Dramas are the lifeblood of streaming services. TV comedies and feature films of all shapes and sizes are also major draws. But it’s the dramatic television series that keep us glued to our seats for a binge or three. That’s when the twists and turns become so compelling that we have to immediately see what happens next. Admittedly, Amazon Prime Video was a little late to the party when it came to original programming. But Prime Video is making up for lost time with a rich and diverse lineup of shows, as well as a few from other studios. If you love dramas, Prime Video has an abundance of riches. And to help you get the most out of your Amazon subscription, we’ve put together this list of Prime Video’s best drama series.
If you’ve already burned through the Amazon Prime Video catalog and need more ideas, we’ve also put together a list of the best original series on Amazon Prime Video.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad takes more than a few liberties with the actual history of slavery in America. For example, the titular railroad is literally an underground railroad built to smuggle slaves out of the south years before the Civil War. But it’s still a very compelling story about Cora Randall (Thuso Mbedu) and her journey to freedom. After Cora and Caesar Garner (Aaron Pierre) flee from their owner, they are relentlessly pursued by a slave catcher, Arnold Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton). Along the way, Cora meets new friends and allies. But far too often, Cora winds up in more danger when she comes face to face with the dark side of America.
Created by: Barry Jenkins
Cast: Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mullan
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
DOM
Amazon Prime Video has expanded its international reach with the Brazilian drama DOM. This is a father-son story set against the drug trade in Rio de Janeiro. The father, Victor Dantas (Flavio Tolezani), is a cop who has fearlessly fought to bring down the dealers and cartels. However, his son, Pedro (Gabriel Leone), is an addict and a thief who is estranged from Victor. Regardless, Victor doesn’t give up on trying to save his son from himself. Through flashbacks, we see Victor as a younger man whose actions impact the present. And in the modern-day setting, Pedro’s choices threaten his father’s efforts to bring his prey to justice.
Created by: Breno Silveira
Cast: Gabriel Leone, Flávio Tolezani, Filipe Bragança
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
The Affair
Although The Affair was a Showtime original series, all five seasons are now on Amazon Prime Video. And as the title implies, the focus of the show is an extramarital affair between Noah Solloway (Dominic West) and Alison Bailey (Ruth Wilson). Both Noah and Alison are unsatisfied or unhappy in their respective marriages to Helen (Maura Tierney) and Cole (Joshua Jackson). The most intriguing aspect of the show is that events are depicted differently from Noah and Alison’s perspectives, while Helen and Cole eventually share their own takes on the dissolutions of their marriages. Noah and Alison’s choices reverberate far into the future, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Created by: Sarah Treem, Hagai Levi
Cast: Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, Joshua Jackson, Julia Goldani Telles, Jake Siciliano
Number of seasons: 5
Watch on Amazon Prime
Poldark
Amazon Prime Video doesn’t have a lot of historical romance dramas, but the British series Poldark fills that void nicely. The series stars Aidan Turner as Captain Ross Vennor Poldark, a British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. After returning home to Cornwall in 1783, Ross discovers that his family life is in turmoil. His former lover, Elizabeth Chynoweth (Heida Reed), is now engaged to Ross’ cousin, Francis Poldark (Kyle Soller). And the Poldark family’s finances have taken a severe downward turn in his absence. But as Ross begins to rebuild, he finds new love with Demelza Carne (Eleanor Tomlinson) despite their different social backgrounds.
Created by: Debbie Horsfield
Cast: Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Heida Reed, Ruby Bentall, Jack Farthing, Luke Norris
Number of seasons: 5
Watch on Amazon Prime
ZeroZeroZero
ZeroZeroZero is an Italian crime drama with a masterfully complex story that takes place in three countries. In Italy, Don Damiano “Minu” La Pian (Adriano Chiaramida) tries to revive the fortunes of his crime family with a massive shipment of cocaine. Don Minu’s grandson, Stefano La Piana (Giuseppe De Domenico), sabotages the deal, which causes problems in America as smuggling brokers Emma (Andrea Riseborough) and Chris Lynwood (Dane DeHaan) face severe consequences for the delay. And in Mexico, the Lynwood family’s interests with the narcos Jacinto Leyra (Flavio Medina) and Enrique Leyra (Víctor Huggo Martin) take a deadly turn in the ongoing battle with Mexican special forces.
