Time to cancel your weekend plans!
Looking for your next crime, mystery, or thriller series to binge watch? Here’s a quick cheat sheet of bingeable series to get you going.
Amsterdam Vice
CRIME DRAMA | NETHERLANDS | DUTCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: Set in 1980’s Amsterdam’s simmering city center, widely known as the red-light district, this critically acclaimed series follows rookie cop Jurre de Cock and his partner as they fight crime during a time when the city is a ticking time bomb of social unrest and violent crime.
WHAT: A gritty prequel to the popular Dutch series Baantjer set in Amsterdam’s red-light district in the 1980s.
WHY: Not only is it a prequel to a popular TV series, but it’s also based on a widely celebrated book series and known fictional character, Jurre de Cock. For those who like fully immersing themselves into a complex mystery and rich setting based on real-life events, this one’s for you.
Arctic Crime
NORDIC NOIR | FINLAND | FINNISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
AVAILABLE DUBBED IN ENGLISH | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: Serial killers, deadly viruses, snowmobile chases through frozen Finnish Lapland. In this race-against-time thriller, officer Nina and virologist Thomas must stop a killer while tracking a virus before it becomes a full-blown pandemic.
WHAT: A contemporary crime thriller featuring a strong female lead, human trafficking, international criminals, and a deadly, contagious virus.
WHY: Most popular original series from Finland’s top streaming service and drama producer Elisa Viihde. The stunning backdrop of Finnish Lapland, an ethereal and rarely seen part of the world, combined with the multilayered, suspenseful storyline makes this series one of a kind.
Babylon Berlin
NOIR | GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: When police commissioner Gereon Rath is transferred from Cologne to Berlin to investigate a pornography ring, he descends into Berlin’s criminal underworld while trying to escape a past that haunts him.
WHAT: A neo-noir exploring underground crime and political turmoil in 1929 Berlin.
WHY: Juxtaposing the glitz and glamor of the Golden Twenties with the dark underbelly of Berlin’s criminal world, the series is a feast for your eyes. You can also look forward to a fourth season coming later this year.
Beck
SCANDINAVIAN CRIME FICTION | SWEDEN | SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: What he lacks in flash and style, he makes up for in steadfast competence. The criminals of the Swedish underworld prove no match for Detective Martin Beck.
WHAT: A good cop/bad cop crime drama following a no-frills, middle-aged Swedish detective and his impulsive partner as they take down criminals in Stockholm.
WHY: Martin Beck is considered THE original Swedish detective. And fans of Game of Thrones will see a familiar face in Kristofer Hivju.
The Bridge
NORDIC NOIR | SWEDEN | SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: When a body is found on the Sweden-Denmark border in the middle of Øresund Bridge, two mismatched detectives, one Swedish and one Danish, must work together to track down a cunning and twisted killer.
WHAT: The series that launched Nordic Noir as a genre.
WHY: See the original series that spawned five local-language remakes.
Dark Woods
CRIME DRAMA | GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by a real-life case that went unsolved for almost 30 years, the series follows a high-ranking police officer’s decades-long search for his sister and a smart young detective who ends up becoming instrumental in the investigation.
WHAT: German police procedural investigating a series of horrific murders mysteriously connected to a missing woman. Inspired by real-life events.
WHY: Most watched series on Germany’s ARD streaming platform in 2020. Pagan Peak fans will delight in seeing stars Nicholas Ofczarek and Hanno Koffler in this one.
Deceit
CRIME DRAMA | UNITED KINGDOM | ENGLISH LANGUAGE | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: Based on a true story, this miniseries follows an undercover officer who attempts to coerce a confession out of a suspect, eventually leading to the arrest of an innocent man.
WHAT: A police procedural based on a real entrapment case from 1992, told from a female perspective.
WHY: The series follows the jaw-dropping real-life murder of young mother Rachel Nickell and the controversial honeytrap operation that led to a wrongful conviction. Still protected by court order, the real identity of the officer at the center of the story has never been revealed. Stars renowned Irish actress Niamh Algar of Raised by Wolves.
Follow the Money
CRIME DRAMA | DENMARK | DANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: An apparent industrial accident at a wind farm leads detectives to uncover a web of corruption. Get to know the dark side of the high-stakes, billion-kroner renewable energy industry, where environmental heroes are immoral and clean energy is a dirty business.
WHAT: Slick economic crime thriller set in the world of sustainable energy.
WHY: Another winner from the producers of The Bridge and The Killing.
A French Village
DRAMA | FRANCE | FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
SYNOPSIS: Set during WWII, the series follows the small French village of Villeneuve whose residents experience the seismic effects of German occupation.
WHAT: A historical drama about the German occupation of a fictional rural French village during WWII.
WHY: Shedding light on themes like wartime collaboration, the Resistance movement, and war profiteering, the show is historically significant. The New York Times calls it “the first major French television series seriously to address collaboration during the Nazi occupation in World War II.”
The Grave
SCI-FI THRILLER | ISRAEL | HEBREW WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: When an earthquake unburies three skeletons, an investigation unfolds that defies all logic and a group of interconnected people are thrown into a mind-bending mystery filled with inexplicable phenomena.
