Owen Cooper looking at Stephen Graham on a cropped poster for Netflix's Adolescence.
There's a good reason some of the most iconic and acclaimed TV shows in history belong to the crime genre. These stories about compelling crooks operating on the wrong side of the law, righteous heroes trying to get them behind bars, and morally gray antiheroes doing their thing somewhere in between are among the most riveting stories that creators can tell through the small screen.
When done right, a crime show isn't just interesting an entertaining, but edge-of-your-seat intense. There are plenty of elements that can generate intensity in a crime series. Perhaps jaw-dropping plot twists, or a well-constructed sense of suspense, or an air of mystery that raises the stakes and makes the viewer fear for their favorite characters' well-being. Whatever the case, a truly intense crime TV show that keeps audiences biting their nails in anticipation is the best possible kind. 10 'The X Files' Created by Chris Carter The X Files is one of the most popular and influential shows of all time across all of its genres—mystery, sci-fi, crime, police procedurals, and even horror. It's a show preceded by its reputation, and what a well-deserved extraordinary reputation that is. Far more than just a mystery-of-the-week extravaganza, it's a cult classic that has stood the test of time through its sheer creativity and originality. Any good police procedural lives or dies by its main characters. Thankfully, X Files is anchored by a duo who might just be the genre's best. Mulder and Scully are beyond iconic, and the actors playing them, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson , share the most unbelievable chemistry. On that basis, the show keeps the audience constantly engaged and on edge whenever Mulder and Scully face an intense, oftentimes horrific threat. That constant scariness is definitely heart-racing, even if the lead characters' fresh dynamic ensures that it's never too much. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed The X Files PG-13 Sci-Fi Drama Mystery Release Date June 19, 1998 Runtime 121 Minutes Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 9 'Adolescence' Created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne The exceptional Adolescence has taken the world by storm recently, and for good reason. Comprised of four episodes shot in a single take each, it's about a teenage boy who's arrested for the murder of a female classmate. One-take shots, also known as"oners," are usually reserved for movies, but shows like Adolescence prove that TV is the perfect medium for this technique, too. This"gimmick" keeps Adolescence's incredibly intense tension, suspense, and character-driven mystery constantly effective, making sure that the audience never stops paying attention. It's a heartbreaking drama that generates some really upsetting—but essential—conversations, leaving an everlasting emotional impact that the viewer simply can't ignore. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Adolescence Crime Drama 16 9.2/10 Release Date March 13, 2025 Network Netflix Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 8 'Twin Peaks' Created by Mark Frost and David Lynch Filmmaker auteur David Lynch had been a trailblazer on the silver screen for many years by the time 1990 came around. Not content with just being a master of his craft in movies, he decided to revolutionize television storytelling, too. Twin Peaks is one of the most impactful and influential TV shows of the '90s, a true pioneer in the cinematic-quality prestige television that would go on to characterize the decade. Twin Peaks has a loyal cult following that praises it as one of the greatest crime TV shows in history, and it isn't hard to see why. Masterfully written and somehow even better in its direction, it's a perfect series for those who like intensity that stems from a creepy, unsettling tone. There's a constant feeling of something being off throughout the entire narrative, which results in a uniquely intense kind of viewing experience. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Twin Peaks Mystery Drama Crime 8.0/10 Release Date 1990 - 1990 Network Showtime, ABC Cast See All Showrunner Mark Frost Powered by Expand Collapse 7 'Money Heist' Created by Álex Pina Great crime drama TV shows don't just come from the U.S. Indeed, Spain made one of the best of the genre in recent years in the form of Money Heist, a show that definitely went on for longer than it needed to, but nevertheless aged remarkably well. For people who don't mind their heist shows with a healthy side of melodrama, it's a must-see. In more ways than one, Money Heist is one of the best heist TV shows ever. It's an absolutely gripping thriller designed to be constantly intense, and it definitely works. That intensity is balanced with more soap-opera-ish qualities in ways that don't always work flawlessly, but when Money Heist gets serious, it's certain to keep pure adrenaline flowing through the viewer from the opening titles all the way to the credits. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Money Heist TV-MA Action Crime Thriller 10.0/10 Release Date 2017 - 2021-00-00 Showrunner Álex Pina Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 6 'Homeland' Developed by Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon Homeland had its fair share of ups and downs over the course of its eight-season run, but thanks to the far larger abundance of ups, including an excellent first season and a fantastic ending, it can reasonably be called one of the most essential crime shows of modern times. Intelligent, perfectly acted, and exhilarating throughout, it's one of the best shows of the 2010s. Political thrillers are, by design, meant to be intense, and Homeland meets those standards with excellence. It finds its intensity less in the kinds of extremely complex action sequences that the genre usually recurs to, but rather in the masterfully written character arcs and dynamics that keep the viewer engaged. