Thriller shows have always held a special place in the hearts of audiences, providing endless entertainment through their suspenseful stories and fascinating characters. Most of the time, however, knowing the twist at the heart of a thriller show can take all the fun out of any potential rewatch. But not always.
The best thriller shows, the true masterpieces, are the ones that deliver perfect or near-perfect narratives that make each rewatch a rewarding experience. Whether it’s your first time or 15th, with these shows, you’re always in for something truly spectacular. Without further ado, here’s our handpicked selection of some of the most perfect thriller shows that are so good, you’ll want to watch them twice (at least).
8
‘Fargo’ (2014–2024)
Created by Noah Hawley, Fargo is an anthology series based on the 1996 Coen Brothers film of the same name. The series follows a collection of crime stories taking place in and around Minnesota, where the interwoven lives of a diverse set of characters, including law enforcement, criminals, and civilians, collide with deadly outcomes. Each season explores a completely new story, each darker than the one before, with minor overlaps between seasons. The show features a huge ensemble of characters played by Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, David Thewlis, Carrie Coon, Jessie Buckley, Jon Hamm, and more across different seasons.
Though only the first season of Fargo is actually adapted from the film, the overall production of the show is heavily influenced and inspired by the storytelling style of the Coen Brothers, which comes out in the show’s cinematography, tone, and impeccable art design. Since its premiere, the black crime comedy has earned widespread acclaim, earning seven Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. Packed with crime, drama, suspense, and intriguing characters, propelled by powerful acting in every season, Fargo is unarguably one of the best crime thriller shows of the century so far.
7
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Created and produced by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad chronicles the life and crimes of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), an overqualified, undervalued, out-of-work chemistry teacher, who finds himself staring down a cancer diagnosis. Desperate to support his family, he enlists the help of a former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), to make and sell crystal meth, and soon gets sucked into the deadly and dangerous world of drug cartels. Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Giancarlo Esposito, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and more star in key supporting roles.
Breaking Bad was a career-defining performance for Cranston, who remarkably showcases a wide range of emotions as the story’s hero, villain, and victim, and for Paul, who delivers an equally compelling performance as the secondary lead. A groundbreaking crime thriller series for its time, the show’s layered characters, gritty narrative, and complex themes redefined how audiences look at crime stories. Every season of Breaking Bad is almost perfect and highly rewatchable, and the series is considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time, having earned numerous accolades and developed a worldwide fan following.
6
‘The Innocent’ (2021)
An adaptation of Harlan Coben’s eponymous novel directed by Oriol Paulo, The Innocent (El Inocente), is a Spanish-language psychological crime thriller that centers on Mateo (Mario Casas), whose life goes haywire after he accidentally kills a man. Years later, as he tries to rebuild his life, a mysterious call forces Mateo to revisit his past and face his demons, pushing him down a dark and dangerous path that threatens everything, including his life. The series also stars Alexandra Jiménez, Aura Garrido, José Coronado, and Anna Wagener in supporting roles.
Intelligently crafted and well-acted, The Innocent is a brilliant psychological thriller with masterful storytelling, but it’s far too often overlooked. The series is anchored by Casas’ performance as the complex protagonist, which truly draws the audience in with his raw emotions and suspenseful character arc. Edgy, unpredictable, and practically flawless, the series intrigues and shocks you at several turns. One of the most underrated Spanish-language shows on Netflix, The Innocent is a testament to television done right that’s worth watching again and again.
5
‘Dark’ (2017–2020)
A sci-fi mystery thriller created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, Dark is a German series that revolves around a mysterious disappearance in the small, fictional town of Winden. As the investigation uncovers the town’s past, involving four estranged families, it exposes a dark time travel conspiracy that spans several generations of the town’s residents. The ensemble cast includes Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Lisa Vicari, Maja Schöne, Moritz Jahn, and more in key roles.
Dark is a uniquely elevated thriller that explores themes of free will, destiny, and the existential implications of time on human life through a time travel paradox plot that will scare and fascinate you at the same time. The narrative successfully combines high-concept sci-fi with philosophical and supernatural elements, psychological horror, and crime. The storytelling feels like an intricate puzzle, full of twists and curious characters, where the mystery unfolds so deliberately that even Stephen King considers it to be a show worth watching. Since its premiere, Dark has been widely praised for its concept, direction, music, visual effects, and performances.
