Television today doesn’t have a shortage of crime shows, especially on Netflix which holds perhaps the largest collection of hit shows from the genre. However, fans who don’t have a lot of time to explore Netflix might find that a lot of its crime shows are hit-or-miss, especially when it comes to appeal and consistency, and this can waste the time of any hopeful fan who just wants a good caper or crime thriller.
Thankfully, there are some Netflix shows that are standouts when it comes to their offerings in the crime show genre. Be it crime thriller, capers, or even action-comedy, Netflix has some must-watch crime shows that will help viewers explore parts of the genre they may have never encountered before.
Updated on May 25, 2022, by Rhenn Taguiam: With Ozark having recently ended its four-season stint last April 2022, fans of the acclaimed crime drama might be interested in getting to know other crime shows on Netflix to match the same level of suspense as the Byrde’s lives in the recently-concluded Ozark. Among other suggestions for crime shows include stories of serial killers, unlikely killers, or some of the vilest murderers to ever grace fiction. Just which of these crime shows on Netflix are worthy of an Ozark fan’s fancy? More importantly, just what aspects of their stories make them worth the watch?
15 The Sinner (2017-2021)
When one thinks of a police procedural, viewers might think of the likes of NCIS or CSI where a constant cast of investigators looks into bizarre incidents. This isn’t the case with The Sinner. Named after the 1999 novel by Petra Hammesfahr, The Sinner stars police detective Bill Pullman as he’s brought to investigate various murders whose suspects end up as people least expected.
Aside from the surprising twist, what’s perhaps interesting in The Sinner is how Pullman is the only character returning every season, with the supporting cast changing as the series progresses. Not only that, The Sinner gives viewers the chance to explore motivations that drive even the most unlikely of killers - making it one of the more psychologically-intensive crime shows worth the view.
14 The Blacklist (2013-Present)
Created by Jon Bokenkamp, The Blacklist stars Raymond “Red” Reddington, a high-profile criminal who voluntarily turned himself into the FBI after decades of eluding capture. He’s willing to provide details of extremely dangerous criminals from his “Blacklist,” provided his only confidant is rookie FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen - for reasons that fans aren’t made specifically aware of.
As it turns out, a lot of Reddington’s “Blacklist” targets turn out to be some of the most twisted criminals in television history - with motivations, methods, and natures that are nothing short of bizarre. And while others might complain about the rather wishy-washy relationship between Keen and Reddington, it’s the natural allure of both Megan Boone and James Spader that makes The Blacklist worth the following.
13 Collateral (2018)
Despite its four-part run as a British serial, Collateral is easily one of the more compelling criminal drama series out there. Series creator David Hare describes Collateral as “a police procedural without … that police attitudinising,” the series is rather unique in its more “human” look in their incidents. The series stars inspector Kip Glaspie as she’s tasked to investigate a shooting involving a pizza delivery driver. As it turns out, the people around the incident are involved in an intricate web of lies and deceit that loom into something much greater.
While its premise is rather “ordinary” compared to other procedurals, it’s Collateral and its stellar approach to writing that adds a remarkable amount of depth to the story. Its sharp twists and turns lead to situations that viewers don’t necessarily expect, and its short nature makes it a wild ride worth revisiting.
12 Mindhunter (2017-2019)
Quite literally a television show about criminals, Mindhunter is a psychological thriller series set around the 1970s, when the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit had just been formed and the science of criminal profiling has just begun its rise.
The series itself stars agents Bill Tench and Holden Forde as they operate the BSU in Quantico, Virginia, where the series largely focuses on interviewing serial killers to understand their minds better in the hopes of using these notes to solve other cases. As such, Mindhunter focuses on capturing the perspectives of infamous serial killers such as Charles Manson, David Berkowitz, and even Montie Rissel. Viewers who want a more “real” look into serial killers might want to deep dive into Mindhunter.
