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Crime and mystery shows are what Netflix does best.
In addition to older series like Veronica Mars and The Following, Netflix has some fantastic original and all-new programming.
Shows like How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, His and Hers and Dark not only make for great binge-watches, they also give viewers fantastic variety.
These and more are among Watch With Us’ picks for the best crime and mystery shows that you can stream on Netflix right now.
Read on for our full list of recommendations.
‘Veronica Mars’ (2004-2007)
Popular high school student Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) has the perfect life and the perfect boyfriend, but it all falls apart following the tragic murder of her best friend Lilly Kane (Amanda Seyfried), the downfall of her respected sheriff father and the abandonment of her mother (Corinne Bohrer). In the aftermath of both Veronica and her father (Enrico Colantoni) being ousted by their community, they open up their own private investigation agency, where Veronica works part time solving crimes around town.
Though Veronica Mars only lasted for a criminally short three seasons, the series has endured as a cult hit with a passionate fanbase. The show boasts a smart blend of teen drama and crime noir, and Bell commands the show with her magnetic breakout performance. Veronica is a fantastic strong female character given rich character development, but the supporting characters are terrific too, creating a show with textured, dense world-building. While the revival season leaves something to be desired, the first run of Veronica Mars is some of the best television ever.
‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’ (2026)
After the death of their estranged group member, three close childhood friends reunite at the wake. Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), Robyn (Sinéad Keenan) and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) travel back home to County Donegal in northwest Ireland to pay respects for their fallen comrade, but when they arrive, they are met with an unsettling discovery at the wake. This leads them to experience a series of strange events that compel them to stay together in their hometown for longer than anticipated, as they investigate the bizarre circumstances surrounding their friend’s mysterious death.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast comes from the creatives behind Netflix’s beloved comedy Derry Girls, and while Belfast does have some sharp humor, it’s a bit darker than the popular Troubles-set sitcom. Ultimately, series creator Lisa McGee knocks it out of the park yet again, crafting a unique, genre-blending mystery show that is anchored by compelling chemistry between the lead actors, weighty themes, strong emotions and an addictive story that you won’t want to stop watching once you start.
‘Unfamiliar’ (2026)
Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon Schäfer (Felix Kramer) are former German spies who have settled down in Berlin, raising their teenage daughter Nina (Maja Bons) while running a restaurant and a safe house together. On the night of their daughter’s sixteenth birthday, a man who’s been attacked requests shelter at their safe house. But the man isn’t all he appears to be, and he bears knowledge of a disastrous covert operation from years ago, the consequences of which the Schäfers have been desperately trying to run from. Suddenly, all their skeletons are threatened to be revealed.
This German espionage thriller has proven to be a surprise hit for Netflix, having only recently debuted and already becoming one of the streamer’s most popular shows. Viewers can’t get enough of Unfamiliar’s riveting twists and turns while also being a smartly written narrative with high-stakes drama, complex, nuanced characters and an emotional grounding that frees it from some of the familiar tropes of spy stories. The fast pace and scant six-episode arc create a truly binge-worthy experience full of surprises you won’t expect.
‘His and Hers’ (2025)
Former news anchor Anna (Tessa Thompson) purposefully spends her days alone and isolated, until she hears about a murder in her hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia. Finding herself suddenly reinvigorated in her career, Anna travels to Dahlonega to investigate, where she is forced to contend with her estranged husband, Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal), who just happens to be assigned to the case. Having been drawn to the killing partly out of curiosity, partly because of loose ends left from her past, Anna searches for the truth while repeatedly butting heads with Jack — who is increasingly suspicious of Anna’s true motives.
This gripping, fast-paced murder-mystery wouldn’t be quite what it is without two compelling performances from Bernthal and Thompson, who really inject some complex character nuance and emotional tension into an already bingeable narrative. Though there are aspects of His & Hers that might strain plausibility, it only adds to the entertaining, crime pulp intrigue of this taut, tight thriller.
‘The Following’ (2013 – 2015)
Over a decade ago, Kevin Bacon was enticed to join his first network TV series, The Following, a mystery thriller with the Tremors actor as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy. After catching a serial killer named Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), Ryan left his job behind and even briefly romanced Carroll’s ex-wife, Claire Matthews (Natalie Zea). The only thing that could bring Ryan out of retirement is the escape of Joe Carroll.
In his time behind bars, Joe has amassed a large following of devoted maniacs who are willing to kill for him and die for him if necessary. It’s a brand new game with Joe as the ringleader, and nearly anyone in Ryan or Claire’s life could be one of the followers hiding in plain sight until it’s time to strike at their enemies.
‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ (2025)
Good Cop/Bad Cop takes a more comedic approach to the crime and mystery genres, but there are still dramatic stakes and murder cases to investigate. The series is set in Eden Vale, a small town that Chief of Police Hank Hickman (Clancy Brown) has kept relatively crime-free for years. But times are changing and Hickman’s daughter, Detective Lou Hickman (Leighton Meester), badly needs some backup.
Lou gets what she asked for, but not in the way she wanted it. Instead of bringing in a new partner for Lou, Hank recruits his son, Detective Henry Hickman (Luke Cook), to return to town and work alongside Lou. This angers Lou at first, but it turns out that she and her brother make a great team. They may even change Eden Vale’s reputation.
‘City of Shadows’ (2025)
Suspended cop Milo Malart (Isak Férriz) is tapped by Judge Susana Cabrera (Ana Wagener) to look into the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of a construction company CEO. Ostracized by his other colleagues, Malart is subsequently paired up with Deputy Inspector Rebeca Garrido (Verónica Echegui) to investigate. Ultimately, the single grisly murder ends up being one of a string of ritualistic killings that take place atop historic landmarks in Barcelona. Will Malart be able to find redemption and catch the killer?
City of Shadows prioritizes pacing and atmosphere over shock and gore, and while there are still some twists and turns to look forward to, the show is more interested in showcasing solid storytelling and the fantastic chemistry between its two leads. For crime drama fans who could use less blood and guts and more character drama and moody tension, City of Shadows is likely to be the perfect fit for you.
‘Love and Death’ (2023)
Texan Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen) lives the normal day-to-day of a late-’70s suburban housewife. But when Candy decides to shake things up and engage in an extramarital affair with her neighbor and friend from church, Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons), things end up turning shockingly deadly. Allan’s wife, Betty (Lily Rabe), is discovered murdered with 41 blows from an axe, and Candy becomes the prime suspect. Love & Death takes a look at the events leading up to this grisly crime, in addition to the trial and the verdict.
Love & Death offers an empathetic look at the boredom and ennui experienced by American housewives in the 20th century, packaged within a genuinely twisted and engaging true-crime story that still raises questions today. Screenwriter David E. Kelley writes Candy’s character with tact, giving her empathy while articulating how her repression could manifest violent outcomes. For her towering performance as Candy, Olsen received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Limited Series or Television Film.
‘The Beast in Me’ (2025)
Novelist Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes) has isolated herself in the wake of her son’s tragic death and her divorce from her wife. Struggling with writer’s block while working on her new book, she gets an unexpected source of inspiration: her new next-door neighbor, Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance. With Jarvis’ invitation, Wiggs begins writing about him. But as their coy, cat-and-mouse relationship progresses, is Wiggs really in danger herself?
This new series from the creatives behind The X-Files and Danes’ own Homeland is constantly engaging crime-thriller pulp led by a pair of phenomenal performances from Rhys and Danes. Critics have lauded the show for its deliciously addictive nature that leaves you guessing with every episode, and the unmistakable chemistry between the two leads in this intriguing mystery and character drama.
‘Absentia’ (2017-Present)
Netflix recently added the Amazon Prime series Absentia, which was sadly cancelled after only three seasons, but is nevertheless a fantastic and absorbing thriller. The show focuses on FBI Agent Emily Byrne (Stana Katic), who is declared dead after going missing while investigating a serial killer. Six years later, Byrne is found in a cabin in the woods with no memory of the previous six years. As she struggles to understand what happened to her, she is implicated in a series of murders.
Castle co-star Katic shines in this wonderfully dark and intense show, with a compelling psychological thriller plot line. The show blends a hybrid of crime investigation, twist-filled mystery and engaging character drama. The excellent pacing and high stakes keep viewers engaged and on the edge of their seats.
‘Untamed’ (2025-Present)
In Yosemite National Park in California, Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) is a special agent for the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service. Turner is tasked with investigating the death of a woman who fell from a cliff and curiously ended up with a gnawed leg and a gunshot wound before she fell. The investigation of the dark crime leads Turner into the lawless terrain of the open wilderness as his own past wounds open up to haunt his present day.
Untamed is a stellar crime thriller with a central mystery that will keep you hooked throughout the scant six-episode season, and is bolstered by a gravitas-heavy performance from Bana. Plus, the gorgeous backdrop of the real-life Yosemite is easy on the eyes as Bana is. In addition to Bana, the terrific supporting cast includes Rosemarie DeWitt (The Boys) and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park).
