I’ve watched just a couple of Amazon Originals and loved them. I wanted to see what else is worth watching. Here are my favourites, award winners, critically acclaimed and cult favourites.
WYALAN Ranked, Rated and Recommended
WYALAN star rating explained:
- 5 stars – Highly enjoyed and would highly recommend as a must watch
- 4 stars – Enjoyed and would watch again in the future
- 3 stars – Glad I watched it once, but I’ll probably never watch it again
- 2 stars – Watched to the end, but I wouldn’t watch it again
- 1 star – DNF (did not finish)
The Big Sick (2017) – Romantic/Comedy
For fans of: Love, Master of None, About Time
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won multiple critics’ awards for its heartfelt, semi-autobiographical story. WYALAN Rating – 5/5
Sound of Metal (2020) – Drama
For fans of: Whiplash, CODA, The Rider
Won Academy Awards for Best Sound and Best Editing, with Riz Ahmed earning a Best Actor nomination for his role as a drummer losing his hearing. WYALAN Rating – 4.5/5
More best lists on Amazon Prime Video:
Sci-Fi On Amazon Prime ~ Rom Coms On Amazon Prime ~ Documentaries On Amazon Prime ~ Free Movies & TV Shows On Amazon Prime Freevee ~ Comedies On Amazon Prime ~ Comedy Horror Movies On Amazon Prime ~Horror Movies On Amazon Prime
Award Winners
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023) – Comedy/Drama
For fans of: Hacks, GLOW, Bunheads
Won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes for its dazzling period style, sharp writing, and Rachel Brosnahan’s standout performance.
Transparent (2014–2019) – Comedy/Drama
For fans of: One Mississippi, Please Like Me, The L Word
Won Golden Globes and Emmys for its groundbreaking portrayal of gender identity and family transformation.
Mozart in the Jungle (2014–2018) – Comedy/Drama
For fans of: Smash, The Morning Show, Tár
Won Golden Globes for Best Comedy Series and Best Actor (Gael García Bernal) for its behind-the-scenes look at classical music.
One Night in Miami (2020) – Historical/Drama
For fans of: Selma, Malcolm X, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Regina King’s directorial debut earned Oscar nominations and won Best Ensemble at the Gotham Awards for its imagined meeting of Black icons.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) – Satire/Comedy
For fans of: Da Ali G Show, Jackass, The Dictator
Won Best Supporting Actress (Maria Bakalova) at the Critics’ Choice Awards and was nominated for two Academy Awards.
Critically Acclaimed
The Boys (2019– ) – Superhero/Action
For fans of: Watchmen, Invincible, Gen V
Praised for its brutal satire and genre subversion, this anti-superhero series earned Emmy nominations and critical acclaim.
The Expanse (2015–2022) – Sci-Fi/Drama
For fans of: Battlestar Galactica, Foundation, Andor
Widely praised for its realism, political depth, and world-building, this space opera became a critical darling.
Patriot (2015–2018) – Spy/Comedy
For fans of: Barry, Fargo, Mr. Robot
This offbeat espionage series earned cult acclaim for its deadpan tone and poetic structure.
Undone (2019– ) – Animated/Drama
For fans of: Russian Doll, BoJack Horseman, Devs
Critics praised its rotoscope animation and philosophical storytelling as one of Amazon’s most innovative originals.
Goliath (2016–2021) – Legal/Drama
For fans of: Damages, The Lincoln Lawyer, Your Honor
Billy Bob Thornton’s performance earned an Emmy, and the show was praised for its noir tone and legal intrigue.
Good Omens (2019– ) – Fantasy/Comedy
For fans of: Dirk Gently, The Sandman, What We Do in the Shadows
Neil Gaiman’s apocalyptic buddy comedy earned strong reviews for its chemistry and faithful adaptation.
Modern Love (2019–2021) – Anthology/Romantic Comedy
For fans of: Love Life, Easy, High Maintenance
Based on the New York Times column, this anthology earned praise for its emotional range and star-studded cast.
The Man in the High Castle (2015–2019) – Alt-History/Drama
For fans of: 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale, Counterpart
Critically praised for its production design and dystopian premise, adapted from Philip K. Dick’s novel.
Red Oaks (2014–2017) – Coming-of-Age/Comedy
For fans of: The Wonder Years, GLOW, Everybody Wants Some!!
This 1980s-set country club comedy earned critical praise for its nostalgic tone and character-driven storytelling.
Inside Edge (2017– ) – Sports/Drama
For fans of: Moneyball, Succession, Selection Day
India’s first Amazon original earned strong reviews for its gritty portrayal of cricket and corruption.
Hanna (2019–2021) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Alias, Killing Eve, Orphan Black
Praised for its performances and action sequences, this adaptation expanded the original film’s premise with depth.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018– ) – Spy/Action
For fans of: Homeland, 24, Reacher
John Krasinski’s turn as the CIA analyst earned solid reviews for its pacing and global scope.
