..

The show is nothing more than two or three characters sitting down and talking, but the dialogue is so rich and well-written, and the performances are so strong, that you can't help but want to keep watching and find out more. I consider it a privilege to be able to watch a program as unconventional as this.

See in treatment on Amazon Prime

13. The Expansion (2015)

IMDb:8.3

The Expanse is to science fiction what Game of Thrones is to fantasy:a sprawling, grounded, character-driven epic that is utterly unlike anything that has come before. Most sci-fi shows suffer from low budgets and cheesy writing, even the great Battlestar Galactica, which is another of Amazon Prime's best shows, but The Expanse doesn't skimp on portraying the world it wants to portray.

Set 200 years in the future, the show follows multiple storylines across a dying Earth, an established Asteroid Belt, and a newly colonized Mars. Oozing with political intrigue and interpersonal drama, The Expanse is the best of what modern science fiction has to offer.

Watch The Expansion on Amazon Prime

14. Sneaky Pete (2015)

IMDb:8.3

Sneaky Pete is a recently released crime drama about a con man who assumes the identity of his old cellmate to avoid being tracked down by infamous gangsters from his past. But as adept as he is at fooling people, when the people around him become suspicious, the façade is at risk of being shattered.

Gripped by dark humor and wonderful character work, Sneaky Pete is a surprisingly strong Amazon Original and stands up there with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as one of the best shows Amazon has ever produced.

Watch Sneaky Pete on Amazon Prime

15. The Americans (2013)

IMDb:8.3

This period piece takes us back to the 1980s during the height of the Cold War and follows two KGB spies who have been living as a married couple in suburban America for nearly two decades. Now they have two children who have no idea who they really are, and they live next door to an FBI agent who could find out the truth at any moment.

But underneath all the highbrow espionage, Americans are really about marriage, identity, and loyalty. When everything in your life is based on deception, it's easy to lose your way, and Americans explore it to the fullest through highly suspenseful story arcs filled with tension and suspense.

Watch Americans on Amazon Prime

Get more from your Amazon Prime membership

As an Amazon Prime member, there are all sorts of Prime benefits you might not know about. And on top of that, Amazon is always adding new benefits for Prime members. If you're not already taking advantage of them, why not? You're entitled to them, and they won't cost you extra money, so you might as well. If you don't own a compatible device, here's how to stream Amazon Video on Apple TV How to watch Amazon Prime Video on your Apple TV How to watch Amazon Prime Video on your Apple TV Amazon Prime Video could be better than Netflix In this article, we explain how to watch Amazon Prime Video on Apple TV. Read more.

You can also expand what you can watch with Amazon Prime by adding some Prime TV channels to your account. These aren't free, but they're definitely cheaper than buying cable TV packages, so we'd recommend checking them out. There are many things you can do to enhance your Amazon Prime Video experience. 8 Essential Amazon Prime Video Tips to Improve Your Streaming. 8 Essential Video Amazon Tips to Increase Your Streaming. Amazon regularly adds new features to make Prime Video more compelling. Here are some helpful Amazon Prime Video tips to know. Read more.

If you're also curious about our recommendation for the best movies on Amazon Prime The Top 20 Movies to Watch on Amazon Prime The Top 20 Movies to Watch on Amazon Prime Of the thousands of movies on Amazon Prime Video, how do you rank the wheat? of the straw? We found some absolute classics. Read More