5 of the Best-Ever Crime Dramas

Nothing beats crime dramas if you love cliffhangers that leave you wanting more.

Franchises like Criminal Minds, Law & Order, and How to Get Away With Murder are just the tip of the iceberg since there are many options for edge-of-your-seat crime dramas.

Whether on your favorite TV station or streaming service, you can binge on programs that pit the good guys against the bad guys. 

The only thing is that sometimes the lines are blurred so that nothing is strictly black and white.

“The relationship between criminal defense attorneys and the police is often portrayed in a way where the criminal defense lawyers are the good guys protecting clients from the oppressive long arm of the law,” says Brian A. Walker, a criminal defense attorney at Brian Walker Law Firm. “Some crime drams, on the other hand, pit lawyers as the bad guys versus cops as the heroes.”

Whether you’re a fan of crime dramas or want to see what you’ve been missing, here are five of the best franchises of all time. Of course, this list is subjective. With that said, here goes…

1. Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds deserves a space on this list. The franchise focuses on the efforts of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit as they track down and capture serial killers. Debuting in 2005, the series is in season 17 and still going strong. Fans of the show aren’t getting off the bandwagon as their favorite investigators create profiles to find and apprehend diabolical criminals.

2. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit started in 1999 and lasted 25 seasons. The series features a team of detectives working with the NYPD’s SVU to investigate crimes of a sexual nature. Some of the episodes in the series are loosely based on actual crimes that have made headlines. You’ll see the complicated relationship between the police and criminal defense attorneys up close and personal, and it’s not always easy to know who to root for.

3. How to Get Away With Murder

How to Get Away With Murder follows the journey of Professor Annalise Keating and the students who enter her inner circle. The series, which ran from 2014 to 2020, is a must-watch if you love cliffhangers. You’ll find suspense-filled plots and outcomes you never saw coming. Check out How to Get Away With Murder for a look at the cut-throat legal system. While the protagonist is undoubtedly Keating, the series also focuses on her loyal students, who become co-conspirators, and how they often violate their codes of ethics to get what they want.

4. The Mentalist

The Mentalist, which debuted in 2008, lasted seven seasons. Patrick Jane, the main character, is an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation. He is known for using unorthodox, yet successful, strategies to help solve cases. 

While Jane works as an independent consultant, his chief focus is hunting down Red John, a serial killer who ended the life of Jane’s wife and daughter. It’s a roller coaster ride from episode to episode. And, yes, Jane does eventually find Red John and get the ultimate closure.

5. The Sopranos

The Sopranos is a cult classic crime drama. Some critics believe it’s the best show ever. The series ran from 1999 to 2007. It explores Tony Soprano’s journey and how he handles his position as a mafia kingpin and the head of his family — all while he goes through therapy sessions with a psychiatrist. If you love great crime dramas, check out The Sopranos. 

It’s not just a great crime drama. The franchise regularly finds itself on lists mentioning the best shows — of any genre — ever. 

If you’re interested in watching some crime dramas, the five mentioned above are worth considering. But the genre features many more great franchises you may wish to check out.