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Homeland TV-MA Drama War & Politics Crime Thriller 10.0/10 Release Date 2011 - 2019 Network Showtime Cast See All Showrunner Alex Gansa Powered by Expand Collapse 5 'Watchmen' Created by Damon Lindelof Alan Moore's Watchmen is a series of comic books that, simply put, broke new ground and changed the art form of comic books and graphic novels forever. As such, expectations for Max's miniseries adaptation of Moore's work were sky-high, particularly after the fan-favorite film adaptation by Zack Snyder. While the show wasn't without its detractors, it mostly didn't just meet expectations: It surpassed them by miles. People who love sci-fi miniseries ought to check out Watchmen at least once in their lives. Incredibly creative, unique, well-written, and powerful in its social and political themes and messages, it's an adaptation that takes plenty of creative liberties with the source material, but does so in a way that always feels respectful, clever, and meaningful. It's a timely, highly intelligent kind of superhero crime show with some excellent action scenes and a labyrinthine narrative, rarely giving the viewer a chance to catch their breath. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Watchmen TV-MA Crime Drama Mystery Superhero 8.5/10 Release Date 2019 - 2018 Network HBO Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 4 'Prison Break' Created by Paul T. Scheuring Prison Break, which shockingly turns 20 this year, has one of the greatest, most suspenseful, most flawless seasons that crime television has ever seen. Everything that followed kept getting weaker, but up to the very end, this show never stopped being thrilling. Full of surprising twists, compelling characters, and delightfully wild ideas, it's a true roller-coaster ride of a show. Even as its seasons kept going and kept getting more and more preposterous in concept, Prison Break was always remarkably intense. There's a constant sense of tension and uneasiness, never knowing which characters are safe and which are about to kick the bucket. It's an edge-of-your-seat kind of viewing experience anchored in some excellently written character dynamics and outstanding direction. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Prison Break Drama Crime Action 6.5/10 Release Date 2005 - 2017-00-00 Network FOX Cast See All Showrunner Paul Scheuring Powered by Expand Collapse 3 'Dexter' Developed by James Manos Jr. One of the most iconic shows of the 2000s, Dexter is another example of a crime show that started out great but kept getting weaker; nevertheless, it's an incredible must-see for fans of the genre. Michael C. Hall delivers an unbelievable tour-de-force performance in the title role, and the writing is more than up to that same standard. Yes, Dexter went on for a little longer than it should have, but there's one thing that's hard to deny: All throughout its run, it was one of the most intense shows on television. Highly mature, dramatic, dark, and heavily violent, it's a constantly breathtaking and heart-racing show that refuses to leave the viewer feeling indifferent about anything. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Dexter TV-MA Crime Drama Mystery 7.8/10 Release Date 2006 - 2013-00-00 Network Showtime Cast See All Showrunner Clyde Phillips Powered by Expand Collapse 2 '24' Created by Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow 24 is one of the most unique and timely crime shows of the 2000s, an anti-terrorism police procedural that was a direct response to the events of 9/11. Truly groundbreaking its premise that every season shows the events of a single day, it's about as full of mystery, twists, and excitement as one might expect from such a unique premise. 24 is one of the best political thriller shows of its era, far more than just a gimmick. That gimmick is the foundation of the almost unparalleled sense of intensity that kept the series fresh and compelling throughout its whole run, making the experience of waiting for next week's episode torturous. Thankfully, those with access to a streaming platform with 24 available won't have to go through that ordeal—but they sure will nevertheless feel all the nail-biting intensity of this historic show. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed 24 TV-14 Drama Crime Action 2.0/10 Release Date 2001 - 2009 Showrunner Robert Cochran Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 1 'Breaking Bad' Created by Vince Gilligan Breaking Bad is often seen as not just the greatest crime TV show ever, but the single greatest TV show in history, period. As such, it's hardly surprising that it's also reasonable to call it the most intense crime series of all time. It's not exactly action-focused, nor does it pack a plot twist per episode. It doesn't show its story in real time, nor does it shy away from smaller, quieter, more character-driven moments. So, what could possibly make it such an intense show? This is, indeed, one of the most intense drama series ever. Its balance between character development, nuanced thematic work, exhilarating action, and complex plot development is flawless, and it keeps viewers' hearts racing all throughout. Not every episode of Breaking Bad is intense, but the ones that are, from"Face Off" to"Ozymandias," are nothing short of the most overwhelmingly intense episodes in television history. If Breaking Bad is today remembered as the best TV show ever by so many people, it's largely because viewers love this kind of show—the kind that takes their breath away and refuses to let them catch it. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Breaking Bad Crime Drama Thriller 13 9.8/10 Release Date 2008 - 2012 Network AMC Cast See All Showrunner Vince Gilligan Powered by Expand Collapse NEXT:The Best Shows With Only 5 Seasons, Ranked
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