12 Movies Like Banshee You Need to Watch
Find gripping picks with crime, thriller, and drama energy, from Banshee and The Bridge to Longmire, Riverdale, and more on this updated list.
If you’re hunting for movies like Banshee, you probably want that same mix of hard-edged crime, tense mystery, and characters who can turn dangerous fast. This list pulls together 12 titles that lean into action, drama, thriller energy, and small-town secrets, with Banshee (2013) as the obvious touchstone. You’ll find dark, addictive picks such as The Bridge (2013), Mayday (2013), and Low Winter Sun (2013), plus serial-chase suspense in The Following (2013). For a different flavor of grit, Longmire (2012) and The Glades (2010) bring law-and-order pressure, while Riverdale (2017) adds a more stylized, twisty edge. If you liked the tension, violence, and moral gray areas, this page gives you plenty to queue up next.
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01
The Bridge
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A murdered body on a bridge between El Paso and Juarez bring together El Paso detective Sonya Cross and Chihuahua State Police detective Marco Ruiz.
Directed by John Dahl, Alex Zakrzewski, Keith Gordon, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Colin BuckseyCast Diane Kruger, Demián Bichir, Thomas M. Wright, Ted Levine, Matthew LillardAmazon Prime VideoAMC+Freevee -
02
Mayday
drama · fantasy · mystery · thriller
It's Mayday in a small town steeped in pagan traditions where the crowning of the May Queen is the highlight of the day until suddenly she goes missing.
Directed by Brian WelshCast Lesley Manville, Aidan Gillen, Sophie Okonedo, Sam Spruell, Peter McDonaldFreevee -
03
Low Winter Sun
crime · drama
Seemingly the perfect crime, the murder of a cop by a fellow Detroit detective activates forces that will forever alter the detective's life, and pull him into the heart of the Detroit underworld.
Directed by Ernest Dickerson, Sam Miller, Andrew Bernstein, Adam Davidson, Catherine HardwickeCast Mark Strong, Lennie James, James Ransone, Sprague Grayden, Athena KarkanisAMC+ -
04
The Following
crime · drama · horror · mystery · thriller
A brilliant, charismatic, and psychotic serial killer communicates with other active serial killers and activates a cult of believers who follow his every command.
Directed by Marcos Siega, Nicole Kassell, Joshua Butler, Liz Friedlander, Rob SeidenglanzCast Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore, James Purefoy, Sam Underwood, Jessica StroupNetflix -
05
Longmire
action · crime · drama · western
A Wyoming sheriff rebuilds his life and career following the death of his wife. Based on the “Walt Longmire” series of mystery novels written by best-selling author Craig Johnson.
Directed by J. Michael Muro, Christopher Chulack, Michael Offer, T.J. Scott, Peter WellerCast Robert Taylor, Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Cassidy Freeman, Adam BartleyParamount Plus -
06
Riverdale
crime · drama · mystery · romance
Set in the present, the series offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends, exploring the surreality of small-town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade.
Directed by Gabriel Correa, Rob Seidenglanz, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Ronald Paul Richard, Steven A. AdelsonCast Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, KJ Apa, Madelaine PetschNetflix -
07
The Glades
action · crime · drama · mystery
This crime series follows Jim, a Chicago cop who gets kicked off the force after being shot and wrongfully accused by his ex-captain of having an affair with his wife. After receiving his payout, Jim decides to moves to a small Florida town to join the state police.
Directed by Gary A. Randall, Eric Laneuville, Kelly Makin, Jonathan Frakes, Randy ZiskCast Matt Passmore, Kiele Sanchez, Carlos Gómez, Jordan Wall, Michelle HurdHulu -
08
The Killing
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
The Killing is an American crime drama television series based upon the Danish television series Forbrydelsen. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series follows the various murder investigations by homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder.
Directed by Ed Bianchi, Nicole Kassell, Phil Abraham, Daniel Attias, Keith GordonCast Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Billy Campbell, Liam James, Michelle ForbesHuluAMC+ -
09
FBI
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
The New York office of the FBI brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep their city and the country safe.
Directed by Alex Chapple, Jean de Segonzac, Carlos Bernard, Milena Govich, Jon CassarCast Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Jeremy Sisto, Alana De La Garza, John BoydParamount Plus -
10
Dexter: New Blood
crime · drama · mystery
10 years after Dexter went missing in the eye of Hurricane Laura, we find him living under an assumed name in the small town of Iron Lake, New York. Dexter may be embracing his new life, but in the wake of unexpected events in this close-knit community, his Dark Passenger beckons.
Directed by Marcos Siega, Sanford BookstaverCast Michael C. Hall, Jack Alcott, Julia Jones, Johnny Sequoyah, Alano MillerAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
11
Ray Donovan
crime · drama
Set in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous, Ray Donovan does the dirty work for LA's top power players, and makes their problems disappear. His father's unexpected release from prison sets off a chain of events that shakes the Donovan family to its core.
Directed by John Dahl, Tucker Gates, Michael Uppendahl, David Hollander, Allen CoulterCast Liev Schreiber, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok, Pooch Hall, Kerris DorseyAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
12
Bosch
crime · drama
Harry Bosch, an LAPD homicide detective, stands trial for the fatal shooting of a serial murder suspect. A cold case involving the remains of a missing boy forces Bosch to confront his past. As daring recruit Julia Brasher catches his eye and departmental politics heat up, Bosch will pursue justice at all costs.
Directed by Alex Zakrzewski, Ernest Dickerson, Patrick Cady, Aaron Lipstadt, Kevin DowlingCast Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Madison LintzAmazon Prime VideoFreevee
Wrapping Up
The best part of this lineup is how it covers the full range of what makes Banshee so watchable: crime plots, uneasy alliances, mystery, and plenty of tension. Whether you want something closer to the original’s roughneck intensity or a show with a more polished thriller feel, these picks give you solid options. Bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you need a fresh recommendation, and check in again soon because it’s updated regularly. If your next watch needs grit, suspense, and memorable characters, this list is built for that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Banshee?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026