As Reacher enthusiasts continue to wait for Season 4’s premiere on August 12, 2026, all eyes turn to see how the showrunners will adapt Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow novel, bringing Jack to New York City. Until we get answers, there are plenty of gritty new(ish) action-thrillers to keep us entertained. In addition to Alan Ritchson blasting his way onto the big screen with Motor City and Runner this year, a handful of small-screen substitutes for Reacher fans feature the star-studded likes of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Aldis Hodge, Eddie Redmayne, Maggie Q, and other big-name draws.
From intense one-man-army revenge stories to parental redemption tales to vast government conspiracies and classic police procedural spin-offs, the most ideal new thriller shows to watch until Reacher returns this August feature relentless action spectacles, magnetic protagonists, a mysterious conflict that must be resolved, and a short episode count that makes for a perfect weekend watch. Don’t miss these seven new surefire hits!
Why You Should Trust Me: As someone who understands the triumphant formula behind Reacher from covering action thrillers at MovieWeb for years, I know what fans of the show are looking for when it comes to gritty action set-pieces, relatable heroes and antiheroes who are called upon to settle scores and uncover criminal conspiracies with minimal help, and a dynamic pace that makes you want to come back for more.
‘The Terminal List’ (2022-)
Chris Pratt Matches Alan Ritchson’s Smoldering Intensity
Few TV protagonists can match the charismatic, tough-guy bravado that Alan Ritchson brings to Reacher like Chris Pratt in Prime Video’s The Terminal List. Pratt dominates the screen as James Reece, a Navy SEAL commander who turns into a one-man vigilante after his squad is fatally ambushed, and his family members are murdered. Driven by revenge, Reece uses his military expertise, very much like Jack Reacher, to systematically bring down those who wronged him.
With the same kinetic, hyper-paced adrenaline rush that Reacher adopts, The Terminal List is one of those addictive dad shows that are hard to quit once the scintillating pilot grabs hold. With just eight episodes to breeze through in a weekend, The Terminal List is poised to return for Season 2 on October 21, 2026, making the timing perfect to catch up with before Reacher 4 returns. If you enjoy the show, the spin-off The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is also worth checking out.
Watch This If: You love Chris Pratt’s commanding action movie track record, enjoy fast-paced, lone-wolf revenge tales, and want to catch up with Season 1 before Season 2 finally returns.
Skip This If: You don’t want to get bogged down with a more somber tone than Reacher and prefer a more acclaimed political action thriller like Jack Ryan.
‘Cross’ (2024-)
Based on a Long-Running Novel Series That Could Rival ‘Reacher’s Longevity
For fans of Lee Child’s Reacher source novels, Cross has a wealth of source material from James Patterson’s long-running novel series that could easily keep the Prime Video adaptation on the air indefinitely (already renewed for Season 3). While a bit more deliberate in its pacing, Aldis Hodge shines as Washington, D.C. forensic expert and detective Alex Cross, who becomes embroiled in a two-fold mystery following the brutal murder of his wife in broad daylight.
Driven by personal revenge and professional redemption, Cross’s blistering action set pieces and heart-pounding shootouts and chase scenes are sure to keep Reacher fans wildly amused. In Reacher Season 4, Jack has a severe psychological fallout from failing to stop a NYC suicide bomber. This aligns with Cross, which is more keen on focusing on the emotional toll of violence rather than reveling in the spectacle of bone-crushing action.
Watch This If: You are familiar with James Patterson’s source novels, are fans of the Alex Cross movies like Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, and want to compare Hodge’s performance with Morgan Freeman’s.
Skip This If: You prefer a faster-paced action spectacle rather than a slower-moving detective story. Also skip if you’re adept at spotting villains, as Season 1’s bad guy is so obvious from his first screen appearance that it saps the suspense.
‘The Night Agent’ (2023-)
The Conspiratorial Action Thriller is Netflix’s Answer to ‘Reacher’
In what feels like a direct response to Reacher‘s immense popularity, Netflix’s The Night Agent became the platform’s sixth-most-viewed series after a month on the air. While he might not quite possess the physical command of Ritchson, Gabriel Basso excels as Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent who is thrust into a head-spinning conspiracy that goes all the way up to the highest levels of the U.S. government.
As Peter sets out to bring the conspirators to justice, his dogged protection of cybersecurity expert Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) and revenge for the murder of her aunt and uncle are very much on par with Reacher’s MO. However, with more tension, suspense, and uneasy paranoia, those drawn to the conspiratorial webs Reacher must untangle – like the gun-smuggling ring in Season 3 and NYC terrorists in Season 4 – The Night Agent is the next best thing.
