Prime Video's 10 Best Action Shows You Can Binge in a Weekend
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The competition between streamers is high, with each offering incredible original programming that can quickly win viewers over. Where Netflix comes forward with versatile short-form content, Apple TV meets them with powerful, genre-diverse dramas; Disney+ leans well into the sci-fi/fantasy genres, and Prime Video, well, they seem to have some of the best and most well-known action series at the moment.
If you're all into action right now, Prime Video is the streamer for you. Besides some long-lasting shows like Invincible and The Boys (which you can eventually try to binge-watch over the course of a weekend), there are shows you can definitely take a weekend to watch from start to finish. We've selected Prime Video's best action shows you can binge in a weekend.
'Citadel' (2023–Present)
Citadel is a recent series starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and, well, it delivers exactly what you'd expect from a $300 million production, from glossy production values and exotic locations to slick action sequences. The action remains tight throughout, with standout sequences like a well-choreographed restaurant fight and an exciting shootout on a high-speed train, among others. While the overall quality of the show hasn't gotten much praise, anyone looking for fairly mindless entertainment is going to love Citadel. The effort in making the show is praiseworthy, and that part will surely win you over.
Citadel is set eight years after a catastrophic mission destroys the independent global spy agency named Citadel; its top agents, Mason Kane (Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Chopra Jonas), have had their memories wiped and built new lives. When a former ally tracks them down, they must piece together their pasts and stop Manticore, the powerful syndicate that wiped out Citadel, from achieving world domination. The reunion of the two leads as they rekindle their relationship is quite emotional and human; next to Madden and Chopra Jonas, Stanley Tucci delivers the needed power and authority to the show. With seven episodes, you can watch the show within a single day; Season 2 has been announced, but it seems production is in trouble.
'Secret Level' (2024–Present)
Secret Level is an adult-animated anthology series from the creators of Love, Death & Robots, bringing original stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games. Each episode transports viewers into a different gaming universe, from Mega Man and Pac-Man to Warhammer 40,000 and Unreal Tournament. Secret Level is, undoubtedly, one of the best-looking animated anthologies ever made for streaming television; Tim Miller steps in as the creator, together with his production company, Blur Studio.
The Blur Studio animation is genuinely gorgeous, and each episode of Secret Level showcases a distinct visual style that honors its source material. The show also benefits from its powerful casting, which features Keanu Reeves in the story based on the game Armored Core, Arnold Schwarzenegger in the story based on New World, and one of the most renowned video game voice talents, Fred Tatasciore, in the episode about Unreal Tournament. The one thing we could point out as the show's biggest flaw is the episodes' runtime, which often ends just as you get invested. Still, for gamers who love spotting Easter eggs and appreciating how iconic IPs are reimagined, it's a visually stunning series filled with action, fantasy, sci-fi, and even laughs.
'The Mighty Nein' (2025–Present)
The Mighty Nein is another animated series, and it was based on the second campaign of the wildly popular Critical Role web series. For anyone unfamiliar with the lore, fear not—the show is a surprisingly accessible entry point into the universe it comes from. The story balances high-stakes adventures with greatly crafted character arcs, with some relationships within the series possessing genuine emotional weight that keeps viewers hooked. With eight episodes, you can watch The Mighty Nein pretty quickly.
The Mighty Nein follows a band of misfits, including the troubled wizard Essek Thelyss (Matthew Mercer), the blue-skinned tiefling Jester Lavorre (Laura Bailey), and Nott the Brave (Sam Riegel), a goblin with a drinking problem; together, they stumble into an adventure that can transform their entire world—preventing a powerful arcane relic called The Beacon from falling into the wrong hands. The Mighty Nein distinguishes itself from its origins in Critical Role by showing how its band of strangers gradually forms bonds, turning into a found family. The animation is stunning and the voice acting (performed by the original cast) adds authenticity that adaptations often lack.
