Committing a crime is always against the law. However, ever since we invented television, we’ve had the pleasure of watching crime fiction from the comfort of our home. Some of the best crime TV series can be found on Netflix. But what are the best Netflix crime novels? That’s exactly what we’re going to solve today.
Continue reading: Best Netflix Shows
Our list features some of the best TV shows of all time, crime or otherwise. This list is also a list of older shows and newer original Netflix series. One thing is certain: watching crimes and criminals is still great fun. You can sign up for Netflix at the link below and receive a free 30-day trial for new subscribers.
Best Netflix crime novels
breaking Bad
Of all of the previous Netflix crime series, this show may have benefited the most from being on duty. Breaking Bad is about a high school chemistry teacher who slowly delves into evil by making meth to pay for his cancer treatments. It premiered on AMC, but it only became a huge hit after it aired on Netflix.
This could be the best TV show on Netflix, and some would claim it was the best ever made. Bryan Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White is one of the greatest acting performances of all time, whether on television or otherwise. He’s helped by an excellent supporting cast, including Aaron Paul, who is as good as White’s meth production partner, Jesse Pinkman.
Peaky Blinders
We’ve seen tons of organized crime shows in the US, but what’s up in other countries? Peaky Blinders does just that. It takes place shortly after World War I in Great Britain, specifically in Birmingham. It is based on the real Peaky Blinders gang that operated in that town during that time. One of the most interesting parts of this series is that future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill plays a supporting role as he is accused of trying to rid Birmingham of crimes, including the Peaky Blinders gang. Cillian Murphy does an excellent job leading the gang, Thomas “Tommy” Shelby. It’s definitely one of the best crime series on Netflix.
Narcos
Based on a true story, Narcos is a crime series that tells the story of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the DEA agents who are after him. You can see how violent Escobar and his men are, how he made and spent money, and how he dealt with other cartels that plagued the country during this time.
Narcos ended after three seasons, but a spin-off series, Narcos: Mexico, quickly followed. While it’s good, it’s not as interesting as the original Narcos series. It remains one of the best crime series on Netflix.
Dexter
The show about a serial killer who kills serial killers remains one of the best crime thrillers ever made, thanks in large part to Michael C. Hall’s portrayal of the title character. He plays a serial killer who was raised by his stepfather to kill other serial killers. It’s one of the most interesting things to do on a TV show, especially since Dexter hides his own crimes as an expert on police forensics. Hall excellently plays a person who hides his true monstrous personality in a human shell. It’s one of the most memorable Netflix crime series.
Ozark
What would happen if an ordinary suburban family were in the middle of organized crime? That’s the requirement for this great Netflix crime series. Jason Bateman plays a Chicago financial advisor who seems to have a perfect life. The problem is, he’s actually an advisor to a Mexican drug cartel. His financial partner is killed after taking some of the cartel’s money, and Bateman’s character claims he can help the cartel launder even more money in the Ozarks. What follows is a deep descent into crime and murder for him and his family. It’s an excellent series that unfortunately ends with its fourth season in 2021.
Mindhunter
Set in the 1970s, this Netflix original is about FBI agents interviewing serial killers. Their goal is to understand how they think and then use that knowledge to resolve open cases. It’s one of the best Netflix shows you can watch, but it’s not for everyone as it’s a bit dark and creepy. This psychological thriller is produced by David Fincher (House of Cards) and Charlize Theron, among others.
Although there are only two seasons of this series, Mindhunter remains one of the best Netflix crime series. Hopefully we’ll get a third season sometime in the future.
American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson
The real-life crime story about how the US soccer star was charged with the murder of two people and put on trial remains one of the most powerful TV series ever made. It’s definitely a must-see for our best Netflix crime series. OJ Simpson appeared to be an unlikely suspect in the murder of his ex-wife and another man when their bodies were found in Simpson’s house. However, evidence against the former professional soccer player is mounting and Simpson’s fateful persecution by the Bronco police is fueling the case against him.
This miniseries does an excellent job recreating the media hype that surrounded this real-life murder case. There is no real attempt to take sides. Instead, both the prosecution and defense are treated equally as they present their versions of the case to both the jury and the world.
Incredible
This Netflix limited series was inspired by a real-life story of a young woman from the Pacific Northwest who was raped. She reported the crime to the police, but eventually they refused to pursue the case and actually accused the woman of lying to her. The story then shows how two female detectives, played by Toni Collette and Merritt Wever, represent the case that a serial rapist has actually been operating secretly in the area and is trying to find and arrest him.
That’s pretty powerful, and it’s made all the more powerful by the great appearances of Collette, Wever, and Kaitlyn Dever as a young victim. In addition to being one of the best Netflix crime series, it’s also one of the service’s best limited-edition series.
This is our look at the best Netflix crime thrillers. We will update this article with more great shows in this genre in the future.