The Terminal List has ascended to the number one position on Prime Video following the release of its second season. The action-thriller has displaced the horror title Carrie as the platform's most-watched show.
Chris Pratt's True Believer adaptation claims the top spot
The second season of The Terminal List, which premiered last Wednesday, has successfully captured the top ranking on Prime Video. created by David DiGilio and starring Chris Pratt, the series is based on the novels of Jack Carr. According to the report, the latest season specifically adapts Carr's 2019 follow-up novel, True Believer.
The series continues to lean into the high-stakes military thriller genre, blending tactical action with a revenge-driven plot. While the show has a dedicated following, the report notes that it has faced a general lack of enthusiasm from professional critics, suggesting a significant gap between critical reception and viewer appetite.
The October pivot from Carrie's horror to action
The rise of The Terminal List is particularly notable given the timing of its release. Prime Video had positioned Carrie as its major October release, capitalizing on the lead-up to Halloween.. However, the action-thriller's return was enough to oust the horror film from the top of the streamer's TV rankings.
This shift reflects a broader trend in streaming consumption where established, star-led intellectual property often outweighs seasonal thematic releases. The ability of a military thriller to dominate during the peak horror window suggests that the audience loyalty to Chris Pratt and the Jack Carr universe is stronger than the general seasonal pull of the horror genre.
Medrano's YouTube pipeline and the rise of Helluva Boss
Beyond the top-charting hits, Prime Video is finding success with creator-led content like Helluva Boss. This adult animated black comedy musical began on Medrano's YouTube channel, where it cultivated a cult following over two seasons before being acquired by Prime Video. The show exists in the same narrative universe as another hit animated series, Hazbin Hotel.
The series focuses on the Immediate Murder Professionals (IMPs), an assassination company operating out of Hell. As reported, the production features a robust voice cast including Brandon Rogers, Richard Horvitz, Vivian Nixon, Erica Lindbeck, Bryce Pinkham, and Alex Brightman. The show is praised for its edgy humor, music, and LGBTQ+ representation, marking a departure from traditional workplace comedies.
Viewers looking to catch up on the series can now binge the entire run, as the final episode of the third season of Helluva Boss was released last week. This trajectory from independent YouTube animation to a major streaming platform highlights a growing pipeline for niche, digitally-native content to find mainstream distribution.
The critical divide over The Terminal List's appeal
One of the most striking aspects of the current Prime Video rankings is the disconnect between professional reviews and audience metrics.. While The Terminal List is a consistent audience favorite, the source indicates that critics have remained largely unimpressed. This raises the question of whether the show's success is driven by the quality of the adaptation or simply the marketing power of Chris Pratt.
Furthermore, it remains unclear how Prime Video intends to balance its prestige acquisitions with these high-volume, critic-proof hits. While the report focuses on the current rankings, it does not specify if the platform is seeing a decline in viewership for its more critically acclaimed titles in favor of the action-heavy True Believer adaptation.
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