20 Best Mystery TV Shows on Max 2026
Explore 20 gripping Max picks, from True Detective and The Leftovers to Banshee and Station Eleven, for crime, thriller, and mystery fans.
If you’re hunting for the best mystery TV shows on Max, this list gives you a strong mix of suspense, twists, and slow-burn reveals. You’ll find sharp crime drama in True Detective, eerie emotional mystery in The Leftovers, and tense small-town secrets in Big Little Lies. For a darker, more action-driven edge, Banshee delivers fast pacing and plenty of danger, while The Outsider leans into creepy, atmospheric storytelling. Fans of supernatural intrigue can also dive into The Vampire Diaries, and viewers who like genre-bending survival drama should make time for Station Eleven. With 20 titles on the page, there’s plenty here whether you want a binge-worthy thriller or a story that keeps you guessing.
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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 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 -
04
Cast a Deadly Spell
comedy · fantasy · horror · mystery
In a fantastical 1940s where magic is used by everyone, a hard-boiled detective investigates the theft of a mystical tome.
Directed by Martin CampbellCast Fred Ward, David Warner, Julianne Moore, Clancy Brown, Alexandra PowersMax -
05
The Leftovers
drama · fantasy · mystery · thriller
When 2% of the world's population abruptly disappears without explanation, the world struggles to understand just what they're supposed to do about it. This is the story of the people who didn't make the cut.
Directed by Mimi Leder, Carl Franklin, Keith Gordon, Craig Zobel, Daniel SackheimCast Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Chris Zylka, Carrie CoonMax -
06
The Vampire Diaries
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · romance · thriller
The story of two vampire brothers obsessed with the same girl, who bears a striking resemblance to the beautiful but ruthless vampire they knew and loved in 1864.
Directed by Chris Grismer, Joshua Butler, Michael A. Allowitz, Marcos Siega, Pascal VerschoorisCast Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Kat Graham, Candice King, Zach RoerigPeacock PremiumMax -
07
Station Eleven
adventure · drama · fantasy · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
The survivors of a devastating flu attempt to rebuild and reimagine the world anew – while holding on to the best of what’s been lost.
Directed by Jeremy Podeswa, Helen Shaver, Hiro Murai, Lucy TcherniakCast Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler, David Wilmot, Nabhaan RizwanMax -
08
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 -
09
The Flight Attendant
comedy · drama · mystery · thriller
Flight attendant Cassandra Bowden wakes in her hotel room hungover from the night before in Dubai with a dead body lying next to her. Afraid to call the police, she continues her morning as if nothing happened. In New York, she is met by FBI agents who question her about her recent layover in Bangkok. Still unable to piece the night together, she begins to wonder if she could be the killer.
Directed by Silver Tree, Susanna Fogel, Marcos Siega, Jennifer Phang, Batan SilvaCast Kaley Cuoco, Zosia Mamet, Griffin Matthews, Rosie Perez, Audrey Grace MarshallMax -
10
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 -
11
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 -
12
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 -
13
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 -
14
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 -
15
MythBusters
documentary · mystery · reality-tv
MythBusters is a science entertainment television program created and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The show's hosts, special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, use elements of the scientific method to test the validity of rumors, myths, movie scenes, adages, Internet videos, and news stories.
Directed by Alice Dallow, Lauren Gray Williams, Tabitha Lentle, Steve Christiansen, Peter ReesCast Adam K. Brainich, Jonathan Banks, Leonard Garcia, Dep. Wilson, Daisy BeaumontHuluMax -
16
True Blood
drama · fantasy · mystery · romance · thriller
Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed overnight from legendary monsters to fellow citizens. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures "coming out of the coffin." Religious leaders, government officials, and vampire fundamentalists around the world have chosen their sides. But in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the jury is still out.
Directed by Michael Lehmann, Scott Winant, Daniel Minahan, Howard Deutch, John DahlCast Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Chris BauerHuluMax -
17
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 -
18
Pretty Little Liars
drama · mystery · romance · thriller
Based on the Pretty Little Liars series of young adult novels by Sara Shepard, the series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their queen bee, Alison. One year later, they begin receiving messages from someone using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew.
Directed by Norman Buckley, Ron Lagomarsino, Chad Lowe, Arlene Sanford, Michael GrossmanCast Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Sasha PieterseHuluMax -
19
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
documentary · biography · crime · mystery
Robert Durst, scion of NY's billionaire real-estate family, has been accused of three murders but has evaded justice for over 30 years. Durst speaks in this true crime series, revealing secrets of a case that has baffled authorities.
Directed by Andrew JareckiCast Deirdre Roberts, Paul Blumenthal, Gary Napoli, Brad Blumenthal, Michael Simon HallMax -
20
Big Little Lies
crime · drama · mystery
The tale of three mothers of first graders whose apparently perfect lives unravel to the point of murder.
Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, Andrea ArnoldCast Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Laura DernMax
Wrapping Up
From crime-heavy investigations to supernatural puzzles and character-driven suspense, this roundup gives you plenty of ways to build your next watchlist. Titles like True Detective, The Leftovers, The Outsider, and Big Little Lies show how much range mystery storytelling can have on Max. Bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you need a fresh pick, since it’s updated regularly as the catalog changes. Whether you want something dark, fast-paced, or quietly unsettling, you’ll always have a solid place to start.
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 mystery shows ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the mystery titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026