Crime has been a well-known and beloved movie and television genre for many years. It is a fascinating yet chilling phenomenon many are curious about; What happened? What motivated them to do it? How did anyone let this happen? These are questions that are often left wandering in our heads.

While some may find it hard to watch crime shows, others are incredibly fond of it to the extent that it may well be the only genre they look forward to watching. Some shows, no matter how dark or gritty, are so incredibly well-made that it is hard to resist the temptation of watching them over and over again.

Updated on April 11, 2023, by Hannah Saab:

With highly-anticipated new seasons of popular crime shows like Fargo confirmed to premiere sometime this year, it's clear that there's enduring interest in the established genre. Only time will tell which among the ongoing series will go down in history as being among the best crime TV shows of the 21st century, of which there are several rewatchable options to choose from.

15 'Luther' (2010 - 2019)

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Image Via BBC

Luther is a dark psychological crime thriller television series that follows Luther (Idris Elba), a detective chief inspector whose job is to make cases against criminals. In the first episode, he investigates the psychopath and murderer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson). Unable to arrest Morgan due to lack of evidence, the two form an unlikely relationship with each other instead.

With the help of Morgan’s brilliant and criminal mind, she often assists Luther with his criminal investigations. The series partly owes its success to powerhouse performances by both Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson. Luther has also been claimed as Elba’s best performance since his role as Stringer Bell in The Wire.

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14 'Bones' (2005 - 2017)

Dr. Temperance Brennan from Bones gazing into space thoughtfully

Bones is a crime procedural television series that, as its title suggests, is based on the fields of forensic anthropology and forensic archeology. Each episode focuses on a different case where FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) presents human remains to forensic anthropologist Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) to examine them.

Bones became a series that the audience kept returning to because not only did every episode tell a different story, but it also explored the characters' personal lives. With 15 seasons (and years), it is no surprise that Bones became the longest-running one-hour drama series produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

Watch on Hulu

13 'Criminal Minds' (2005 - 2020)

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Criminal Minds is a police procedural crime drama series that ran for an impressive 15 seasons (and years) and consists of 324 episodes. The series follows a team of criminal profilers working within the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) in the FBI. The team uses behavioral analysis and profiling to conduct criminal investigations and find the undue (unknown subject), a term used to call perpetrators.

The series became a big hit and one of the most-watched series for CBS, even until a year after the series ended in 2021. The success of Criminal Minds spawned a media franchise, spinoffs (including a South Korean adaptation), and a video game.

Watch on Paramount+

12 'Money Heist' (2017 - 2021)

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Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) is a Spanish television show that premiered in 2017 on Antena 3, but was almost canceled until the series was saved by Netflix – it subsequently became an international phenomenon. The show portrays a bunch of talented criminals who band together to pull off a daring robbery, stealing from the Royal Mint of Spain and using hostages to help them escape with the cash.

The series is known for its complex characters, high-stakes narrative and effective use of non-linear storytelling. It has a significant international fanbase and has received critical acclaim for its performances, script and director. It is one of Netflix's most popular non-English language series, and it has even inspired a Korean remake (Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area) and an upcoming spin-off to be released sometime in 2023 (Berlin).

Watch on Netflix

11 'Ozark' (2017 - 2022)

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Ozark is a Netflix crime drama television series that debuted in 2017, starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as Marty and Wendy Byrde. It tells the story of financial consultant Marty, who moves his family from the Chicago suburbs to a summer resort town in the Missouri Ozarks. Byrde's unexpected and dangerous involvement in money laundering for a drug lord triggered the move.

As the Byrdes navigate their new criminal underworld and attempt to stay one step ahead of the drug lord's violent accomplices, the show explores themes of family, loyalty and survival. The series has received multiple awards, nominations and praise for its writing, acting and gripping narrative. Having recently ended, it's already considered an instant classic of crime television.

