Are you a fan of true crime? Gun-toting justice seekers? Troubled protagonists and even more troubled antagonists? The must-watch crime shows of the world have all those things, and they might even make you root for some bad guys along the way. With so many crime series to watch, choosing only ten feels like a full-time job, but there are some that are just a lot more iconic than any other.
A mix of international titles is important because viewers should agree there’s a lot more content to enjoy and explore when you venture out of your own country through the TV. For example, British crime shows are often cornerstones of good TV, including police procedurals and crime family dramas. An honorable mention goes to the still relevant Law & Order: SVU, which is the longest-running primetime crime show, and has been going strong since 1999. With these ten must-watch crime shows, there’s no time to waste; prepare to feel like a gangster (or a troubled detective) for the next few months to a year after binge-watching them.
‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)
Created by James Manos Jr.Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is a forensic technician by day, and a serial killer by night. Hiding in plain sight is his expertise, and the show’s premise was able to take Dexter’s story far. As one of the more relevant popular culture shows, it’d be a shame not to recommend Dexter to anyone getting into the biggest crime shows of all time. No matter what anyone thinks about the ending or the last two seasons, Dexter remains one of the biggest series that combines crime, thriller, and dark humor seamlessly. It makes you even want to cheer for him.
‘Top Boy’ (2011–2023)
Created by Ronan Bennett
Top Boy is one of the best crime dramas out there, but it may have gone under the radar for many people. Top Boy first aired in 2011 as a two-season show on the UK’s Channel 4. After the cancelation, Netflix showed interest in the show and revived it for three more seasons in 2019. The show follows life in the council estate called Summerhouse, including gang life, the fight against racial prejudice, and the fight against the unjust evictions and demolitions of council housing. The show is incredible all around: from airtight writing to beautifully tragic character building, Top Boy will move and hype you up.
‘Fargo’ (2014–2024)
Created by Noah Hawley
When Noah Hawley and FX announced the Fargo TV series, people were feeling skeptical about it relying on the movie or ruining it somehow. While season one did rely on the movie’s storyline, it felt fresh with Hawley’s brilliant writing. It also had some iconic additions to the character lineup, like Billy Bob Thornton’s contract killer Lorne Malvo, or the not-so-dynamic FBI duo Budge and Pepper, played by Key and Peele. Later seasons were also superb crime stories with their own unique characters and ideas, showing that Hawley was, in fact, cooking with gas, as the phrase goes.
‘Line of Duty’ (2012–2021)
Creator Jed Mercurio
US fans may not be totally familiar with Line of Duty, but to UK fans, this show is as iconic as it gets. This police procedural is a heavyweight, and though there’s not too much action in it, it’s incredibly exciting and gripping. Line of Duty has six seasons and 36 episodes, all as exciting as the previous one; each season follows a different case, but there’s one overarching plot that gets solved in the final season, reaching a satisfying conclusion. There are no loose ends left, and upon finishing it, you’ll feel like you know all the detective lingo and codes of conduct.
‘True Detective’ (2014–)
Created by Nic Pizzolatto and Issa López
True Detective has very dedicated fans, especially season one. Indeed, the first season of the anthology series was one of a kind – dark, twisted, and philosophical, it had everything an eerie detective series should have. With brilliantly written characters and a case that still haunts even viewers who’ve only seen the first season once, it was tough for the show to go higher. Despite what some may think, every new season of True Detective cemented it as one of the best-written and most important crime shows of all time. The first three seasons were written by Nic Pizzolatto, while in the fourth, the torch was passed to Spanish horror director Issa López.
‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)
Created by Joe Penhall
Mindhunter is a difficult show, so much that even its showrunners have had enough. Jokes aside, David Fincher, director and executive producer, said that the series, despite people begging for more, is buried and done with (though he said the show was too expensive, more than anything). And while this is sad, Mindhunter cemented its title as a must-watch series with only two seasons and 19 episodes, showing that quality over quantity isn’t just an empty phrase. Oh, and that Fincher can never go wrong. Mindhunter was based on the true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by former FBI agent John E.
‘Gomorrah’ (2014–2021)
Created by Roberto Saviano
Roberto Saviano wrote the book Gomorrah after infiltrating and investigating the impact of Naples’ Mafia organization, Camorra, on businesses and ventures around the city; Saviano was, as expected, threatened by various bosses in the Neapolitan crime ring. With the popularity of the book, he felt inspired to write the show, Gomorrah, inspired by real-life characters and events within the Camorra. The show became a cult series almost immediately, due to its brilliant character building, gripping storyline, and the heaviness of the story, which was based on real life, after all.
‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ (1993–1999)
Created by Paul Attanasio
The heavily underappreciated police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street is truly one of the pioneering shows depicting dark, morally gray protagonists; there’s not just one – there’s an ensemble of very talented actors all portraying detectives balancing their private lives with their work in Baltimore’s Homicide unit. As they often show, it’s incredibly difficult to do so; their cases often haunt them, their private lives are as messy as they can get, but they’re all human, trying one step at a time.
‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)
Created by David Simon
As if David Simon hadn’t had enough with Homicide detectives in Baltimore, he became writing partners with one of the detectives he was following during his time with them – Ed Burns. Burns’ partner Harry Edgerton was the inspiration for Braugher’s Frank Pembleton, but who was the inspiration for The Wire’s McNulty? It seems a lot of the characters in The Wire are composites of real people, which is why Simon and Burns wrote the show with such accuracy. The portrayal of all cases, police, and criminals was rooted in reality one way or another; this is what makes The Wire so poignant and irresistible.
‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
Creator David Chase
The Sopranos remains the best crime show of the 21st century, though it is more of a drama in some ways. Many (rightfully) claim that The Sopranos changed the course of television forever, ushering in a new Golden Age of TV. The premise of a Mafia boss going to therapy to deal with anxiety wasn’t on anyone’s bingo list of the most gripping shows to ever exist, but it is, and precisely because of that premise. There’s a myriad of ways The Sopranos changed the landscape, but focusing on the mental health of an Italian-American Mafioso, Tony Soprano, was surely a brilliant start.
The show has an exceptionally talented ensemble cast, with some unknown actors becoming great from it; it also boasts incredible cinematography, a catching soundtrack, and gripping dialogue. It can be relatable, funny, and charming at times, and then quickly switch to dark, seedy, and even depressing; the switch-up is fast, and holds viewers in for a while. Tony Soprano is played by James Gandolfini in one of his best roles; he’s accompanied by Lorraine Bracco as Tony’s psychotherapist, Edie Falco as his wife, Carmela, and Michael Imperioli as his cousin, Christopher. The Sopranos is a must-watch, period.
