12 Movies Like Criminal Minds You Need to Watch
Explore 12 tense crime and thriller picks for fans of Criminal Minds, from forensic mysteries to FBI manhunts and dark psychological cases.
If you like tense cases, sharp profiling, and the kind of shows that keep you guessing until the last scene, this roundup is built for you. It pulls together 12 picks that echo the best parts of the BAU-style formula: complex investigations, strong ensembles, and a steady mix of crime, drama, mystery, thriller, and action. You’ll find familiar favorites such as Criminal Minds (2005), The Closer (2005), Bones (2005), and CSI: NY (2004), plus darker, more psychological options like Mindhunter (2017) and The Following (2013). Fans of high-stakes federal work should also check out FBI (2018) and FBI: Most Wanted (2020), both of which deliver fast pacing and recurring danger. Whether you want clever forensics or intense manhunts, these picks make it easy to find your next obsession.
-
01
The Closer
Won 1 Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2010) · 7 nominations
crime · drama · mystery
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson transfers from Atlanta to LA to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Johnson's quirky personality and hard-nosed approach often rubs her colleagues the wrong way, but her reputation as one of the world's best interrogator eventually wins over even her toughest critics.
Directed by Michael M. Robin, Rick Wallace, Arvin Brown, Elodie Keene, Nelson McCormickCast Kyra Sedgwick, J.K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds, Robert Gossett, G.W. BaileyNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
02
Bones
2 Emmy nominations
crime · drama · mystery
Dr. Temperance Brennan and her colleagues at the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal Lab assist Special Agent Seeley Booth with murder investigations when the remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that the standard identification methods are useless.
Directed by Ian Toynton, Dwight H. Little, Jeannot Szwarc, Chad Lowe, David BoreanazCast Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, TJ Thyne, Tamara TaylorAmazon Prime VideoHuluPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
03
Mindhunter
2 Emmy nominations
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An agent in the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit develops profiling techniques as he pursues notorious serial killers and rapists.
Directed by David Fincher, Carl Franklin, Andrew Douglas, Asif Kapadia, Tobias LindholmCast Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, Sonny Valicenti, Stacey RocaNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
04
FBI
2 Emmy nominations
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 PlusMore details on IMDb → -
05
CSI: NY
5 Emmy nominations
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Follow the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers identified as "Crime Scene Investigators".
Directed by Rob Bailey, Alex Zakrzewski, Christine Moore, Oz Scott, Duane ClarkCast Gary Sinise, Carmine Giovinazzo, Hill Harper, Eddie Cahill, Anna BelknapHuluMore details on IMDb → -
06
FBI: Most Wanted
5 Emmy nominations
action · adventure · crime · drama · mystery · romance · thriller
The Fugitive Task Force relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau's Most Wanted list. Seasoned agents oversee the highly skilled team that functions as a mobile undercover unit that is always out in the field, pursuing those who are most desperate to elude justice.
Directed by Ken Girotti, Milena Govich, Jean de Segonzac, Peter Stebbings, Cory BowlesCast Roxy Sternberg, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Dylan McDermott, Edwin Hodge, Alexa DavalosPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
07
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 StroupNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
08
Countdown
crime · drama · thriller
When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.
Directed by Jonathan Brown, Lisa Robinson, Avi Youabian, Chris Grismer, Rashidi Natara HarperCast Jensen Ackles, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, Uli LatukefuAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
09
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Won 6 Emmys 3x Outstanding Drama Series · 39 nominations
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A Las Vegas team of forensic investigators are trained to solve criminal cases by scouring the crime scene, collecting irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that solve the mystery.
Directed by Kenneth Fink, Richard J. Lewis, Alec Smight, Danny Cannon, Brad TanenbaumCast George Eads, Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, Paul Guilfoyle, Jorja FoxHuluParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
10
FBI: International
action · adventure · crime · drama · mystery · romance · thriller
Follows the elite agents of the FBI's International Fly Team headquartered in Budapest as they travel the world with the mission of protecting Americans wherever they may be.
Directed by Michael Katleman, Alex Zakrzewski, Avi Youabian, Jonathan Brown, Attila SzalayCast Carter Redwood, Vinessa Vidotto, Eva-Jane Willis, Luke Kleintank, Heida ReedAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
11
The Breakthrough
crime · drama · mystery
When a shocking double homicide goes unsolved for 16 years, a detective teams up with a genealogist to catch the killer before it becomes a cold case.
Directed by Lisa SiweCast Peter Eggers, Mattias Nordkvist, Jessica Liedberg, Karin de Frumerie, Annika HallinNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
12
Prodigal Son
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
The son of a notorious serial killer becomes an acclaimed criminal psychologist who uses his unique insight into how killers think to help the NYPD.
Directed by Adam Kane, Chris Grismer, Omar Madha, Antonio Negret, Satya BhabhaCast Tom Payne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Halston Sage, Aurora Perrineau, Frank HartsNetflixMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This list brings together the best picks for anyone who wants the same mix of suspense, teamwork, and procedural tension that made the original series so addictive. From forensic puzzles to FBI manhunts and serial-killer cat-and-mouse stories, there’s plenty here to match different moods without losing that gripping edge. Bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you want another smart, suspenseful watch. We update this page regularly, so you’ll always have a fresh place to start when you’re ready for your next binge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Criminal Minds?
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.