Jack Ryan and the 5 best political thrillers to watch on Prime Video

Prime Video is packed with so many shows that it’s hard to narrow down. They range from streaming originals to Freevee series and the platform has the ability to add on plenty of shows from various cable channels and other streamers.

Subscribers can also find a good range of original comedy and drama programming that includes a few good political thrillers, often using all-star casts and packing in plenty of action alongside the political intrigue. For those wanting to enjoy that genre, these six shows are worth checking out on Prime Video for major thrills!

Jack Ryan

This show is a great TV adaptation of the works of the late, great Tom Clancy. John Krasinski is the latest actor to play the title role of Jack Ryan, a simple CIA analyst who finds himself thrust into the field in dangerous missions. The first season has him tracking bank transfers that lead him to a terrorist group while others take him to South America, Europe and the Middle East.

Krasinski is fantastic, showing Jack growing not just as a fighter in the field but also navigating the complex political games of Washington, D.C. There are as many scenes in boardrooms arguing on policy as action pieces, and both come off quite compelling. Even if you’re not a fan of Clancy, this thriller is addictively fun. 

Citadel

With just six episodes, this series from the Russo Brothers looks like a big-screen event. Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra are former agents (and lovers) for a top-secret spy agency called Citadel. When their enemies take the organization down, the pair have their memories wiped and sent into new lives. They reunite and have to recover both the memories of their past and get Citadel started again.

The action is wildly over the top with train crashes, gunfights, and more, with both leads looking fantastic in their roles. Stanley Tucci provides a good supporting role, and there are intriguing twists, including one in the finale that changes everything. For sheer spectacle, this show is more than worth experiencing. 

The Expanse

This may be more sci-fi, but make no mistake, the political overtones are the best part of the series, which aired on Syfy before Prime rescued it. What looks like a murder mystery on a space station connects to an archeological find and more events to spark what could be a full-on galactic war. The stunning turns are plentiful as the political games are front and center.

That’s showcased by Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo), the sharp-witted United Nations diplomat who steals every scene with her wicked tongue. It just gets better every year for a grand conclusion to stand as a masterpiece of both sci-fi and political intrigue. 

The Night Manager

While it aired in 2016, this British series remains a captivating watch. Tom Hiddleston is a former soldier who’s now the manager of a Cario hotel. He’s recruited by British intelligence to spy on an arms dealer (Hugh Laurie) whose amiable nature hides his ruthless persona. Oscar winner Olivia Colman is sensational as the spy using Hiddleston with Elizabeth Debicki as Laurie’s lover.

With such a high-powered cast, it’s no wonder that the show is a fantastic ride. It’s best to see Hiddleston and Laurie match up, and their discussions are more tension-filled than any action sequence. The six-episode series flows thanks to the cast and still holds up. 

Roadkill

If you want more Hugh Laurie, enjoy this 2020 show as he plays a British minister hoping to rise up to Prime Minister. As enemies ally against him and dark secrets come to light, Laurie has to fight for his survival. The action bounces between London and Washington with a major turn midway through that keeps you guessing. At just four episodes, it doesn’t wear out its welcome and is another showcase for how British politics can be just as dirty as the U.S.'s.

Hunters 

This bizarre series takes place in an alternate 1977, where Nazis have infiltrated the highest levels of the United States government. A young man is pulled into a pack of Nazi hunters led by Al Pacino and investigating a wider conspiracy. The show gets crazier as it goes, playing on the idea of enemies embedded anywhere and it's often very dark. Hunters is not historically accurate by any means, yet it still sucks you in as season 2 ends in one truly crazy finale. Pacino’s usual acting style shines well in a tale that reminds you why Nazis always make the best bad guys.