Created by: Stefano Sollima, Leonardo Fasoli, Mauricio Katz
Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Dane DeHaan, Giuseppe De Domenico, Adriano Chiaramida, Harold Torres
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
Hunters
Hunters is one of the most high-profile original series on Amazon Prime, thanks in part to Al Pacino headlining a TV show for the first time. Pacino plays Holocaust survivor Meyer Offerman, the leader of a group of Nazi Hunters in the late ’70s. Meyer brings Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman) onto the team following his grandmother’s death by a Nazi agent. FBI agent Millie Morris (Jerrika Hinton) also becomes involved as it becomes clear that Nazis are operating within the United States and covertly forming a Fourth Reich. This is about more than just revenge for the Hunters. And the battle is only beginning to take shape.
Created by: David Weil
Cast: Al Pacino, Logan Lerman, Jerrika Hinton, Lena Olin, Saul Rubinek
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
Tell Me Your Secrets
Tell Me Your Secrets runs through three interconnected stories about Emma Hall (Lily Rabe), Mary Barlow (Amy Brenneman), and John Tyler (Hamish Linklater). Years ago, Emma was the girlfriend of serial killer Xavier Samuel (Kit Parker), the man who murdered Mary’s daughter, Theresa Barlow (Stella Baker). However, Mary is convinced that Theresa is still alive. So she hires John to find Emma and get her some answers. But despite the passage of years, Emma’s life is endangered by another killer waiting in the wings. This is a tale of potential redemption, and not everyone is as innocent as they initially appear to be.
Created by: Harriet Warner
Cast: Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, Hamish Linklater, Enrique Murciano
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
The Wilds
There are definitely some shades of Lost in The Wilds since it involves a group stranded on a seemingly deserted island interspersed with flashbacks and flash-forwards. But in this case, we know that there’s something off from the start. Gretchen Klein (Rachel Griffiths) invited Fatin Jadmani (Sophia Ali) and eight other teenage girls to attend her Dawn of Eve retreat. However, that was just a ruse to engineer a plane crash and allow Gretchen the opportunity to perform a sociology experiment by secretly observing the survivors through hidden cameras on the island. Naturally, there’s some friction between the girls. Yet their problems are far bigger than they imagine.
Created by: Sarah Streicher
Cast: Sophia Ali, Shannon Berry, Jenna Clause, Reign Edwards, Mia Healey, Helena Howard
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
Them
It would not be inaccurate to say that Them is a spiritual descendant of American Horror Story, since both shows embrace a seasonal anthology format. But Them dives deeper into real-world horror in addition to its otherworldly thrills. Season 1 takes place in 1953, as Henry (Ashley Thomas) and Livia “Lucky” Emory (Deborah Ayorinde) move their family from North Carolina to Los Angeles in a bid to escape the racism of their former home. But the city of angels has plenty of racism bubbling just beneath the surface, and the Emory family has to deal with dark threats beyond the scope of their understanding as well as the malevolent actions of their own neighbors.
Created by: Little Marvin
Cast: Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Melody Hurd, Ryan Kwanten
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
The Vineyard
The Vineyard is another recent addition to Amazon Prime Video that brings an international flavor to its epic tale of romance and tragedy in the 19th century. The story of Mauro Larrea (Rafael Novoa) and Soledad Montalvo (Leonor Watling) keeps them apart for most of the first season as they struggle to face challenges that threaten to destroy them and their families. But when Mauro and Soledad finally come face to face in Mexico, they find that they desperately need each other. And perhaps something greater can grow from their mutual attraction as well.
