30 Best Crime Shows on Hulu

Picking the best crime shows on Hulu is a little like choosing a favorite child, only harder. From the super-smart Gil Grissom in CSI to moody deep-thinkers like Cal Lightman in Lie to Me, favoritism can slide depending on so many factors.

For instance, season one might be a triumph, but season two drops the character you’re most invested in (I’m looking at you Criminal Minds). Whatever you hunger from a crime show, our best crime shows on Hulu has you covered and then some.

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30. Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

This crime drama miniseries stars Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones and more as it follows a devout detective who’s faith is tested as he investigates a brutal murder seemingly connected to an esteemed Utah family.

This series is based on the real-life 1984 murders of Brenda Wright Lefferty and her 15-month-old daughter Erica Lafferty. There are 7 episodes that run over an hour long, giving you plenty of watch time if you’re interested in a true-story crime show that focuses on detectives soon distrust in the government.

29. Cold Case Files (2017-present)

Cold Case Files is a reality legal show/documentary and is hosted by Bill Kurtis. The show documents investigations of many unsolved murders, referring to cold cases, through the use of modern forensic science and criminal psychology, and in addition to recent breakthroughs in the case with silent witnesses.

In 2017, A&E revived the series for a ten-episode run. it was so well-received that they’ve continued to release episodes. However, it was first aired as a sub-series of another crime documentary program, Investigative Reports, also hosted by Bill Kurtis that ran from 1991 to 2011.

28. Homicide Hunter (2011-2020)

The show highlights Lt. Joe Kenda’s success with his 387 homicide case history and 92% solution rate through re-enactments, discussions with investigation teams and interviews with victims’ families and other involved persons. Joe Kenda was an extremely successful Homicide Detective for the Colorado Springs, CO Police Department.

He explores his old cases and gives insight into his process along the way. The show explains the logic process that a good detective uses from the beginning of the case through to the end. For true crime buffs that want to explore the mind of a detective, this is a must watch.

27. Veronica Mars (2004-2019)

Veronica Mars is a teen noir mystery drama that was produced by Warner Bros. Television and created by Rob Thomas. The series is set in a fictional town of Neptune, California and stars Kristen bell as the eponymous character. It premiered in 2004 and has lasted until 2019. The show follows Veronica who goes from high school to college, all while moonlighting as a private investigator under the tutelage of her detective father.

Each episode shows Veronica solving a different stand-alone case while working to solve a more complex mystery. While Rob Thomas initially began Veronica Mars as a novel, with the protagonist being a male, he changed it around when he began filming.

26. Fargo (2014-2024)

The show is inspired by the 1996 film of the same name and is set in the same fictional universe. Premiering in 2014, each episode revolves around a new time and place and generally has a different cast, all with a minor overlapping theme, each season is influenced by various Coen brothers‘ films with numerous references.

With so many characters and storylines, it’s hard to break down what the show is about but it generally circles around the Coen brothers. It’s a crime drama thriller that is the perfect watch for Fargo fans as well as crime fans.

25. Forensic Files (1996-2011)

Forensic Files is a crime documentary where the show reviews and re-enacts dramatic cases from around the world in which forensic scientists find and examine previously undetectable evidence. What used to be impossible to discover in the past is now possible with new and improved technology.

Throughout their hard work, criminals are brought to justice and the innocent are set free. It originally was known as Medical Detectives and works on solving some of the most brutal and violent cases to get to the bottom of what happened.

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24. Lethal Weapon (2016-2019)

Based on the 1987 film franchise that had four movies, the TV series is an action crime drama that was developed by Matt Miller. It ran for three seasons.

The first two starred Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans as Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, a couple of mismatched detective partners who were also the main characters. It has an older detective paired up with a young, unstable detective and their adventures as they solve crimes and deal with each other’s differing personalities.

23. 24 (2001-2010)

As the title suggests, the action crime drama series has each season covering 24 consecutive hours in Bauer, a US counter-terrorist federal agent, life. The show uses the real time method by creating an intense story as you watch Jack Bauer work to prevent certain crimes.

