Best Dark Crime

Happy Valley is a British crime drama set in the Calder Valley of West Yorkshire. The series, created by Sally Wainwright, features Sarah Lancashire and premiered on BBC One across three series beginning in 2014. It garnered multiple BAFTA awards recognizing its excellence as a dramatic television p...

Flower of Evil is a South Korean drama series featuring Lee Joon-gi and Moon Chae-won. It premiered on tvN from July 29th to September 23rd, 2020, and was distributed internationally via streaming platforms including Netflix. The show marked Lee Joon-gi’s return to television after an absence of two...

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion portrays a high-ranking police official who murders his lover and subsequently orchestrates an inquiry into his own actions. The film explores themes of corruption within law enforcement through a deliberate manipulation of the investigation by the protagon...

The 'Paradise Lost' trilogy (and subsequent updates) is a seminal work in true crime documentary filmmaking. It initially followed the prosecution of three teenagers for the murders of three young children in West Memphis, Arkansas. The series strength lies in its ability to expose flaws in the inve...

Dexter is an American crime drama set in Miami, following forensic technician Dexter Morgan. He leads a double life as a serial killer targeting individuals he believes have escaped justice due to systemic issues. The series originated from Jeff Lindsay’s novel and was adapted for television by Jame...

Mirzapur is an Indian television series set in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. The narrative centers on Akhandanand “Kaleen” Tripathi, a prominent crime boss and local authority figure within the district. Production was overseen by Excel Entertainment with multiple directors involved across the show’s sea...

Uncut Gems is a 2019 crime thriller centered on Howard Ratner, a jeweler struggling with addiction and significant debts. The film follows his desperate attempts to recover a valuable opal to satisfy creditors, involving multiple individuals including LaKeith Stanfield and Julia Fox. Filming occurre...

Wait Until Dark is a 1967 psychological thriller directed by Terence Young and produced by Mel Ferrer. The film stars Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, and Richard Crenna, adapting the 1966 play “Until They Find the Body” by Frederick Knott. Robert Carrington and Jane-Howard Carrington wrote the screenpla...

Vincenzo is a South Korean crime drama centering on an Italian mafia lawyer who returns to Korea to reclaim hidden gold. The series blends dark humor with legal thriller elements offering a compelling narrative of corporate corruption and personal vendettas. It’s primarily for viewers interested in...

Unforgotten is a British television drama focusing on London’s Metropolitan Police investigating historical murders and disappearances. The series examines intricate crime scenes through forensic science and meticulous detective work. It’s particularly relevant for viewers interested in complex poli...

This Polish short film, *A Short Film About Killing*, examines themes of violence and political execution in Warsaw during the 1980s. The suspenseful narrative centers on an individual’s involvement in a murder, reflecting psychological turmoil within a wartime context. Award-winning for its dramati...

D.P. is a South Korean television series produced for Netflix, exploring the experiences of conscripted soldiers investigating individuals evading military service. The show’s first season premiered in August 2021, followed by a second season released in July 2023. It features Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-h...

Ashes to Ashes explores crime investigation through the lens of time travel. Detective Inspector Joe Martin investigates murders connected to individuals displaced from different eras within the United Kingdom. The series presents a complex psychological thriller combining police procedural elements...

Winter's Bone follows Ree Dolly, a resilient young woman living in poverty-stricken rural Missouri. She confronts immense danger as she searches for her missing father to save her family from eviction and potential involvement with criminal elements. The film’s stark realism and exploration of famil...

Animal Kingdom is a television series exploring the lives of an American crime family rooted in Australia. The show depicts a multi-generational network deeply involved in illegal activities, particularly drug trafficking. It draws inspiration from the Pettingill family and examines themes of loyalt...

The Coen brothers' 2007 masterpiece is a brutal and philosophical neo-western that redefined the crime thriller genre. Javier Bardem's chilling portrayal of Anton Chigurh is iconic, and the film's stark cinematography and unsettling atmosphere create a palpable sense of dread. Its a film about the...

3-Iron is a 2004 psychological crime drama set in South Korea. The film explores a complex relationship between a man and a woman marked by violence and secrecy. Its distinctive use of golf imagery, particularly the title's namesake iron, adds layers to this neo-noir story. It’s notable for its inde...

A Shop for Killers is a 2024 South Korean television series adapted from Kang Ji-young’s novel. The story centers around a young woman raised by her uncle, who operates an online shop with questionable origins. The initial season premiered on Disney+ and Hulu, with a second season planned for releas...

Ray Donovan is an American crime drama series centered on Ray Donovan, a Los Angeles-based fixer who engages in illicit activities for celebrity clients. The show depicts his complex family relationships, particularly with his criminal father, Mickey Donovan, and the resulting conflict with law enfo...

Hell Is Other People is a South Korean psychological thriller series exploring dark crime through a compelling mystery. Adapted from a webtoon, it follows detective Lee Min-jun as he investigates a complex murder case intertwined with the secrets and behaviors of those around him. The show’s notable...

Mafia is rife in America where assassinations are a regular occurrence on the streets. Inferno, a mysterious company, is behind most of these dealings through the use of their near-invincible human weapon, "Phantom." One day, a Japanese tourist accidentally witnesses Phantom's latest murder. Despera...

Remember: War of the Son is a South Korean television series exploring intricate family relationships and revenge through a multi-layered storyline. The show’s suspenseful plot unfolds across twenty episodes, examining the psychological impact of past events on several characters. It's primarily for...

A masterclass in suspense built on psychological tension rather than constant action. Clarice Starling's interviews with Hannibal Lecter are masterclasses in verbal sparringa form of intellectual grit. The film excels at making the viewer feel the constant threat lurking just beneath the surface of...

Top of the Lake is a critically acclaimed New Zealand crime drama series centered around Detective Jane Blake investigating disappearances in the remote wilderness. The show’s exploration of complex psychological themes and dark secrets garnered numerous awards including multiple Emmys. It appeals t...

You is a television series adapted from novels by Caroline Kepnes. The show was created by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, with production handled by multiple studios including Berlanti Productions and Alloy Entertainment. It’s an American psychological thriller exploring the actions of a central cha...

Extracurricular is a South Korean thriller series exploring the lives of six teenagers entangled in criminal schemes. The show’s notable realism and suspenseful narrative center around their increasingly dangerous involvement with illegal activities. It's geared toward viewers interested in dark cri...

The Chestnut Man is a Danish crime series concerning a serial killer operating in Copenhagen who dismembers mothers and leaves chestnut figurines at the murder sites. Naia Thulin and Mark Hess investigate these crimes, leading to an overarching mystery surrounding the perpetrator’s motives. A second...

Dexter: Original Sin is a Paramount+ and Showtime production exploring the early life of Dexter Morgan. The prequel series revisits events beginning in 1991, fifteen years prior to the original “Dexter” television show’s debut. It focuses on formative experiences for the character as he develops his...

When approached by a fellow death god tempted to visit the human realm, Ryuk recounts his own journey to the other side and the story of Light Yagami—a brilliant young man who impressed him there. One day at school, Light stumbles upon Ryuk's lost Death Note and realizes it is not an ordinary notebo...