The crime genre has to be one of the most popular on modern television. Netflix has tons of them. HBO is currently experiencing a great throwback to one of its most prominent crime series, and the rest of the streaming services often see their numbers go up whenever a new crime show is released. It doesn’t even matter if it relates to true crime, this genre has the capacity to hook viewers into binge-watching sessions that are usually halted in other genres. We always want to see who did it and who was capable of such horrible things. It’s almost natural.
But curiously, the crime genre doesn’t usually go for the multiple-season format. Aside from the obvious fact that once a crime is solved, there’s probably nowhere to go in the storyline (with a few exceptions), this gives companies the chance to experiment beyond a single streak of success. We, on the other side of the screen, just indulge in whatever’s coming next.
So on that note, we decided to celebrate the best of the best. Short crime series, or simple crime miniseries, that sit at the top of the genre and don’t represent an important time investment. Some of these will finish before you even notice, and some will leave you in a mindset of pure dread. But the important thing is that you will be able to binge these crime series in one day.
The following list may contain minor spoilers.
19 Black Bird (2022)
Apple TV’s production of Black Bird tells the story of Jimmy Keene, a former football star turned criminal who is caught by the police during his latest gig. The trial doesn’t go well, and he’s sent to prison on a sentence of many years. But the FBI offers him a deal: If he can get a convicted killer to confess to his other crimes, he will be released. Keene accepts and gets to another prison, where he befriends Larry Hall, a charismatic and apparently harmless man with a dark secret that Keene will get to know very slowly.
One Season – Six Episodes
Created by renowned crime author Dennis Lehane, Black Bird was acclaimed mostly because of its two central performances. Taron Egerton, who gives life to Keene and confirms why he’s one of today’s important young talents, But then Paul Walter Hauser provides the best performance of his life, and probably the best performance of television in the last 10 years.
Hauser breathes life into the monster, and sharply enters our minds as the seemingly innocent monster who was caught doing a bad, bad thing. The show runs for six episodes that’ll go by in a flash and will completely satisfy your true crime fix: it’s based on the true story of Larry Hall and Jimmy Keene’s role in making him confess. You can stream Black Bird on Apple TV+.
18 Defending Jacob (2020)
Based on William Landay’s book of the same name, Defending Jacob tells the story of Andy and Laurie Barber, the parents of Jacob Barber, as they undergo a horrific experience. Jacob has been formally accused of murder and is being tried as an adult. Andy, a district attorney, is put in a tough spot as he tries his very best to find the evidence of the murder, and at first everything points to Jacob having something to do. What follows is their journey to try and convince everyone that Jacob isn’t the murderer.
One Season – Eight Episodes
Defending Jacob is the best legal drama you haven’t given yourself the chance to watch because it wasn’t acclaimed by everyone. Nevertheless, it’s a short series with impressive performances by Chris Evans, Jaeden Martell, Michelle Dockery, J. K. Simmons, and Daniel Henshall among others.
It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat until the very ending, which divided audiences worldwide. People weren’t exactly in tune with the lack of closure, but it falls under the umbrella of shows with open endings that are actually worth seeing. You can stream Defending Jacob on Apple TV+.
17 Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
Under the Banner of Heaven takes us to Utah, where Mormonism is a huge religious movement and LDS labeling is basically everywhere. Even Detective Jeb Pyre calls himself an LDS detective and strictly follows the rules. That’s until he starts investigating the horrific murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her child, Erica. When Pyre goes deep inside the investigation, he notices the connections to his own religion and its extreme orthodox ways.
One Season – Seven Episodes
The miniseries is based on Jon Krakauer’s very successful book of the same name. It’s a crime drama that stays on a slow-burn stream that cleverly combines with its flashback narrative so that the audience can access the secretive world that’s being explored here.
It’s nowhere as controversial as it could have been, despite what some religious movements imply, and the performances by Wyatt Russell, Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Rory Culkin are superb. If crime series involving religion and cults are your thing, you can’t do better than Under the Banner of Heaven, regardless of its accuracy. You can stream Under the Banner of Heaven on Hulu.
