20 Best Crime TV Shows on Max 2026
Explore 20 gripping crime, mystery, and drama picks on Max, from The Wire to True Detective, plus new favorites worth adding to your watchlist.
If you’re hunting for a sharp, satisfying watch list, this guide rounds up the crime series people keep coming back to on Max. You’ll find heavyweight dramas like The Sopranos and The Wire, tense mystery favorites like True Detective and The Outsider, and darker modern picks such as Big Little Lies, Banshee, and Task. We also spotlight newer conversation starters like Monsters of God while mixing in documentary, action, and suspense-driven titles so the lineup feels broad, not repetitive. With 20 shows in all, this page is built to help you quickly find the next case, conspiracy, or slow-burn investigation worth your time.
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01
Lanterns
action & adventure · crime · drama · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
Two intergalactic cops, new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Directed by James Hawes, Geeta Vasant Patel, Alik Sakharov, Stephen WilliamsCast Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna JagannathanMax -
02
True Detective
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An American anthology police detective series utilizing multiple timelines in which investigations seem to unearth personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within or outside the law.
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, Issa López, Daniel Sackheim, John Crowley, Justin LinCast Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Mahershala Ali, Woody Harrelson, Rachel McAdamsMax -
03
The Sopranos
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.
Directed by Timothy Van Patten, John Patterson, Allen Coulter, Alan Taylor, Henry BronchteinCast James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic ChianeseMax -
04
The Wire
crime · drama · thriller
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.
Directed by Joe Chappelle, Ernest Dickerson, Clark Johnson, Ed Bianchi, Steve ShillCast Dominic West, John Doman, Dede Lovejoy, Wendell Pierce, Lance ReddickMax -
05
Monsters of God
crime · documentary
A gripping documentary explores the shadowy world of exotic reptile smuggling, following two rival kingpins whose lucrative global operation supplied rare species to US zoos until betrayal sparked a devastating vendetta.
Directed by Eric GoodeCast Anna Czerniecki, Riley Wilson, Christopher GulloMax -
06
Task
crime · drama
In the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, an FBI agent heads a task force assembled to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man.
Directed by Jeremiah Zagar, Salli Richardson-WhitfieldCast Mark Ruffalo, Silvia Dionicio, Emilia Jones, Fabien Frankel, Thuso MbeduMax -
07
The Night Of
crime · drama · mystery
After a night of partying with a female stranger, a man wakes up to find her stabbed to death and is charged with her murder.
Directed by Steven Zaillian, James MarshCast John Turturro, Riz Ahmed, Bill Camp, Payman Maadi, Jeannie BerlinMax -
08
There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane
documentary · crime
Filmmaker Liz Garbus investigates the mysterious tragedy of Diane Schuler in an effort to understand what went wrong.
Directed by Liz GarbusCast Peter GrottoMax -
09
The Penguin
crime · drama
With the city in peril following the seawall's collapse, Oswald "Oz" Cobb seeks to fill the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone and finally give his mother Francis the life he's always promised. But first, Oz must confront his enemies and his own demoralizing reputation as "the Penguin."
Directed by Craig Zobel, Kevin Bray, Helen Shaver, Jennifer GetzingerCast Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O'Connell, Carmen EjogoMax -
10
Mare of Easttown
crime · drama · mystery
A detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart.
Directed by Craig ZobelCast Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, John Douglas ThompsonMax -
11
Batman: The Animated Series
animation · action · adventure · crime · family · mystery · sci-fi
Vowing to avenge the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne devotes his life to wiping out crime in Gotham City as the masked vigilante "Batman".
Directed by Kevin Altieri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur, Dan Riba, Dick SebastCast Kevin Conroy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings, Loren Lester, Robert CostanzoAmazon Prime VideoMax -
12
Banshee
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Banshee is an American drama television series set in a small town in Pennsylvania Amish country and features an enigmatic ex-con posing as a murdered sheriff who imposes his own brand of justice while also cooking up plans that serve his own interests.
Directed by Ole Christian Madsen, Greg Yaitanes, Loni Peristere, S.J. Clarkson, Miguel SapochnikCast Antony Starr, Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Matt ServittoMax -
13
Landscapers
comedy · crime · drama · thriller
A seemingly ordinary British couple become the focus of an extraordinary investigation when two dead bodies are discovered in the back garden of a house in Nottingham.
Directed by Will SharpeCast Olivia Colman, David Thewlis, Kate O'Flynn, Dipo Ola, Daniel RigbyMax -
14
C.B. Strike
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A war veteran turned private detective operates out of a tiny office in London’s Denmark Street. Although wounded both physically and psychologically, his unique insight and background as a military police investigator prove crucial in solving complex crimes that have baffled the police. Based on the bestselling novels written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
Directed by Susan Tully, Michael Keillor, Kieron Hawkes, Charles SturridgeCast Tom Burke, Holliday Grainger, Kerr Logan, Jack Greenlees, Ruth SheenMax -
15
Peacemaker
action · adventure · comedy · crime · drama · fantasy · sci-fi
The continuing story of Peacemaker, a vainglorious superhero/supervillain who believes in peace at any cost — no matter how many people he has to kill. After a miraculous recovery from his duel with Bloodsport, Peacemaker soon discovers that his freedom comes at a price.
Directed by James Gunn, Alethea Jones, Greg Mottola, Brad Anderson, Jody HillCast John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve AgeeMax -
16
The Outsider
crime · drama · horror · mystery · thriller
When an insidious supernatural force edges its way into a seemingly straightforward investigation into the gruesome murder of a young boy, it leads a seasoned cop and an unorthodox investigator to question everything they believe in.
Directed by Andrew Bernstein, Jason Bateman, Charlotte Brändström, J.D. Dillard, Karyn KusamaCast Ben Mendelsohn, Bill Camp, Jeremy Bobb, Mare Winningham, Paddy ConsidineMax -
17
Sharp Objects
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Reporter Camille Preaker confronts the psychological demons from her past when she returns to her hometown to investigate the murders of two young girls.
Directed by Jean-Marc ValléeCast Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Eliza Scanlen, Matt CravenMax -
18
The Cleaning Lady
crime · drama · thriller
A whip-smart doctor comes to the U.S. for a medical treatment to save her ailing son. But when the system fails and pushes her into hiding, she refuses to be beaten down and marginalized. Instead, she becomes a cleaning lady for the mob and starts playing the game by her own rules.
Directed by Timothy Busfield, Milan Cheylov, Tawnia McKiernan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Marisol AdlerCast Elodie Yung, Martha Millan, Sean Lew, Faith Bryant, Sébastien LaSalleHuluMax -
19
Barry
action · comedy · crime · drama
A listless hitman is enthralled by theatre acting and becomes eager to leave his old life behind in pursuit of a new career.
Directed by Bill Hader, Alec Berg, Hiro Murai, Maggie Carey, Liza JohnsonCast Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, Henry WinklerMax -
20
The Undoing
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Grace and Jonathan Fraser are living the only lives they ever wanted. Overnight a chasm opens in their lives: a violent death and a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child and her family.
Directed by Susanne BierCast Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Edgar Ramírez, Noah Jupe, Lily RabeMax
Wrapping Up
Whether you want mob drama, small-town secrets, or a case that keeps twisting long after the credits roll, this lineup gives you plenty to choose from. The mix of classics, newer releases, and genre crossovers makes it easy to match your mood without scrolling forever. Bookmark this page and check back when you need a fresh pick or want to revisit an old favorite. We update it regularly, so the recommendations stay current as Max’s library changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Max subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Max. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these crime shows ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the crime titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026