Netflixis home to some of themostfamous crime shows of all time. FromNarcostoMoney HeistandMonster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,the platform has done a great service to the genre and essentially redefined it for mainstream viewers. However, alongside the many chart-topping series thatNetflixhas released over the years, many of them have alsogone unnoticed despite being just as compelling.
Whether you appreciate psychologicalthrillersoraction-packedcrimeprocedurals, these shows offer fresh takes on familiar tropes in the genre and are the perfect binge-watches for anyone who wants a healthy dose ofmystery, suspense, anddrama.
10‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)
Created by Joe Penhall
Mindhunteris one of thebest psychological crime seriesthat the streaming platform has to offer. The show follows FBI special agents Holden Ford(Jonathan Groff)and Bill Tench(Holt McCallany), alongside psychologist Wendy Carr(Anna Torv),as they launch a research project tounderstand the mindsof dangerous serial killers.MindhunterSeason 1 is set in the late 1970s, while Season 2 takes place between 1980 and 1981. One of the reasonsMindhunterhas been a success with fans of the genre is the show’s ability to pull from real-life crime events. The premise of the show is based on the 1995 true-crime bookMindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unitby former FBI agentsJohn E. Douglasand authorMark Olshaker,so Netflix deserves major credit for authenticity here. The show has managed topull off eerily realistic portrayals of notable serial killers,includingEdmund Kemper, Jerry Brudos,andRichard Speck.
Mindhunteris essentially also a window into the minds of the investigators, so every episodegives you both sides of the story.I have to admit that the pacing of the show is definitely slower than other crime dramas and focuses less on the action and more on the psychology of it all. However, that’s the very point of the show!Mindhunteris far from youraverage crime procedural drama. Every episode aims to explore the darkest parts of a serial killer’s psyche and what drives them to commit some of the most heinous crimes history has ever seen. If you ask me,Mindhunteris a refreshingly intellectual take on the genre. WhileMindhunterhas a cult following, the series has remained underappreciated in mainstream media, mostly because the viewers aren’t always willing to invest in the slow burn. The show was canceled after two seasons, which is a shame, because it truly had so much potential to think about the nature of evil and how we deal with it.
Mindhunter
9‘Crooks’ (2024–)
Created by Benjamin Hessler, Marvin Kren, and Georg Lippert
Crooksis a German thriller that premiered on Netflix in April 2024. The series starsFrederick Lauas Charly, a reformed criminal who starts working as a locksmith after he gets out of prison. Despite his attempts to be a better person,Charly isdrawn back to the criminal worldfor what he swears will be his last job. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan, and Charly realizes he has beenset up by a rival gang.After a series of unexpected events, he pairs up with gangster Joseph, played byChristoph Krutzler,as they try to leave their criminal pasts behind.
I have to say, I was shocked at how much action and intensityCrooksSeason 1 managed topack into 8 episodes.Netflix renewed the show for a second season on July 05, 2025, so it clearly managed to find the right audience. With a compelling plot and extremely strong performances by Lau and Krutzler,Crooksmanages to show the complex intricacies of the underworld. I really love the show’susage of dark humorto present a nuanced takeon the idea of redemption while also highlighting the emotional toll of a life of crime. If reading subtitles is keeping you from enjoying this masterpiece, you’re definitely missing out!
8‘Griselda’ (2024)
Created by Carlo Bernard, Ingrid Escajeda, and Doug Miro
Sofia Vergara’sphysical transformation forGriseldamight have been the talk of the town back when the biographical crime miniseries premiered on August 20, 2025. There’s so much more to the show than just that, though. Based on the real-life story ofGriselda Blanco, also known as the “Cocaine Godmother” back in the 1970s and 1980s, the show follows Blanco’s rise in themale-dominated Colombian cocaine empire.Griseldadoesn’t just focus on Blanco’s criminal activities, but it also explores her extremely complex personal life. That’s what brings in a kind of depth often lacking in the genre. Sure, Blanco is a ruthless businesswoman, but at the same time, she is a loving mother, and the way Vergara pulls all of it is mindblowing, to say the least.
