Gritty TV Shows

2026 • Rating 10.0 • crime, mystery, drama

A fiercely competitive police officer and an idealistic prosecutor, former high school classmates, reunite while investigating a nationwide serial murder case, pulling them into both a dangerous pursuit and an unresolved personal past.

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Detective, Investigation, Police, Serial Killer, Buddy Cop, Police Procedural, Crime Thriller, A Fiercely Competitive Police Officer And An Idealistic Prosecutor, Former High School Classmates, Reunite While Investigating A Nationwide Serial Murder Case

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-20

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-jun, Kwak Sun-young, Seo Ji-hye, Jung Moon-sung, Bek Hyun-jin

2008 • Rating 8.9 • drama, crime

Walter White, a New Mexico chemistry teacher, is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of only two years left to live. He becomes filled with a sense of fearlessness and an unrelenting desire to secure his family's financial future at any cost as he enters the dangerous world of drugs and crime.

Genre: Drama, Crime

Style: Dark, Futuristic, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: New Mexico, Drug Dealer, Melancholy, Narcissism, Psychopath, Terminal Illness, Outlaw, Dark Comedy, Cancer, Tragedy

Time: Year 2008, 2000S, 2008-01-20

Place: United States Of America, English, German, Spanish, Future City

Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, RJ Mitte, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt

2015 • Rating 8.7 • crime, drama

Six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. We meet him when the man who will become Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny, and, more immediately, hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside, and, often, against Jimmy, is “fixer” Mike Ehrmantraut. The series tracks Jimmy’s transformation into Saul Goodman, the man who puts “criminal” in “criminal lawyer".

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Criminal Lawyer, And, New Mexico, Moral Conflict, Crooked Lawyer, Prequel, Romance, Dark Comedy, Family Relationships, Tragedy

Time: Year 2015, 2010S, 2015-02-08

Place: United States Of America, English, German, Spanish

Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Tony Dalton, Giancarlo Esposito

2023 • Rating 8.7 • drama, crime

In the late 1980s, when “perestroika” was taking place in the USSR and the era of the Soviet Union was about to collapse, life became unstable and very different. The 1980s brought not only freedom, but also waves of crime on the city streets. While some young people began to ‘grow up’ on the streets, others found it difficult to find their place in this unpredictable reality. Andrey, lives with his mother and five-year-old sister. He studies at a music school and often encounters street teenagers who harass him. To protect himself, Andrey makes friends with one of these teenagers, Marat, who introduces him to gang life. Youth groups fight for every piece of territory; they defend their right to live the life, even breaking laws and promises. The only thing that matters to them is the vows they make to their gang members-brothers, with whom they confront the violence and fears of the adult world.

Genre: Drama, Crime

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: In The Late, When, Perestroika, Was Taking Place In The Ussr And The Era Of The Soviet Union Was About To Collapse, Life Became Unstable And Very Different, The, S Brought Not Only Freedom, But Also Waves Of Crime On The City Streets, While Some Young People Began To, Grow Up

Time: Year 2023, 2020S, 2023-11-09

Place: Russia, Russian, Tatar

Cast: Ivan Yankovsky, Ruzil Minekaev, Leon Kemstach, Anastasiya Krasovskaya, Anna Peresild, Nikita Kologrivyy

1999 • Rating 8.7 • crime, drama

The story of New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads. Those difficulties are often highlighted through his ongoing professional relationship with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi. The show features Tony's family members and Mafia associates in prominent roles and story arcs, most notably his wife Carmela and his cousin and protégé Christopher Moltisanti.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: New Jersey, Italian American, Drug Dealer, Strip Club, Mafia Boss, Dysfunctional Family, Dysfunctional Marriage, Family Relationships, Organized Crime, Mafia

Time: Year 1999, 1990S, 1999-01-10

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Robert Iler, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli

2002 • Rating 8.6 • crime, drama

Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Corruption, Newspaper, Drug Trafficking, Drug Dealer, Baltimore, Usa, Gangster, Police, Organized Crime, Police Detective, Surveillance

