The Best Crime Shows on Netflix Right Now (October 2024)
Are you finding yourself in the mood for murder, most foul? Well, we have you covered with our list of the Best Crime Series on Netflix. From docuseries like The Keepers to Netflix originals like Mindhunter and Bloodline, as well as British series like Bodyguard and Peaky Blinders, there should be something to tempt you below.
Like with our Best TV Dramas on Netflix, we have even more lists of TV subgenres on the streaming giant to share, including the Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy, Best TV Comedies, and more. So if you don’t see your favorites here, keep checking! This list will continue to grow, but for now, check out our list of crime-specific recommendations below and let us know some of your other favorites in the comments.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
Editor’s note: This article was updated October 2024 to include The Perfect Couple and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
‘The Perfect Couple’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 64% | IMDb: 6.5/10
Based on Elin Hilderbrand’s eponymous 2018 novel, The Perfect Couple follows Amelia Sacks, who is about to marry into the Winbury family, one of the wealthiest on Nantucket Island. But when a body is suddenly discovered on the estate before the ceremony, everyone becomes a suspect, with the investigation revealing shocking details about each family member and derailing the wedding. Created by Jenna Lamia and directed by Susanne Bier, The Perfect Couple boasts an ensemble cast featuring Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Meghan Fahy, Dakota Fanning, and many more. Released in September 2024, the mystery drama miniseries features an intriguing narrative with solid cast performances and sweeping vistas and has been compared to shows like Big Little Lies (another mystery starring Kidman) and The White Lotus. While it has received somewhat mixed reviews, The Perfect Couple maintains all the elements that make a cozy, seaside murder mystery, akin to Agatha Christie’s stories or the works of Liane Moriarty.
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‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 44% | IMDb: 7.8/10
Based on the chilling true story, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s crime drama anthology series Monster. The show recounts the story of the 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez, who were killed by their sons, Lyle and Erik. The season stars Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle and Cooper Koch as Erik, alongside Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny as their parents. Despite some criticisms regarding its slow pacing, inconsistent tone, and inaccuracies, the series has proven to be a big hit among audiences, debuting at the number one spot on Netflix’s global Top 10 list. The show may not be true to life (and, like its predecessor, Dahmer, can be a bit problematic), but what it does have going for it are the stellar performances by its talented cast and the amazing production quality. A third season of the anthology, starring Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein, is currently in the works.
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‘NCIS’ (2003 – Present)
IMDb: 7.8/10
One of the most beloved procedurals in 21st-century television, this series follows the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) as they investigate an unending barrage of criminal cases on a day-to-day basis. Often shocking and always thrilling, NCIS takes the stereotype held by the police procedural sub-genre and throws it out the window, crafting a series that manages to impress in both quantity and quality. The show is a fond favorite of both the public and critics, even earning three Primetime Emmy nominations during its run — one that doesn’t look to be ending anytime soon. – Jake Hodges
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‘Dare Me’ (2019 – 2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 6.7/10
Based on Megan Abbott’s novel of the same name, Dare Me follows a new high school cheerleading coach, Colette French (Willa Fitzgerald), who arrives expecting a simple job but instead finds a high school hierarchy full of toxicity desperate to be explored. Despite being canceled before it had the chance to fully flourish, the 10 episodes of Dare Me that do exist are more than enough to provide tension and entertainment in abundance. A mixture of mature drama and teen themes, each of the high schoolers has a personality that feels rooted in the true duality of an adolescent, with their costly mistakes both morally reprehensible and understandable. – Jake Hodges
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‘Bodies’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 7.3/10
This Netflix hit, based on the graphic novel and DC comic of the same name, features four periods in history across over 100 years, all set in the same London location and featuring the very same murder. It soon becomes clear that each is linked, especially when it is discovered that the body in question is exactly the same one spread across time. Starring the likes of Shira Haas, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, and the brilliant Stephen Graham, Bodies is a mind and time-bending tale that takes time to piece together, but once the mystery begins to unravel, it is thoroughly gripping. Featuring a story that feels wholly unique, the series is both a breath of fresh air and a wonderful addition to the crime and sci-fi genres. – Jake Hodges
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‘Painkiller’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% | IMDb: 7.4/10