Usually known for her comedic roles, I was not expecting much fromtheModern Familystar. However, the level ofintensity and vulnerability she brought to her characterinGriseldawas incredible. Watching Vergara’s Blanco slowly becoming one of the most powerful figures in the worldof international drug traffickingwas as fascinating as ever. The show didn’t mindlessly glorify all of that, though. Instead, it also showcased the dangerous reality of Blanco’s life and thepsychological impact it had on her.I’d say thatGriseldais an excellent character study with solid supporting performances, strong direction, and brilliant attention to detail.
7‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ (2024–)
Created by Poppy Cogan
Based on the 2019 novel of the same name,A Good Girl’s Guide to Murderfollows Pip Fitz-Amobi(Emma Myers),a 17-year-old who’s trying tosolve the murder of a local school girl,Andie Bell(India Lillie Davies). While the authorities deemed her boyfriend, Sal Singh(Rahul Pattni),guilty and closed the case, Pip believes that there’s more to the story. After Sal commits suicide, she teams up with his brother, Ravi(Zain Iqbal),to uncover the truth. However, they get closer to finding the real murderer, the more danger they put themselves and their families in. At first glance,A Good Girl’s Guide to Murdermight come across asa show for teenagers. However, the series quickly proves that it’s much more than that.Through the premise of a high-schooler’s complex life,the show covers themes of justice while also providing a high-stakes, suspenseful whodunit. The story keeps you guessing till the very end, and the final reveal will have the viewers on the edge of their seats.
In many ways, Pip’s investigation andcommitment to finding out the truthforces you to think about the everyday assumptions we make about people.Myers stands out as the show’s breakthrough starwith her layered and relatable performance. I’m honestly sad that more people aren’t talking about the sheer brilliance ofA Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
6‘The Residence’ (2025)
Created by Paul William Davies
Based on the novelThe Residence: Inside the Private World of the White HousebyKate Andersen Brower,the Netflix series starsUzo Adubaas the kooky detective Cordelia Cupp, who is tasked with solving a murder at the White House. The show is a comedic whodunit with a gripping premise that uncovers the complex relationships amongeveryone working and living at the White House.The setting of the show walks the line between reality and fiction, and this kind ofsatirical storytelling really meshes wellwith the genre.The Residenceoffers an interesting take on the political dynamics that come into play in the wake of a tragedy. Aduba delivers a spectacular performance whereshe is both endearing and annoyingat the same time. Her quirky character is a hilarious contrast against the high-stakesenvironment of the White House, which is one of the best parts of the show.
While the murder is definitely the center of the plot,The Residencepulls the curtain back and portrays thelives of people who work at the institution, and where their loyalties lie. All in all, the narrative of this murder mystery is a tangled web ofsecrets, power struggles, and hidden motives, and what more can one ask from the genre? Add in the talented ensemble cast to the mix, and you have a winner inThe Residence.
The Residence
5‘The Stranger’ (2020)
Directed by Daniel O’Hara and Hannah Quinn
Thiseight-part British miniseriespremiered on Netflix in January 2020 and starsRichard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran,andHannah John-Kamenin lead roles. The premise ofThe Strangerfollows Armitage as Adam Price, whose wife, Corrine Price(Dervla Kirwan),suddenly goes missing. Before that, though,Adam is approached by a mysterious stranger(John-Kamen) who tells Adam that his wife has been faking a pregnancy. This sets up the central conflict in the show as Adaminvestigates Corrine’s disappearancesalongside Detective Sergeant Johanna Griffin, played by Finneran.
What I love aboutThe Strangeris how the show manages toweave multiple storylines into a single narrative.The show features many characters whose stories run in parallel to one another, but in the end, they all seem to come together. I’ll be honest and admit that the show isn’t as fast-paced or high-stakes as some of the othercrime series on Netflix, but ithas a way of portraying how dark family secrets can get. The plot keeps you guessing till the very last minute, and watching Adam’s emotional turmoil as he slowly uncovers the reality of his wife’s life never gets boring.
The Stranger
4‘Lupin’ (2021–)
Created by George Kay
Over the years,Lupinhas developed a cult following, but I’d say thatthe crime thriller is still criminally underrated. The show starsOmar Syas Assane Diop,an extremely intelligent thiefinspired by the iconic French literary character Arsene Lupin. Now, the show starts off with Diop’s thirst for revenge after his father is framed for theft and dies in his prison cell. The story picks up 20 years later when Diop sets out to bring down his father’s former employer, the wealthy and powerful Hubert Pellegrini, and his entire family. Sy’s performance as the witty and complex Diop immediately pulls you in and keeps you wanting more. The wayLupinuses flashbacks to keep the fans hooked is amasterclass in storytelling.
