50 Best Crime Shows Of All Time Ranked

There's just something about crime series that keep audiences coming back for more, no matter how many police procedurals or mafia tales they've seen. Maybe it stems from a need to see justice prevail, or perhaps it comes from a dark place inside the human psyche that just can't help but look closer at the things we fear the most. From military investigations to serial killer stories, settling into a good series about America's seedy underbelly is immensely satisfying. 

Whatever keeps us coming back for more, there are certainly plenty of great crime dramas to choose from on primetime TV and streaming video. That's why we're taking a closer look at the 50 best crime shows of all time.

Released at the peak of the pandemic, "FBI: Most Wanted" follows the FBI's Fugitive Task Force as they track down some of the country's most notorious—and dangerous—criminals. The first "FBI" spin-off, the series was introduced through a backdoor pilot and stars Julian McMahon as FBI profiler Jessie "Jess" LaCroix, who leads a crack team of seasoned analysts and investigators. Although the series is pretty standard fare that hasn't brought anything new to the genre, many viewers find it better than the original "FBI" series, with IMDb reviewers praising McMahon's performance and the writers' attention to character development over the show's three seasons. Although McMahon will be leaving in Season 4, his replacement, Dylan McDermott, is a solid choice to fill his shoes.

Originally airing as a low-budget radio show in 1949, "Dragnet" would go on to become one of the most iconic procedural series of all time, laying the foundation for countless series to follow. In an era when networks favored over-the-top delivery, creator and actor Jack Webb championed realism and accuracy. His bet paid off handsomely, as the series was developed into a TV show in 1951 that ran for eight seasons and was revived in color in 1967, running for three more seasons. While the series can seem more than a little propagandist by today's standards, Jack Webb's performance as the iconic L.A. detective Joe Friday created a framework for dozens of police procedurals in the decades to follow. Diabolique called the series "some of the most important television ever made" and "a cornerstone of the development of the police drama."

First premiering in 1990, "Law and Order" is the second-longest-running primetime scripted drama on American television. The series is set in New York City and filmed on location. As the title indicates, each episode looks at a crime from the two sides of law and order, with the first half of each episode dealing with the NYPD investigation of a crime and the latter half dealing with the ensuing Manhattan D.A. prosecution. "Law and Order" often draws on high-profile, ripped-from-the-headlines stories. The series' signature "clang-clang" sound has become one of the most iconic and recognizable sounds to arise from television and has been included in a number of parodies and references over the decades, from "Sesame Street" to "Resident Alien."

Starring Kyra Sedgwick as "closer" Brenda Leigh Johnson, "The Closer" focuses on one of the most difficult aspects of criminal investigations: getting the accused to confess and closing the case. Hailing from Atlanta, LAPD Deputy Chief Johnson is a trained CIA interrogator with a knack for closing cases. This surprisingly complex series offers a nuanced exploration of policing ethics and the human experience, with Johnson often pushing the boundaries of legal, ethical, and moral behavior to close a case. "The Closer" is notable for its impact on discussions of gender in television, with gender researcher Maddy Dychtwald praising the show's depiction of female power in The Christian Science Monitor.

The ultimate cozy mystery, "Moonlighting" is part screwball comedy, part mystery, creating a template that was followed by quite a few subsequent shows. When former model Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) gets cleaned out by her manager, she gets to work fast liquidating her businesses. But soon after she walks into the chaotic City of Angels Detective Agency, she becomes entangled in an investigation with its manager, David Addison (Bruce Willis). One thing leads to another, and the pair end up teaming up to work cases as partners, rebranding the agency the Blue Moon Detective Agency after a shampoo brand Maddie once modeled for. The charming series included plenty of fantasy elements and frequently broke the fourth wall. Steve Franks, who created "Psych," later told The Observer that "Moonlighting" was one of his biggest influences in writing the comedy series.