16 The Night Of (2016)
In HBO’s excellent crime showThe Night Of, Naz Khan has a very unfortunate encounter with a beautiful girl. Naz is a shy young Pakistani-American college student living with his parents in New York who decides to borrow his father’s cab to go to a party. Andrea ends up getting in the car and inviting Naz to have a party of their own. Unfortunately, the next day, Naz wakes up beside the butchered corpse of Andrea with no idea of what happened. What follows is his journey through a legal system that doesn’t exactly see him as “innocent until proven guilty.”
One Season – Eight Episodes
One of the best-acted shows in modern television (Riz Ahmed won an Emmy), The Night Of is a profound exploration of justice bias, racism, and individualism, as seen through the eyes of a man who has no other chance but to surrender to a conception of the justice system that tries him. Naz goes from being an innocent man to someone whose guilt becomes secondary and only needs to survive.
Hope only comes in the form of his attorney, wonderfully played by John Turturro, who sees a glimmer of innocence and decides to act based on this. The show was written by Richard Price and Academy Award winner Steven Zaillian, who based their work on the British show Criminal Justice. You can stream The Night Of on Max.
15 Sharp Objects (2018)
Sharp Objects tells the story of Camille Preaker, a crime journalist with some internal demons and a shady past who decides to come to Wind Gap, where a horrific murder has taken place. Recently released from a psychiatric institution, she confronts her past and the traditions of her family as she investigates the murders of two young girls, whose culprit hasn’t been found. She finds out that the crime may be closer to her than she thinks.
One Season – Eight Episodes
The fascinating crime show is based on Gillian Flynn’s debut novel of the same name and features Amy Adams in one of her best performances ever. Curiously, she didn’t win a Golden Globe for her performance, but Patricia Clarkson did for her role as Adora, Camille’s mother. It’s a great rendering of small-town secrets that are definitely bigger than the size of their traditions and conservative values.
When it comes to crime shows produced by HBO and directed by the late Jean-Marc Vallée, Sharp Objects goes really well on a double bill with Big Little Lies (only that one can’t be binged in one day). You can stream Sharp Objects on Max.
14 Love & Death (2023)
HBO’s Love & Death is based on the true case of Candy Montgomery, who was formally accused of murdering Betty Gore during the ’70s in the small town of Wylie, Texas. Montgomery, a very religious churchgoer, is put in the spotlight after all clues point to her involvement in the massacre where Gore was continuously hit with an axe, after which Candy took a shower and left the house to continue on with her life.
One Season – Seven Episodes
This is one of two shows on the list that explore the Candy Montgomery case. But the good thing is that they’re different enough for each of them to have their own spot. HBO’s version, Love & Death, is better acted and has a higher production value. It’s much more graphic for obvious reasons (it’s HBO, duh), and it ends up being a more sober version of the case’s depiction.
Elizabeth Olsen’s performance as Montgomery is outstanding and will leave you wondering many things about the real Montgomery, which is the way it should happen. You can stream Love & Death on Max.
13 The Act (2019)
Hulu’s production of The Act is a great reenactment of the true case of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard. Ever since she was a baby, Gypsy-Rose was considered an ill child. But this was because her mother raised her to be so. Dee Dee Blanchard abused her daughter from an early age by subjecting her to a whole fictitious world of disease that wasn’t exactly true. When Gypsy-Rose grows up and meets someone online, they conspire together to get rid of Dee Dee so they can be free. And that they did. Sort of.
One Season – Eight Episodes
The Act is a very underrated miniseries starring Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee (she won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series) and Joey King as Gypsy-Rose. The portrayal of one of the most notorious cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a drama that flows easily into thriller territory once the events take their respective darker turn.
Though it feels like a realistic depiction of the events, the real Gypsy-Rose (now a free woman) stated that she didn’t provide any consent for the show. You can stream The Act on Hulu.
