Amazon may be in hot water with the ACCC for automatically introducing ads to Prime Video and charging already-paying members for the privilege of opting out, but the streaming giant doesn’t seem to be suffering in the popularity department. In fact, Australians spent $632.8 million on Prime memberships in 2025, up 32% from the previous year.
Perhaps this is thanks to the high-profile, multi-billion-dollar live sports deals, or maybe it’s the plethora of TV offerings spanning everything from rewatchable favourites like Parks and Recreation to high-octane must-see spy sagas like Jack Ryan. Either way, we all seem to be pretty happy to keep getting our consumer goods and TV fixes straight from the Prime mothership.
There’s an ever-expanding library of action-thrillers, comedies, animation, and sci-fi to get through here. And, to help you narrow down your next TV binge, here are our top picks for the best shows on Prime Video Australia right now.
Reacher
If you haven’t seen Reacher yet, where on earth have you been? Starring the super massive Alan Ritchson and based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, it’s a masculine mystery action series you should add to your list.
Season 1 was based on the book Killing Floor and was a smash hit with fans. Seasons 2 and 3 aren’t quite as good, but as long as you’re happy for most scenes to involve some visual or verbal iteration of the sentiment “I’m Reacher, and I’m massive”, you’ll have a good time.
The first three episodes of Reacher Season 4 premiered on Prime Video on August 12, with new episodes dropping weekly. Early reviews are somewhat polarised, with some critics calling it embarrassing to watch and others praising it for being darker and more complex than its predecessors.
If you like your heroes dark and with no-nonsense brutality, Reacher is action-packed, entertaining, and worth a watch.
Ride or Die
Starring Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer and Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham, this high-octane thriller is as refreshing as it is action-packed. The story is about an unsuspecting woman (Spencer) who is dragged into a crazy pan-European caper when her husband is murdered, and she finds out that her long-time best friend is actually an assassin.
Beyond the obvious headlines that it’s an action-thriller centred around two middle-aged women (which shouldn’t be noteworthy in 2026, yet here we are), Ride or Die is just a very well-made show. It’s got big-budget chase scenes, explosions, daring escapes, glamorous locations, and excellent performances across the board. The story also has plenty of twists and turns, and often goes a little deeper than your average offering in this genre.
Cross
Created by Ben Watkins (Hand of God) and based on James Patterson’s best-selling novels, Cross is a gritty crime thriller that combines police procedural drama with in-depth character development. The story follows a Washington, D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist as he tries to balance hunting down a sadistic serial killer with grieving the death of his murdered wife.
Critics and fans have praised Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton) in the lead role, and the supporting cast also put in some decent performances. While some critics have alluded to some genre cliches and overly complicated plot twists, the first two seasons have been generally well received. Cross was renewed for a third season in March 2026, so now is a good time to catch up on the first two.
Spider-Noir
With showrunners Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot at the helm, Spider-Noir is a unique live-action period piece set in the Marvel and Spider-Man universe. So, if you love vintage detective noir with a bit of superhero action to boot, this eight-episode series starring Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, and the ever-brilliant Brendan Gleeson is worth a watch.
The story follows Ben Reilly (Cage) as a senior 1930s detective with his vigilante superhero days firmly behind him. But when a complex case reveals a criminal underworld involving the city’s high-society elite, he is forced to bring his alter-ego, Spider-Noir, out of retirement.
Fans are generally excited to see Nicolas Cage stepping into a live-action version of his previously voice-only character, Spider-Noir, for the first time, and both fans and critics have praised the 1930s noir aesthetic. Basically, if you like your superhero stuff but fancy something a bit more grown-up and, dare we say, sophisticated, this is a good shout.
Fallout
Widely praised as an excellent video game adaptation, Fallout is a witty post-apocalyptic offering for drama, comedy, and sci-fi fans.