11 Bodyguard (2018)
One of the more in-depth crime and political thriller shows out there, Bodyguard is a six-part series telling the story of Police Sergeant David Budd who was assigned as the bodyguard of Home Secretary Julia Montague. Their relationship from the get-go is already tumultuous, especially considering how David hates Julia’s politics, as well as David suffering from PTSD during his time serving in the British Army.
Aside from the rather personal take on the story, Bodyguard focuses on controversial issues at the time such as government monitoring and regulation of information, as well as the effects of PTSD. Viewers looking for a series that isn’t extremely “hard” on the crime element might appreciate Bodyguard.
10 Ozark (2017 - 2022)
In Ozark, financial advisor Marty Byrde tries to game the system by becoming a money launderer for the Mexican drug cartel. However, a transaction gone wrong forces Byrde to make ends meet by proposing a crazier idea to his Mexican friends: set up an even bigger, more illegal laundering operation in Lake of the Ozarks, in Missouri.
As one might expect, Byrde’s family becomes quite surprised when they discover the sudden relocation to the summer community of Osage Beach, Missouri. And for Marty that’s become a frequent visitor of the seedy underbelly of the States, this meant introducing himself to local criminals in Ozark - including the Snell and Langmore families, alongside the Kansas City Mafia. Fans who want a family-oriented (insofar as the subgenre goes) spin on the crime drama concept will love Ozark, as reflected with accolades such as a whopping 32 Primetime Emmy nominations.
9 Queen Of The South (2016 - 2021)
It’s not often that a crime novel becomes the perfect material for a television adaptation, but that’s exactly what happened to Arturo Perez-Reverte and his “La Reina del Sur.” Adapted first as the telenovela of the same name back in 2011, the 2016 adaptation adds a modern twist to the story, this time named Queen of the South.
As with the novel, the series explores the life of Teresa Mendoza, an impoverished Mexican woman who strives to rise above poverty and falls in love with a drug cartel member. However, when her boyfriend’s murder forces her to flee Mexico and go to the United States, Mendoza makes unexpected allies to survive against her boyfriend’s drug cartel that is chasing her. And to finally put a stop to this madness, Mendoza herself starts her own drug cartel - which brings its own slate of problems. This unique take on a rags-to-riches story, alongside sweet revenge, makes Queen of the South something to rewatch.
8 Giri/Haji (2019)
Translated as “Duty/Shame,” Giri/Haji is a short-lived crime drama series that lasted for one season prior to its cancellation. However, its narrative was a unique take on criminal dramas, particularly for its setting. Centering around the life of detective Kenzo Mori, he ends up in London from his Tokyo office to search for Yuto, his brother who everyone thought was dead. Apparently, Yuto was accused of murdering a Yakuza member’s nephew, a feud that almost started a gang war in Tokyo.
Kenzo’s journey in London would hopefully shed light on what happened to his brother. And he makes steady progress through new friends and faces he would meet. Unfortunately, Kenzo’s actions in London would inevitably bring him to the clutches of the London criminal underworld - an entirely new enterprise compared to Japan’s.
7 Undercover (2019 - Present)
Sometimes, it’s much more dangerous to dabble into the criminal underworld as a double agent instead of being an actual criminal, and this is exactly what Bob Lemmens and Kim de Rooij are doing in Undercover. In this crime drama, inspired by real events, the two agents are tasked to infiltrate a drug syndicate’s operations in Limburg, Netherlands.
The two agents pose as a couple in the campgrounds where the syndicate’s leader loves spending his weekends - but things get far more complicated than just simple infiltration. Soon, both their lives are on the line when personal lives come in the way of their mission. And being immersed in both the criminal underworld and police work definitely adds a unique weight to Undercover that other shows just don’t have.
6 Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)
Critically-acclaimed Breaking Bad is easily a must-watch when it comes to any crime drama. Despite ending almost a decade ago, Breaking Bad cemented a place in the hearts of viewers with its stellar writing and unique plot points, with the story exploring the lives of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Things get crazy real fast when White, a talented but underpaid chemistry teacher, gets diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer and decides to turn to a life of crime.
