Alan Ritchson is bringing back one of his most beloved properties this summer.
One of the action stars who continues to rise in Hollywood is Ritchson, as the former Smallville actor's stardom is only increasing year after year. While the summer season is almost over, a major Prime Video TV show is making its return.
Reacher season 4 is set to premiere this week on Prime Video, which is based on the Gone Tomorrow installment in Lee Child's iconic book franchise. As critics are now sharing their reviews for the new episodes, the Rotten Tomatoes score has officially debuted at 100%.
While based on 10 reviews, it is key to remember that the % is still subject to change. As more members of the press are still registering their ratings for Reacher season 4, the score could go down in the coming days, or still remain at 100%. However, as of writing, the 2026 return makes it the highest-rated season for the Prime Video drama.
In ScreenRant's Reacher season 4 review, Craig Elvy gave it an 8/10, stating that there "is one drawback that holds Reacher season 4 back from being on par with the excellent first and third seasons. Essentially, the second half of season 4 is quite noticeably stronger than the first." However, Elvy made it clear that "not topping past seasons is hardly a damning critique in Reacher's case, especially when the series knows precisely what viewers want and delivers in ample supply. Season 4 also gets bonus points for humbling its main character more than he's used to."
Reacher Seasons | Rotten Tomatoes Score | Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
Reacher Season 4 | 100% | TBD |
Reacher Season 2 | 98% | 77% |
Reacher Season 3 | 98% | 73% |
Reacher Season 1 | 92% | 91% |
Luckily, the audience has already learned the show's future beyond season 4, as Prime Video has already greenlit Reacher season 5. Filming is officially underway on the next season, as production kicked off in mid-July, and while a premiere date hasn't been set yet, it is most likely debuting sometime in 2027.
While the newest season is off to a strong critical start, time will tell how viewers respond to the upcoming episodes, as the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes will debut this week. Currently, Reacher season 1, which has a 91% rating on the Popcornmeter, is still the most well-received one, with season 2 at 77% and season 3 at 73%.
Prime Video teases that "when a chance encounter with a distraught stranger on a subway goes horribly wrong, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is drawn into a complex and deadly game that pits him against ruthless foes from the highest echelons of power." The Reacher cast is also seeing new faces, with Christopher Marquette as Jacob "Jake" Merrick, Agnez Mo as Lila Hoth, Kevin Corrigan as Shaun Docherty, Anggun as Amisha Hoth, and Sydelle Noel as Tamara Green.
Reacher season 4 premieres with the first three episodes on Wednesday, August 12, followed by weekly releases on Prime Video.
Alan Ritchson Effectively Seals Reacher’s Long-Term Fate On Prime Video
A surprise move from Alan Ritchson effectively seals the long-term fate of Reacher on Prime Video. Following its successful debut in 2022, the action-adventure series immediately became a hit for the streamer. This is despite being burdened by the previous big-screen adaptation of Lee Child's novels. Tom Cruise's movie take on Jack Reacher had its fans, and it remain enjoyable upon rewatch now. That said, it's safe to say that Ritchson's portrayal as the former military-turned-wanderer is widely regarded as its definitive version, especially after three seasons of Reacher.
While its sophomore year wasn't able to be as universally beloved as its freshman year, it never really impacted the public's interest in the Prime Video series. Reacher season 3 posted the highest viewership for the show in its history and considering the hype surrounding what's next for the character, the wait for season 4 has been frustrating for some. Based on "Gone Tomorrow," the next installment of the Prime Video project has long finished production, with a release date supposedly sometime this year. Beyond that, however, Ritchson has effectively confirmed Reacher's long-term fate thanks to a new update.
Alan Ritchson's First-Look Deal With Prime Video Solidifies Reacher's Future
Proof of Prime Video's confidence in the series is the fact that it has already renewed for Reacher season 5 before it could even come back with new episodes this year. Admittedly, that's unsurprising, considering the show's popularity. Looking after that, however, the fate of the project is still uncertain. That said, Ritchson's new three-year first-look television deal with the studio via his production company, Dancing Skeleton (via Deadline), effectively solidifies Reacher's return throughout the terms of that new agreement.
This means that if the show maintains its yearly release, it can run for two to three more seasons after Reacher season 5. Obviously, that doesn't factor in the possibility that Prime Video and Ritchson will extend their current deal, or that the streamer will renew the show even after the first-look agreement is done. However, considering that there are about 30 books in Child's novels, Reacher can definitely stay on the air for more years to come.
Why Reacher Has Resonated With The Public
Reacher is arguably the biggest breakout hit of the last few years. Granted that it had built-in fans, thanks to Child's novels and Cruise's films, it would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could have predicted just how big it was going to be. Streaming and traditional broadcasters have their respective action-adventure book adaptation shows, but very few come close to the success of the Prime Video series. The project has been so popular, the streamer has started to expand the franchise via its very first offshoot, Neagley.
What sets Reacher apart from its peers is how it has been able to perfectly balance being faithful to its source material while also offering viewers something new. This way, fans of the books can still enjoy them without being able to predict every single twist that's coming their way. Beyond that, the fact that Reacher has also made sure to have a yearly release despite being on streaming somehow helps in keeping it relevant amid an influx of other shows in the genre.
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