'Young Sherlock' (2026–Present)
The freshest Prime Video action/mystery series, Young Sherlock, reimagines Sherlock Holmes as a troubled teenage misfit. By focusing on Sherlock's formative years, the series explores character development in ways the established canon couldn't so far; the college setting provides a mysterious atmosphere, and the twisted murder setup turns the story into an episodic adventure with an overarching conspiracy. The show was created by Guy Ritchie, who already dabbled with the story of Sherlock Holmes when he directed two films with Robert Downey Jr. in the lead; his Sherlock origin story is just as stylish and fast-paced as the films.
The series follows the 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin) as a scout who becomes entangled in a murder case at Oxford's Candlin College. Desperate to prove himself, he convinces a fellow student to join his investigation, but he unwittingly finds and learns things that could destroy the entire British Empire. The show beautifully explores what shaped Holmes into the legendary detective we know; the best part is the character development and depth, with Hero Fiennes-Tiffin being the ideal choice for Young Sherlock.
'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' (2024–Present)
One series that is quite underrated and absolutely bingeworthy is the eight-episode series, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine in the lead roles. Unlike the film, where the Smiths are already a married couple going through a less-than-blissful marriage, the series depicts the Smiths as strangers posing as the notorious couple, with their bond growing as they interact. Their operations are unique and unpredictable, while Glover and Erskine share genuine chemistry. Mr. & Mrs. Smith balances action sequences with uncomfortable comedy, boasting an incredible guest cast as well.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith follows two strangers recruited by a mysterious spy agency, who agree to an arranged marriage as their cover. "John" (Glover) and "Jane" (Erskine) must pose as the perfect couple while undertaking dangerous missions; meanwhile, they navigate the awkwardness of getting to know each other while having to pretend to be close in front of others. For anyone who's ever wondered about the early days of a spy marriage, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a fresh, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt take on the spy thriller genre.
'Gen V' (2023–Present)
Gen V is a spin-off of The Boys and many love it for its bold and unabashed look at Supes and how they are prepared, educated, and left to face off against the world on their own. A lot of the time, Gen V possesses the same irreverent, satirical, and ultra-violent energy as The Boys, only with a younger cast. It takes jabs at the political state of the country (and the world), mocking everything and everyone with the same sense of humor as its parent show. The characters are also often inconsistent and hypocritical, which is done on purpose, following a pattern of imperfect heroes, or antiheroes.
Gen V follows the students of Godolkin University, a prestigious college exclusively for young adult superheroes run by Vought International. These aspiring heroes compete for rankings and contracts, but beneath the surface lies a darker conspiracy that threatens to expose the truth about Compound V, Vought, and Godolkin. The cast is an ensemble effort, but Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) is the main protagonist because we follow her entry into Godolkin. For fans of The Boys wanting more time in that twisted universe, Gen V delivers enough gore, dark humor, and corporate satire to justify a weekend commitment.
'The Terminal List' (2022–Present)
The Terminal List is an action/conspiracy/revenge thriller based on the novel of the same name by Jack Carr. It stars Chris Pratt, who continues to hone his action hero persona in this eight-part series. While the show was renewed for Season 2 nearly three years ago, nothing much is happening on that front—but it has got a prequel in the meantime, subtitled Dark Wolf. The Terminal List is an intriguing series that does demand patience in some ways; starting off a bit slowly, the story pulls you in once the real mission begins, with tension escalating and the violence getting brutal and relentless. Critics panned it (42% on Rotten Tomatoes), but audiences embraced it (94% on RT), which is probably why it got renewed.
The Terminal List follows Navy SEAL Commander James Reece (Pratt), who returns home as one of two survivors of a covert mission in Syria, where a deadly ambush killed his entire platoon; upon return, Reece struggles with memory loss and survivor's guilt, and evidence emerges that the attack may have been orchestrated by forces within his government. When his family is murdered, Reece snaps, using the two decades of combat training to hunt down everyone responsible, operating entirely outside the system. You can choose to trust the critics or the audience, but if you want pure action, The Terminal List is a fantastic choice.