Tales from the Loop (2020) – Sci-Fi/Drama
For fans of: Devs, Black Mirror, Station Eleven
Inspired by Simon Stålenhag’s artwork, this meditative sci-fi series was praised for its atmosphere and emotional storytelling.
Homecoming (2018–2020) – Thriller/Drama
For fans of: Mr. Robot, Severance, The OA
Julia Roberts starred in this psychological thriller that earned critical acclaim for its direction and sound design.
The Report (2019) – Political/Thriller
For fans of: Spotlight, The Post, Official Secrets
Adam Driver stars in this gripping investigation of CIA torture, praised for its urgency and moral clarity.
Forever (2018) – Surreal/Comedy
For fans of: Russian Doll, The Good Place, Made for Love
Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen star in this existential suburban comedy that earned strong reviews for its originality.
Time (2020) – Documentary
For fans of: 13th, For Sama, Strong Island
This intimate portrait of incarceration and resilience was nominated for an Academy Award and won Best Director at Sundance.
Beautiful Boy (2018) – Drama
For fans of: The Father, Honey Boy, Ben Is Back
Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet earned acclaim for their performances in this addiction drama based on dual memoirs.
Crown Heights (2017) – Legal/Drama
For fans of: Just Mercy, When They See Us, Fruitvale Station
Won the Audience Award at Sundance for its true story of wrongful conviction and perseverance.
Cult Favourites
Upload (2020– ) – Sci-Fi/Comedy
For fans of: The Good Place, Severance, Black Mirror
This digital afterlife comedy has gained a loyal fanbase for its world-building and tech satire.
City of Ghosts (2021) – Animated/Docu-Series
For fans of: Bluey, StoryBots, Adventure Time
This gentle, inclusive kids’ series earned a passionate following for its hybrid storytelling and emotional intelligence.
Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (2020) – True Crime/Docu-Series
For fans of: The Ted Bundy Tapes, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Mindhunter
This docuseries reframes the Bundy narrative through survivors’ voices, gaining cult interest for its feminist lens.
The Gymkhana Files (2018) – Sports/Docu-Series
For fans of: Drive to Survive, Top Gear, Fastest Car
Ken Block’s stunt-driving series built a niche following among motorsport fans for its behind-the-scenes access.
One Mississippi (2015–2017) – Comedy/Drama
For fans of: Transparent, Better Things, Somebody Somewhere
Tig Notaro’s semi-autobiographical series was praised for its quiet humour and emotional honesty, with a devoted cult following.
Eat. Race. Win. (2018) – Sports/Food Docu-Series
For fans of: Chef’s Table, Tour de France: Unchained, Somebody Feed Phil
This Tour de France culinary docuseries earned niche acclaim for its unique blend of endurance and gastronomy.
Six Dreams (2018) – Sports/Docu-Series
For fans of: All or Nothing, Welcome to Wrexham, Take Us Home
This Spanish football docuseries gained cult traction for its intimate access and emotional storytelling.
Breathe: Into the Shadows (2020– ) – Thriller/Drama
For fans of: You, Dexter, The Fall
This Indian psychological thriller has built a loyal fanbase for its dark twists and layered performances.
Generation Wealth (2018) – Documentary
For fans of: The Queen of Versailles, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, The Wolfpack
Lauren Greenfield’s visual essay on consumerism and status gained cult interest for its provocative scope.
Last Flag Flying (2017) – Drama
For fans of: The Last Detail, The Messenger, American Sniper
Richard Linklater’s military road trip drama earned modest acclaim and a quiet following for its performances and tone.
Beat (2018) – Thriller/Drama
For fans of: Babylon Berlin, Dogs of Berlin, The Eddy
This Berlin-set techno noir built a cult audience for its atmosphere and underground setting.
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018) – Biopic/Drama
For fans of: The Sessions, The Sea Inside, A Man Called Otto
Joaquin Phoenix stars as disabled cartoonist John Callahan in this Gus Van Sant-directed film that earned a niche following for its dark humour and emotional depth.
Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) – Comedy/Drama
For fans of: Trainwreck, Booksmart, The Big Sick
This underdog comedy about self-worth and transformation became a sleeper hit with audiences and critics alike.
Suspiria (2018) – Horror/Art Film
For fans of: Black Swan, Hereditary, The Neon Demon
Luca Guadagnino’s reimagining of the 1977 cult classic divided critics but gained a passionate fanbase for its bold style and haunting themes.
The Vast of Night (2019) – Sci-Fi/Mystery
For fans of: Primer, Midnight Special, Close Encounters of the Third Kind
This low-budget alien mystery earned praise for its atmosphere and long takes, quickly becoming a cult favourite.
Free Meek (2019) – Docu-Series/Crime
For fans of: When They See Us, Time, 13th
This documentary about rapper Meek Mill’s legal battles sparked conversation and built a loyal following for its advocacy tone.
The Aeronauts (2019) – Adventure/Drama
For fans of: Everest, The Theory of Everything, Ammonite
Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne reunite in this balloon-bound survival story that earned modest acclaim and a niche audience.