The best crime TV shows 2026 ranked by the community. Crime is the broadest genre in television – from procedurals and noir to true crime and gangster stories. This ranking helps you filter out the series that genuinely hold up from the large pool of available titles. Use the filters to search specifically by streaming service, completed series or shorter runtime.
How are the series charts created?
Rankings are based on real user ratings. The more votes a show receives, the more stable its chart position. When you rate shows yourself, your personal recommendations improve too.
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Notorious serial killer Joe Carroll, after being found guilty of murdering 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature, escapes from death row. The FBI calls former agent Ryan Hardy to consult on the case, as he was the one responsible for Carroll’s capture in 2003. ... more
Set in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous, Ray Donovan does the dirty work for LA's top power players. He is the go-to guy who makes the problems of the city's celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls disappear. This powerful drama unfolds when his father is unexpectedl... more
CSI is a crime drama in which the characters use cutting-edge forensic tools to examine the evidence to solve the case. Rather than asking 'whodunnit' (investigating witnesses/suspects), CSI explores the 'howdunnit'. more
Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson is brought in from the London Metropolitan Police to help catch the killer when a murder in Belfast remains unsolved.
As Gibson travels across from London, we are introduced to the murderer himself; Paul Spector. more
When shrewd and confident FBI Special Agent Audrey Parker arrives in the small town of Haven she soon finds herself caught up with the return of The Troubles, a plague of supernatural afflictions that occurred in the town at least once before. If that was not enough to draw her in, she also finds a ... more
Their precinct is the Autobahn, they work at breakneck speed. Their enemies: stolen car dealers, killers and extortionists. 24/7 service for the men of Cobra 11 - Our safety is their job! more
From the makers of Spooks and acclaimed writer Tony Jordan comes a slick and stylish new drama. An action-packed blend of humour and intrigue, following the fortunes of a gang of expert cons on the loose in London. They are specialists in the way of the grifter and all are keen to liberate cash from... more
The Killing is an American crime drama television series based on the Danish television series Forbrydelsen. Set in Seattle Washington, the series follows the various murder investigations by homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder. more
A drama set in the East End of London in 1889, during the aftermath of the "Ripper" murders. The action centres around the notorious H Division – the police precinct from hell – which is charged with keeping order in the chaotic streets of Whitechapel.
Ripper Street explores the lives of characte... more
After leaving prison, Marius takes cover from his past by assuming the identity of his cellmate Pete. He moves in with Pete's long-estranged unsuspecting family and is roped into the family's bail bond business. He's a criminal taking down other criminals and, in the process, discovers the family li... more
Fifteen years ago, the private jet carrying the billionaire Rand family mysteriously crashed in the Himalayas. Nearly twenty years later, Danny Rand, the lone survivor of the crash, returns to New York City as the Immortal Iron Fist. Danny quickly discovers that life in the city can be as contentiou... more
Mafia activity in Naples is at the center of this series, which focuses on internal struggles that follow after the head of a family is imprisoned. more
Complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews returns to the force after serving time in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Crews' new lease on life has provided him with a Zen-like outlook, peace of mind and no need for vengeance, an attitude which can be challenging to maintain when someone he cares ... more
Once a powerful lawyer, Billy McBride is now burned out and washed up, spending more time in a bar than a courtroom. When he reluctantly agrees to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the biggest client of Cooperman & McBride, the massive law firm he helped create, Billy and his ragtag team u... more
Frank Castle, also know as 'The Punisher', believes he has exacted revenge on the criminals responsible for the tragic murder of his family. However, he soon uncovers a larger, deeper conspiracy behind the events that occurred during his time serving in the Marine Corps. Alongside run-ins with law e... more
The story of an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren't above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact. more
The stakes are high for five young cops fresh out of the Academy and ready for their first day with one of the most elite units in the city. Under the watchful guidance of their officers, Andy McNally and her four fellow rookies quickly learn that no amount of training could prepare them for this ne... more
Crime is the broadest genre in television. The label covers procedurals with standalone cases per episode, serialised investigator stories across full seasons, true crime adaptations of real cases, gangster series, neo-noir productions and psychological perpetrator portraits – formats that differ fundamentally in pace, tone and perspective. What they share is crime as a central motif, but not necessarily its resolution.
The community ratings help filter out the series that work beyond their premise. Series that consistently rank near the top tend to share one quality: they show the crime from multiple perspectives at once – perpetrator, investigator, victim, system – and ask questions without easy answers. Use the runtime filter to find crime series with shorter episodes that are well suited for binge-watching.