It’s set in an alternate version of America circa 2296, in a barren wasteland 200 years after a nuclear war. With society split between privileged subterranean vault dwellers and the mutated survivors on the surface, the story follows a savage battle between three survivors from very different groups as they attempt to get their hands on a device that yields unlimited clean energy.
You don’t need to be a fan of the Fallout video game to have fun with this one. It’s The Last of Us meets Mad Max. Enjoy.
The Night Manager
This high-stakes espionage thriller based on John le Carré’s novel was a massive hit when it first graced our screens in 2016. And while we had to wait a decade for the second instalment, it did not disappoint.
The story follows a former soldier turned luxury hotel night manager who is recruited by a covert agent to infiltrate the inner circle of a charming but super dangerous arms dealer. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Laurie, it’s got excellence written all over it.
The second season of The Night Manager features both Hiddleston and Colman. It takes place years later with an entirely new plot, but suffice it to say that it’s every bit as good. If you like your spy thrillers slick, well-made, and anchored by great actors, this is definitely one to watch.
RELATED: Finished 'The Night Manager'? Here’s What To Watch Next
Young Sherlock
Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock origin story has been generally well-received with an 84% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes (which was obviously inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories), it follows a 19-year-old Sherlock as he’s framed for murder at Oxford University. And, as he attempts to clear his name, he teams up with an unlikely partner, James Moriarty.
Fans have generally praised both Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock and Dónal Finn as Moriarty. And, not long after Season 1 of Young Sherlock debuted on Prime in March 2026, Season 2 was officially commissioned in April. That probably tells you all you need to know.
Batman: Caped Crusader
With a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this animated thriller from the creative minds of Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, and Matt Reeves is generally deemed a worthy spiritual successor to the original Batman: The Animated Series.
Set in the 1940s, it blends a classic retro detective aesthetic with psychological character development that has a bit of substance. Batman: Caped Crusader follows Batman early in his career as he single-handedly battles systemic corruption, mob bosses, and sinister supervillains.
If you’re a comic book fan in general, this is a safe bet.
Clarkson’s Farm
Though I’m not personally a fan of Jeremy Clarkson (or his anti-Welsh rants), this reality show chronicling his attempt to take over the day-to-day running of a Cotswolds farm is popular enough that I put it on the list (albeit begrudgingly).
The first season of Clarkson’s Farm follows the former Top Gear star as he essentially learns how to operate a farm from scratch. Along the way, he interacts with a range of different – and somewhat colourful – characters. The show, now in its fifth season, has been widely praised for blending the harsh realities of British farming with humour and warmth.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Forget everything you know about the movie that brought us Brangelina, this 2024 reimagination of Mr. & Mrs. Smith is darker and more grounded in modern relationship dynamics. The story follows two solo agents who are united in marriage as part of their undercover work. Together, they navigate high-risk missions while simultaneously juggling their very real and messy feelings for each other.
Season 1 featured Donald Glover and Maya Erskine, who both received Emmy nominations for their roles. And, after a bit of a wait due to some casting complications, Season 2 is rumoured to return in 2027 with two new characters and actors at the centre.
If you prefer your spy capers glossy and action-packed, stick to the Brad Pitt original. But if you like a bit of grit and realism in the mix, this one’s worth a watch.
Deadloch
This critically acclaimed Australian dark comedy parodies Scandi-noir crime dramas brilliantly. Created by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, Deadloch follows two wildly mismatched detectives as they team up to track down a serial killer in rural Tasmania.
Starring Kate Box and Madeleine Sami, the murder mystery series has been widely praised for its performances as well as its subversion of clichéd crime tropes. At the time of writing, it has a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Enough said.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Set thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this fantasy epic set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age is one of the most-watched series on Amazon Prime. The story explores the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the tragic downfall of the island kingdom of Númenor.
Widely praised for its cinematic scale, intricate visual world-building, and orchestral score, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a big-budget fantasy series and a must-watch for any self-respecting Lord of the Rings fan. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream in full, with a third season slated for release in November 2026.
