Who doesn’t love a quality crime drama? We’re officially a nation hooked on whodunnit murder mysteries and suspenseful thrillers. Whether it’s desperately trying to figure out the identity of ‘H’ on Line of Duty or predict what Marty and Wendy’s next bonkers money laundering scheme is going to be on Ozark, we’re all watching the pick of best crime dramas back to back until we're forced to switch off. If you’re struggling to know what to get stuck into next, here’s a list of some of the best crime dramas on Netflix UK right now.
Clickbait
Who’s in it: Zoe Kazan, Betty Gabriel, Adrian Grenier.
A very modern crime story, Clickbait follows the abduction of family man Nick Brewer, whose disappearance has a mysterious digital twist. Expect lots of tension as Nick's loved ones attempt to uncover what happened.
Money Heist seasons 1-5
Who’s in it: Úrsula Corberó, Álvaro Morte, Jaime Lorente, Miguel Herrán.
We won’t lie, with 15 episodes in season 1 alone it’s a big commitment, but one we’d definitely recommend. Parts 1 and 2 focus on mastermind The Professor guiding a group of thieves to pull off the biggest robbery in Spanish history. But can they do it? Stay hooked for parts 3, 4 and 5.
White House Farm
Who's in it: Freddie Fox, Mark Addy, Stephen Graham.
Stephen Graham fans, listen up, as the actor's 2020 crime drama White House Farm is available on Netflix. Based on a true story the show follows detectives working on the case of a woman accused of murdering her family.
Safe
Who's in it: Michael C. Hall, Amanda Abbington, Marc Warren.
If you liked Harlan Coben's The Stranger, then you'll be a fan of Safe. Following his teenage daughter's disappearance, a widowed surgeon starts to uncover dark secrets about those he thinks he knows best.
Lupin parts 1 and 2
Who's in it: Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme.
Lupin is back for part 2!
Inspired by Arsène Lupin, the fictional gentleman thief and master of disguise created by novelist Maurice Leblanc, the French Netflix series centres on avid Lupin study Assane Diop, played by the superbly cast Omar Sy.
We learn Diop’s father died in prison after he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and now Diop is determined to avenge his dad’s death by using his talents to pull off a stunning heist. After 10 minutes, you’ll know exactly why it shot straight into the Netflix top 10.
The Alienist seasons 1 and 2
Who's in it: Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, Dakota Fanning.
One for period drama fans, The Alienist is set in 1896 New York City, where a psychologist known as 'The Alienist' works to catch a notorious killer.
Mindhunter seasons 1-2
Who’s in it: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv.
Blending fact and fiction, the slow-burn psychological crime drama focuses on the early days of the FBI’s behavioural sciences unit as they try to get a better understanding of what motivates serial killers.
The Sinner seasons 1-3
Who’s in it: Bill Pullman, Jessical Biel, Carrie Coon, Matt Bomer.
Bill Pullman (detective Harry Ambrose) is the stellar lead in this anthology series that will leave you second guessing right until the very final, edge-of-your-seat scenes. The second season starring Carrie Coon is a personal favourite.
The Stranger
Who's in it: Richard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran, Jennifer Saunders.
Netflix's first Harlan Coben adaptation always had to be a solid one, and this eight-part crime mystery is packed full of enough complex riddles and compelling parallel plots to keep you engaged until the very end.
The Fall seasons 1-3
Who's in it: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan.
For those of you who didn't watch The Fall when it first aired in 2013, now's the perfect time to play catch up. Anderson plays the brilliant Superintendent Detective Stella Gibson, while Dornan takes on a far more sinister role than we're used to seeing him play.
Fargo seasons 1-3
Who's in it: Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Allison Tolman, Carrie Coon, David Thewlis, Kirsten Dunst.
The anthology series is the perfect binge-worthy black comedy with wonderfully weird characters played by seriously good actors - Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Carrie Coon, David Thewlis, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons etc - who do the clever script proud. The back drop is a very chilly Minnesota, just like the Coen brothers movie of the same name (but that’s the only connection, aside from the exec producer credits). Watch, you won’t be disappointed.
Collateral season 1
Who's in it: Carey Mulligan, Billie Piper, Jeany Spark, Nathaniel Martelo-White.
Carey is fantastic as Kip Glaspie, a detective who is tasked with investigating the death of a man shot and killed while delivering a pizza to a London flat. After it becomes clear it's not just a random act of violence, the plot erupts into an increasingly messy web of lies and deceit, and it'll have you hooked from start to finish - when all the loose ends are nicely tied up.
Narcos seasons 1-3
Who’s in it: Pedro Pascal, Wagner Moura, Paulina Gaitan.
The well-acted story has a strangely sympathetic Pablo Escobar, played by the very talented Wagner Moura. If that wasn’t enough, the series also has some incredible location photography and a haunting score. Oh, and a lot of subtitles. But it’s definitely worth a watch.
Giri/Haji season 1
Who's in it: Takehiro Hira, Sophia Brown, Charlie Creed-Miles.
Giri/Haji features eight episodes located across London and Tokyo as "family duty sends a lawman to London to look for his mob-assassin brother". It has an incredible cast, terrific script and so many interesting characters.
Breaking Bad seasons 1-5
Who’s in it: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul.
As good as anything by the Coen brothers or Tarantino, Breaking Bad will keep you riveted from start to finish. Quite possibly the best crime drama ever made. Yep, we said it.
Criminal United Kingdom season 1 and 2
Who's in it: David Tennant, Nicholas Pinnock, Katherine Kelly.
Netflix's Criminal United Kingdom is a police crime drama with a twist as all the action takes place exclusively within the confines of an interrogation room. Keep an eye out for Game of Throne star Kit Harington who appears in the second season, marking his first TV role since the HBO hit.
Ozark seasons 1-3
Who’s in it: Laura Linney, Jason Bateman, Julia Garner.
In this brilliantly cast series, Marty (Bateman) and Wendy Byrde (Linney) are forced to move their family to the Ozarks and work for a Mexican cartel following a money laundering scheme gone (very) wrong, which they now have to make right. Cue a series of eyebrow-raising money laundering schemes.
Stranger seasons 1 and 2
Who's in it: Cho Seung-woo, Bae Doona, Lee Jun-hyuk.
Incredibly gripping, this clever multi-layered Korean crime series about a murder case is a revelation. Everything - acting, script, photography, direction - is great and it's full of suspense, ambiguity and moral complexity. There are 16 episodes each running well over an hour with not a moment of filler in any.
Line of Duty season 5
Who’s in it: Kate Fleming, Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar.
The Jed Mercurio drama explores the murky world of corrupt police officers. Each season, DS Steve Arnott (Compston) and DC Kate Fleming (McClure) investigate a different dodgy senior cop suspected of improper conduct. The big question - can you even trust your own team? Season 5 is currently the only one available on Netflix, sadly.
Top Boy season 1 (season 3)
Who’s in it: Ashley Walters, Kano.
You can thank Drake for bringing the gritty drama back to TV after it was ditched by Channel 4. Season 1 is available on Netflix, following two seasoned drug dealers in London. Things take a turn once they come up against a new rival who wants to cut old ties for a new supplier.
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