Time: Year 2002, 2000S, 2002-06-02

Place: United States Of America, Mandarin, English, Greek, Spanish

Cast: Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kenneth Williams, Deirdre Lovejoy

2018 • Rating 8.5 • crime, drama, comedy

Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Mind Bending, Surreal, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Police Chase, Los Angeles, California, Police Officer, Police Detective, Street Crime, Lapd, Police Training, Crime Investigation, Dramedy, Police Department

Time: Year 2018, 2010S, 2018-10-16

Place: United States Of America, Canada, English, Los Angeles

Cast: Nathan Fillion, Melissa O'Neil, Eric Winter, Alyssa Diaz, Mekia Cox, Richard T. Jones

2013 • Rating 8.5 • drama, crime

A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England and centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby, who means to move up in the world.

Genre: Drama, Crime

Style: Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Birmingham, England, Gypsy, Corruption, Gangster, Outlaw, Murder, Drugs, Criminal, Period Drama

Time: Year 2013, 2010S, 2013-09-12

Place: United Kingdom, English

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Natasha O'Keeffe

2014 • Rating 8.4 • crime, drama

A riveting police drama about the men and women of the Chicago Police Department's District 21 who put it all on the line to serve and protect their community. District 21 is made up of two distinctly different groups: the uniformed cops who patrol the beat and go head-to-head with the city's street crimes and the Intelligence Unit that combats the city's major offenses - organized crime, drug trafficking, high profile murders and beyond.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Chicago, Illinois, Police, Spin Off, Crime Investigation, A Riveting Police Drama About The Men And Women Of The Chicago Police Department'S District, Who Put It All On The Line To Serve And Protect Their Community, District, Is Made Up Of Two Distinctly Different Groups, The Uniformed Cops Who Patrol The Beat And Go Head-To-Head With The City'S Street Crimes And The Intelligence Unit That Combats The City'S Major Offenses - Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking

Time: Year 2014, 2010S, 2014-01-08

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Jason Beghe, Marina Squerciati, Patrick John Flueger, LaRoyce Hawkins, Benjamin Levy Aguilar, Arienne Mandi

2008 • Rating 8.4 • crime, drama, mystery

Patrick Jane, a former celebrity psychic medium, uses his razor sharp skills of observation and expertise at "reading" people to solve serious crimes with the California Bureau of Investigation.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: California, Con Man, Cop, Serial Killer, Criminal Investigation, Mourning, Mysterious, Forensic Psychology, Criminal Consultant, Desperate

Time: Year 2008, 2000S, 2008-09-23

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Rockmond Dunbar, Joe Adler, Josie Loren

2023 • Rating 8.4 • drama, action & adventure, crime

Faced with ruthless foes with a violent thirst, two young boxers band together — risking life and limb to bring justice and protect their loved ones.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Crime

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Boxer, Debt, Bromance, Loan Shark, Boxing, Skilled Fighter, Teamwork, Based On Webcomic Or Webtoon, Thriller, Action

Time: Year 2023, 2020S, 2023-06-09

Place: South Korea, English

Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Rain

2005 • Rating 8.3 • crime, drama, mystery

An elite team of FBI profilers analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. The Behavioral Analysis Unit's most experienced agent is David Rossi, a founding member of the BAU who returns to help the team solve new cases.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Fbi, Criminal Mastermind, Crime Investigation, Special Agent, Criminology, Police Profiling, Police Procedural, Suspenseful, An Elite Team Of Fbi Profilers Analyze The Country'S Most Twisted Criminal Minds, Anticipating Their Next Moves Before They Strike Again

Time: Year 2005, 2000S, 2005-09-22

Place: United States Of America, Canada, English

Cast: Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Adam Rodriguez, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler

2006 • Rating 8.2 • crime, drama, mystery

Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police also leads a secret life as a serial killer, hunting down criminals who have slipped through the cracks of justice.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Miami, Florida, Based On Novel Or Book, Double Life, Homicide, Vigilante, Murder, Serial Killer, Psychological Thriller, Killer, Forensic Science

Time: Year 2006, 2000S, 2006-10-01

Place: United States Of America, English, Spanish

Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Geoff Pierson, David Zayas, James Remar, Aimee Garcia