Watch on Netflix

10 'Mindhunter' (2017 - 2019)

Holden Ford holds a crime scene photo while Bill Tench observes in Mindhunter
Image via Netflix

Mindhunter is a Netflix original criminal drama television series from creator Joe Penhall. The show is based on the true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The series follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they interview incarcerated serial killers in order to learn more about and arrest current killers. Anna Torv also appears in the series as Dr. Wendy Carr, a psychology professor who assists the agents with their interviews.

While numerous episodes are from various talented directors, most come from the mind of director and de facto showrunner David Fincher, which is no surprise considering his history with the genre. Each storyline is intense, disturbing and oftentimes unsettling, which is why it's disappointing that there hasn't been any more news about a potential third season. That said, the first two that are available to stream are worth watching more than once.

Watch on Netflix

9 'Dexter' (2006 - 2013)

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Image via Showtime

Dexter released its first episode in 2006 on the Showtime network. The series centers on Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the Miami Metro Police Department by day but is a vigilante serial killer by night. Dexter's victims are those who have not been fairly punished by the justice system, whether for corruption or legal reasons. He justifies his actions by believing he is doing justice to the world.

While the series ended after seven seasons in 2013, many were not satisfied with the finale, ending Dexter on a sour note. Some even regarded it as one of the worst endings of all time. Given Dexter’s pragmatic thought process, simply unplugging her sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) from life support and abandoning his son Harrison did not make sense. Not only that, the questionable CGI storm shot in the final scenes certainly did not impress anyone. To redeem the series' worth, they released a revival miniseries of Dexter, titled Dexter: New Blood.

Watch on Showtime

8 'Peaky Blinders' (2013 - 2022)

Peaky Blinders Cast Including Thomas Shelby, Arthur Shelby, Johnny Dogs, Charlie, and Finn
Image via BBC

Peaky Blinders is a British television crime drama set in 1920s Birmingham, England, that follows the Shelby crime family's misadventures. The Peaky Blinders gang, which was active in the city at the time, inspired the show's title. Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the Shelby family as they navigate the world of organized crime in the aftermath of World War I, and it stars Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, the leader of the Peaky Blinders gang, and features an ensemble cast that includes Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory, and Tom Hardy.

The show has a reputation for historical accuracy, outstanding acting and stunning cinematography. It's impossible not to feel invested in the Shelby's experiences, in large part due to the stellar performances from actors who have become synonymous with their well-written characters. It's the perfect time to re-watch the series before the Peaky Blinders film premieres sometime in 2024.

Watch on Netflix

7 'Twin Peaks' (1990 - 1991)

Kyle MacLachlan and Sheryl Lee as Dale Cooper and Laura Palmer in a room with red curtains in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Image via New Line Cinema

Twin Peaks is a drama mystery series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. Although the series first aired in 1990 and ran for two seasons, it returned for a third season in 2017. The series follows an investigation led by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and Sheriff Harry S. Truman (Michael Ontkean) on the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in Twin Peaks, a fictional town in Washington.

Although Twin Peaks seems like a small town at first glance, there is more to it than that. The longer the Laura Palmer case is left unsolved, the stranger things seem to get. Many abnormalities start to unravel the town’s supernatural existence. The series is distinguished not only by its surrealism (a David Lynch signature) but it is also known for its cinematography and blending the genres of drama, mystery, crime, science fiction, and even humor very well.

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6 'Better Call Saul' (2015 - 2022)

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Image Via AMC

During the making of Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould decided that a spin-off prequel of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) would make for an interesting series. A few years later, Better Call Saul was released, and it has since become a critically acclaimed series, with some claiming to favor it over Breaking Bad.

Despite his flaws, Saul Goodman is more relatable to the viewers because of his ongoing battle between his good and bad sides. Unlike Walter White, who increasingly gets worse with no willingness to change, we see various attempts of Saul trying and wanting to be a better person. Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), Mike Ehrmentraut (Jonathan Banks), Nacho Varga (Michael Mando), Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton), Chuck McGill (Michael McKea), and the rest are also well-written characters whose powerful performances drove the triumph of the series. Fans looking for shows like Breaking Bad don't have to look much further than Better Call Saul.

