3 excellent Prime Video shows to stream this weekend (August 21-23)

Published Aug 20, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT After graduating from Marist University with a degree in communications and journalism, Dan Girolamo has over 10 years of experience writing about entertainment and sports. Dan's work can be seen in various publications, including Digital Trends, SportsCasting, and Tom's Guide. Throughout his career, Dan has interviewed several high-profile filmmakers and creatives, including Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Caitriona Balfe, Frank Grillo, Miranda Cosgrove, Jai Courtney, Chris Columbus and James Cameron. Dan joins How-To Geek as a Senior Editor. When he's not writing about entertainment, Dan is either watching a movie or praying for the New York Knicks to win a championship. Original programming has been dominating Prime Video's top 10 in August, with Reacher season 4 and Sterling Point season 1 sitting at Nos. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Beyond the list of new and returning shows this month, Prime Video has a stacked library of licensed shows that appeal to mass audiences. One of the shows on the list is a procedural that premiered in 2005. That staying power is only possible because of its strong following. The next show is a CBS drama that ran for more than a dozen years. The final show, which happens to be our top selection of the weekend, is the second season of a horror anthology series from Ryan Murphy. All three shows are available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S. 3 Criminal Minds A look through the eyes of FBI profilers Whenever I watch a procedural, it's a stress-free experience. I don't necessarily need to understand every single detail of the episode, nor do I need to spend hours on Reddit combing through fan theories. It's not as pressure-inducing as House of the Dragon or Stranger Things. There is real value to adding a show like Criminal Minds to your streaming lineup. Created by Jeff Davis, Criminal Minds is a police procedural focusing on the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), a special group of profilers who investigate peculiar cases and study mysterious suspects known as unsubs (unknown subjects). The best way I can describe it is that the BAU solves crimes committed by criminals who resemble fictional villains like Hannibal Lecter and Jigsaw. The first five seasons are streaming on Prime Video, so the characters you gravitate toward include Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin), Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness). The show primarily follows a case-of-the-week format, so you can watch most of the episodes in any order you like. When you don't know what to watch, there's a benefit to having a go-to procedural like Criminal Minds to put on. 2 Blue Bloods Fighting crime runs in the family I don't know what it is about this weekend, but my mind is drifting toward procedurals. Perhaps it's due to the fact that we're approaching the end of summer, and there aren't as many new shows right now as there will be once September begins. I find myself looking for shows to kill an hour. Blue Bloods satisfies those criteria. Blue Bloods puts the spotlight on the NYPD and the fictional Reagan family. The patriarch is Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck), the commissioner of the New York Police Department. Frank's kids are all involved in professions that combat crime. Oldest son Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), daughter Erin (Bridget Moynahan), and youngest son Jamie (Will Estes) becomes a cop instead of a lawyer. When they're not putting the bad guys behind bars, the Reagans, a tight-knit Irish Catholic family, never miss Sunday dinner. The Blue Bloods audience definitely veers toward an older crowd, considering it aired on broadcast TV. Still, it stands out from other procedurals because of the family dynamic, giving the viewers characters to root for. Like Criminal Minds, the first five seasons of Blue Bloods are streaming on Prime Video along with season 14. If you miss Blue Bloods, tune in to CBS on Friday nights this fall to watch the spin-off, Boston Blue. 1 American Horror Story: Asylum Behold Ryan Murphy's wild and scary creation ​​​​​​​ Did you know that American Horror Story has been on the air since 2011? I was stunned to learn that the show has already completed 12 seasons, with season 13 set to premiere later this year. It's a very impressive feat, especially since the show follows the anthology format and introduces new characters every season. Admittedly, I have not seen the new seasons of the show, but I did watch a good amount at the beginning, and season 2's Asylum is the chapter that stuck with me the most. Most of the season takes place in the 1960s at Briarcliff Manor, a fictional mental institution. Journalist Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) attempts to expose Briarcliff's inhumane practices, but it ends up backfiring when she's committed by Sister Jude (Jessica Lange). There's also a supernatural element that shakes up the entire asylum. Asylum is scary. That sounds like a requirement for a show with "horror" in the title, but some of the show's earlier seasons de-emphasize the horror premise. Asylum embraces horror. The 1960s setting also gives Asylum a distinct, stylish feel that stands out. The first 12 seasons of American Horror Story are available to stream on Prime Video. More shows to consider adding to your watchlist Once you're done checking out Prime Video, head over to Apple TV to experience some great sci-fi, including Severance and Silo. Then, fire up Netflix to watch the final season of Outer Banks. Subscription with ads Yes, via Prime membership or $9/month Simultaneous streams 3