4 Action Series Are Dominating Amazon Prime’s Streaming Chart (& None Are Reacher)

by

Amazon’s video streaming platform has been stealthily expanding its collection with strong titles in various genres, particularly action series that leave viewers breathless. It seems that action programming could soon become a dominant identity for Amazon’s streaming service, given the current popularity of no fewer than four distinct action series that are dominating the charts on the platform. Interestingly enough, Amazon’s breakout hit Reacher isn’t among those shows!

The action series The Terminal List and its new prequels, Dark Wolf, Butterfly, and Countdown, have made their way into Prime Video’s top 10 most-watched shows in the US. Within five days of release, Dark Wolf took the No. 1 spot. After over two weeks on the platform, Butterfly climbed to No. 3. Countdown followed closely behind at No. 4 after a month of streaming. The upcoming and premiere of Dark Wolf also boosted the original Terminal List series to No. 6, which first premiered three years ago.

Amazon Prime Video Is Delivering Action Shows Viewers Love (Even If Critics Don’t)

Upon examining the four specified series, a shared element emerges: they provide intense action scenes, frequently intertwined with espionage plots, which resonate strongly with many popular audiences.

According to audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, The Terminal List (94%) has been exceptionally well-received, while critics have given it a relatively low score of 40%, indicating a significant difference in opinion. In contrast, the new prequel series Dark Wolf appears to have narrowed this gap, with audience and critical scores of 83% and 71% respectively, suggesting that the franchise is moving in a positive direction to gain wider approval. Starring Chris Pratt, the series portrays his character as a Navy SEAL drawn into the underworld of espionage via the CIA. In the original series, Pratt’s character James Reece struggled to survive and uncover who was killing his team of special operatives; the prequel explores the dark backstory of how Reece transitioned from being a SEAL to working in CIA covert operations. Based on the Jack Carr novel, this popular franchise continues to gain traction.

The Terminal List, rated 94% by audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, is a resounding success, but critics have given it a 40%, indicating a significant disagreement in opinion. On the other hand, Dark Wolf seems to have bridged this gap, with an audience score of 83% and critical consensus of 71%, indicating that the franchise is making progress to appeal to more people. Starring Chris Pratt, the series depicts his character as a Navy SEAL who gets entangled in the world of espionage through the CIA. In the original series, Reece’s character was trying to stay alive and solve the mystery of who was murdering his platoon of special operatives; the prequel delves into the grim tale of how Reece first became a part of CIA covert operations. The franchise, based on the Jack Carr novel, is growing in popularity.

The series “Countdown” and “Butterfly” are newer productions, exhibiting similar themes to “The Terminal List.” In “Countdown,” Jensen Ackles plays an Army Ranger-turned-LAPD officer who’s tasked with a multi-agency force to solve the murder of a Homeland Security agent. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics (35%), audiences have shown appreciation for it (72%). On the other hand, “Butterfly” stars Daniel Dae Kim as a former US intelligence operative living in South Korea, who must reemerge when he learns his daughter has become a lethal assassin within the spy organization he helped establish. Compared to “The Terminal List,” “Butterfly” appears to have a more favorable consensus, with critics’ ratings (67%) not far off from audiences’ scores (85%).

Reacher Made Amazon’s Action TV Brand Possible

Although Reacher may not be currently popular on streaming charts, it’s important to note that this series played a crucial role in shaping Prime Video into a center for action-packed television. In reality, the success of Reacher has significantly contributed to the rise of what is now known as “Dad TV”, alongside series like Yellowstone and Tracker.

At present, Season 4 of the show Reacher is being made, drawing inspiration from Jack Reacher creator Lee Child’s novel “Gone Tomorrow”. In this installment, Reacher finds himself in New York City where he unwittingly interacts with a shady woman who tragically commits suicide on a bustling subway. As Reacher delves deeper into the matter, he uncovers her connections to the government and an extensive conspiracy that he can’t resist unraveling.

Besides the fourth season of Reacher, there is also a new series in development that focuses on Reacher’s companion and ally, Frances Neagley, portrayed by Maria Sten. This spinoff follows her story as she works as a freelance corporate security agent.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/alien-franchise-movies-tv-timeline-explained/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-02 20:44