2005 • Rating 8.2 • crime, drama

Dr. Temperance Brennan and her colleagues at the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal Lab assist Special Agent Seeley Booth with murder investigations when the remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that the standard identification methods are useless.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Washington Dc, Usa, Fbi, Forensic Science, Murder Investigation, Crime Investigation, Forensic Archaeology, Temperance Brennan And Her, Colleagues At The Jeffersonian'S Medico-Legal Lab Assist Special Agent Seeley Booth, With Murder Investigations When The Remains Are So Badly Decomposed, Burned Or Destroyed That The Standard Identification Methods Are Useless

Time: Year 2005, 2000S, 2005-09-13

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, John Boyd, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, T.J. Thyne

2025 • Rating 8.0 • drama, action & adventure, crime

Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Crime

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Mayor, Sequel, Superhero, Based On Comic, Lawyer, Blind, Blunt, Marvel Cinematic Universe (Mcu), Attorney, Appreciative

Time: Year 2025, 2020S, 2025-03-04

Place: United States Of America, English, New York

Cast: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Wilson Bethel, Deborah Ann Woll, Margarita Levieva, Matthew Lillard

1999 • Rating 7.9 • crime, drama, mystery

In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Detective, Sexual Abuse, Sex Scandal, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Criminal, Sex Trafficking, Interrogation, District Attorney

Time: Year 1999, 1990S, 1999-09-20

Place: United States Of America, English, New York

Cast: Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Aimé Donna Kelly, Kevin Kane

2018 • Rating 7.9 • crime, action & adventure, drama

The New York office of the FBI brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep their city and the country safe.

Genre: Crime, Action & Adventure, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: New York City, Fbi, Investigation, Gunfight, Foot Chase, Criminal Investigation, Gun Shooting, Special Agent, Police Procedural, Fbi Agent

Time: Year 2018, 2010S, 2018-09-25

Place: United States Of America, English, New York

Cast: Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, John Boyd, Jeremy Sisto, Alana de la Garza, Juliana Aidén Martinez

2003 • Rating 7.8 • crime, drama, mystery

The Philadelphia homicide squad's lone female detective finds her calling when she is assigned cases that have never been solved. Detective Lilly Rush combines her natural instincts with the updated technology available today to bring about justice for all the victims she can.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Detective, Victim, Investigation, Police, Police Detective, Female Detective, Murder Investigation, Homicide Detective, Cold Case

Time: Year 2003, 2000S, 2003-09-28

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, Jeremy Ratchford, Thom Barry, Tracie Thoms, John Finn

2013 • Rating 7.6 • drama, crime, mystery

Raymond "Red" Reddington, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives, surrenders in person at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He claims that he and the FBI have the same interests: bringing down dangerous criminals and terrorists. In the last two decades, he's made a list of criminals and terrorists that matter the most but the FBI cannot find because it does not know they exist. Reddington calls this "The Blacklist". Reddington will co-operate, but insists that he will speak only to Elizabeth Keen, a rookie FBI profiler.

Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Psychological, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Fbi, Investigation, Terrorism, Criminal Mastermind, Crime Lord, Hidden Identity, Criminal Consultant, Raymond, Red, Reddington

Time: Year 2013, 2010S, 2013-09-23

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff, Hisham Tawfiq, Anya Banerjee, Harry Lennix

2000 • Rating 7.6 • crime, drama, mystery

A Las Vegas team of forensic investigators are trained to solve criminal cases by scouring the crime scene, collecting irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that solve the mystery.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Detective, Police, Crime Scene, Las Vegas, Criminal Investigation, Forensic, Murder Investigation, Homicide Detective, Crime Investigation, Police Procedural

Time: Year 2000, 2000S, 2000-10-06

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Ted Danson, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, Wallace Langham

2003 • Rating 7.6 • crime, drama, action & adventure

From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, a team of special agents investigates any crime that has any connection to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Action & Adventure

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, Naval Officer, Medical Examiner, Interrogation, Ex Marine, Criminal Investigation, Veteran, Virginia

Time: Year 2003, 2000S, 2003-09-23

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Rocky Carroll, Diona Reasonover

2025 • Rating 7.6 • drama, crime

When a financial titan suddenly finds himself divorced and jobless, he starts robbing his wealthy neighbors to stay afloat. Stealing from his own social circle strangely exhilarates him—but he gradually gets tangled in a deadly web.