Watch on Netflix

5 'Fargo' (2014 - )

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The Fargo film by Joel and Ethan Coen (The Coen brothers) inspired the making of the black comedy crime television series of the same name. Each season comprises different stories with different characters and is set around Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. What makes the series distinguishable is the smart presence of comedy in what is otherwise an utterly dark series.

All four series starred big names such as Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, who starred in the first season, and Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, and Jesse Plemons in the second season. The third season starred Ewan McGregor and the latest and fourth season starred Chris Rock. In February 2022, the creators announced the renewal of a fifth season for Fargo, which will star the likes of Juno Temple, Jon Hamm, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The overall series has won 51 out of its 226 award nominations from the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Writers Guild of America Awards, and Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

Watch on Hulu

4 'Sherlock' (2010 - 2017)

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in Sherlock Season 3 Episode 3 His Last Vow
Image via BBC

The Sherlock crime drama series was adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless Sherlock Holmes detective stories. The series follows Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), an unusual intellect and “consulting detective” who solves the crime mysteries of modern-day London with his flatmate, Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman). Although members of the Metropolitan Police are initially suspicious of him, Holmes eventually gains their trust and frequently assists them in their investigations.

Time has proven that a great story doesn’t necessarily make a great film or television series, as it all comes down to a combined effort from the writers, director, actors, editors, and others involved. So not only have Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories provided a strong foundation for what would be an incredible series, the production team excelled in all departments. It is no surprise that the series is often praised for its writing, acting, and directing quality, and has been nominated for and won many awards in that regard.

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3 'The Sopranos' (1999 - 2007)

Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli and Vincent Pastore in 'The Sopranos'
Image Via Max

The Sopranos is a crime drama series that focuses on the life of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), who struggles to balance his life as an Italian-American mobster and his role as a father and husband to his family. Unable to express his feelings, Tony resorts to attending therapy sessions with his psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), where they explore and discuss his inner struggles.

The series is commonly referred to as the best television series ever made. Although it is essentially a crime show about members of the mafia engaging in criminal activities, the everyday struggles that Tony Soprano and other characters experience are ones that the viewers can relate to. The series' success has proven that The Sopranos has remained a classic still enjoyed by many today.

Watch on HBO Max

2 'The Wire' (2002 - 2008)

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From 2002 to 2008, HBO aired one of its greatest shows, the crime drama television series The Wire, which starred actors such as Dominic West, Idris Elba and Wendell Pierce. David Simon created the drama, which is set in Baltimore, Maryland. It covers the lives of a wide range of individuals, including drug traffickers, law enforcement officers, and politicians, as they traverse the complicated and very often corrupt world of Baltimore's drug trade.

The series is well-known for its realistic depiction of the city and its complex characters, as well as its treatment of social and political topics like the war on drugs, urban deterioration and institutional failure. The Wire has gained immense critical praise and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time. It's still just as relevant and worth watching again today.

Watch on HBO Max

1 'Breaking Bad' (2008 - 2013)

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Image via HBO

There are many reasons Breaking Bad has remained one of the most beloved series worldwide. The storyline of a chemistry teacher going rogue (Bryan Cranston) and partnering up with his ex-chemistry student (Aaron Paul) to start a meth business might sound out of this world, but its success proves that sometimes the wildest stories are what we look for; something other than the ordinary. Because of the successful creative collaboration between the cast and crew members, Breaking Bad became a huge success.

There is no denying that a story that involves a good man turning bad is guaranteed to be a dark and uneasy story to watch unfold, but Breaking Bad makes it worth watching more than once.

Watch on Netflix

NEXT: The Most Loved Crime Shows of the 21st Century