Starring Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg, "Blue Bloods" is about a family of New York police officers headed by patriarch and New York Police Commissioner Frank Reagan (Selleck). Through the lens of the Irish-American Reagan family's individual perspectives, "Blue Bloods" shows four crucial aspects of NYC law enforcement: the commissioner, a sergeant, a detective, and a district attorney. "Blue Bloods" is featured on location in New York, with each episode ending with a somewhat lengthy dinner where the family comes together despite their differences, causing one IMDb reviewer to call the procedural "'Hill Street Blues' meets 'The Waltons.'"

Starring Kathryn Morris as Detective Lilly Rush, "Cold Case" details the criminal investigations of a cold case unit in the Philadelphia Police Department. The series brings a fresh (or should we say stale?) take to the genre, focusing on long-abandoned ones and highlighting the importance of this less-common type of police work. The series ran for seven seasons from 2003 to 2010, even leading to a Japanese adaptation called "Cold Case: Shinjitsu no Tobira." "Cold Case" was well received by critics and audiences, with Chicago Tribune calling the series "artfully and intelligently done" and Orlando Sentinel praising the series for giving audiences a "wonderfully tough, tenacious heroine."

With 15 seasons, two spin-offs, a South Korean adaptation, and a video game, "Criminal Minds” is one of the most successful and beloved crime drama series of all time. This procedural drama centers around the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit as they hunt down and apprehend some of the country's most dangerous unsubs (unidentified subjects), traveling the country via private jet and occasionally throwing fantastic dinner parties in the process. One of the things that make this series so magical is the ensemble cast of interesting personalities that keep the BAU going, like marshmallowy super-genius Spencer Reid, manic pixie tech geek Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), and Special Adonis Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore). The series blends ripped-from-the-headlines stories with over-the-top tales that could easily be found in the Murphyverse, unapologetically dips into crime drama's silliest tropes, and features dozens of guest appearances from TV and film favorites. Fans of the series will rejoice to know that Paramount+ has a 10-episode revival as well as a docuseries based on the show currently in the works.

Starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, "Murder, She Wrote" is an unusually wholesome crime series that aired for 12 seasons from 1984 until 1996. Her charming portrayal of a mystery writer who moonlights as an amateur gumshoe earned Lansbury a whopping 10 Golden Globe nominations and 12 Emmy nominations. The series follows Fletcher's adventures in the sleepy town of Cabot Cove, Maine, which, despite its small size, somehow manages to suffer from an inordinate murder rate. This device led to its own trope, "Cabot Cove Syndrome" — used to describe when entertainment features a small or remote town with a ridiculously high number of murders.

A Netflix exclusive, "Narcos" deals with the DEA's involvement in the Colombian drug trade beginning in the 1970s. The series chronicles the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar and the period after his death. "Narcos" ran from 2015 through 2017. It also spawned a sequel, "Narcos: Mexico." The series was met with criticism for its awkward and sometimes incorrect use of Spanish and othering of Colombians, particularly from Colombian audiences. The Guardian's Sibylla Brodzinsky wrote that the show's "iffy accents grate on Colombian ears" and that "the reception has been much cooler in Colombia" than many other Netflix audiences across the globe. Still, it enjoyed generally positive reviews, with critics praising the show's acting and gripping storytelling style.

Based on the Israeli series "Prisoners of War," "Homeland" is an espionage thriller that deals with CIA counterterrorism in the post-911 era with a focus on Middle East operations. The series stars Claire Danes as CIA operations officer Carrie Mathison, who struggles to keep her bipolar disorder in check while convincing those she works with that her often off-the-rails methods are completely unrelated to her mental health. Her mentor, Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), helps her along the way. Like the show's frenetic jazz intro, the series has a chaotic quality that does a good job of conveying Carrie's point of view. "Homeland" was highly acclaimed by critics, who especially praised Danes' performance.

A dramedy starring James Spader, Candice Bergen, and William Shatner, "Boston Legal" centers around the high-end Boston civil and criminal legal firm Crane, Poole & Schmidt. A spin-off of "The Practice," "Boston Legal" proved a worthy successor to its parent series, garnering consistent ratings and critical praise throughout its five-season run. Part of this show's charm arises from the chemistry between political opposites Alan Shore (Spader) and Denny Crane (Shatner), with Orlando Sentinel praising Shatner's performance as the "brilliant buffoon" and Chicago Tribune observing that "Spader sparkles" in the series. The series was known for its crisp writing, stellar guest stars, and occasional fourth-wall breaking as it satirized the legal profession, with many fans finding it stronger than its predecessor.