'Reacher' (2022–Present)
Based on Lee Child's bestselling Jack Reacher series of novels, Reacher, starring Alan Ritchson, is a show that makes a brilliant first impression. It's the longest show on the list, with three seasons and 24 episodes so far; while an ambitious binge-watch, it's possible to dedicate some time to it over the weekend—just maybe start on Friday evening if you have spare time. The show is well paced, and the chemistry between Ritchson and his co-leads makes it a compelling watch; the humor also lands because the show doesn't take itself too seriously.
Reacher follows retired military police investigator Jack Reacher, a drifter who, in the first episode, wanders into the small town of Margrave, Georgia, and gets arrested for murder. The victim turns out to be closer to him than he imagined, showing that the town has dark secrets, with Reacher's particular set of skills making him the only one who can uncover the truth behind them. Ritchson absolutely bodies the role, which earned him international recognition for a reason; his appeal is universal, making Reacher a bingeable series for literally anyone (except maybe children). It may be predictable, but it moves so efficiently that you won't care; it's basically pure entertainment that respects your time.
'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf' (2025–Present)
The aforementioned prequel to The Terminal List, Dark Wolf, shifts its focus away from James Reece to Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch), Reece's former Navy SEAL teammate and tech genius. Edwards appears in the original series, too, and steals many of the scenes he's in; Kitsch anchors Dark Wolf with the similar brooding intensity from the original series, showing off great action prowess. The seven-episode season is packed with plot and character development, and unlike The Terminal List, which leaned toward psychological thriller territory, this one embraces true intelligence warfare.
Set five years before the events of The Terminal List, Dark Wolf follows Ben Edwards after he's stripped of his Navy SEAL title and recruited by the CIA as a paramilitary operator. Assembling a team that includes Raife Hastings (Tom Hopper), Edwards is tasked with sabotaging Iran's plans to obtain enriched uranium for nuclear supremacy. As the operation unfolds, betrayals and moral complications force Edwards to confront the mental cost of becoming something he doesn't fully recognize. You can watch Dark Wolf first and then The Terminal List for a chronological weekend binge.
'Fallout' (2024–Present)
With the release of The Last of Us, no one thought there could be a better video game adaptation; however, Fallout seems to be a lot more successful, surpassing The Last of Us for some viewers because of its addictive quality and stunning production value. With a social satire dimension, Fallout feels like a show that makes you think, becoming depressingly realistic at times; yet, it manages to stay easy-going and filled with fun humor and intrigue for the most part, showing off some super fun action sequences to boot.
Fallout was based on the beloved video game franchise of the same name, and it unfolds in a retro-futuristic world where nuclear annihilation in 2077 forced survivors into underground Vaults. Two centuries later, young Lucy (Ella Purnell) leaves her vault, Vault 33, for the first time to search for her kidnapped father. Above ground, she discovers a wasteland populated by mutated creatures, violent raiders, and a mysterious Ghoul (Walton Goggins), a former Hollywood star transformed by radiation who is now a cowboy-like bounty hunter. The show balances four narrative threads: Lucy's journey, the Ghoul's present and his pre-war flashbacks, and the journey of Maximus (Aaron Moten), the squire for a land-dwelling Brotherhood of Steel. The show never loses its edge across two seasons, and you'll have a blast watching it over the weekend.
Fallout
- Release Date
- April 10, 2024
- Network
- Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
- Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
- Directors
- Frederick E. O. Toye, Wayne Che Yip, Stephen Williams, Liz Friedlander, Jonathan Nolan, Daniel Gray Longino, Clare Kilner
Cast
-
Lucy MacLean -
Aaron MotenMaximus
- Writers
- Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
- Franchise(s)
- Fallout
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Seasons
- 2
- Producers
- Andrea Knoll, Crystal Whelan, Gursimran Sandhu, Jake Bender, Skye Wathen, Zach Dunn, Halle Phillips, James W. Skotchdopole, Margot Lulick
- Creator(s)
- Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
- Executive Producer(s)
- Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner, James Altman, Jonathan Nolan, Todd Howard, Lisa Joy, Athena Wickham, Frederick E. O. Toye
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