12 Mare of Easttown (2021)
Mare of Easttown tells the story of Mare Sheehan, a local detective in a small town in Philadelphia who has fallen from grace. Once considered the town’s most potential athlete, Mare is now a police detective, solving small crimes and trying to keep her life together. Her family is broken, her daughter doesn’t exactly like her, and her connection with her mother doesn’t go beyond constant scrutinizing. But everything changes when Mare is forced to solve the recent murder of a teenage mother, as it bears some resemblance to a past crime that Mare wasn’t able to solve.
One Season – Seven Episodes
Craig Zobel’s Mare of Easttown is, by far, one of the best miniseries you can watch today. The writing is spotless, and the performances don’t disappoint, especially those of Kate Winslet, Jean Smart, Evan Peters, and Julianne Nicholson. Winslet, Peters, and Nicholson won Emmys in their respective categories.
Its depiction of small-town dynamics is amazing and engages viewers from the beginning. It’s one of the few series on the list that could actually be brought back for a second season. You can stream Mare of Easttown on Max.
11 The Night Manager (2016)
The Night Manager tells the story of Jonathan Pine, a former military officer who is now retired and working as a night manager in a luxurious hotel in Egypt. Even though he’s no longer in the force, Pine uses his skills to investigate the guests that require more “observation.” This is how he comes upon Angela Burr, a government officer who recruits him to bring down an international arms dealer by the name of Dicky Roper by infiltrating his circle of friends and impersonating a promising partner.
One Season – Six Episodes
Running at only six episodes, this is one of the most worthy shows on the list that won’t take much of your time, and it features a star-studded cast that includes Olivia Colman, Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Elizabeth Debicki, among many others.
It is based on the book of the same name by John le Carré, and it has that spy thriller sense that not many modern shows have, and which works great under the format of a simply longer film. It’s cinematic, very well-written, and it delivers the thrills when it has to. What more can you ask for? You can stream The Night Manager on Prime Video.
10 Unbelievable (2021)
In Unbelievable, one of Netflix’s most important miniseries to date, Marie Adler decides to speak out against the crime she was a victim of. Adler was sexually assaulted by an unknown assailant in her own home, and she went straight to the police. The problem is that the evidence isn’t enough, and she ends up getting accused of lying and basically brought on trial. Fortunately, two fearless detectives decide to follow up on the case, as they believe Marie’s case may be connected to a series of sexual assaults committed by the same man.
One Season – Eight Episodes
The case is very similar to the one you’re thinking of, which was brought to the spotlight after Netflix released its docuseries based on it. Unbelievable is a jarring journey through the justice system that simply requires evidence beyond doubt and will probably never consider a statement to be strong enough to convict with.
Kaitlyn Dever leads the show with an outstanding performance, and as supporting players, we have Toni Collette and Merritt Wever. When it comes to true crime miniseries depicting themes of sexual violence, this one is a strong player. You can stream Unbelievable on Netflix.
9 The Staircase (2022)
The Staircase tells the story of Michael Peterson, a writer with the perfect family, perfect home, and perfect wife. However, things take a sudden turn when Michael makes the 911 call that will change his life. He claims to have found his wife, Kathleen, at the bottom of the stairs, all mangled and unable to breathe.
Peterson is formally accused of murdering his wife, sending his family on a spiral of mistrust that radically changes everyone’s perception of him. But it doesn’t stop there; the past and some intimate secrets will come back to haunt him as he goes through the horrific trial based on the true story.
One Season – Eight Episodes
Though it shares a name and tells the same story as the Netflix series by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, HBO’s version of The Staircase is a complete drama reenactment of the events surrounding Peterson’s case. Although at first it felt like an unnecessary adaptation, Antonio Campos’ show goes deeper than imagined and sheds light on a subject that hasn’t often been addressed, and that is Peterson’s relationship with his family, even when he’s acquitted. You will still have doubts, but that’s only normal in a case as notorious and mysterious as this one. You can stream The Staircase on Max.