On the first season, you’ll watch Jack Bauer who is the head of an elite team of CTU agents who uncover an assassination plot targeting Presidential nominee David Palmer. Meanwhile, Jack’s strained marriage with wife, Teri, is pushed to the brink by the sudden disappearance of their troubled teenage daughter.

22. American Crime Story (2016-present)

For history and crime buffs, this is a great option for you. This anthology crime series was developed by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Each season is presented as a self-contained miniseries and is independent of the events in other series and is the second installment in the American Story, following American Horror Story.

The series examines infamous historical American crimes. For instance, the first season follows the OJ Simpson murder trial of 1994-95 while the second season follows the murder of fashion designer Gianna Versace in 1997.

21. The First 48 (2004-present)

This documentary/news magazine television series on A&E films various cities in the United States, offering an insider’s look at the real-life world of homicide investigators. Like the Homicide Hunter, this shows the very real world of this horrible and brutal job.

It focuses on the first 48 hours during an investigation, and often follows the investigation to the end. Each episode picks one or more in different cities, covering each alternately, showing how detectives use forensic evidence, lookouts, witness interviews and other techniques to identify suspects. It’s a very interesting, yet intense way to get an inside look in the world of this career.

20. Justified (2010-2015)

Of course, there’s no point in talking about crime shows without putting down one of my favorites. While most listed previously have been more about documentaries, this show is one of the best, most entertaining shows that I’ve come across when it comes to the crime genre.

Following U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens who comes back to his hometown in Kentucky. Givens can be described as an Old West lawman living in modern times. He’s brought back to take down, and prevent, the recent crime running ragged around his home, with one such criminal being Boyd Crowder. Based off novels by Elmore Leonard, this is a great series to start if you’re looking for another option. A sequel was also made but with such low reviews, you might opt to skip it.

19. Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014) 

The Sons of Anarchy follows a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in California’s Central Valley. The motorcycle club operates illegal and legal businesses in a small town called Charming.

The show has seven seasons, each one being crazier than the last.

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18. Bones (2005-2017) 

Bones is about a forensic anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan, who teams up with a cocky FBI agent, Seely Booth, to build a team to investigate murders. They look at the bones to find out what happened to the victim and to figure out who they are when their body is decomposed to the point of being unrecognizable. 

Bones is a popular show for its witty sense of humor and the drama that is featured in the show between the characters. You will see numerous different crimes in the 12 seasons of the show currently on Hulu.

17. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000- 2015)

If you ever wonder about the crime tech people who go to a scene and gather all the evidence and how they get the results, this is a show for you. CSI is about how crime scene investigators use physical evidence to solve murders in Las Vegas. They can get proof from places you wouldn’t think of because the particles left behind are too small.

There are sixteen seasons where you see crime scene investigators solve crimes with very little evidence or a bunch of evidence that leads nowhere. Stream CSI on Hulu now.

16. Prison Break (2005-2017)

Prison Break is about a man who ends up being framed for a crime he didn’t commit and is sentenced to death row, and his only hope is his brother.

He makes it his mission to get himself set up in the same prison to break them both out from the inside. There are five seasons on Hulu where you will see if they can break out of jail and what will happen after whether they succeed or not.

15. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-Present) 

The Special Victims Unit is a trained squad of detectives in New York City investigating sexually related crimes. There are twenty-three seasons, and twenty-four will be released on September 22nd.

When you think you have seen everything the series has to offer, they surprise you with each episode and season. Each season is available to stream on Peacock.

14. Lie to Me (2009-2011)

Lie to Me is about Cal Lightman, an expert on facial expressions and body language, and uses those things to expose the truth behind the lies.

There are three seasons of Lie to Me on Hulu, where you see different body language and facial expressions that criminals use to tell themselves without saying anything. 

 13. Elementary (2012-2019) 

Elementary is a modern take on the cases of Sherlock Holmes, a recovering drug addict and a former consultant to Scotland Yard, who assists the New York City Police Department in solving crimes.