Created by: Susana López Rubio, Javier Holgado
Cast: Leonor Watling, Rafael Novoa, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba, Juana Acosta
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
The Night Manager
The Night Manager has a cast that would be the envy of any movie or TV show, with Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie in the leading roles alongside Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, and Elizabeth Debicki. In this adaptation of John le Carré’s classic novel, Hiddletson plays Jonathan Pine, a former British soldier turned night manager for a luxury hotel. After Jonathan becomes too close to one of his guests, British intelligence officer Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) uses that as leverage to convince him to help her take down an international arms dealer named Richard Roper (Laurie). But the deeper Jonathan goes into Richard’s world, the harder it becomes to pull himself out.
Created by: David Farr
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, Elizabeth Debicki
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
Good Girls Revolt
Good Girls Revolt was one of the earliest original dramas on Amazon, and it probably should have had a much longer run than just a single season. Regardless, this is a compelling period drama that takes place in 1969. Patricia “Patti” Robinson (Genevieve Angelson), Jane Hollander (Anna Camp), and Cindy Reston (Erin Darke) are overworked and underpaid researchers at News of the Week. Slowly, all three women realize that their male counterparts are getting all of the credit and far bigger paychecks. As they come together to challenge the status quo at work, they also become more assertive in their personal lives.
Created by: Dana Calvo
Cast: Genevieve Angelson, Anna Camp, Erin Darke, Hunter Parrish, Chris Diamantopoulos
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
The Americans
Originally produced for FX, The Americans is a criminally underrated period drama set during the Cold War in the ‘80s. Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell play a seemingly all-American couple, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings. On the surface, the Jenningses are loving parents and loyal citizens. But in reality, Philip and Elizabeth are KGB spies tasked with some of the Soviet Union’s most dangerous espionage missions in Washington D.C. Although initially placed together in a loveless marriage, the Jennings’ feelings for each other become a reality even as Philip clearly has more of an affinity for his adopted country than his homeland.
Created by: Joe Weisberg
Cast: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Holly Taylor, Noah Emmerich
Number of seasons: 6
Watch on Amazon Prime
Billions
Billions is currently one of Showtime’s signature dramas, but Amazon Prime subscribers can watch the series through season 3. Paul Giamatti stars as Charles “Chuck” Rhoades, Jr., a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who is obsessed with bringing down Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis), a wealthy hedge fund manager whose activities tend to be illegal. Further complicating their rivalry is Wendy Rhoades (Maggie Siff), Chuck’s wife and a longtime employee of Bobby’s Axe Capital. Wendy also feels a great deal of loyalty to Bobby, which puts additional strain on her marriage to Chuck. This high-stakes cat-and-mouse game is still unfolding, and there are no winners yet.
Created by: Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Andrew Ross Sorkin
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Åkerman
Number of seasons: 5
Watch on Amazon Prime
Bosch
Police procedurals are pretty common on network TV, but less so on streaming services. Regardless, Amazon’s Bosch is among the best in the genre, and it is also a largely faithful adaptation of Michael Connelly’s novels. Titus Welliver stars as the title character, Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch. Harry is a homicide detective for the LAPD who has a knack for finding himself in trouble and in the middle of major cases. In addition to navigating his dangerous job, Harry also tries to maintain his bond with his daughter, Madeline “Maddie” Bosch (Madison Lintz). It’s never an easy road, but Bosch is a cut above other police dramas.
Created by: Eric Overmyer
Cast: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick
Number of seasons: 6
Watch on Amazon Prime
Downton Abbey
Streaming services tend to mine British TV shows to round out their programming, and Amazon picked a winner with Downton Abbey. This period drama was an international sensation for six seasons. It takes place in the early 20th century, as Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) and his wife, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), face the very real prospect that their ancestral home, Downton Abbey, may not be inherited by their daughters despite their plans. Additionally, the series fleshes out the lives of the Crawley family’s servants and support staff, many of whom have romances, personality clashes, and even betrayals in the name of advancing their lot in life. There’s always intrigue in Downton Abbey, whether from above or below.