‘Black Rabbit’ (2025-Present)
Mismatched brothers Jake (Jude Law) and Vince (Jason Bateman) are reunited in New York City, as Vince’s chaotic, hard-up life leads him to getting a job working at his successful brother’s elite restaurant, Black Rabbit — which he happened to co-found and once owned alongside Jake. But any semblance of a happy reunion is short-lived, and both brothers find themselves navigating the criminal underworld as they evade loan sharks whom Vince owes money to.
While you might not have guessed Bateman and Law to play convincing siblings, Black Rabbit received praise in particular for the chemistry between the two actors. Their simpatico performances elevate the gritty, fast-paced crime story that has received comparisons to the Safdie brothers’ anxiety-inducing Uncut Gems. Riveting and endlessly engaging, Black Rabbit is a prestige thrill ride like no other.
‘Beauty and the Bester’ (2025)
In 2022, convicted rapist and scammer Thabo Bester appeared to have committed suicide in his jail cell, where he was serving life in prison after his conviction in 2012. When his burned body turned up in his jail cell, authorities presumed self-immolation. But one year later, Bester is found living under an alias in Johannesburg, with his alleged escape accomplice and lover, the influencer aesthetics doctor Nandipha Magudumana. They were arrested and are currently awaiting trial.
Beauty and the Bester takes a look at this absurd, modern-day South African Bonnie and Clyde story: the circumstances surrounding Bester — dubbed the “Facebook rapist” — and his initial conviction, his alleged escape and aftermath, and the psychology behind his bizarre, ill-fated relationship with Magudumana. Using a variety of testimony from various sources, Beauty and the Bester crafts a compelling portrait of a real-life case that’s the stuff of movies.
‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ (2024)
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology series takes a look at the infamous Menendez brothers case from 1989, in which the two brothers (played by Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez in the show) killed both of their parents after allegedly enduring years of abuse. The show depicts the fraught family life between the brothers and their parents, offering a depiction of the environment in which children could be led to commit parricide.
A newly minted Emmy winner, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story features exceptional lead performances from Javier Bardem and Chlöe Sevigny, who play the brothers’ parents, José and Kitty Menendez. Using a Rashomon-style storytelling device, the series utilizes different perspectives on important events and potentially unreliable narrators to paint a portrait of the case that is ultimately left up to interpretation by the viewer.
‘Mindhunter’ (2017-2019)
Set in the late 1970s, Mindhunter follows two FBI agents who track down psychopathic killers by getting into their heads. Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) deign to understand the psychology of a serial killer, looking at their upbringings and mangled psyches to think like them. While effectively pioneering modern serial killer profiling, the two agents find themselves often getting a little too close to their subjects.
Executive produced by director David Fincher (who frequently directed episodes, oversaw the screenwriting and production, and was viewed by many as the de facto showrunner), Mindhunter was sadly canceled after only two seasons but had developed a passionate fanbase. The series was widely acclaimed, unique within its genre for its cinematic visual flair and painstaking character development. At the same time, Groff and McCallany have fantastic chemistry, which adds a richness to the already compelling and detailed narrative.
‘Dark’ (2017-2020)
When walking home through the woods with friends, a child mysteriously vanishes one night in the small German town of Winden. In the race to find him, secrets are revealed among the otherwise ordinary citizens and their families, along with the troubled history that the town rests on — and that they are all connected to. The interconnections between past and present prove to be cosmic, and a dark, supernatural secret that’s been hiding in plain sight threatens to unravel both Winden and the entire world.
Starring Louis Hoffman and a cast of talented, mostly unknown-to-Americans German actors, Dark is a stellar hybridization of science fiction, crime drama, and mystery, working as a piece of puzzle box art filled with complex twists and existentialist themes. The intricate nature of the multi-generational plot includes a time-travel conspiracy, while handling its expansive web of characters and decades with care. The first German-language show produced for Netflix, Dark transcends genre trappings. It’s an atmospheric, philosophical slow-burn that can’t be missed.
Led by Senior Editor and experienced critic Jason Struss, Watch With Us’ team of writers and editors sees almost every movie and TV show from the distant past to the present to determine what’s worth your time and money. Our countless hours of multimedia consumption — combined with years of experience in the entertainment industry — help us determine the best movies and TV shows you should be streaming right now.
To be considered “the best,” these films and series can be visually engaging, intellectually stimulating or simply just fun to watch, but the one trait they must have is that they are all, in some way, entertaining. We then check which platform they are streaming on and how you can access them as a subscriber. No algorithm nonsense or paid endorsements here — our recommendations are based purely on our love and interest for the films and shows we love.
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