Everyone has theircomfort TV show, right? It may be a classic sitcom from any decade of TV, or the drama that everyone likes to get back to every once in a while. In any case, there’s a very high chance that if you have to pick a show to watch, and you don’t have the energy to start a new one, you will pick your absolute favorite, the one you’ve seen countless times and can recite from memory.
Genres vary for everyone. It’s the beauty of having such a broad catalog at hand—one that keeps evolving and restocking with the great offers modern television has on a daily basis. One of those genres, and perhaps one of the most popular, is the crime thriller.
Usually based on a single crime that has taken place, these are the multilayered stories that will keep youon the edge of your seator conquer your attention for months, in case the show is good enough. We all love our crime shows, regardless of tone, streaming platform, or even the decade in which they were released. If it’s good, we will watch it over and over.
However, this doesn’t mean all good crime thrillers arehighly rewatchable. Some of them are disturbing enough to impact you for life after a single sitting. And some of them are simply great pieces of genre storytelling, finely tuned to the format of television, which, contrary to what people think, is not easy to master. In the case of the following series, someone did, and they created the 20 greatest TV crime thrillers of all time.
The following list may contain spoilers.
20Mare of Easttown (2021)
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttowntakes viewers to a small town in Philadelphia, a place where local law enforcement is often in charge of someone everyone knows.
That someone is Mare Sheehan, once a basketball prodigy, whose now a police detective. Mare is dealing with some issues of her own: her failing marriage left her with a rebellious teenager and a very nosy mother, and one year ago a girl went missing, and she couldn’t crack the case. Now, a teenage mother has been murdered, and Mare must deal with the local scrutiny while she finds the culprit for such a horrific act.
A Perfect Small-Town Crime Drama
Led by Kate Winslet in what could possibly be her best performance ever,Mare of Easttownis a brutal adaptation of a “small-town crime” formula under HBO’s signature production value. The show created by Brag Ingelsby and directed by Craig Zobel is all about its performances.
From Evan Peters to Cailee Spaeny, they all add a certain level of realism to their roles that’s not often seen in the genre. Julianne Nicholson, Winslet, and Peters all won Emmys forMare of Easttown. Trust us when we say the last two episodes will be a punch to the jaw that you won’t forget. This miniseries is the perfect pick forone-day binge sessions.Stream on Max.
19Mindhunter (2017-2019)
Mindhunter
In the Netflix crime thriller epicMindhunter, FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench join forces with a psychologist by the name of Wendy Carr. They begin their operations as the Behavioral Science Unit, an experimental but groundbreaking department that helped society understand how serial killers thought and what could be done to prevent their acts. Although it’s loosely inspired by a true story, the convicts that Ford and Tench interview are based on real-life killers that “helped” law enforcement agencies when solving crimes in the late 1970s.
In the Mind of the Maniac
Created by David Fincher and Joe Penhall, the show is easily Netflix’s most important crime show to date. Although it lasted a mere two seasons, it built a fan base that’s still yet to be found with another show from the streaming platform.
It was all because of the great writing, the implied realism of the storylines (the first season shows them interviewing and drawing information from Edmund Keemper and Dennis Rader, and season two took place during the rampage by Wayne Williams in Atlanta), and how compelling the characters' stories are. Join us as we pray forseason three ofMindhunterto get produced at some point.you’re able to streamMindhunteron Netflix.
18Ozark (2017-2022)
The Byrdes are a perfect family living in Chicago. Marty, the leader, knows his business partner has some shady businesses on the side, but he’s a financial advisor, and there’s nothing dangerous in finances, right?
As it turns out, the Byrdes are forced to move out of Chicago after finding out they have become the targets of a Mexican drug cartel in need of money laundering. But when they’re found in the Lake of the Ozarks, their new home, Marty is forced to continue the previous business, and local criminal organizations don’t like this very much.
Wait, Does Crime Actually Pay?
Running for four seasons, Ozark was a fascinating show that always raised its stakes with more drama and more violence. The series was based on character progression based on a moral code that never looked toward the good in humanity. No, no, no. InOzark,everyone had the capacity to be a villain, and some went as far as betraying family for the sake of business.
Though it has already ended, viewers are still going through somepending questions that will never be answered. All we can say is that some secrets are meant to stay where they are.You can streamOzarkon Netflix.
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17Hannibal (2013-2015)
Based on the characters created by Thomas Harris and made famous by big-screen adaptations of the novels, Hannibal is the origin story of Will Graham, an FBI agent with a great ability to profile serial killers and answer the questions nobody can answer. Will is kind of unstable, so his superior requests the help of high-profile psychologist Hannibal Lecter, who will help any way he can.
The thing is that Lecter is secretly a serial killer as well, and he develops a strong fascination for Will, who sees beyond the culinary tactics of Lecter and suspects him.
The High-Profile Serial Killer Show that Still Feels Underseen
Developed by Bryan Fuller for NBC in 2013,Hannibalis the best crime show you’ve never seen. And the best oneshouldreturn as soon as possible. There were simply too many stones left unturned in the drama that went on between Will and Hannibal. Though it’s mainly a crime show based on police procedural formulas, it’s also a great drama based on the relationship between Lecter and Graham.
They both push their limits, with the conclusion drawing on a climactic showdown that will leave everyone trembling. It’s the most underrated show on the list, period.Stream on Prime Video.
16Your Honor (2020-2023)
Your Honor
What was sold as a legal drama is actually a tension-driven thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat during its two seasons. A New Orleans judge by the name of Michael Desiato is going through something horrific. His son, Adam, has accidentally killed the son of a local crime lord. Desiato decides to hide the facts and will soon face the wrath of a city that will demand some answers. As he tries to get rid of witnesses and the evidence, things take a very dark turn, and Desiato will face the real consequences of his acts.