Created by: Eric Overmyer
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Phyllis Logan, Jim Carter
Number of seasons: 6
Watch on Amazon Prime
Homecoming
Amazon recruited Julia Roberts to headline its original thriller, Homecoming, and it’s one of the most compelling shows on Prime. In season 1, Roberts plays Heidi Bergman, a social worker for the Homecoming Transitional Support Center. In the past, Heidi’s job was to help U.S. war veterans readjust to civilian life. A few years later, Heidi is working as a waitress with few memories about her time at Homecoming. But when Heidi eventually goes looking for answers about her missing past, she won’t like what she finds. Season 2 picks up with a new story, as Janelle Monáe’s Jacqueline Calico also finds herself bereft of her memories and her identity.
Created by: Eli Horowitz, Micah Bloomberg
Cast: Julia Roberts, Bobby Cannavale, Janelle Monáe, Stephan James
Number of seasons: 2
Watch on Amazon Prime
House
House really turned medical procedure dramas on their ear, thanks to a dynamite performance by Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House. The good doctor is uncommonly talented when it comes to diagnosing patients, but less so when it comes to bedside manners. Additionally, Dr. House is less than shy about telling his patients what he really thinks of them. But at the end of the day, House and his team — Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer), Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), and Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps) — will do anything and everything they can to save lives.
Created by: David Shore
Cast: Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison
Number of seasons: 8
Watch on Amazon Prime
Mr. Robot
Hackers have become fairly commonplace in fiction, but Mr. Robot is one of the few dramas that has actually made it compelling in and of itself. Rami Malek stars as Elliot Alderson, a gifted hacker turned cybersecurity engineer for Allsafe. Elliot also deals with crippling depression and mental illness. The titular Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) introduces a new level of chaos to Elliot’s life when he recruits him for a mission to destroy all records of debt within the files of Allsafe’s biggest client. No matter which path Elliot chooses, he will have to compromise himself.
Created by: Sam Esmail
Cast: Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Carly Chaikin, Portia Doubleday
Number of seasons: 4
Watch on Amazon Prime
Small Axe
Small Axe is the junction where television and film intersect. Writer and director Steve McQueen created Small Axe as an anthology series that explores the lives of London’s West Indian immigrants from the ‘60s to the ‘80s. Each episode stands alone as a full-length film, with a fantastic lineup of performers that includes Letitia Wright, John Boyega, Malachi Kirby, Shaun Parkes, Rochenda Sandall, Alex Jennings, and Jack Lowden.
Created by: Steve McQueen
Cast: Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes, John Boyega, Sheyi Cole
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Amazon Prime
The Expanse
The Expanse has been favorably described as a sci-fi series with the scale and gravitas of Game of Thrones. The show’s large ensemble cast navigates a difficult future in which humanity has colonized the solar system. However, Earth and Mars are locked in a buildup to war, while the Belters in the outer colonies feel exploited by both factions. During this volatile period, James Holden (Steven Strait) and the surviving members of his crew stumble across the biggest conspiracy in human history and proof that an alien protomolecule exists. However, the protomolecule has an agenda of its own, and it may wipe out humanity in its wake.
Created by: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Cast: Steven Strait, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham, Thomas Jane
Number of seasons: 5
Watch on Amazon Prime
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
It’s a testament to the skill behind The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel that the series works equally well as a drama and a comedy. Rachel Brosnahan stars as Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a housewife in the late ‘50s whose husband, Joel (Michael Zegen), abandons her and their children. In response, Midge strikes out on a daring career as a standup comedian, with Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein) as her manager. However, Midge makes an enemy out of Sophie Lennon (Jane Lynch), a rival comedian who becomes eager to crush her competition.
Created by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Cast: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle
Number of seasons: 3
Watch on Amazon Prime
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