From Breaking Badto The Wire, plenty of the most acclaimed and beloved TV shows of all time belong to the crime genre. These shows, however, are more than long enough to cover a solid weeks-long binge-watch. But what about when one has a free Saturday and wants to knock out an entire crime series in one go? Thankfully, there are several shows that can be watched in their entirety in a single day.
From miniseries like The Night Ofto regular shows like Mr Inbetween, these are series that are short enough to provide for a solid day-long binge-watching session, some of them even leaving time for a good, long lunch break. It’s always nice to pick up a new crime show that will last for several weeks, but every now and then, every TV fan craves one that doesn’t require such a time commitment.
10
‘Top of the Lake’ (2013–2017)
Jane Campion is well-known as an exceptional filmmaker—and, as it turns out, she’s also a great show creator. She created Top of the Lake, a mystery drama about a detective following the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl in New Zealand. With two seasons, 13 episodes, and a runtime of a little under 12 hours, this might be a daunting show to consume in one sitting, but it can most certainly be done.
For those bold enough, one of the most underrated crime shows of the 2010s awaits. It’s disturbing and deeply atmospheric, and its exploration of rape culture and gender dynamics is both nuanced and thought-provoking. Led by a powerhouse Elisabeth Moss, it’s a brilliantly plotted and satisfyingly ambitious piece of network television.
9
‘The Night Manager’ (2016–)
With a second season fast approaching, it’s about as good a time as any for people who have never watched The Night Managerto check it out, and for people who love it to give it a rewatch. Thankfully, at just six episodes and six hours long, this John le Carré adaptation can easily be started and finished without even taking a toilet break.
Upon release, the show proved itself worthy of dozens of awards, critics’ praise, and the audience’s love. It’s a fantastic adaptation that adds plenty of its own spice to the story, boosted by a pair of phenomenal performances by Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. Smart, taut in its pacing, and nearly flawless in its writing, it’s a must-see miniseries for fans of le Carré.
8
‘Bodyguard’ (2018)
Dealing with issues as complicated as PTSD and government surveillance can never be easy, which makes it even more admirable that Bodyguard turned out as well as it did. With six episodes that together amount to just a little over six hours, this adrenaline-pumping political thriller is about as addictive as you’d expect.
Richard Madden delivers what might be the best performance of his career in the lead role, carrying the intensity of the whole narrative on his shoulders with remarkable ease. Pulpy, absorbing, and incredibly suspenseful, it’s an absolutely gripping show that stands out thanks to its ability to dive surprisingly deep into the surprisingly layered psychology of its characters.
7
‘Unbelievable’ (2019)
In Unbelievable, Kaitlyn Dever plays a woman who was charged with a crime for reporting that she was raped, and two female detectives (played by Toni Collette and Merritt Wever) who investigate a wave of similar attacks. Anchored by these three exceptional actresses delivering fittingly exceptional performances, this miniseries based on a 2015 news article is as gut-wrenching as it is powerful.
One of the best Netflix miniseries of the 2010s, Unbelievable packs a hell of an emotional punch, but also makes sure to stir conversations and thought. It’s remarkably true-to-life and absolutely heartbreaking, but it manages the tension and drama of its story with such potency that it’s impossible to stop watching.
6
‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ (2020)
India has produced plenty of shows that are among the highest-rated on IMDb, the most acclaimed of which is the docudrama Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, about the legacy of the titular stockbroker. For people who like films like Wall Street and The Wolf of Wall Street, this miniseries is an absolute must-see. With 10 episodes and just around 9 hours in length, this is a great introduction for those who have never explored the world of Indian television.
Phenomenally written and with an outstanding lead performance by Pratik Gandhi, the show is not just a remarkably entertaining and insightful way to learn about Mehta’s effect on the Indian stock market, but also a really fun series in its own right.
5
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
Based on the first season of the 2008 British show Criminal Justice, HBO’s The Night Ofis one of the most legendary eight-episode miniseries of all time. Its exploration of racism, the American justice system, and the impact of incarceration is profound and engaging, and with a runtime of just under nine hours, it can all be experienced in a single day.
The Night Of meets the kinds of prestige qualities that you’d expect from any HBO show, with some excellent acting performances, striking visuals, and richly crafted writing. As gripping as it is devastating, it’s a fantastic legal drama that takes a premise which might seem trite on paper, and turns it into an irresistibly addicting crime series.
4
‘Adolescence’ (2025)
Earlier this year, Netflix, Stephen Graham, and Jack Thorne took the world by storm with Adolescence, one of the most terrifyingly timely shows of the 2020s. Touching on the issue of incel culture and how the male loneliness epidemic affects vulnerable boys, it’s a must-see for just about anyone old enough to watch it. With only four episodes that are under four hours long altogether, it’s a really easy show to watch in one sitting.
It may be gut-wrenching, but Adolescence is also an absolute banger from start to finish. Each episode is shot in one continuous take, it does a phenomenal job at absorbing the audience into the psyche of its complicated characters. It’s absolutely devastating yet never melodramatic, the work of a team that’s clearly in full control of their craft.
3
‘Mr Inbetween’ (2018–2021)
In 2005, Scott Ryan wrote, directed, and starred in his debut film, the found footage crime dramedy The Magician. He then made no other works until, thirteen years later, he created and starred in Mr Inbetween. This Australian crime dramedy, a serialization of The Magician, is easily one of the best Australian crime shows ever made. The series has 26 episodes, but they’re all short, so the whole thing can be binge-watched in under 12 hours.
The tone is super enjoyable, Ryan finding the perfect balance between dark comedy and intense drama. The runtime certainly requires a whole-day commitment, but it’s worth it. Mr Inbetween is absolutely gripping, a masterpiece of smaller-scale storytelling and a really unique kind of crime show—perfect for those who love the genre.
2
‘When They See Us’ (2019)
Created, co-written, and directed by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, the devastating four-part miniseries When They See Usis based on the true story of the 1989 Central Park jogger case. Its four episodes amount to just a little under five hours, and it feels impossible to even pause the show while moving across those five hours.
When They See Us is one of the best thriller miniseries out there, a harrowing yet essential story that pulls zero punches in its critique of American racism and the American justice system. Thematically complex, gorgeously shot, and with some really strong performances, it’s one of the best pieces of content that Netflix has ever produced.
1
‘The Penguin’ (2024)
In 2022, Matt Reeves proved all naysayers wrong with The Batman, many fans’ favorite movie adaptation of the Caped Crusader. Reeves’ Gotham was an utterly enthralling world, and as such, it took no time for spin-offs to start coming into the picture. The first one was The Penguin, a miniseries starring an unrecognizable Colin Farrell that proved even more successful than anyone was expecting.
A spiritual successor to classics like The Sopranos, The Penguin is one of the most masterful crime shows in recent years. Dark, violent, and psychologically complex, this exploration of Gotham City’s underworld is an incredible expansion of Reeves’ Batman mythos, with some riveting character arcs and equally riveting storylines. With eight episodes and a bit under eight hours of runtime, its addictive nature makes it all that much easier to binge-watch in a single day.