8 The Undoing (2020)
In The Undoing, Grace and Jonathan Fraser are part of Manhattan’s elite. She’s a psychologist, and he’s an oncologist, and their son goes to the most posh school you can think of. However, a strange woman named Elena enters their lives. She makes strange remarks to Grace when she shows up at strange locations and seems to know more about the Frasers than Grace could have imagined. When Elena’s body is found dead and Jonathan is accused of the crime, the family dynamics take another direction as Grace also tries to find the truth about her husband.
One Season – Six Episodes
An extremely successful show by HBO that managed to break some records held by the behemoth Game of Thrones. It portrays the socialite dynamics from the perspective of one of its prominent players, as she’s forced to deal with the implausible version of the idea of corruption and deceit. Hugh Grant, playing Jonathan Fraser, delivers his best performance ever and actually matches Nicole Kidman’s role.
However, it’s Noma Dumezweni, playing Fraser’s attorney, who steals the show. It’s one of those crime series where the most simple explanation, as harrowing as it may be, ends up being possible and actually truthful. You can stream The Undoing on Max.
7 Candy (2022)
Candy
Texas in 1980 and based on the true story of killer Candy Montgomery and her victim, Betty Gore. Starring Jessica Biel.
- Release Date
- May 9, 2022
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- 20th Television, Eat the Cat, Iron Ocean Films, Hulu
Candy also tells the Candy Montgomery story, but this time it features Jessica Biel as the title character, and it’s under Hulu’s rules. Candy digs deep into Montgomery’s relationship with Allan Gore, Betty’s husband, as they indulge in sexual practices that their church would look down upon. Eventually, Betty finds out and triggers the events that left her butchered at the hands of Candy, the housewife from Texas who rippled through the traditions and religious values of ’70s Americana.
One Season – Five Episodes
Biel’s performance is better than Olsen’s. Far better. It’s the accent, the gullibility, and the apparent innocence. But both shows are very different from each other in their unveiling of the true story. Candy‘s mood is much more whimsical and darkly funny. It doesn’t explore the part of the trial as extensively as Love & Death does, but its depiction of family values under the shadow of suspicion and mistrust is very compelling. Melanie Lynskey as Betty Gore is one of her best performances. You can stream Candy on Hulu.
6 Seven Seconds (2018)
In Seven Seconds, Jersey City is shaken by a recent crime, in which a Black teenager was hit by a car and left for dead. As it turns out, a narcotics detective was responsible for the hit-and-run, but his partners helped him cover up the crime. Assistant prosecutor K.J. Harper teams with an internal affairs detective called Joe “Fish” Rinaldi, and they will both dig deep until revealing the truth in a racially tense setting where justice should prevail, but police violence is the norm.
One Season – Ten Episodes
Seven Seconds is an underrated miniseries created by Veena Sud for Netflix in 2018. It was sadly canceled when it had the potential to go on, considering its lead, played by Clare-Hope Ashitey, turned out to be a very good and strong character. It’s a realistic exploration of police brutality from the inside out, as the brotherhood between shady cops becomes the law and everything else becomes secondary.
The series features an episode directed by the late Jonathan Demme in one of his last participations in the medium before his passing. You can stream Seven Seconds on Netflix.
5 We Own This City (2022)
We Own This City
Tells the story of the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it.
- Release Date
- April 25, 2022
- Seasons
- 1
We Own This City is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Justin Fenton that goes deep inside the corrupt work of the Baltimore Police Department and the task force led by Wayne Jenkins, that was eventually accused of racketeering and fraud. Before being convicted of the crime in real-life, Jenkins and his partners committed all sorts of crimes as they fought crime in Baltimore, but such a challenge was eventually left aside because of the corrupt operations of their unit.
One Season – Six Episodes
When it comes to police procedurals taking place in Baltimore, The Wire usually draws everyone’s attention. But if you’re running short on time, We Own this City will provide what you need. Jon Bernthal stars as Jenkins in one of his many fine performances.
The show’s pretty realistic and runs at a solid pace that makes its six episodes go by very quickly. It’s been sadly overshadowed by similar procedurals of its time, but this one through with an unfiltered portrayal of police corruption and violence. You can stream We Own this City on Max.
