10 TV Shows Like Reacher You Should Watch Next
After a couple of mediocre films, Reacher, based on a series of over 30 novels by Lee Childs, has become a smash hit on Prime Video. It’s been renewed for at least a fifth season, and a spinoff, Neagley, starring Maria Sten, is in the works. It’s easy to see why viewers have embraced the story of an incredibly large man who travels from town to town, getting into trouble and helping others get out of it: the plot is engaging, the show doesn’t take itself too seriously, and Alan Ritchson perfectly fits the character’s physicality and convincingly conveys the drifter with a heart of gold.
If you’ve finished season four and need something new, try one of the series below. Not all of them are about out-and-out loners like Reacher, and none are quite as ambitious, but all of them are more than capable of handling the task alone.
Night Agent (2023–)
“The Night Agent” is a suspenseful drama with a touch of spy thriller. Gabriel Basso plays Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent working nights in the White House basement, monitoring a phone that never, ever rings. Until… it doesn’t. Peter receives a call from Rose Larkin, a cybersecurity expert whose aunt and uncle have just been murdered and, unbeknownst to her, were also government agents. Rescuing Rose draws Peter into a web of conspiracy and official corruption. (This is why I never answer the phone.)Watch “The Night Agent” on Netflix.
Cross (2024 – )
With nearly three dozen books about Alex Cross (and counting), there’s plenty of material for this ongoing series (previously adapted for film in the ’90s with Morgan Freeman in the title role). Here, the Washington, D.C., homicide detective and forensic psychologist is played by Aldis Hodge, a man as dedicated to justice as Reacher . What sets Cross apart is his deep devotion to family, which, rather than adding to the charm of family life, only raises the stakes, as Cross’s investigations often threaten to implicate his children. Watch Cross on Prime Video and Paramount+ .
Jack Ryan, based on the works of Tom Clancy (2018–2023)
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the star of books and films (beginning with The Hunt for Red October ), has outlived his creator by more than a decade—despite constantly facing mortal danger. In the latest version, a series on Prime Video, John Krasinski plays America’s beloved CIA analyst, who is called out of the office and into the field after discovering suspicious bank transfers linked to Islamic extremists. The series has ended, but a film, rather awkwardly titled Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost Wars, continues the series. Watch Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Prime Video .
“The Equalizer” (2021–2025)
The Equalizer, starring Queen Latifah, reboots the 1980s series (and bypasses the Denzel Washington films), with a slightly different plot: Latifah plays single mother Robin McCall, an incredibly talented former CIA operative who uses her abilities to benefit those in need. The series is a cross between a crime drama and a spy drama, with some episodes focusing on personal matters and others on international espionage. While the original depicted cops constrained by “rules” and “restoring basic human dignity to criminals,” this series is more about those who have suffered under a system that doesn’t care about them, and who can be helped by a woman who can kick almost anyone’s ass. Watch The Equalizer on Paramount+ and Tubi .
Hap and Leonard (2016–2018)
Based on the popular novel series by Joe R. Lansdale, perhaps best known for his horror and western (and horror western) books, the series deftly blends genres—it’s a heist series, a crime drama, and a buddy comedy set in the swamps around Baton Rouge in the 1980s. James Purefoy plays Hap, a working-class ex-convict (for avoiding the Vietnam draft) trying to live a quiet life, and the late Michael Kenneth Williams plays Leonard, an openly gay veteran with severe anger management issues. One day, Hap’s ex-wife shows up with an offer: the money from a bank robbery has been lost, and if they help her get it back, they’ll get their cut, and she’ll use the remaining funds to fund her underground leftist group. Naturally, things quickly get complicated. Watch Hap & Leonard on AMC+.
The Night Manager (2016–)
Given that The Night Manager (based on the 1993 novel, not to be confused with the aforementioned The Night Agent ) is based on the works of John le Carré, it’s no surprise that it’s been a success—though the cast, led by Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Olivia Colman, certainly doesn’t hurt. Hiddleston plays Jonathan Pine, working the night shift at a luxury hotel in Switzerland when he encounters an unexpected guest: arms dealer Richard Roper (Laurie). A former army veteran, Pine previously dealt with Roper in Cairo, and Foreign Secretary Angela Burr (Colman) convinces the night manager to infiltrate the criminal organization. Although recruited by British intelligence, he remains an outcast and forever on his own. A second season arrived roughly ten years later, but a third (and final?) is expected to arrive a little sooner. Watch The Night Manager on Prime Video .
Bosch (2014–2021)
“Bosch” is a more traditional crime drama, albeit with clear neo-noir aspirations. Titus Welliver stars as LAPD Detective Harry Bosch (starring in Michael Connelly’s novels), who, at the series’ outset, is on trial for shooting a suspect in self-defense while investigating the murder of a 12-year-old. Like Reacher, Bosch uses the skills honed in the military to pursue criminals far beyond the pale, which isn’t always a good thing. Watch “Bosch” on Prime Video .
Banshee (2013–2016)
In Banshee, Antony Starr plays Sheriff Lucas Hood… well, almost. A recently released man assumes his identity when the new sheriff in the small town of Banshee is murdered. It’s part of a complex plan to recover $15 million worth of diamonds he lost while incarcerated. The new sheriff mete out brutal justice while maintaining his criminal ways, making him one of the most morally ambiguous cops on television. Watch Banshee on HBO Max.
Luther (2010–2019)
While Reacher is a loner from the start, Luther’s storyline is one of growing isolation, even as he forges an unlikely but loyal ally. Idris Elba plays Chief Inspector John Luther, a crime-solving genius whose inner demons are heightened by his work investigating the darkest and most brutal crimes. Initially unable to bring Alice Morgan’s (Ruth Wilson) killer to justice, their relationship intertwines in a way that both aids Luther’s investigations and threatens his ultimate downfall. The series is ending, but a second spinoff, followingFallen Sun , is in the works. Watch Luther on Hulu.
Tracker (2024 – )
Another hero of the long-running book series (this time by Jeffrey Deaver), the missing persons hunter is Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), a survivalist who travels the country (in his RV, naturally) selling his services to find missing people. He’s joined remotely by a team that includes a lawyer, a case manager, and, as expected, a computer specialist—but they’re all just support staff. Ultimately, it’s Shaw who will find your missing uncle. Watch “The Hunter” on Paramount+.