4
‘Sherlock’ (2010–2017)
Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, BBC’s Sherlock is a modern reimagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective and his most iconic cases. Set in 21st-century London, the series follows Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his new roommate-turned-partner Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) as they embark on a series of adventures, with Sherlock using his unparalleled mind and strange methods (and a little bit of modern technology) to solve uncanny crimes and beat his biggest nemesis, James Moriarty (Andrew Scott). Gatiss, Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs, Amanda Abbington, and Louise Brealey star in other main roles.
Widely regarded as one of the best Sherlock Holmes adaptations of all time, Sherlock is sharp, slick, and cleverly written, with a narrative that feels like a contemporary detective procedural while retaining the spirit of the original stories. Reimagining and restructuring the original Sherlock Holmes stories for a modern audience, the BBC show excels in its masterful cinematography, intricate storytelling, and great visual design. But above all, Sherlock is most noteworthy for the performances and chemistry of Cumberbatch, Freeman, and Scott, who have effectively redefined the legacy characters they portray.
3
‘Broadchurch’ (2013–2017)
A mystery thriller series created by Chris Chibnall, Broadchurch follows Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) as they solve complicated crimes in the titular, fictional English coastal town. The first two seasons center on the mysterious death of Danny, an 11-year-old boy, and its aftermath on the small community, while the third season focuses on the duo investigating the rape of a local woman. The ensemble cast also includes Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Arthur Darvill, Carolyn Pickles, Jonathan Bailey, Matthew Gravelle, and Charlotte Beaumont.
A well-scripted and well-acted crime thriller, Broadchurch stands apart from the more common cozy, small-town English mysteries with its intense, slow-burning exploration of darker themes. Powered by the gripping performances of Colman and Tennant, as well as the remarkable cinematography, Broadchurch is easily one of the best British detective series of modern times that genre fans would love to rewatch. The series has also earned three BAFTAs and several other awards for its distinguished storytelling, cinematography, and performances.
2
‘True Detective’ (2014–Present)
Created by Nic Pizzolatto, True Detective is an anthology crime drama thriller series, where each season follows a self-contained story involving a disparate set of characters and settings. The series focuses on uncanny crimes, mostly homicides, across different locations within the United States, exploring how the local detectives search for truth and justice, even as they are forced to question their own beliefs and knowledge. True Detective boasts a huge ensemble of A-list stars across seasons, including the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Monaghan, Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn, Mahershala Ali, and Jodie Foster.
True Detective is noted for its neo-noir narrative and the intimidating atmosphere that pervades every season. With stories ranging from Southern Gothic thrillers to urban corporate crimes and involving a wide array of intriguing characters, settings, and events, the series offers diverse stories to satisfy all kinds of genre fans. Since its premiere, True Detective has been critically acclaimed for its stories, direction, acting, and overall production values, winning several Primetime Emmy Awards, a BAFTA, and several other accolades.
1
‘Black Mirror’ (2011–Present)
Created by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror is a speculative fiction anthology series set in an indeterminate dystopian future where various characters navigate the impact of state-of-the-art technology in their personal, social, and professional lives. The narrative uses tropes of sci-fi, dystopian drama, crime fiction, and tech-noir to comment on contemporary social, cultural, and behavioral issues. Black Mirror features a massive ensemble cast each season, and has starred the likes of Miley Cyrus, Salma Hayek, Daniel Kaluuya, Peter Capaldi, Awkwafina, Benedict Wong, and more.
While Black Mirror is inspired by The Twilight Zone and often compared to the television classic, the British anthology thriller is more avant-garde and incisive in its approach, pushing the boundaries of storytelling as we know it. In every season, the series explores different narrative styles and themes, including psychological drama, surrealism, existentialism, space-adventure, dark humor, and even supernatural elements. Since its premiere, Black Mirror has evolved into a groundbreaking series that defies classification by genres and styles, and remains one of the best sci-fi series of the last 25 years, which feels more relevant and timely with every watch.
- Release Date
-
December 4, 2011
- Network
-
Channel 4, Netflix
- Directors
-
Owen Harris, Toby Haynes, James Hawes, David Slade, Carl Tibbetts, Ally Pankiw, Bryn Higgins, Dan Trachtenberg, Euros Lyn, Jodie Foster, Joe Wright, John Hillcoat, Sam Miller, Tim Van Patten, Uta Briesewitz, Colm McCarthy, Jakob Verbruggen, James Watkins, John Crowley, Otto Bathurst, Anne Sewitsky, Brian Welsh
- Writers
-
Jesse Armstrong