4 Bodyguard (2018)
In Bodyguard, Police Sergeant David Budd is ridden with PTSD. He’s a war veteran with too many demons in his head, but he’s been transferred to a protection unit for the London police. His mission is to protect the outspoken Home Secretary named Julia Montague, who apparently has a few enemies. Not only that, but Budd is forced to protect someone whose politics aren’t exactly what he believes in.
One Season – Six Episodes
One of Netflix’s best shows in recent years, Bodyguard, is an action thriller with many shades of the crime genre when it decides to fully stop and develop its more passive aspect. When that happens and its two main characters aren’t running or being shot at, it becomes a very interesting and convincing depiction of themes of terrorism and politics. The show also works as a great business presentation for making Richard Madden the next James Bond. You can stream Bodyguard on Netflix.
3 Sherlock (2010 – 2017)
Sherlock
- Release Date
- July 25, 2010
- Seasons
- 4
- Studio
- BBC America
BBC’s production of Sherlock is a modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most important character, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is a consultant who spends his days solving crimes alongside his best friend, John Watson, a medic who has returned from Afghanistan after serving with the Royal Army. As he gets better at solving mysterious crimes, Sherlock becomes intertwined with police operations that never fully see him as a collaborator but more as a consulting partner.
Four Seasons – 13 Episodes
Part police procedural and part integral story, Sherlock is a composition of the classic tropes of the Sherlock Holmes’ books with modern-day police work. It does a great job at adapting slow-burn mysteries into a fresh setting that audiences loved since its release. After its whole run of seven years, people are still expecting a movie to get made, but sometimes it’s just about revisiting what’s already a great TV series and enjoying again what worked in the past. Featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as the lead characters, this is one of the best British shows of the 21st century. You can rent Sherlock on Prime Video.
2 The Afterparty (2022 – 2023)
Created by Christopher Miller (of the Phil Lord and Christopher Miller duo), The Afterparty tells two unique stories in its two seasons. Yes, they’re connected, but such connection is weak compared to a fascinating storyline that consists of an unsolved murder. In the first one, a party is interrupted when the host, an artist called Xavier, is found dead and all the party attendees become suspects. Detective Danner shows up and tries to solve the murder. Season two features a similar storyline, only this time the groom is found dead the morning after his wedding.
Two Seasons – 13 Episodes
The Afterparty is a great combination of comedy and crime, led by Sam Richardson and Tiffany Haddish, both playing Aniq and Detective Danner respectively. The show is a slight sample of clever comedy that revolves around an unsolved crime, but the balance between the genres is made possible as its pace is never interrupted by unnecessary plotlines.
Even an episode of the first season featuring musical sequences doesn’t feel invasive because of its very effective writing style and an extraordinary ensemble cast of very funny performers. You can rent The Afterparty on Apple TV+.
1 The White Lotus (2021 – Present)
Mike White’s The White Lotus is a dark comedy series with two seasons that feature no plot connections between each other, aside from a single character who’s brought back for comedy relief and a great conclusion. The series tells the story of guests coming to relax at the White Lotus resorts, where the employees will try to do their best to keep them happy. Where’s the crime, you might ask? As it turns out, both seasons start with police recovering bodies, or parts of them, in the installations of the fancy hotel. Then, it goes into flashback mode to reveal to the audience what happened.
Two Seasons – 13 Episodes
Crime is not exactly what you think of when addressing HBO’s production of The White Lotus, but let’s not forger that at the center of every season so far, there’s a horrible crime that should be solved. Of course, it’s not a procedural show per se, but it does a good enough job at portraying a buildup that you will fall quickly for quirky characters that show the bad and the worst of the elite going on vacation and staying at a fancy hotel.
It has a very peculiar way to portray relationships, so watching with your loved one is not exactly recommended. Both seasons feature impressive ensemble casts, members of which collected a few awards in the 2024 ceremonies. You can rent The White Lotus on Max.
To keep the spirit of this wonderful genre alive, here’s a video of some gritty crime thrillers you might want to watch:
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
