There are over 1,000 television shows from the 2010s available to stream on Amazon Prime right now. A lot of them are actually lesser known than most, coming from overseas or just simply not featuring the vast number of viewers that others do. Some are even Amazon Prime originals.
One of the toughest tasks a viewer can come across is trying to pick out the best of the bunch to take the time to binge. Using the ratings on IMDb and only counting the series that have more than 50,000 reviews, these shows are the greatest from the era available on the streaming service.
The Expanse (8.5)
Based on a series of novels of the same name, The Expanse had one of the more interesting journeys of any show in recent memory. When it premiered in 2015, it was part of the SyFy network. After three seasons, it was canceled but Amazon Prime picked it up. Since then, it has only gone up in popularity.
The show has aired two more seasons and even been renewed for a sixth and final one. The Expanse takes place in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System. In it, a group of antiheroes unravels a major conspiracy that threatens the system.
Luther (8.5)
There aren't many actors out there who are more respected than Idris Elba. He has been especially good during the 2010s. One major example of that came with his leading role as the titular character in Luther, a BBC One project that lasted from 2010 until 2019.
Spanning five total series, Luther was widely praised from start to finish. The show focused on a murder detective who is brilliant but also suffers from obsessive behavior and is known to be overly violent. Elba was marvelous and scored a Golden Globe for his efforts.
Hannibal (8.5)
Often cited as one of the shows that was canceled far too soon, Hannibal premiered in 2013 and only lasted three seasons. The show was based on the characters from the Thomas Harris novels and films like The Silence of the Lambs, only working as something of a prequel.
It followed the life of psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter, played brilliantly by Mads Mikkelsen, and his relationship with FBI investigator Will Graham, portrayed by Hugh Dancy. They understand each other, yet are destined to become great rivals. Though the riveting series was canceled years ago, fans are still fighting for a revival.
Suits (8.5)
One of the longest-running shows on this list, Suits aired nine total seasons and spanned 134 episodes. The show took the concept of a legal drama and put just enough of a unique twist on things to make it interesting. That twist sees one of the show's two main lawyers holding a big secret.
As the two solve cases, they must maintain the secret that one of them never attended law school. Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams had fantastic chemistry together that made the show a blast to watch. Plus, there's the added bonus of seeing Meghan, Duchess of Sussex before she became part of the British Royal Family.
Vikings (8.5)
The final entry on this list tied with an 8.5 rating is Vikings. This series debuted in 2013, which was perfect timing since the world was craving this kind of action thanks to the popularity of Game of Thrones. It starts by following the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok.
Over the course of six seasons, Vikings ultimately becomes so much more. While it may not always be historically accurate, the series is lauded for its handling of the subject matter. It has been nominated for multiple Emmys and won a Best Drama Series Satellite Award. Vikings is set to premiere its final batch of episodes on Prime at the end of 2020.
Mr. Robot (8.6)
Similar to the aforementioned Suits, Mr. Robot aired on the USA Network. It quickly became the most-talked-about show on the channel and probably in all of television. It's also what made Rami Malek into a star long before his Oscar-winning performance in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Malek starred as Elliot Alderson, an unstable genius who also doubles as a vigilante hacker. He joins a group of "hacktivists" out to destroy debt records around the globe. Running from 2013 until 2019, Mr. Robot was a hit that scored several Emmys, including one for Malek.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (8.7)
It seems like every streaming service has its critical darling. The show that is met with widespread acclaim and racks up accolades even if it doesn't have the largest following. For Amazon Prime, that would be The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which debuted in 2017.
In just a few short years, it has won both the Emmy and Golden Globe as the top comedy series, while Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, and Tony Shalhoub have all nabbed acting wins. Set in the late '50s and early '60s, it follows a housewife who embarks on a stand-up comedy career.
Fleabag (8.7)
Another stellar comedy series led by a female that audiences and critics love is Fleabag. In this case, that leading lady is Phoebe Waller-Bridge. She actually goes beyond just delivering great performances in front of the camera, as she is also this show's writer and creator.
Waller-Bridge based the series on her own one-woman show from 2013. Following a tragedy, the titular Fleabag is a free-spirited woman from London trying to come to terms with the struggles of her life. Only consisting of two seasons, Fleabag scored four Emmys in its final year.
Downton Abbey (8.7)
It's not often that a show with a premise like Downton Abbey would manage to become a hit. However, it seemed like people from all over the place couldn't stop talking about this show during the 2010s. LeBron James even mentions being a fan of it during his hilarious Trainwreck role.
The series chronicled the lives of the Crawleys, an aristocratic British family from the early 20th century, and their servants. The popular series won multiple awards and spawned a feature film that grossed nearly $200 million.
The Boys (8.7)
Based on a comic book series of the same name, The Boys became Amazon Prime's breakout hit of the decade. Even though it only aired one season during the 2010s, it made an immediate impact. It is set in a world where superheroes are treated like celebrities but most are corrupt while a group of vigilantes try to combat them.
The show has been lauded for everything from its action to its comedy to the character development to its social commentary. The second season was possibly even better than the stellar first outing. Its massive success has led to a third season being greenlit as well as a spinoff series.