A series as topical as any, Painkiller stars the likes of Taylor Kitsch and Matthew Broderick in a tale inspired by the nation’s opioid crisis. Exploring the business and personal aspects of the crisis from the points of view of doctors, CEOs, and victims, Painkiller leaves no stone unturned. Poignant and powerful, Painkiller is both an antidote to the audience’s worries surrounding the issue and a reminder of the dangers of such a crisis. Broderick is simply captivating as Richard Sackler, with the dark truth behind the Sackler family enough to turn any passive viewer into an activist. – Jake Hodges
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‘Midnight at the Pera Palace’ (2022 – Present)
IMDb: 7.0/10
This Turkish Netflix original follows reporter Esra (Hazal Kaya) as she is sent to the titular Pera Palace, the Hotel in which Agatha Christie allegedly wrote her acclaimed 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express. After spending the night, Esra wakes up transported to 1919 and quickly realizes that another version of herself has been murdered, leaving her to investigate the tender secrets that align the hotel’s walls. Aesthetically gorgeous and narratively tense, Midnight at the Pera Palace is the culmination of a crew and cast that are all dedicated to their craft, with each frame of the series meticulously designed. As far as international series on Netflix go, you won’t find better. – Jake Hodges
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‘Barracuda Queens’ (2023 – Present)
IMDb: 6.4/10
Created by Camilla Ahlgren, this series follows a group of young girls who, feeling let down by the world around them, resort to a life of crime. Frustrated by the expectations placed on them by a patriarchal society, the girls begin to commit burglaries to try and break boundaries — but are they simply breaking their futures instead? This fascinating tale is made even more so when learning that it is based on a true story, with each of the central cast putting in an eye-catching performance that leaves no one behind. Unlike other teen shows, Barracuda Queens shows the true depths of indecision that run through the mind of an adolescent, with every character beautifully nuanced in their own way. – Jake Hodges
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‘Florida Man’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 22% | IMDb: 6.7
Produced by iconic funny-man Jason Bateman, this crime comedy follows disgraced ex-cop Mike Valentine (Edgar Ramirez) as he returns to his hometown of Florida to hunt for a mob boss’s girlfriend. However, Valentine isn’t simply trying to rectify his past mistakes and earn back trust — he is actually trying to find the woman on the promise that all of his debts to the mob will be forgotten. Possibly the most chaotic comedy you’ll likely ever watch, Florida Man truly lives up to its title with a set of circumstances you will never see coming. A crime series that leans closer to the lighter side than the dark, Florida Man is real popcorn fun. – Jake Hodges
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‘In From the Cold’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 6.3/10
Created by Adam Glass, In From the Cold details the combination of professional and private life, as ex-Russian spy Jenny (Margarita Levieva) is outed by a CIA agent for her secret past and must try and save her family from a dangerous threat. Intriguing and twisted in all the best ways, In From the Cold manages to balance a slowly evolving mystery with tender character development. By mixing both the crime and sci-fi genres, In From the Cold offers something for everyone, with eight episodes of thrilling entertainment punctuated by moments of camp excitement. – Jake Hodges
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‘Lupin’ (2021 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 7.5/10
One of French television’s most-loved series, Lupin follows Omar Sy as the suave Assane Diop, a man with a Robin Hood-like moral compass who seeks revenge on a wealthy family that inflicted tragedy on his own. Inspired by the Arsène Lupin novels by Maurice Leblanc, Lupin never drops below its high-octane opening episode. Beyond its detailed cinematography and action-heavy plot, the star of Lupin is its greatest asset, with Sy’s witty, brooding performance of a man that mixes Sherlock with Luther the sort of lead role that inspires a generation of actors. Simply put, Lupin is one of the best crime shows on Netflix. – Jake Hodges
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‘Inside Man’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 6.6/10
The mind of Steven Moffat has produced some brilliant modern series, with this perhaps his most underrated. Inside Man follows David Tennant’s loyal vicar, Harry, who, after a moment of miscommunication, leads a woman to believe his son is committing an evil crime and accidentally locks her up in his basement. Pair this with a Sherlock-esque Stanley Tucci, and you have a recipe for a puzzling, dramatic series. With twists and turns aplenty, the lengths a man will go to protect his own are explored in beautiful depth throughout Inside Man, with Tennant producing a performance well worthy of his excellent pedigree. – Jake Hodges
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‘The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 53% | IMDb: 6.4/10
A title that certainly leaves little to the imagination, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window is a clever parody of the thriller genre starring Kristen Bell as the lonely Anna. When an alluring man moves in across the street, Anna believes her romantic luck might be about to find its fortune, only for a terrible murder to change her mind… or did it? An intelligent, witty, and beautifully sculpted parody, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window both picks apart the genre it is based on, as well as pays homage to it. Bell is an inspired central casting, with her deadpan delivery of some of the tropes long-found in thriller series making for some brilliantly funny scenes. – Jake Hodges