Now, I love watching Diop executing his risky heists, butthe emotional depth Sy brings to his characteris the real highlight of the show.Lupinexplores themes of class, social injustice, and family loyalty, which have the potential to feel a bit too on-the-nose, especially with this genre. However, theshow’s execution of a Black man taking down a systemthat is actively working against him feels raw, powerful, and authentic.
3‘Bodies’ (2023)
Directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner and Haolu Wang
If you loveBlack Mirror,Bodieshas to be on your list. TheBritish science fiction thrillerstarsShira Haas, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller,andStephen Grahamas the lead protagonists. The premise of the show hooks you in right from the start. Set in London,Bodiesfollowsfour detectives from four different periodsspanning from 1980 to 2053 investigating the same murder. Now here’s where things get interesting. The murder scene is the same across four different decades, as the same body appears in the same location,just in different years. The way all of these investigations eventually come together to reveal the eerie truth is nail-biting, to say the least. I love themind-bending concept of the showthat combines crime, time travel, and traditional science fiction elements in the same story. The overlapping timelines force the audience to pay attention to every little detail, which is half the fun of the show.
Each detective brings a different perspectiveto the case, which often also depends on the technology and resources they can access during their respective time periods. The tension runs high inBodiesas you watch the four protagonists rushing to understand justhow connected their lives really are.
2‘Dept. Q’ (2025–)
Created by Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani
Based on Danish authorJussi Adler-Olsen’sfamousDepartment Qbook series, this British crime thriller starsMatthew Goodeas Carl Morck, a talented detective who returns to work after ashooting incident that has left him traumatized. Now, Carl holds himself responsible for this incident that caused the death of his fellow officer. However, he has quite a job to do when he is asked to join the cold case unit, “Dept. Q,” and is tasked with solving cases that have been forgotten by the rest of the force. As Carl struggles with guilt, he has to managerunning an underfunded and understaffed unit,which only adds to his frustration. As the show goes on, Carl learns to work with his equally troubled team, which consists of Rose(Leah Byrne)and Akram Salim(Alexej Manvelov), who are dealing with their own personal issues.
The drama kicks off when Dept. Q takes on the case of Merritt Linguard, a missing woman whosestory is full of dark secrets, abuse, and corruption.I love the show for its complex portrayal of Carl. While he is one of the best detectives in the force, he also struggles with the burden this job puts on him every single day. Carl deals with all his guilt and self-loathing through dry humor and sarcasm, but you can tell that he never stops caring about bringing justice to those who deserve it.Dept. Qmight appear to be yet another procedural drama at first, but the show offers anhonest peek into the emotional lives of detectives,and that stays with you for a long time.
1‘Bloodhounds’ (2023–)
Created by Jeong Chan
Bloodhoundsis one of the best crime dramasstreaming on Netflix right now. TheSouth Korean series is basedon a Webtoon of the same name byJeong Chan. The show follows Kim Geon-wo(Woo Do-hwan),an aspiring boxer who has to save his mother from a ruthless loan shark organization. To do so, Geon-woo partners with his friend Hong Woo-jin(Lee Sang-yi)and Choi Tae-ho(Huh Joon-ho),a former legend in the private loan industry who is on a quest to reform himself. The series follows the three men trying to navigate the dark reality of the underworld while dealing with their own personal struggles. The bond that forms among them as theytry to fight corruption and injusticeis the heart of the show.
Now, I agree that the premise of the show isn’t really groundbreaking. However, thecharacter development and the perfectly-choreographed action sequencesinBloodhoundskeep you coming back for more. At the same time, the show doesn’t just portray mindless violence.Bloodhoundsattempt to talk abouthow predatory the loan shark industry really isand the consequences it has for the victims and the people involved in the work. The protagonists are always in this gray area, which makes them relatable and layered. With its thrilling action and intriguing character arcs,Bloodhoundsis one ofNetflix’s most underrated gems.
Bloodhounds
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