Prime Video’s 10/10 Action Thriller Has To Copy 1 Trick From John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan Playbook

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Prime Video's 10/10 Action Thriller Has To Copy 1 Trick From John Krasinski's Jack Ryan Playbook

Prime Video’s Jack Ryan franchise has become one of the streaming platform’s most successful and recognizable franchises, and another action thriller should be taking notes from its playbook. Helping to establish Prime Video as a serious player in the world of big-budget action, John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan franchise was adapted from the novels of the same name by Tom Clancy.

With the Jack Ryan series running on Prime Video for multiple seasons, the platform was able to develop the series and position it as a flagship show for the streamer. A huge global hit, Jack Ryan set itself apart with its willingness to treat TV like a cinematic experience rather than a weekly episodic series. With brutal action sequences and large-scale set pieces, Jack Ryan raises the stakes.

Each season escalates the scope of the central Jack Ryan conflict, but keeps the character-driven tension that made Clancy’s books resonate with readers in the first place. Now, as Jack Ryan moves into feature film territory, it’s clear that there’s a bigger story to tell than can be contained on the small screen.

While the strategy isn’t unique to Jack Ryan, Prime Video’s high-rated action thriller should serve as a roadmap for other shows on the platform moving forward.

Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher Deserves A Theatrical Movie

Reacher, which stars Alan Ritchson as the titular Jack Reacher, has long been praised as a page-to-screen adaptation. Capturing the physicality and personality described in Lee Child’s novels, the Prime Video series emphasizes grounded violence, the tension of an investigation, and self-contained story arcs. Each season already feels cinematic, which means transitioning to film wouldn’t be much of a stretch for the franchise.

A theatrical Reacher film would allow the franchise to raise the stakes without abandoning its core identity, instead bringing tightly structured narratives and methodical action sequences to a whole new level. A standalone story could lean into bigger budget locations, higher-risk confrontations, and keep Reacher’s looming presence at the forefront of his characterization. Following the Jack Ryan model, a film would feel like a natural extension of Reacher.

Tom Cruise’s Reacher Movies Were Not The Most Faithful Adaptation

Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher

While the earlier Jack Reacher films, which starred Tom Cruise, introduced the character to a global audience in the early 2010s, they were often criticized for their less-than-faithful adaptation of Child’s work. One of the most common complaints centered on casting, as Reacher himself is meant to be more of a physical imposition than Cruise was capable of playing.

While the films delivered solid action and were an overall commercial success, they condensed complicated plots and altered the tone of the stories, softening the intimidation factor central to Reacher’s identity. In contrast, the Prime Video series has benefited from being long-form content, allowing investigations to unfold gradually and bringing the characterization of Reacher himself into the story in a more impactful way.

Will Amazon’s Jack Ryan Experiment Work?

John Krasinski as Jack Ryan crouches with a gun in a parking lot.Everett

Turning a TV universe into a film isn’t a guaranteed success, but it has worked in the past for some franchises. Jack Ryan is uniquely positioned to make it work, as the character already has a long cinematic history. Prime Video’s series established a version of Jack Ryan that was ready for the big screen quickly, and seems to be treating the film as a natural stepping forward.

With Prime working hard to perfect their smaller releases like The Accountant 2, it’s clear that the platform is ready to ensure that Jack Ryan is a success on the big screen. Hopefully, with a win in its back pocket, the streamer is interested in giving Reacher the same treatment in the future.