Excellent Amazon Prime Limited Series You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
Some of the most distinctive stories on Prime Video arrive as limited series—complete, carefully contained, and ready to binge without wondering if a cliffhanger will linger forever. These productions span genres and countries, often adapting acclaimed books, exploring real events, or experimenting with style in ways long-running shows rarely attempt.
Below are fifteen Amazon Prime limited series that flew under many radars. Each one is self-contained, with a defined episode count, and was released as a Prime Video original in its territory—so you can press play knowing the story starts and finishes right there on the platform.
‘The Underground Railroad’ (2021)
Created by Barry Jenkins and adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, ‘The Underground Railroad’ follows Cora Randall’s flight from enslavement across a reimagined network of subterranean trains. The series stars Thuso Mbedu, Joel Edgerton, and Chase W. Dillon, and was produced by Plan B Entertainment and Amazon Studios. It runs for ten episodes, each exploring different states and communities through a mix of historical detail and speculative conceits.
Production took place largely in Georgia with extensive period sets and location work overseen by production designer Mark Friedberg. James Laxton’s cinematography and Nicholas Britell’s score were widely recognized by major awards bodies, and the series earned a Peabody for its storytelling. English is the primary language, with Gullah and other dialects featured in key scenes.
‘The English’ (2022)
Written and directed by Hugo Blick, ‘The English’ is a six-episode Western centered on an aristocratic Englishwoman, played by Emily Blunt, who crosses the American frontier alongside a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout portrayed by Chaske Spencer. The series blends frontier politics, land grabs, and personal vengeance with a meticulous approach to historical costuming and weaponry.
A co-production for Prime Video and the BBC, principal photography was based in Spain, with additional work in the UK, to capture sweeping prairie vistas and small-town set pieces. The score by Federico Jusid leans on strings and percussion, and the production design foregrounds frontier businesses, stage stops, and military forts. Dialogue switches between English and Indigenous languages in several sequences.
‘Dead Ringers’ (2023)
‘Dead Ringers’ reimagines David Cronenberg’s film as a limited series created by Alice Birch, with Rachel Weisz portraying twin obstetricians who run a high-end fertility clinic. Across six episodes, the show tracks medical ethics, reproductive technology, and the complexities of shared identity, set against the operations of a boutique hospital.
Produced by Amazon Studios and Annapurna Television, the series uses mirrored blocking, motion-control rigs, and meticulous costuming to stage dual-role performances. The supporting cast includes Poppy Liu, Britne Oldford, and Michael Chernus, and real-world consultants advised on surgical props and lab procedures to ground operating-room sequences.
‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ (2023)
Based on Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best-selling novel, ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ charts the rise and breakup of a fictional Los Angeles rock band. The ten-episode series stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin, using a documentary-style frame—interviews and archival-style footage—to intercut with concert performances and studio sessions.
Original music was composed and recorded for the production, with the band’s album released under the title Aurora to coincide with the show. The series was produced by Amazon Studios and Hello Sunshine, with rehearsal periods for the cast to train as a live band. Filming took place on stages and locations around Southern California to cover clubs, arenas, and Laurel Canyon interiors.
‘Expats’ (2024)
Created by Lulu Wang and adapted from Janice Y. K. Lee’s novel The Expatriates, ‘Expats’ is a six-episode drama set in Hong Kong’s expatriate community. Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, and Ji-young Yoo lead intersecting stories involving a family tragedy and the city’s domestic-worker networks, with episodes shifting perspective to foreground characters typically at the edges of such narratives.
The series was produced by Amazon Studios and features an extended, near-feature-length episode centered on public spaces and communal rituals in the city. On-location filming captured mid-levels walkways, wet markets, and harborfront shoots, while Cantonese and English are spoken throughout. Ryuichi Sakamoto’s compositions are featured alongside an original score.
‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’ (2023)
‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’ adapts Holly Ringland’s novel into a seven-episode family saga set between coastal settlements and Australia’s interior. Alycia Debnam-Carey and Sigourney Weaver headline a cast that follows Alice’s childhood trauma and her life on a flower farm that shelters women, incorporating the meanings of native blooms as narrative signposts.
Developed by Sarah Lambert and produced by Amazon Studios with Made Up Stories, the series filmed across New South Wales and the Northern Territory, using practical landscapes and bushfire staging supervised by safety specialists. The production integrates cultural consultation on language and symbolism, and features a score mixing orchestral cues with ambient textures.
‘Wilderness’ (2023)
‘Wilderness’ is a six-episode psychological thriller created by Marnie Dickens and adapted from B. E. Jones’s novel. Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen star as a British couple whose road trip across North America’s national parks unspools into schemes and counter-schemes, with sequences set in locations such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Las Vegas.