Starring Peter Falk as LAPD homicide detective Columbo, the eponymous show is a neo-noir detective series that uses the "howcatchem" variant rather than the whodunit, focusing more on the investigation than the mystery of who committed the crime. Throughout its decades-long run, the series featured enough stars to fill a constellation, including the likes of Johnny Cash, Leonard Nimoy, Vincent Price, and Martin Sheen, just to name a handful. With his unpolished finish, blue-collar persona, and tagline "Just one more thing," Columbo's appeal has long captivated audiences, making him perhaps the most iconic detective of all time next to Sherlock Holmes.

"American Crime Story," Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's foray into true crime, is an anthology series that focuses on a different high-profile criminal case each season. The first season, "The People v. O.J. Simpson," is based on Jeffrey Toobin's book of the same name. It's the most critically acclaimed season thus far, boasting a generous 97% Rotten Tomatoes rating, with critics praising its sharp writing, strong performances, and exploration of the relationship between American justice and the media. The series' second season explores the murder of Gianni Versace, with the third season focusing on the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

Airing from 2009 through 2013, "Southland" originally appeared on NBC, where it was canceled after one season before enjoying four more on TNT. A character-driven exploration of LAPD, the series boasts a 90% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.5 on IMDb, where reviewers praise its gritty style, authenticity, and documentary-influenced camera work. It's one of those rare series that improved the longer it went on, with its final two seasons its strongest. After the cop drama's fifth and final season premiered, Jace Lacob of The Daily Beast called "Southland" "one of the most morally complex and insightful dramas on television today."

Adapted from Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon's nonfiction book "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," "Homicide: Life on the Street" is a '90s procedural drama that presents a more realistic, less romanticized view of homicide detectives than previous entries in the genre. Focused on the inner-city Baltimore PD homicide unit, "Homicide" achieved its signature style by filming on location in Baltimore, using handheld 16mm cameras and jarring jump-cuts to add to the sense of realism that emphasized the bleakness of homicide work. The series was critically acclaimed and featured solid performances from Richard Belzer, Yaphet Kotto, Giancarlo Esposito, and Andre Braugher, among others.

Loosely based on the life of Baltimore PD detective and writer Ed Burns, the 2002 HBO series "The Wire" ran for five seasons and was a critical and commercial success. Each season had a different focus, with Season 1 covering the illegal drug trade, Season 2 covering the city's port system, Season 3 covering the municipal government, Season 4 covering the education system, and Season 5 covering print news. Praised for its realism and complex exploration of social issues, the series was unapologetically critical of late-stage capitalism, American classism, and the War on Drugs. NPR reported that the series' complex analysis of American socioeconomics inspired several universities to design curricula around its content, with UC, Duke, and Harvard all offering courses.

Set in Birmingham, England in 1919, "Peaky Blinders" centers around the real-life Irish-Romani street gang the Peaky Blinders, who dabbled in all manner of illegal trades around the turn of the 20th century. The series stars Sam Neill as Major Chester Campbell, a Royal Irish Constabulary investigator working to clean up a city under the direction of Winston Churchill (played by both Andy Nyman and Richard McCabe). Campbell finds Birmingham riddled with unsavory elements, including Communists, the IRA, and gangs like the Peaky Blinders, who are helmed by crime boss Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy). The series was critically hailed as a period drama and a gang story, drawing comparisons to "Boardwalk Empire."