Morals are Weird on This Side of New Orleans
Your Honorstars Bryan Cranston inone of his best performances. Though it often stays within the lines of a legal drama formula, it’s essentially a crime thriller, showing Desiato desperately trying to help his son. This brings him to a very deep level in his moral blueprint, which will essentially turn him into a criminal who isn’t afraid to break the law if this will save his son from being accused.
Season one ends with a cliffhanger, and season two ends with an expansion of the kingpin’s story that’s nothing short of engaging.You can streamYour Honoron Showtime.
15True Detective (2014-Present)
True Detective
True Detectiveis an HBO crime thriller series that tells a different story in each of its four seasons. Each season deals with a detective story that ranges from the expansion of corruption within the police department to the long-term effects of crimes that remain unsolved. The notable seasons so far, and contrary to the opinion of some fans, are season one and season four, aptly namedNight Country. When it comes to thriller shows on modern television, there’s nothing better produced thanTrue Detective.
The Best Crime Thriller Anthology Ever Made?
In 2024, we bore witness to the show’s return after many years of drought. And yes, thoughit was very divisive, it was still a solid revisit of the genre mastered by HBO in 2014 with the spectacular first season.
What’s curious about all the roads taken byTrue Detective’s showrunners is that the show doesn’t drift away from the procedural aspect of the plots. They’re really about the crimes. Where they stand out is in their depiction of characters and how their internal demons are strong enough to mark them beyond reason.Stream on Max.
14Fargo (2014-Present)
InFargo, viewers are treated to a different story each season. There aren’t any patterns in terms of location, the nature of the story, or characters. What Noah Hawley, showrunner and visionary, has worked with is complete creative control over five different situations that are all born out of random events with crimes that vary in magnitude and gravity. A plot? Sure. It usually concerns shady characters, some pretty good people, and the most bonkers conclusions you can think of.
A Natural Storyteller at His Best
Fargois yet another anthology series that makes the list because of its sharp storytelling style, bold and visionary treatment of the genre, andspectacular characters. Inspired by the Coen Bros' film of the same name,Fargousually sheds off its humor content (especially after season one), and goes for a more sober story that allows for suspension of belief to make an appearance every once in a while.
Some anthology shows feel inconsistent, whereas inFargo, the writing’s so good, you will feel in the presence of one of the most important TV writers on modern television.Stream on Hulu.
13The Night Of (2016)
The Night Of
Naz is a shy young man living in Queens. His upbringing is restrained by the Pakistani traditions his family holds, and this has caused him to be somewhat of an inexperienced dude. One day, Naz decides to go all in and steals his father’s cab to attend a party. Accidentally, someone gets in the car and offers Naz a good time.
The girl is beautiful, and Naz doesn’t feel anything bad could happen. When he wakes up the next day in Andrea’s apartment, she lies in a pool of blood, stabbed to death. Unfortunately, the police make the connections, and Naz is convicted of murder. But did he really do it?
Much More Than a Crime Drama
A very obscure show that everyone should see,The Night Ofis a thrilling passage through the world of the American justice system and how unbalanced everything is when themes like racism, social differences, religion, and xenophobia are part of a legal process. But what’s most compelling about Naz’s horrific journey through the system is that, no matter how strong he stays in the face of adversity, emotional violence is powerful enough to change a man from innocent to hopeless.
Not many people rememberthis one, but it’s a must that’s hidden in the Max catalog.You can streamThe Night Ofon Max.
12Black Bird (2022)
Black Bird
Jimmy Keene is a former football star who decided to stay away from glory and instead went on to become a businessman in Chicago. The problem is that the business does involve illegal activities. Keene is caught, and his sentence is much more severe than he had thought. However, the FBI offers a deal. If he wants to spend less time in prison, he must help them.
Keene is transported to another prison, where he must become friends with a man who the police think may be a serial killer, but given the lack of evidence, they can’t formally accuse him. It’s only through Jimmy’s friendship that they’ll be able to get inside Larry Hall’s head.
A Brilliantly-Acted Thriller
First things first. Paul Walter Hauser’s performance as Larry Hall is the best of his career (he won a Golden Globe for this performance) and one of the best in modern television. It’s pleasant but also emotionally draining to go along with Keene as he slowly discovers Hall’s true nature and his tastes in this brilliant series that doesn’t have to extend itself to fully close the arc of Keene and his real-life exploration of human evil.
Even though it’s anything but violent, you will feel like you’ve been hit by a train upon finishing.Black Birdisone of the best shows of 2022.Stream on Apple TV+.
11The Staircase (2022)
The Staircase
The Staircaseis a dramatic adaptation of the bizarre case of Michael Peterson. In 2001, Peterson claims he found his wife at the bottom of the staircase in their huge mansion. While the details are widely known, Peterson goes through a trial that will change his life and those who always stood by his side, including his children. A French filmmaker decides to document the case and enters Peterson’s household, where many secrets lie. Everything will be revealed.
True Crime Taken Up a Notch
Undoubtedlyone of the best miniserieson Max,The Staircaseis based on the groundbreaking documentary series by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (which was in production for more than a decade) of the same name.
The HBO production works as an expansion of what is already known about the case, and while it centers on Michael’s personality and the dissection of his family through the jarring case that divided it, the series maintains its cold and unbiased stance on Peterson’s involvement. Colin Firth, who plays Peterson, has the best performance of his entire career.Stream on Max.
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