Watch This If: You are most drawn to Reacher‘s conspiratorial storylines that implicate the U.S. Government. It’s also worth watching if you prefer to invest more time in a longer-running series that demands your attention with its plot twists.
Skip This If: 30 episodes are far too much for a quick binge-watch, and you prefer something shorter and easier to complete over a weekend.
‘The Day of the Jackal’ (2024-)
Peacock’s Lone Wolf Spy Thriller Inspired ‘Reacher’s Lee Child
If The Night Agent was Netflix’s attempt to cash in on the Reacher craze, consider The Day of the Jackal Peacock’s response. Eddie Redmayne soars as Alex Duggan, aka The Jackal, a world-renowned, lone-wolf assassin who operates in the shadows like a ghost. He may not pulverize enemies with his bare knuckles, but the accurate sniping and vast conspiratorial web he gets caught in when tasked with assassinating a German politician running for Chancellor while evading an MI6 Agent on his tail is every bit as enthralling as Reacher.
In fact, Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel The Day of the Jackal directly inspired Lee Child’s Reacher novel series, particularly how both characters use deductive reasoning, keen observational skills, and meticulous processes to track their marks and execute their missions with military precision, drawing on their experience in the armed forces. Nominated for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Actor (Redmayne), Season 2 is expected sometime in 2027.
Watch This If: You’ve read the Forsyth novel and seen the two cinematic versions and want to compare them to the TV series. Also, watch if you are drawn to the espionage storylines in Reacher that call on his military expertise.
Skip This If: You have no interest in waiting until 2027 to watch Season 2, or feel like there are more compelling spy TV shows like Lioness to watch instead.
‘Ballard’ (2025)
‘Bosch’s Acclaimed Spin-off Returns for Season 2 This Fall
Just as Reacher draws on Lee Child’s extended novel series, Prime’s hit Bosch spin-off, Ballard, has a wealth of source material to keep it going interminably. In a role tailor-made for Maggie Q’s charming radiance, the popular police procedural spin-off finds Renee Ballard overcoming a past workplace indiscretion while heading a new, grossly underfunded cold case unit for the LAPD.
Based on Michael Connelly’s acclaimed Bosch novel series, Ballard is an ideal summer watch for its gorgeous West L.A. vistas and sunny beach vibes, as Ballard seeks revenge on the corrupt police superiors who wronged her in the past and caused severe psychological trauma. With Maggie Q every bit as magnetic and vibrant as Ritchson, Ballard is also set for a Season 2 return in late 2026, making it a perfect companion with Reacher 4. The two shows are so simpatico that a Reddit thread has been started to lobby for a Ballard/Reacher crossover, which I would tune in to see in a heartbeat.
Watch This If: You loved Bosch but felt Bosch: Legacy strayed too far from the winning formula, enjoy Maggie Q’s action-laden performances, as seen in Nikita, and want a quick summer binge.
Skip This If: You feel a police procedural doesn’t align with Reacher‘s narrative style, or would rather re-watch Titus Welliver in the main Bosch series. Also skip if you prefer to read Connelly’s source novel beforehand.
‘Lucky’ (2026)
Apple TV’s Gender-Bending ‘Reacher’ Response
Making its debut on July 15, 2026, Apple TV’s newest action thriller is also one of its most star-studded. Anya Taylor-Joy burns the screen as Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong, a career criminal who betrays her mother-in-law and mob boss, Priscilla (Annette Bening), in a daring heist that promises to free Lucky from her life of crime. As she goes on the run from Priscilla’s henchmen, she becomes a Jack Reacher-like one-woman-army who must protect her husband, Cary (Drew Starkey), who happens to be Priscilla’s son.
With explosive chase sequences, visceral gunplay, and a gripping vendetta that must be settled, Lucky not only fills the void left in Reacher‘s absence, but it also comes from the creators of Banshee and Warrior, two of the most relentless, hardcore action shows of the past decade. With Lucky concluding one week after Reacher 4 premieres, the seven-episode miniseries is perfectly timed to keep you busy until mid-to-late August.
Watch This If: You are a fan of Jonathan Tropper’s gritty action shows like Banshee and Warrior, are a huge fan of Taylor-Joy’s action movies like The Gorge and Furiosa, and prefer a female-centric revenge story.
Skip This If: You’d rather wait until all seven episodes are available at once, or take stock in the middling reviews that suggest Lucky is too derivative.
Lucky
4
/5
- Release Date
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July 14, 2026
