Christine is a freelance writer for Collider with two decades of experience covering all types of TV shows and movies spanning every genre. With a particular affinity for dramas, true crime, sitcoms, and thrillers, if it’s a top TV show, Christine has likely watched it and is eager to share her thoughts. When she’s not furiously writing away, you can find her enjoying the next binge obsession with a glass of wine in front of the TV.
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Prime Video doesn’t have quite as many originals as other streamers, focusing heavily on its library of shows and movies from linear networks, including the classics. But the streamer does have an impressive line of originals, and action shows are arguably where Prime Video excels. You’ll find some of the best action shows of the last few years available to stream there, all but one with multiple seasons under their belts, some with more to come.
From compelling detective protagonists with special skills, to villainous superheroes, undead ghouls, and even more recently, a pair of women on the run, Prime Video has an eclectic mix of shows that, upon further inspection, are downright masterpieces.
While you might know of Alex Cross from Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of the James Patterson character in movies, maybe even Tyler Perry, Aldis Hodge and this series’ interpretation is arguably the best. Hodge captures the essence and look of the character in Cross, a talented detective and forensic psychologist whose reputation precedes him.
Both seasons so far of the crime thriller are heavy on the action as Cross chases down serial killers; the plots are split between the mental game he plays with them and a physical chase. The stories are compelling, with Season 2 upping the ante by introducing moral ambiguity to the plot thanks to a somewhat sympathetic killer. You can’t look away and will find it tough not to binge each eight-episode season in a single sitting.
Equal parts action, comedy, political comedy, satire, gore, and profanity, The Boys really does throw in everything but the kitchen sink. The satirical superhero series depicts people with special abilities called Supes. They should be heroes, but most of them are spineless, arrogant, narcissistic people who have let power get to their heads. Mortal human Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) has a bone to pick with their leader Homelander (Antony Starr). So, he forms a group of people to take him down and put an end to all Supes. But it won’t be easy considering the tremendous physical and mental power they possess.
The Boys is a superhero show that’s definitely not for kids. It’s stomach-turning at times, with foul language and graphically violent scenes making up the majority of every episode. But beneath the surface, it’s also a parody of real-life politics. That reality becomes more and more obvious as the seasons progress. Having come to an end with its fifth and final season this year, The Boys is a show you will either love or hate: there’s no in-between.
A spin-off of The Boys that exists in the same universe and at the same time, fans were devastated when Gen V was prematurely cancelled after two seasons. That’s especially with so much potential to continue the story following the ending of The Boys. Nonetheless, the two seasons, which tell a story intertwined with the last few seasons of The Boys, are worth watching.
Set in a school for young adult superheroes where they hone their unique skills, a group discovers a dark secret lurking in the basement. Horrified by what they learn, realizing the school isn’t what it seems, they fight back. Just as gory, profane, and graphic as The Boys, Gen V adds a coming-of-age spin to it with less refined, more naïve Supes who are learning to harness their powers while also discovering who they are outside of them.
Alan Ritchson captures the look and wooden persona of the title character from the Lee Child novel series to a tee. Reacher centers around his character, a highly intelligent, physically strong, and combat-skilled former military officer who now roams the U.S. as a hobo. When he gets caught up in a case in a small town, and discovers his estranged brother has been murdered, Reacher goes on the warpath.
All it takes is 10 minutes to know that Reacher will be a masterpiece. It has a procedural feel with intense action and exciting fight scenes. The character is almost cartoonish, the show even corny at times. But that’s precisely what makes it such a guilty pleasure watch and has drawn viewers to the show in droves. Reacher returns for its fourth season in August 2026 and has already been renewed for a fifth. The show is so good, there’s even a spin-off called ***Neagley ***coming in September 2026, based on Reacher’s trusted ally of the same name, played by Maria Sten.
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
Combining humor with intense violence in a compelling post-apocalyptic story, Fallout is arguably one of Prime Video’s best shows overall. Based on the popular role-playing video game franchise, the stories are brought to life on the small screen with incredible visuals showcasing both the elaborate underground bunkers where survivors reside and the dangerous wasteland above.
From creepy ghouls who roam the earth to humans in Power Armor fighting like massive robots, every character has their own backstory and mission. You’ll love the unlikely duo of the innocent and naïve Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the hardened and revenge-seeking bounty hunter The Ghoul (Walton Goggins). The story gets better and better as the narrative and settings in *Fallout *progress through its first two seasons. Gearing up for a third season that will see yet another location shift, Fallout will keep you invested as a thrilling post-apocalyptic show, even if you don’t know anything about the video games. Those who are familiar, however, will recognize how the scenes, settings, and characters are so true to the original story.
Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham are an unlikely pairing in this action-adventure comedy series that has become an instant hit for the streamer. Debbie (Spencer) is the wife of a politician in Ride or Die while Judith (Waddingham) is her best friend, who also happens to be an elite assassin. When they encounter a fierce enemy, the dynamic duo go on the run and hilarity and loads of action ensues.
Collider reviewer Meredith Loftus praises the chemistry between the two leads, appreciating the theme of friendship beneath the heavy action surface. While she admits that the series has too many subplots that detract from the core premise, she also calls it an “exhilarating ride with plenty of action thrills.” This show may just be this generation’s Thelma & Louise.
Some might have questioned John Krasinski’s ability to carry the weight of such a huge story with an action hero at the center. But it accomplishes this in spades in Jack Ryan, also known as Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. He plays the character that has been portrayed by many actors in other projects, from Alec Baldwin to Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. The CIA analyst works a boring desk job until he is thrust into the dangerous world of terrorist threats and political warfare.
Jack Ryan, one of Prime Video’s most known shows, streamed for four seasons and was followed up by the movie Jack Ryan: Ghost War. Every season sees Jack facing new dangers in a new setting, and the thrills are intensified each time. Earning high praise across the board for every season, Jack Ryan is a must-watch for action show fans who want a series that feels like a movie.
The voice cast of Invincible reads like a who’s who of top actors from this generation, as well as a repeat cast list of memorable actors from The Walking Dead. That’s because it’s created by Robert Kirkman, who created that series. **Invincible serves up a superhero story in adult animated form **that’s vulgar, graphically violent, and not the kind of show you want young kids to watch.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, the story in the most perfect action show centers around Omni-Man (J. K. Simmons), the most powerful superhero on Earth, and his son Mark (Steven Yeun), who is coming-of-age and trying to balance everyday teen challenges with his own powers and duties as the son of a well-respected superhero. It’s all about saving the world, fighting bad guys, and dealing with the emotional challenges of life as well as the physical sense of duty. You’ll love placing all the voices and seeing the massive list of guest characters along with the fantastic animation that feels at times like you’re not watching an animated show at all. Already renewed for a fifth and sixth season, *Invincible *will no doubt go down as one of the most influential adult animated shows of all time.
Commissioned as a joint production between Prime Video and MGM+. Spider-Noir stars Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, a private investigator also known as The Spider. He used to be the only superhero in New York City in the 1930s, but he has long since hung up his suit. That is, until a case comes his way that he can’t help but investigate, and Reilly needs the help of his alter-ego The Spider to do it.
Marking Cage’s first lead TV role following his amazing film career, he hits all the right notes in the adventure superhero noir show. Uniquely, you can watch it in either black and white or color, each providing a different viewing experience. Collider reviewer Aidan Kelley calls *Spider-Noir *“fun” and “pulpy,” highlighting the performances from the talented supporting cast as well as Cage. If you want a delightful throwback superhero show, **Spider-Noir does not disappoint through each of its eight episodes.