There are seven seasons of Elementary on Hulu where you will see Holmes go through the ups and downs of all the cases he is assigned.

12. Castle (2009-2016) 

Castle is about a novelist, Richard Castle, in which a serial killer imitates the plots of one of his novels.

He received permission from the Mayor of New York City to tag along with the NYPD homicide investigation team only for research purposes. The show has eight seasons, all are available on Hulu.

11. S.W.A.T. (2017-Present)

S.W.A.T is about a team based in Los Angeles that highly trained men and women to solve crimes. They track down drug smugglers and human trafficking victims.

They enter situations local police can’t, like hostage situations. S.W.A.T. has five seasons released right now, and you can watch seasons one through three on Hulu. 

10.  Burn Notice (2007-2013)

Disowned by the U.S. government, a spy uses his special ops training to help others in trouble. He does impossible jobs for desperate people in Miami, Florida, where his mother lives. 

Burn Notice has seven seasons on Hulu where you will see Michael help others that can’t go to the police and are in desperate need of his help. 

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9. White Collar (2009-2014)

A white-collar criminal agrees to help the FBI find and catch other white-collar criminals with his expertise as an art and security thief, conman, and counterfeiter.

There are six seasons of White Collar on Hulu where you see a bunch of white-collar criminals that get caught by someone who is just like them.

8. Blue Bloods (2010- Present) 

https://youtu.be/eopkj-8Xnrk

Blue Bloods revolves around a family of New York cops. Danny is a detective, Jamie is a police officer, and Frank is the police commissioner trying to balance duties, running the largest police force in the world while also being his kids’ boss.

You can watch seasons one through nine right now on Hulu. 

7. C.S.I Miami (2002- 2012) 

C.S.I Miami follows the Miami-Dade Police Department Crime Scene Investigation unit as they try to follow the suspects’ trail and solve murders.

You can watch seasons one, two, six, seven, and eight on Hulu.

6. Mayans M.C. (2018- Present) 

Mayans M.C. is about EZ Reyes, who gets out of prison and becomes a prospect in the Mayan MC charter.

He vengeance for those who put him in jail and drives him toward a life he never intended for himself. There are fours and you can watch all of them right now on Hulu. 

5. The Rookie (2018 – Present) 

The Rookie is about John Nolan, starting his life over and pursuing his dream as an LAPD. As the oldest rookie, he’s met with doubt from those who see him as just a walking midlife crisis from his choices.

There are five seasons of the show. You can watch all episodes from seasons one through four. Season five episodes are released every Monday on Hulu. 

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4. 9-1-1 (2018-Present) 

https://youtu.be/mMeDyXcBVSc

9-1-1 is a series that follows first responders, police officers, and dispatchers and how they handle weird situations they encounter in Los Angeles, California.

Like Bones, you will see the characters go through many ups and downs in their personal and work lives. 9-1-1 has five seasons right now streaming on Hulu.

3. Only Murders in the Building (2021- Present)

Only Murders in the Building is about a tenant who ends up being murdered in the building he lives in. Three strangers who share an obsession with true crime suddenly find themselves trying to figure out who killed their fellow neighbor and why.

The series just started and only has two seasons, but those two have been a major hit. 

2. Criminal Minds (2005-2020)

Criminal Minds is about the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis, an elite group of profilers who analyze the nation’s most dangerous serial killers and heinous crimes.

They use the murder scenes and people’s behaviors to stop the killers before they move on and strike again. There are fifteen seasons of Criminal Minds, and each season the group of profilers puts their lives and families at risk of getting hurt or, worse, killed.

1. The X-Files (1993-2018)

The X-Files is focused on two FBI agents investigating unsolved cases involving supernatural or paranormal elements. Fox Mulder believes in the supernatural and paranormal, but Dana Cully is skeptical and approaches the cases from a scientific standpoint.

There are eleven seasons of The X-Files on Hulu, where you will see the two agents come across the craziest elements of the supernatural.

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