The Terminal List
Based on Jack Carr’s novels and starring Chris Pratt, this high-octane military conspiracy thriller is dark, pacey, and unrelentingly violent. The story follows a Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander who returns home plagued by PTSD after his entire platoon is ambushed during a high-stakes mission. And, after he uncovers the deep-rooted government conspiracy that targeted his squad, he sets out to seek vengeance on those responsible, one kill at a time.
It’s essentially Reacher meets The Punisher. You can watch Season 1 of The Terminal List in full now and catch Season 2 as it drops on October 21, 2026.
Jury Duty
This genre-bending hidden camera sitcom took the world by storm in April 2023. The show followed a fake jury trial where all participants are actors, except for one who has absolutely no idea and thinks he’s participating in a real trial. Season 1 of Jury Duty was a huge success and featured James Marsden playing a hilariously self-absorbed parody of himself. Season 2 took the same premise but shifted it to a corporate retreat scenario with a newly hired temp as the unsuspecting mark.
It’s The Office meets The Truman Show but with an actual reality TV twist. And, if you’re worried you’re going to feel sorry for the marks, you can rest assured that their general warmth and genuine likeability takes the sting out of it and leaves you smiling.
The Boys
This ballsy, ultra-violent satire of superhero culture starring Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, and Antony Starr offers a full-throttle, crack-addicted alternative to Marvel's genre dominance.
Set in a world where superheroes are managed by a corrupt megacorporation, it’s dark, funny, and darkly funny. The story follows a group of vigilantes known as “The Boys” who set out to bring these psychopathic ‘heroes’ down by any means necessary. And, as you can imagine, things get spectacularly grim and out of hand.
The Boys’ five-season run concluded in May 2026. But, if you still want more after you’re done smashing through those episodes, you’ll be pleased to know that a prequel series, Vought Rising, is already in the works and set for a 2027 release.
Good Omens
Written by Neil Gaiman and based on a book he co-wrote with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens is a prime example (pun intended) of how to adapt iconic sci-fi fantasy literature into visually and emotionally compelling TV.
Starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen, the story follows the unlikely partnership between a fast-living demon named Crowley and an all-too-earnest angel named Aziraphale as they try to sabotage the End of Days and save humanity.
If you enjoyed Lucifer, you’ll probably like this one. Both Tennant and Sheen are absolutely brilliant and offer moments of humour, warmth, depth, and extraordinary chemistry throughout. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream in full now, along with the feature-length finale released in May 2026 to conclude the story.
Invincible
Invincible is an incredibly bloody alt-superhero animated show based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Robert Kirkman – the brain behind The Walking Dead.
The story follows a 17-year-old boy who inherits his super famous superhero father’s powers, only to discover a dark and terrifying secret about his true origins. The universal praise for the show has been hard to ignore, with four full seasons already available and another two in the works. There are even plans to turn it into a live-action film, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg attached to the project.
Though it’s vastly different, consider it the BoJack Horseman of Amazon Prime Video – unquestionably adult, in-your-face, witty, yet kind of poignant.
The Office (U.S. Version)
While US remakes of international shows often butcher the original to catastrophic effects (The Inbetweeners, Skins, and Fawlty Towers/Payne to name a few), The Office remains the most obvious exception to the rule. And, while we understand why Paul Rudd famously told Steve Carell not to take on the role of Michael Scott, we’re unbelievably glad his advice was ignored.
If you haven’t seen it, this mockumentary based on Ricky Gervais’s British sitcom of the same name follows a group of office workers led by a socially awkward, oblivious yet well-meaning manager. But while the original is mostly awkward and cringeworthy, the American version is filled with warmth, wit, and genuine character growth over its epic nine-season run.
Although Carell is an obvious draw, he’s supported by an excellent cast including Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, and John Krasinski (pre-Jack Ryan beefiness). It’s an easy-viewing sitcom you can watch time and time again.