Amazon Prime is currently one of the streaming giants that’s constantly looking to create some of the most notable franchises in the world. With the platform set to visit the land of Middle Earth very soon, there’s plenty of other brands that the service is currently known for.
Many of these are based on existing materials, whether they be books, comics or even reinventions of previous shows. All of these have also been quite successful, although there are a few underrated gems within the Amazon Prime catalog that audiences could pay more attention to. Perhaps Amazon has enough big franchises to rival the likes of Netflix and Disney+!
Alex Rider (2020- )
Alex Rider, a young school boy turned spy, saw his story start in the famous Anthony Horrowitz novels that bore his name. This British show made its debut on Amazon Prime earlier this year and served as a much better adaption of the Alex Rider books than the oft forgotten movie Stormbreaker.
With expert casting and thrilling action sequences the show has the potential to be a long term heavy hitter for the streaming platform. The second season is already in the works, demonstrating that this Bond-esque show is heading for big things.
Carnival Row (2019- )
Carnival Row is another recent addition to the streaming platform and while the fantasy series was met with mixed reviews, it’s clearly a huge brand that will only continue to grow.
Lead by two massive stars in Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne, there’s a lot of potential here for Carnival Row to continue to evolve and certainly a lot of room for the show to grow as its audience does.
The Grand Tour (2016- )
With the Top Gear presenters being changed due to some off set drama, Amazon Prime swooped in to create a new series starring Top Gear regulars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
And so, The Grand Tour was born and the show has had a number of series and even a spin-off, tracking the three on a variety of comedic adventures, each featuring the vehicles they love.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017- )
A comedy and drama, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was a surprise hit for Amazon Prime, which has gone to great lengths to push the show as one of their most premium pieces of content. The effort paid off beautifully, with the show racking rave reviews and fan adoration.
The series is entirely unique in its execution and has the added distinction of also being a period piece about a housewife who decides to become a stand-up comedian in the patriarchal ’50s. The award winning show has defined what Amazon can achieve with the right creative team.
The Man In The High Castle (2015-2019)
The novels this series is based on managed to create a dystopian world, which Amazon Prime adapted beautifully. The sci-fi and dystopic fiction takes the concept of the Nazis winning the Second World War and the impact this would have on humanity and reality itself.
It’s tense, disturbing and extremely well produced, with multi-dimensional characters. It has become one of the platform’s most well known shows, demonstrating that Amazon Prime can build up their own franchises based on fantastic source material.
The Boys (2019- )
Based on the edgy comics of the same name, The Boys is heading towards its second season after the first was so well received. It took the comic concept and brought it to the next level, with supposed super heroes creating chaos.
The show had a number of twists and turns and can certainly be celebrated for its set and costume designs, as well as its amazing casting. However, its key selling point is how it deconstructs the superhero and celebrity myth while also tackling the dark side of real world politics. It’s a strong franchise that will go from strength to strength.
Jack Ryan (2018- )
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is everything fans hoped for in terms of a spy thriller. It’s full of interesting twists and has a number of beautifully choreographed action sequences.
John Krasinski, the latest actor in a long line to portray the titular character, propels this series forward and showcases that he can certainly take on the leading man role in an action show. It’s been an all around hit for Amazon.
Making The Cut (2020- )
It’s rare to find a quality fashion show these days. After Heidi Klun and Tim Gunn jumped ship from Project Runway, they were commissioned a new show on Amazon Prime and thankfully, they have filled this void.
The first season of Making The Cut turned out to be quite unique compared to other shows on the market, and is defining itself among tough competition over at Netflix.
Good Omens (2019)
In a joint venture with the BBC, Amazon Prime decided to adapt a classic from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Good Omens. While it appears the show is a one-off, it’s a great first step to further explore these author’s fantastic library of work.
Starring David Tennant as a devil and Michael Sheen as an angel, the two go on a mission to stop the Antichrist from ending the world, even if it means betraying their own heavenly or damned people.
Star Trek: Picard (2020- )
This Star Trek: The Next Generation spin-off Picard may be a CBS show that you can watch on CBS All Access, but Amazon has the exclusive streaming rights to it. In fact, it even sports an Amazon Original banner internationally. It goes without saying that this show is a massive asset for the platform.
With more shows and content coming out soon, Star Trek is continuing to bring in new fans and please older audiences and while the show is competing with other series within the same brand. Picard’s first season definitely brought a sense of nostalgia with it.