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‘Better Call Saul’ (2015 – 2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 9.0/10
A spin-off of the legendary Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul follows one of the show’s most intriguing characters, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), as he lives out his life as a hotshot lawyer back when he was known simply as Jimmy McGill. The series follows the events that led to his eventual iconic meeting with Walter White (Bryan Cranston). Featuring a revolving door of genius characters, some from Breaking Bad and some new, Better Call Saul champions the best assets of its predecessor as a sometimes comic and always emotionally gripping rollercoaster. The best compliment that can be paid to the show is just how close it comes in quality to its source material, which is no mean feat for any series in the history of television. – Jake Hodges
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‘Clark’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.3/10
This biopic is about the life of con man and career criminal Clark Olofsson, from whom we get the term Stockholm Syndrome. The series depicts the rise and fall of Sweden’s biggest gangster, from his birth to his escape from prison. Olofsson is portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, with the actor providing a career-best performance as the titular man, managing to put verve and nuance into a character that, from the outside, seems deplorably unredeemable. By using fourth-wall breaks and clever narration, Clark gives the audience a one-way ticket into an evil mind, with the show neatly offering a three-dimensional look at Olofsson’s life without ever making him seem relatable or justified. – Jake Hodges
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‘Great Pretender’ (2020 – 2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.8/10
Boasting a remarkable 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Great Pretender is an anime series that follows two con men, one Japanese and one French, as their paths cross, leading to the unraveling of a web of lies and deceit that inspire a multitude of high-octane scams. Aesthetically delightful and masterfully entertaining, Great Pretender is a story bursting with life thanks to two carefully crafted central characters. Their schemes are always highly entertaining and often involve the uncovering of corruption, which makes the thrill of the game even more enticing for an audience. Energetic and joyous, Great Pretender is one of the best anime series on Netflix. – Jake Hodges
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‘Narcos’ (2015 – 2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 8.8/10
One of the most successful Netflix series of all time, Narcos depicts the life of infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), showcasing both his life at the top and the dedicated team of DEA agents that brought him down. Featuring some of the best performances in any Netflix series, highlighted by the incredible Pedro Pascal, Narcos is just as addictive as its subject matter, with every episode brimming with indulgent drama. Not just a hit with the public, critics adored Narcos, too, with the series earning three Primetime Emmy nominations across three seasons, with many claiming it deserved more. – Jake Hodges
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‘Good Girls’ (2018 – 2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Jenna Bans’ Good Girls is a female empowerment comedy that follows a trio of average suburban women who start to feel the effects of motherhood and the emotional and financial toll it can have. Determined to take back control of their lives, the three begin a life of petty crime that soon unravels into much more than they could have bargained for. Poignant and hilarious, Good Girls is both the thrill of the chase and the will to succeed, buoyed by a never-ending stream of gags. Like Breaking Bad for suburban moms, this series feels bathed in the frustrations of womanhood, projected by a trio of central performances that each perfectly complements the other. – Jake Hodges
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‘Money Heist’ (2017 – 2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.2/10
Also known as La Casa de Papel, Money Heist follows an enigmatic collection of unlikely friends who are all part of the same heist team. Determined to commit the perfect heist, they band together to steal an eye-watering 2.4 billion euros from the Royal Mint of Spain and, in doing so, become the most successful criminals in Spanish history. One of Netflix’s most-loved shows globally, Money Heist is a triumph for many reasons — not least the high-octane, stylish subject at its center. However, it is the ensemble at Money Heist’s heart that keeps viewers returning, with a cast of characters ready to rival any Netflix series. Breathless and brilliant, there’s a reason the show has won a total of 38 awards, including the International Emmy for Best Drama. – Jake Hodges
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‘Who Killed Sara?’ (2021 – 2022)
IMDb: 6.4/10
Considered by many to be the best Spanish-language series on Netflix, Who Killed Sara? is exactly like it sounds, with the central premise of a man, Alex Guzman (Manolo Cardona), trying to find out the truth behind his sister’s murder. What makes this more intriguing is that Guzman has already spent 18 years in prison for the false conviction of her murder, increasing his desire for revenge tenfold. A thriller that unpicks many of society’s flaws — from class inequality to the judicial system — Who Killed Sara? is also a wonderfully indulgent mystery. Never far from a huge twist or turn, this series is prime binge-watching material and a must-have addition to your watchlist. – Jake Hodges
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