AMC+ has many original TV shows and movies to choose from, and these are the best picks for newcomers to the streaming service. Doctor Who finally has a new home after being taken off HBO Max. With AMC+ becoming the exclusive platform for the beloved sci-fi show outside the UK, many viewers are flocking to the streamer. Of course, it will take a while to get through all the new seasons dropping, since all of them from 2005 to 2022 will be available. On top of that, AMC+ has received a huge boost in popularity thanks to Netflix platforming some of AMC’s originals. Plus, the third season of The Terror was a huge hit, piquing the interest of potential subscribers.
The platform might not get as much attention as Apple TV or Netflix, but it produces great TV shows and movies, ranging from campy to intellectually stimulating. With such a large portfolio to choose from, it might feel daunting. Luckily, I’ve selected some of the best of the best that AMC+ has to offer. If you’re new, any of these would be a good starting point because of their high production values, well-written stories, and numerous awards.
9
The Terror (2018-Present)
The Terror is a critically acclaimed anthology horror show that weaves in historical events and supernatural elements. Despite having different stories, each season is tied together in its high production values, masterful tension, and character-driven storytelling. While the first is the best, all three seasons are worth watching.
The titular first season follows the ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, which are trapped in ice while trying to find the Northwest Passage and being stalked by a mysterious entity. The second season, called The Terror: Infamy, centers on a bakemono who torments the Japanese Americans in Southern California throughout World War II. The third one, titled The Terror: Devil in Silver, follows a man wrongfully committed to a psychiatric hospital that’s tormented by a mysterious being lurking in the shadows.
8
Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire (2022-Present)
AMC+’s Interview with the Vampire isn’t the first attempt at bringing Anne Rice’s iconic story to life, but it is by far the best. The frame story centers on a vampire named Louis de Pointe du Lac, who relays his life story to a journalist named Daniel Molloy. This takes viewers back to 1910 New Orleans, where he forms a family with his love, the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, and a fledgling teen named Claudia.
The visuals and narrative both embrace elements of the gothic romance genre. The script is beautifully written, and the cinematography shines. Unlike the 1994 movie, they make the LGBTQ+ romance explicit rather than keeping it in the subtext. Luckily, actors Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid, who play Louis and Lestat, have electric chemistry.
7
Official Competition (2021)
The Spanish-language movie Official Competition is one of the best Hollywood satires in recent years, and it’s one of the best AMC+ originals. The story centers on a multi-millionaire named Humberto Suarez, who decides that his legacy will be a film adaptation of a Nobel Prize-winning book. He hires an eccentric director named Lola, a method stage actor named Ivan, and a celebrity named Felix to make the movie. However, it won’t go smoothly.
The story feels like a sharp but affectionate critique of Hollywood culture and the creatives that contribute to it. If the premise isn’t enough to hook you, the movie also stars Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, and Oscar Martinez. What’s more, the characters’ over-the-top, obnoxious personalities lead to plenty of laughs.
6
This Is Going To Hurt (2022)
If I could recommend only a single AMC+ show, it would be This Is Going to Hurt, a masterpiece British medical dramedy filled with gallows humor and meaningful social commentary. The show follows a junior doctor named Adam Kay who works on the underfunded obstetrics and gynecology ward. He and his coworkers must juggle medical burnout, insufficient training, and very little time for personal lives.
I have watched the show many times. The story brings just as many laughs, many of which come from Adam’s fourth-wall breaking, as it does tears. Every actor in This Is Going to Hurt gives a fantastic performance, but Ambika Mod is truly the shining star of the series. What’s more, it can be finished in just seven hours.
5
Halt & Catch Fire (2014-2017)
Halt and Catch Fire’s four seasons span a decade, from IBM dominating the market in 1983 to the early days of the internet in the 1990s. A tech entrepreneur named Joe MacMillan hires programmer Cameron Howe and computer engineer Gordon Clark to reverse-engineer the IBM PC and create a competitor. The show has been deemed one of the best of the 2010s, and it certainly deserves the title.
Halt and Catch Fire gets better with every season. The storytelling is unique from other shows in that it never holds anything back. The characters are forced through challenging situations from the start, rather than holding off on the drama. It’s very empathetic and optimistic, viewing its characters with compassion. That said, the series asks big questions about the cost of ambition and the issues with tech startup culture that feel just as relevant today.
4
Happening (2021)
I want to make this abundantly clear from the start: Happening will not be for everyone. It deals with the topic of abortion and reproductive rights. If you are against abortion and don’t want to hear an opposing perspective, you might want to skip Happening.
The French AMC+ film Happening is an extremely challenging watch, as it deals with the topic of abortion and reproductive rights. However, it is an absolutely moving film. Set in 1963 France, the story follows a young woman named Anne who has big dreams and a successful career ahead of her. However, her whole life could be upended when she becomes pregnant. She must decide whether to risk her freedom and life in order to get an illegal abortion.
The story leans into realism, making it hit hard. Filmmaker Audrey Diwan proves herself. The critically acclaimed movie is beautifully shot, well written, and unflinching. Actor Anamaria Vartolomei gives such a compelling performance that it will grab you from the start and never let go. Obviously, the movie delves into major moral questions. However, that makes Happening all the more meaningful.
3
Des (2020)
David Tennant is one of the most talented actors of this lifetime, and I’m confident that he can handle just about any role thrown at him. The true crime drama Des is a clear example of this. Tennant has played many funny and adventurous characters across fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, and even horror. However, he goes a completely different direction in the AMC+ show, playing Scottish serial killer Dennis Nelson.
The story is tight, only having three episodes. Unlike other true crime shows about serial killers, this series doesn’t glorify its subject. It treats Dennis Nelson like the monster that he is. Tennant really taps into the deplorable nature of his character, giving a chilling performance that will linger long after the last episode finishes. Unsurprisingly, he won the International Emmy for Best Actor for the role.
2
Watcher (2022)
The 2022 movie Watcher is a psychological thriller reminiscent of classics like Disturbia and The Woman in the Window. The story follows an expat couple who move to Bucharest. Francis works long hours, leaving Julia home alone during the day. Julia becomes convinced someone in an apartment across the street is watching her, and her fears intensify when she learns a serial killer is on the loose.
Rather than going larger-than-life, Watcher is extremely grounded, making it feel real. Thanks to strong cinematography and a great script, the movie’s slow-burning tension is palpable. It also explores the fear of being a woman in a world that labels you as “hysterical” and “dramatic.” Luckily, after you’re done with Watcher, there are many other great thriller and horror titles to choose from because AMC+ hosts many Shudder movies.
1
Into The Badlands (2015-2019)
Into the Badlands lasted three seasons, and it’s one of the most interesting and unique martial arts series. It mashes sci-fi, martial arts, and Westerns into a single post-apocalyptic story. Set 500 years in the future, society is in complete ruins, and firearms are shunned, making melee weapons and hand-to-hand combat the dominating choice. The Badlands span from the Rockies to the Mississippi River, and feudalism has taken over. Sunny, the head assassin for an evil leader, meets a child named M.K. who tests his loyalty.
The series is high-concept and high-production values. While the dialogue occasionally gets expository, the story is pretty great. The martial arts choreography in the AMC+ show is beautiful to watch. Costume designers Christine Bieselin Clark and Giovanni Lipari did a phenomenal job creating something that feels both old and new.