WHAT: A sci-fi mystery thriller that follows a group of interwoven people and their journeys toward redemption, love, and freedom.
WHY: Best Drama Series and Best Art Direction nominations at the 2019 Awards of the Israeli Television Academy.
Iskander
THRILLER | FRANCE | FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: Rookie cop Chloé, a new arrival to French Guiana, investigates the ritualistic double murder of a French couple and their missing son.
WHAT: What begins as a police procedural quickly takes a turn as the story moves from tin-shack favelas to the heart of the jungle and voodoo rituals. Some have called it a “Nordic Noir in the jungle.”
WHY: This is not your typical police procedural. Iskander dives into the mysticisms and specificities of French Guiana from the point of view of a French girl, but treats the subject matter with respect.
The Killing
NORDIC NOIR | DENMARK | DANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: Inspector Sarah Lund puts her retirement plans on hold when a teenage girl’s body is found in a car with ties to a mayoral candidate.
WHAT: Each season follows a different murder case, with each episode covering 24 gripping hours of investigation. Each episode is one day in the investigation.
WHY: One of the most iconic Nordic Noir series and the inspiration behind the popular US version starring Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos. It’s been widely debated which is more compelling television—the original or the American remake—and we’d love to get your thoughts.
Marnow Murders
CRIME DRAMA | GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
SYNOPSIS: Detectives Lona Mendt and Frank Elling are tracking a serial killer who appears to be killing at random, but nothing is what it seems. It soon becomes clear that the case is much larger than they first expected, revealing a dark chapter in German history.
WHAT: A twisty German crime drama with richly developed characters, a compellingly complex case, and interesting historical implications.
WHY: If you like a show that keeps you guessing, then look no further. The series’ two leads each nabbed Best Actor and Best Actress wins for their performances at the 2021 German Television Awards.
The Missing Children
DOCUMENTARY | IRELAND | ENGLISH LANGUAGE | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: An extraordinary true crime story that exposes the Catholic Church’s involvement in the trafficking, neglect and suspicious deaths of babies born to unwed mothers.
WHAT: Stories of some of the survivors of the Bon Secours mother and baby home in Tuam, Ireland.
WHY: Tuam is just one of 18 such mother and baby homes investigated across Ireland. As of April 2023, this was still an open case.
Pagan Peak
CRIME DRAMA | GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: German and Austrian detectives team up to search for a serial killer who performs ritual-like murders and uses a Krampus mask to hide his identity.
WHAT: A dark and twisted Nordic Noir set in the Alpine wilderness nodding to the sinister side of the Christmas folklore legend, Krampus.
WHY: Based on The Bridge (Bron|Broen), this series is the winner of multiple television awards in Germany and Austria.
Salamander
CRIME DRAMA | BELGIUM | FRENCH & DUTCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
SYNOPSIS: The theft of 66 safe deposit boxes leads Inspector Paul Gerardi to a secret organization whose members are Belgium’s most powerful and elite.
WHAT: Starts as a classic bank heist and evolves into a conspiracy thriller.
WHY: An exploration of “vanity and greed, how power and money corrupts, and what people do when their secrets are about to be made public.”
Spiral
CRIME DRAMA | FRANCE | FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: This is not the Paris you see in tour guides. Spiral follows the investigation of a series of gruesome murders and shines a harsh light on crooked cops, corrupt bureaucrats, and shady politicians like a body on the slab.
WHAT: A dark, gritty crime thriller following the interwoven lives of cops, lawyers, and judges as they investigate disturbing murders.
WHY: It’s the French counterpart to The Wire, but much, much darker. Spiral won Best Drama Series at the 2015 International Emmy Awards.
Spitfire
CRIME DRAMA | SPAIN | CATALAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
SYNOPSIS: Beneath the white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Mallorca, Spain is a dark and bloody history. Now a serial killer is resurfacing the past with a series of murders inspired by it. Detective Aina Anglada must connect the dots before the killer strikes again.
WHAT: A dark crime thriller set on the island of Mallorca, Spain, following a series of murders inspired by grisly crimes committed between rival families during the 17th century.
WHY: Explore the darker side of Mallorca, far from the resorts and villas, where beaches bury bodies and rivalries run deeper than the sea.
Wilder
MYSTERY | SWITZERLAND | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
SYNOPSIS: When detective Rosa Wilder returns home to her small Swiss town to honor her late brother, she gets embroiled in a mysterious murder and disappearance case, unearthing the town’s secrets the deeper she digs.
WHAT: A mystery set in the Swiss Alps following a detective’s investigation in a small town filled with secrets.
WHY: The suspenseful murder mystery combined with the breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss Alps creates a truly chilling viewing experience.
About the Author
Alicia Lu is a writer, actor, and marketing strategist based in New Orleans, LA. When she is not auditioning for films and series, she is voraciously devouring them as a fan or writing about them as an online contributor. As a marketing strategist, her favorite clients are in the entertainment space. It’s safe to say she eats, sleeps, and breathes film and TV. Her husband is doing his best to keep up.