"Ozark" explores a lesser-seen side of organized crime by delving into the world of money laundering through the Byrde family. After financial advisor Marty Byrde's money laundering side hustle takes a dark turn and his partner and associates are wiped out by cartel enforcers, fast-talking Marty (Jason Bateman) wriggles his way into an even bigger scheme on the Lake of the Ozarks. As often is the case, however, things don't work out quite as he planned. Like the antiheroes of "Breaking Bad" and "Weeds," Marty Byrde finds his efforts to get out of crime only seem to pull him deeper in as he clings to that old lie that he's just one big scheme away from getting out. With Southern gothic elements, a fair share of black humor, and stellar performances from Bateman, Laura Linney (as his wife, Wendy Byrde), Julia Garner (as put-upon local Ruth Langmore), and Lisa Emery as heroin farmer Darlene Snell, "Ozark" is a dark, brooding, and beautiful crime series that shouldn't be overlooked.

British police procedural "Line of Duty" has a whopping 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.7 on IMDb. The series follows a police anti-corruption unit working to uncover police corruption in a division of the fictional Central Police Force. As the organization chases down corruption, they gradually discover that all roads lead to an organized crime syndicate run by a high-ranking member of the police department. With performances from Lennie James, Thandiwe Newton, and Kelly Macdonald, among others, the excellent ensemble cast, strong characters, realism, and plenty of exciting twists and intrigue, this is one of the best British crime series ever made.

Revolving around the police department of an unnamed American city, "Hill Street Blues" is a highly acclaimed police procedural that aired from 1981 through 1987. To emphasize the grittiness of inner-city policing, the series experimented with camera work in ways that were nonstandard for the era, including the use of handheld cameras. "Hill Street Blues" would also differentiate itself from other police dramas by presenting more complex characterizations throughout its storytelling. Hailed as one of the best crime dramas of all time, "Hill Street Blues" earned a stunning 98 Emmy nominations and 26 Emmys during its run.

With a 97% Rotten Tomatoes rating and an 8.6 on IMDb, "Justified" successfully adapts the works of Western crime novelist Elmore Leonard for the small screen. The series follows Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), whose two favorite accessories are his cowboy hat and his modern take on frontier justice. Set mainly in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky, the series received consistently high ratings and critical acclaim throughout its run and spawned a sequel limited series that is currently in the works. The spin-off series, called "Justified: City Primeval," also stars Olyphant and is rumored to have Quentin Tarantino on board, per Deadline.

As the popularity of series like "Criminal Minds" and "Hannibal" continues to demonstrate, one of the most fascinating aspects of crime investigation is the oft-mythologized world of criminal profiling. Enter "Mindhunter," a series about the genesis of the FBI's behavioral science unit in Quantico as well as one of the more captivating and cinematic crime series on Netflix. "Mindhunter" explores the FBI's early use of criminal behavioral profiling in high-profile cases, including BTK killer Dennis Rader and alleged child murderer Wayne Williams. The series is based on retired FBI agent John E. Douglas's nonfiction book "Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit," using S.A. Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) as a stand-in for Douglas.

Considered by many to be the series that kicked off the Golden Age of Television, the HBO mafia series "The Sopranos" redefined what television was capable of in countless ways. Running for six seasons from 1999 to 2007, "The Sopranos" explored Tony Soprano's life in the DiMeo crime family as a post-modern mafioso. Played by James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano is a capo who struggles to balance the pressures of his job with the stress of being a family man. When he begins experiencing severe panic attacks, he does something mobsters can't do: starts seeing a therapist. The series pushed the boundaries of genre and convention, challenging stereotypes and racking up awards and viewership throughout its run.

Rarely is a spin-off of a phenomenally successful series as successful as its parent series. "Better Call Saul," the black comedy that serves as both a prequel and sequel to "Breaking Bad," is one of those rare examples, arguably surpassing its predecessor. Critics hailed Bob Odenkirk's reprisal of sleazy lawyer Jimmy McGill, with The Arts Desk praising Odenkirk's "masterful mix of low cunning and sweaty desperation." Tonally different from its parent series but firmly rooted in the same world, "Better Call Saul" is Saul's origin story, tracking his evolution from low-rent conman Slippin' Jimmy to higher-rent conman Saul Goodman. The series even surpassed "Breaking Bad" in Emmys, racking up a total of 21 Primetime Emmy Awards.