Who said murder had to be so serious? Get a kick out of these dark humored, quirky, and fun crime comedies!
There are plenty of excellent crime dramas, Nordic Noirs, and dark mysteries on MHz Choice that capture the complexity of the human morality, the darkness of modern society, and the horror of reality.
But sometimes, you just need a laugh. Enter these crime comedies now streaming on MHz Choice!
A good crime comedy brilliantly toes the line between poking fun at the crime genre and paying homage to it. Many European countries, known for dry and dark humor, achieve this balance perfectly. Many German comedies, for example, are so dry some people might wonder whether it even is a comedy, while others are so outlandish that it’s impossible not to laugh!
Whether you’re a fan of American crime comedies like Only Murders in the Building, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Psych, or just looking to add a little levity to your watchlist, check out these crime comedy series now streaming on MHz Choice!
Miss Merkel
GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
Angela Merkel: first female chancellor of Germany, PhD in quantum physics, and… detective?
That’s right – in the German crime comedy series Miss Merkel, former chancellor Angela Merkel retires to a small town in the Uckermark with her husband, bodyguard, and pug Helmut, where she solves crimes à la Miss Marple.
Based on a series of novels by David Safier, Miss Merkel is a brilliant example of German comedy.
WATCH FOR: Niche political references, ridiculous physical humor, lots of murder, and a rainbow of pantsuits.
Backwoods Crime
AUSTRIA | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
A crime anthology series like no other, Backwoods Crime is set in the breathtaking Austrian countryside and features murder, mystery – and plenty of surprises!
The tone of each story can be very different – a gritty, hard-hitting crime plot one week can be followed up by a quirky character-based story the next.
WATCH IF: You want a mix of hard-hitting and lighter-toned crime stories set in beautiful Austrian scenery.
Homicide Hills
GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
Popular German crime comedy Homicide Hills sees big-city homicide detective Sophie Haas (Caroline Peters, Tatort) “promoted” from her previous life as a homicide detective in Cologne to be the chief of a backwoods police force in the fictional town of Hengasch (“Hanging Ass”).
Despite Hengasch’s reputation as boring and safe, Sophie is determined to make her mark as a small-town sleuth — much to the chagrin of her deer-in-the-headlights co-workers.
WATCH FOR: A perfect example of Germany’s famously dry, offbeat, and quirky comic styles.
Crime Scene Cleaner
GERMAN | GERMANY WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
In this immensely popular German comedy, Bjarne Mädel stars as Heiko “Schotty” Schotte – a man whose love of beer, soccer and women is surpassed only by his dedication to the art of crime scene cleaning – and the existential situations and bizarre characters he encounters in the course of his work.
This series was wildly popular in Germany, and was remade in the UK as The Cleaner starring comedian Greg Davies and featuring a who’s-who of British actors.
WATCH FOR: Kooky characters, strange situations, and a new perspective on murder.
Crime is Her Game
FRANCE | FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
French crime comedy Crime is Her Game revolves around two cops: Gaby and Céline. On the one hand there’s country-girl Gaby, played by famous French-Ivorian comedic actress Claudia Tagbo, both a cop and a farmer, with a feisty personality and investigative methods all her own. On the other there’s city-girl Céline, played by accomplished French actress Hélène Seuzaret, as upright, respectful of the rules and formal as Gaby is borderline, messy and unpolished.
WATCH FOR: A fun buddy crime comedy full of surprises, and with a certain love of nature and truffles!
Agatha Christie’s Hjerson
SWEDEN | SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
Sven Hjerson, a once-renowned detective and Klara, a reality TV producer, are an unlikely crime-solving pair in this modern whodunnit inspired by one of Agatha Christie’s lesser known characters.
WATCH FOR: A fun take on both crime dramas and reality TV – with plenty of Agatha Christie-style twists!
Happily Married
CANADA | FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-MA
After dropping their kids off at summer camp, two Quebec City couples are forced to face their marital issues and discover new ways to ignite their passions: murder and crime.
WATCH FOR: Dark comedy, contemplations on marriage, and criminal antics – with plenty of 1970s style.
Toutouyoutou
FRANCE | FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14
France is determined to build an aeronautics program to compete with the Americans. And the Americans are determined to maintain their dominance of the skies. Enter Jane, who uses her aerobics instructor persona to glean information from the wives, daughters and sisters of those who work on Project 37, France’s top secret aeronautics program.
The stakes of TouTouYouTou are uniquely less world-ending than other spy thrillers, but loads of delicious fun in the form of ten bite-sized episodes.
WATCH IF: You wanted the FX show The Americans to have a bit more levity and a lot more spandex.
