The Amateur

The Amateur is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Hulu, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Rami Malek sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

The Amateur is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The Amateur treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. After his life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder takes matters into his own hands when his supervisors refuse to take action. Credit to Rami Malek and Holt McCallany for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It was released in 2025. The Amateur is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find The Amateur proves them wrong. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Watch Rami Malek work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.