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Reacher

Reacher

Reacher's back.

2022–Ongoing4 seasonsRenewedSeason 5 upcoming34 episodes~50 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

Jack Reacher, a veteran military police investigator, has just recently entered civilian life. Reacher is a drifter, carrying no phone and the barest of essentials as he travels the country and explores the nation he once served.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Reacher?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Reacher streaming on Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

Free

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Reacher?

Reacher earns 6 badges, led by Universally Loved and Cultural touchstone.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Reacher worth watching?

Reacher's Midcredits score is the 89th percentile of all shows, from 347K ratings across 5 sources. 90% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

89th percentile

Better received than 89% of shows

87th percentile among Action92nd percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)81st
Approval (how many liked it)93rd

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

78 /100

81st percentile of all shows

81st percentile among Action84th percentile among 2020s

Critics 75 · Audience 78

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

90% liked it

93rd percentile of all shows

91st percentile among Action94th percentile among 2020s
90% rated it 7–1010% rated it 1–6

Critics 95% · Audience 81%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

346K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Action99th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 56% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a faithful, entertaining action thriller with a physically imposing lead, but later seasons lose the grounding and believability of the first.

Fans praised

  • Faithful adaptation of Lee Child's novel
  • Alan Ritchson's physical casting as Reacher
  • Brutal, well-choreographed fight scenes

Detractors panned

  • Season 2's implausible action and plot armor
  • Decline in writing quality after season 1
  • Wooden acting and cheesy dialogue in later seasons

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive70

Brutal, exciting fights; later set pieces become absurd

ActingDivisive65

Ritchson praised as physically perfect, but criticized as wooden; supporting cast strong in season 1

PacingDivisive65

Binge-worthy momentum in season 1; later seasons drag or feel rushed

CharactersDivisive60

Season 1 characters engaging, later seasons flat and one-dimensional

TensionDivisive60

Season 1 mystery gripping; later seasons lack stakes

Plot and storyDivisive55

Faithful mystery in season 1, but later plots become predictable and contrived

DialogueDivisive45

Dry wit in season 1, devolves into expository and cheesy in later seasons

OriginalityDivisive40

Derivative of action tropes; season 1 fresher than later repeats

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 11 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 17 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Episodes

4 seasons

Season 4 · 2026 · 8 episodes · 7.2 average across 8 rated episodes

  • S4E1

    City of Brotherly Love

    Aug 12, 202647 minTMDB rating 6.9
  • S4E2

    Cage Fight

    Aug 12, 202649 minTMDB rating 7.0
  • S4E3

    One Small Step

    Aug 12, 202645 minTMDB rating 6.8
  • S4E4

    Karambits and Pieces

    Aug 19, 202644 minTMDB rating 6.9
  • S4E5

    Bridge

    Aug 26, 202648 minTMDB rating 7.0
  • S4E6

    Plum Out of Luck

    Sep 2, 202641 minTMDB rating 7.4
  • S4E7

    Vote for Sampson

    Sep 9, 202641 minTMDB rating 7.6
  • S4E8

    Cut

    Sep 16, 202656 minTMDB rating 8.1FinaleSeason best

Watch experience

What is Reacher like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ThrillingTenseAbsurd
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Hardboiled · 1% of shows: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.Brutal · 3% of showsAdventurous · 15% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show plays its action and crime story straight, with a tough, no-nonsense tone and occasional dark humour.
The rideThe series builds tension through investigations and action set-pieces, with the most intense confrontations typically occurring in the latter part of each season.
StructureThe series follows a linear, three-act structure within each season, with occasional flashbacks that do not disrupt the overall chronology.
Episode formatEach season is built around a single overarching mystery from one novel, but episodes also contain self-contained investigation steps and action sequences.
Season formatEach season adapts a different Lee Child novel with a new setting, supporting cast, and self-contained story arc, while Reacher remains the constant protagonist.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunRousing · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves the viewer entertained and invigorated by Reacher's decisive victories and satisfying action.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach season follows Reacher as he solves a mystery and tracks down the culprits, often using brute force to overcome a predator-like antagonist.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 14% of showsSurvival · 12% of showsLoyalty · 7% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on Reacher's personal code of ethics and his mission to deliver street-level justice to those who exploit or harm others.
StanceThe series celebrates Reacher's uncompromising, extra-legal brand of justice, portraying him as a force for good who cleans up corrupt towns.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRuralDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingFictional small towns across the United States, often with a corrupt local power structure.

Content guide

Is Reacher okay for kids?

TV-MA

Reacher is rated TV-MA. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (86/100), sexual content at intense (65/100), language at intense (65/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (36/100) and frightening material at intense (64/100). Overall it is heavier than 63% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 21 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • Belgium16
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • MexicoC
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway18
  • Poland16
  • RO18
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • Spain18
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 80% of all showsHeavier than 63% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 80%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 71%
Profanity
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 44%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 19%
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 60%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: violence, sexual content, language, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Reacher have?

MovieCove's classifier found 6 depicted content warnings in Reacher: Gore or body horror (severe), Torture (severe), Medical procedures (moderate), Sexual harassment or grooming (mild), plus 2 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. 5 more are mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Addiction or relapse, War atrocities, plus 3 behind the spoiler gate. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereGore or body horrorTorture
ModerateMedical procedures
MildSexual harassment or grooming
MentionedAddiction or relapseWar atrocities

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Reacher?

Cast

Alan Ritchson
as Jack Reacher
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Maria Sten
as Frances Neagley
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Malcolm Goodwin
as Oscar Finlay
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Willa Fitzgerald
as Roscoe Conklin
Serinda Swan
as Karla Dixon
Sonya Cassidy
as Susan Duffy
Shaun Sipos
as David O'Donnell
Johnny Berchtold
as Richard Beck
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Ferdinand Kingsley
as A.M.
Roberto Montesinos
as Guillermo Villanueva
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

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What are shows like Reacher?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Reacher include The Night Manager (2016), The Old Man (2022) and Taken (2017).

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