White isn’t at it alone, though. Tagging along is Jesse, a former student that turned into an accomplice. Through Jesse’s help, White aims to produce and distribute meth to secure his family’s future after his passing. And unfortunately for White, his last few years dealing drugs will also become the wildest ride of his life.
5 Vincenzo (2021)
Much in the vein of standalone Korean dramas, Vincenzo is a 20-episode crime drama revolving around Park Joo-hyung, who was adopted by an Italian family at the tender age of eight. Unlike other adopted children, Joo-hyung ends up joining the mafia, being adopted a second time by Don Fabio Cassano. Now Vincenzo Cassano, Joo-hyung rises to become Don Fabio’s consigliere on top of being a lawyer. Unfortunately for him, Don Fabio’s death would have his firstborn son, Paolo, attempt to kill Vincenzo.
Having fled back to Seoul, Vincenzo now works as a lawyer for the Jipuragi Law Firm, with his new coworkers having no idea he’s there to reclaim his fortune. And unfortunately for Vincenzo, his past inevitably catches back up to him. Albeit not entirely a crime-driven drama, Korean dramas don’t often feature the mafia prominently. And this unique spin on a slice-of-life slash crime drama tale is certainly a breath of fresh air for drama lovers.
4 Extracurricular (2020)
Every big criminal starts somewhere, and for Oh Ji-Soo of Extracurricular, everything began when he started running illegal businesses to earn money as a side job from school. Soon, other people from school become inexplicably entangled in Ji-Soo’s business, such as Bae Gyu-ri who’s pressured by her rich family to take over the family business. While Gyu-ri pressures Ji-Soo to let her join the business after she discovers what he’s doing, things go haywire when another classmate joins and gets caught by the authorities.
Although only lasting 10 episodes, Extracurricular was a wild ride that gives viewers quite a unique look at the school setting away from the conventional class format. Instead of the usual school drama, Extracurricular becomes a coming-of-age story in the craziest of ways.
3 Money Heist (2019 - 2021)
Unlike other caper stories, Money Heist sets a mark in the heart of crime drama lovers for its intricate plot and narrative complexity, thanks in part to its storytelling method that fits right in the crime thriller subgenre. At its core, Money Heist explores two long cons involving the Bank of Spain and the Royal Mint of Spain. The famed Professor leads the heist alongside various robbers, one of which is Tokyo who serves as the series narrator.
While the ending of the show would reveal how the heists transpired in a linear fashion, Tokyo’s rather unreliable narration and the unique usage of time-jumps and flashbacks slowly reveal an intricate web of motivations, lies, and personal histories all tied neatly in a suspenseful drama.
2 Narcos (2015 - 2017)
Of all the famous crime dramas on Netflix, Narcos sets itself apart particularly due to its depiction of real-life events. Set around the story of Pablo Escobar, the famed drug kingpin, Narcos tells a behind-the-scenes look at Escobar’s story and explores how he became a billionaire through cocaine distribution, which was a relatively “new” part of the criminal underworld. Soon, Narcos explores not just Escobar’s inner circle, but also his relationships with the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as other rivals.
Fans of crime dramas who want a more realistic take on crime-related stories would appreciate the narrative take on Narcos, particularly for its blend of historical facts and the way the series got to highlight Escobar’s legendary tale up to his death.
1 Peaky Blinders (2013 - Present)
Fans of crime dramas who want a deeper look into the gang culture as it began would look no further than Peaky Blinders. This crime drama follows the adventures of the Peaky Blinders gang after the First World War, as well as their interactions with rival entities, the police, and their personal histories. The Peaky Blinders gang is apparently based loosely on the actual Peaky Blinders gang, which was active in Birmingham, England, from the 1890s to the early 1900s.
At its core, the Peaky Blinders explores leader Tommy Shelby and the way he’s expanded the small gang into a country-spanning - and eventually, international - enterprise, with events from the series being interconnected to pivotal points in English history. Fans of historical dramas who want to explore the criminal underworld as they began would love the behind-the-scenes look with Peaky Blinders.