Truth be told, looking through Amazon Prime Video might be compared to being lost in a jungle of the digital world. You could be searching for a comedy one moment, and suddenly you are deep into a post-apocalyptic thriller, and somehow you end up watching a docuseries about extreme dog grooming. It is quite a wild place. Anyway, if you are sick of scrolling and only want to press “play” on something that really deserves your time, then you are fortunate. I have been through the noise (and I have done some serious binges while snacking), and I am now able to present to you 11 Amazon Prime Video original series that are the absolute minimum you need to watch.
From laugh-out-loud comedies to gritty dramas and all the rest, here’s the countdown—because let’s be real, saving the best for last always is more fun.
11. Harlem
Harlem is all about four women exploring love, work, and identity in one of NYC’s most legendary neighborhoods. Developed by Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver, the series brings a sassy, unapologetic perspective to friendship and drive, with a cast that exudes chemistry. Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandai, and Jerrie Johnson deliver, with guest stars such as Whoopi Goldberg making things even hotter. A viewing essential with a real voice and plenty of humor.
10. Catastrophe
This British romantic comedy is not your typical sappy and sweet stuff. Catastrophe takes two strangers (Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney) through a surprise pregnancy following a tryst, and makes their one-night stand somehow real. It’s messy, raw, dirty, and surprisingly heartwarming. Bonus: The late, great Carrie Fisher steals every scene she appears in. It’s a refreshingly candid exploration of relationships, parenting, and the mess of adult life.
9. A League of Their Own
Yes, it’s a do-over—but this reboot of the original film takes the familiar tale and goes with it in bold, new ways. Co-created by Abbi Jacobson, A League of Their Own adds more depth to gender, race, yet retains the humor and heart of the original that made everyone love it so much. With great performances from D’Arcy Carden, Kate Berlant, and Jacobson herself, it’s a hilarious, emotional, and all-too-brief gem that needs so much more love.
8. One Mississippi
Tig Notaro’s deadpan genius is here, delivering this highly personal, semi-autobiographical series. One Mississippi combines grief, clumsiness, and dry wit as Tig comes back home from her mother’s passing. Developed with Diablo Cody, the show unobtrusively explores trauma, family life, and recovery in an instantly relatable, utterly intimate manner. It’s subtle, moving, and frequently hilariously surprising.
7. I’m a Virgo
If you’re craving something truly original, I’m a Virgo is your show. Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) created this surreal coming-of-age tale about a 13-foot-tall Black teen growing up in Oakland. Starring Jharrel Jerome, the series mixes absurdist humor, biting social commentary, and dazzling visuals in a way few shows even dare to try. It’s weird, smart, and totally unlike anything else on TV.
6. High School
Adapted from Tegan and Sara’s memoir, High School is an honest, moody, and beautifully shot look at growing up, coming out, and figuring things out. With real-life twins Railey and Seazynn Gilliland playing the lead roles, the show captures the messy beauty of adolescence with stunning authenticity. Throw in a ‘90s soundtrack and some killer grunge-era vibes, and you’ve got a coming-of-age story that hits all the right notes.
5. Dead Ringers
Rachel Weisz delivers not one, but two tour-de-force performances in this eerie reimagining of Cronenberg’s cult classic. As twin gynecologists, she navigates identity, control, and obsession in a world where science and horror converge. Dead Ringers is dark, chic, and incendiary—with plenty of body horror and social commentary. It’s creepy, sure—but also profoundly absorbing.
4. Undone
This rotoscope animation series is not only a visual feast—it’s also a time-traveling, trauma-tackling family adventure. From the creators of BoJack Horseman, Undone follows Rosa Salazar as a woman who begins to see visions of her dead father and discovers she has latent abilities after a car accident. It’s wonderfully strange, deeply emotional, and one of the most imaginative series Prime Video has ever produced.
3. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Steeped in the glamorous world of 1950s New York, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a wisecracking, style-conscious extravaganza. Rachel Brosnahan shines as Midge, a suburban homemaker turned stand-up comedian seeking to penetrate a man’s universe with charm, humor, and unrelenting will. Written by Gilmore Girls architect Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show is a visual and verbal thrill ride that has won accolades—and rightfully so.
2. Reacher
Sometimes, you simply crave watching a rough-around-the-edges guy kick down bad guys, and Reacher delivers by the truckload. Alan Ritchson plays the legendary Jack Reacher with charm and sheer strength, coming to the screen with unexpected depth. The show remains true to the novels yet provides the action with a smooth, contemporary look. It’s pleasing, intelligent, and perpetually bingeable. And it broke streaming records for a reason.
1. Fallout
Fallout, Prime Video’s epic take on the cult video game franchise, delivers. It takes place in a dark, post-apocalyptic universe and follows Lucy (Ella Purnell), who braves her sheltered life underground to go in search of her father. What she finds is crazy, funny, terrifying, and completely binge-worthy. With killer acting (hi, Walton Goggins!) and pitch-perfect world-building, Fallout is not just a hit—everyone’s talking about it as a new science fiction classic.
So the next time you fire up Prime and feel intimidated, forgo the scroll. These 11 debut series are proof that Amazon’s not merely a destination for free shipping and reruns of vintage sitcoms. Enjoy watching—and may your queue forever be binge-worthy.