Genre: Drama, Crime

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Stealing, Wealthy, Fired From The Job, Ex Husband Ex Wife Relationship, Financial Crisis, Divorced Man, Family Issues, Affair, When A Financial Titan Suddenly Finds Himself Divorced And Jobless, He Starts Robbing His Wealthy Neighbors To Stay Afloat

Time: Year 2025, 2020S, 2025-04-10

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Lena Hall

1997 • Rating 7.5 • crime, drama, mystery

The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: England, Murder, Police Detective, Murder Investigation, Police Inspector, Midsomer, The Peacefulness Of The Midsomer Community Is Shattered By Violent Crimes, Suspects Are Placed Under Suspicion, And It Is Up To A Veteran Dci And His Young Sergeant To Calmly And Diligently Eliminate The Innocent And Ruthlessly Pursue The Guilty

Time: Year 1997, 1990S, 1997-03-23

Place: United Kingdom, English

Cast: Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix, Fiona Dolman, Annette Badland

2023 • Rating 7.4 • drama, crime, war & politics

In late 19th-century Turin, the young Lidia Poët, fights against everything and everyone to get what is rightfully hers: to be enrolled in the official register of lawyers. A profession, at the time, reserved exclusively for men. Nevertheless, nothing could stop her dream of becoming the first female lawyer in Italy.

Genre: Drama, Crime, War & Politics

Style: Gritty, Mind Bending, Surreal, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Italy, Biography, Turin, Based On True Story, Courtroom, Turin Italy, Legal Battle, Woman Lawyer, 19Th Century, Legal Drama

Time: Year 2023, 2020S, 2023-02-15

Place: Italy, Italian

Cast: Matilda De Angelis, Sara Lazzaro, Eduardo Scarpetta, Pier Luigi Pasino, Nika Perrone, Sinead Thornhill

1990 • Rating 7.3 • crime, drama

In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing the evidence and questioning the suspects until someone is taken into custody. The district attorney's office then builds a case to convict the perpetrator by proving the person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Working together, these expert teams navigate all sides of the complex criminal justice system to make New York a safer place.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: New York City, Police, Lawyer, Homicide Detective, Crime Investigation, Criminal Law, Legal Drama, Criminal Justice System, In Cases Ripped From The Headlines, Police Investigate Serious And Often Deadly Crimes

Time: Year 1990, 1990S, 1990-09-13

Place: United States Of America, Canada, Singapore, English, New York

Cast: Reid Scott, Maura Tierney, Tony Goldwyn, Hugh Dancy, Odelya Halevi

2024 • Rating 6.6 • crime, drama

In the heart of London, an anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives—a young woman in the early stages of her career and a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy—into a fight to correct an old miscarriage of justice.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Detective, Investigation, Aggressive, Cold Case, Thriller, In The Heart Of London, An Anonymous Phone Call Draws Two Brilliant Detectives, A Young Woman In The Early Stages Of Her Career And A Well-Connected Man Determined To Protect His Legacy, Into A Fight To Correct An Old Miscarriage Of Justice

Time: Year 2024, 2020S, 2024-01-10

Place: United Kingdom, English, London

Cast: Peter Capaldi, Cush Jumbo, Zoë Wanamaker, Cathy Tyson, Stephen Campbell Moore

2026 • Rating 6.5 • drama, crime, mystery

A boy vanishes, and no one can find him. An open-and-shut case, except there are no leads. Three hundred people around him, and no one saw anything?

Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Based On Novel Or Book, Homelessness, Vampire, Miniseries, Teenage Boy, 1980S, A Boy Vanishes, And No One Can Find Him, An Open-And-Shut Case, Except There Are No Leads

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-15

Place: Chile, Spanish

Cast: Paulina García, Alfredo Castro, Benjamín Vicuña, Gabriel Cañas