Amazon Studios produced the series with a mix of location shoots and backlot builds, coordinating with park authorities for aerials and overlook scenes. The opening credits feature ‘Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)’ as a thematic cue, while the score uses pulsing synths during chase set-pieces. Stunt teams handled cliff-edge work under controlled conditions.
‘Too Old to Die Young’ (2019)
Co-created by Nicolas Winding Refn and Ed Brubaker, ‘Too Old to Die Young’ is a ten-episode neo-noir following a Los Angeles deputy entangled with cartels, assassins, and vigilantes. Miles Teller and Augusto Aguilera star, with Cristina Rodlo and Jena Malone in pivotal roles, as the story moves through desert edges, strip-mall corridors, and private clubs.
The series was produced by Amazon Studios, with episodes running at feature-length durations. Production design emphasizes negative space and fluorescent interiors, while dialogue in English and Spanish reflects cross-border plots. Cliff Martinez composed the score, and the show’s long-take staging uses stabilized rigs and restrained coverage.
‘Crisis in Six Scenes’ (2016)
Written and directed by Woody Allen, ‘Crisis in Six Scenes’ is a six-episode comedy about a suburban couple whose household is upended by a young radical. The ensemble includes Woody Allen, Elaine May, and Miley Cyrus, with the story unfolding through living-room debates, dinner parties, and neighborhood encounters.
An Amazon Studios original, the series uses single-camera setups and interior-heavy staging, with costume and production design matching mid-century suburban aesthetics. Episodes run roughly half an hour, and the soundtrack draws on period pop and jazz selections licensed for streaming.
‘Mad Dogs’ (2016)
‘Mad Dogs’ adapts the British series into a ten-episode thriller about a group of friends whose Belize getaway turns into a criminal free-for-all. The main cast—Steve Zahn, Michael Imperioli, Romany Malco, and Ben Chaplin—portrays longtime acquaintances navigating mistaken identities, missing cash, and escalating threats.
Developed for Amazon by Cris Cole with executive producer Shawn Ryan, the series was produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television. Filming took place largely in Puerto Rico, standing in for Belize, with water-borne sequences supported by marine-unit safety teams. Episodes mix English and Spanish dialogue depending on setting and characters.
‘The Last Narc’ (2020)
‘The Last Narc’ is a documentary limited series directed by Tiller Russell that examines the abduction and murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Across four episodes, it features interviews with former cartel members, law-enforcement officials, and family members, intercut with archival footage and legally vetted case materials.
Produced by Amazon Studios, the series uses on-camera identifiers and graphics to clarify timelines and relationships between participants. Spanish-language interviews appear with subtitles, and the editorial team applies broadcast-standards blurring and audio redaction where required by legal review.
‘LuLaRich’ (2021)
‘LuLaRich’ is a four-part documentary series about the multi-level-marketing company LuLaRoe, directed by Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason. It incorporates filmed depositions, interviews with the company’s founders, and testimony from independent retailers to trace the brand’s rapid expansion and subsequent scrutiny.
The series was produced by The Cinemart and Amazon Studios. Editors structure each episode around specific business mechanics—onboarding, inventory, bonus structures, and compliance—using motion-graphics to visualize payouts, growth charts, and policy changes. Release assets included stills of warehouse operations and pop-up sale events.
‘Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer’ (2020)
Directed by Trish Wood, ‘Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer’ reframes the serial killer’s crimes through interviews with Elizabeth Kendall and her daughter, Molly, alongside survivors and investigators. The five-episode structure follows personal accounts, case chronology, and media narratives, presenting home-movie footage and case photos with content warnings where applicable.
An Amazon Studios documentary, the production team employed trauma-informed interviewing practices and partnered with legal counsel for rights-clearance of archival materials. The series features a composed score beneath interviews and uses lower-thirds to identify locations and dates tied to case developments.
‘This Is Football’ (2019)
‘This Is Football’ is a six-episode documentary series exploring the global impact of the world’s game, with individual chapters focusing on themes like Belief, Redemption, and Pride. The production spans multiple continents, featuring clubs, supporters, and grassroots programs, and includes match footage licensed from leagues and tournaments.
Produced by October Films with executive producers including John Carlin and Starbucks Entertainment, the series uses a mix of aerials, handheld stadium coverage, and player interviews. Subtitling supports a range of languages, and the editorial approach separates each episode into self-contained stories connected by a thematic throughline.
‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)
‘A Very English Scandal’ dramatizes the political scandal surrounding Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe. Written by Russell T Davies and directed by Stephen Frears, the three-episode series stars Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw, adapting John Preston’s nonfiction book and drawing on court records and parliamentary archives.
The production is a co-venture for Prime Video and the BBC, with costume and location work recreating Westminster offices, rural constituencies, and courtroom interiors. The series earned awards recognition across acting and limited-series categories, and it employs period-accurate props and vehicles sourced from specialist suppliers.
Share the limited series you’d add to this list—and the one you’re pressing play on first—in the comments.
