12 Movies Like Law & Order You Need to Watch
Find crime, drama, and mystery picks for fans of Law & Order, from SVU and Criminal Intent to Cagney & Lacey, Rizzoli & Isles, and more.
If you like sharp investigations, tense interrogations, and characters who can carry a case from start to finish, this roundup of movies like Law & Order is built for you. The list brings together long-running crime favorites and newer picks, including Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001), plus character-driven series such as Cagney & Lacey (1981) and Rizzoli & Isles (2010). You’ll also find variations on the formula with Law & Order: UK (2009), McMillan & Wife (1971), and the upcoming His & Hers (2026). Across crime, drama, mystery, thriller, and action, these titles deliver the same smart pacing and case-by-case tension fans keep coming back for.
-
01
Cagney & Lacey
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Mary Beth Lacey and Chris Cagney are teamed up as NYPD police detectives. Their opposing personalities (one is tough and the other sensitive) mesh to make this one of the great crime-fighting duos of all time.
Directed by Alexander Singer, James Frawley, Reza Badiyi, Ray Danton, Sharron MillerCast Tyne Daly, Al Waxman, Martin Kove, John Karlen, Sidney CluteAmazon Prime Video -
02
Rizzoli & Isles
crime · drama · mystery
Perhaps their strikingly different personalities make the relationship between detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles so effective. Jane, the only female cop in Boston's homicide division, is tough, relentless and rarely lets her guard down, while the impeccably dressed Maura displays a sometimes icy temperament — she is, after all, more comfortable among the dead than the living. Together, the best friends have forged a quirky and supportive relationship; they drop the protective shield in each other's company, and combine their expertise to solve Boston's most complex cases.
Directed by Mark Haber, Steve Robin, Michael Katleman, Norman Buckley, Gregory PrangeCast Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Jordan Bridges, Bruce McGill, Lorraine BraccoNetflixPeacock Premium -
03
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.
Directed by Jean de Segonzac, David Platt, Peter Leto, Juan José Campanella, Norberto BarbaCast Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Kelli GiddishHuluPeacock Premium -
04
Law & Order: UK
action · adventure · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Adapted from the hit US series, Law & Order: UK follows a team of police detectives and prosecutors representing the public interest in the criminal justice system.
Directed by Andy Goddard, Mat King, Mark Everest, Julian Holmes, Joss AgnewCast Bradley Walsh, Robert Glenister, Harriet Walter, Freema Agyeman, Jamie BamberAMC+ -
05
McMillan & Wife
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
McMillan & Wife is a lighthearted American police procedural that aired on NBC from September 17, 1971 to April 24, 1977. Starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in the title roles, the series premiered in 90-minute episodes as part of the wheel series NBC Mystery Movie, in rotation with Columbo and McCloud. Initially airing on Wednesday night, the original line-up was shifted to Sundays in the second season, where it aired for the rest of its run. This was the first element to be created specially for the Mystery Movie strand.
Directed by Robert Michael Lewis, Lou Antonio, James Sheldon, Harry Falk, Bob FinkelCast Rock Hudson, John Schuck, Susan Saint James, Nancy Walker, Rose MichtomAmazon Prime Video -
06
His & Hers
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Anna is a reclusive former news anchor who becomes obsessed with a murder case in her hometown. Detective Jack Harper, suspicious of Anna's involvement, puts her in the crosshairs of his investigation.
Directed by Anja Marquardt, William OldroydCast Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Marin Ireland, Sunita ManiNetflix -
07
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
The third installment of the “Law & Order” franchise takes viewers deep into the minds of its criminals while following the intense psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve its crimes.
Directed by Frank Prinzi, Jean de Segonzac, Steve Shill, Darnell Martin, Norberto BarbaCast Kathryn Erbe, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jamey Sheridan, Courtney B. Vance, Leslie HendrixPeacock Premium -
08
Turner & Hooch
comedy · crime · drama · thriller
Detective Scott Turner has three days left in the local police department before he moves to a bigger city to get some 'real' cases—not just misdemeanors. When Amos Reed is murdered, Scott sets himself on the case, but the closest thing to a witness to the murder is Reed's dog, Hooch, which Scott has to take care of—to avoid Hooch being 'put to sleep'.
Directed by Roger SpottiswoodeCast Tom Hanks, Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson, Reginald VelJohnson, Scott PaulinDisney Plus -
09
Secrets & Lies
drama · mystery · thriller
A man who finds the body of a young boy quickly becomes the prime murder suspect, putting his life and his family at risk.
Directed by Kate Dennis, Peter SalmonCast Martin Henderson, Anthony Hayes, Diana Glenn, Adrienne Pickering, Philippa CoulthardAmazon Prime Video -
10
Silk Stalkings
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Silk Stalkings is a crime drama television series. The series portrays the daily lives of two detectives who solve sexually-based crimes of passion among the ultra-rich of Palm Beach, Florida.
Directed by John Paragon, Ralph Hemecker, Corey Michael Eubanks, Terrence O'Hara, Carl WeathersCast Charlie Brill, Mitzi Kapture, Rob Estes, Janet Gunn, Chris PotterPeacock Premium -
11
Nash Bridges
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Fun-loving San Francisco Police Department investigator Nash Bridges is part of the elite Special Investigations Unit. He tackles crime using his keen sense of humor and charm. Joe Dominguez comes out of retirement to become Bridges' wisecracking yet more rule-abiding partner.
Directed by Jim Charleston, Greg Beeman, Scott Brazil, Julian Chojnacki, Robert MandelCast Don Johnson, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Jeff Perry, Peggy Sandow, Cheech MarinAmazon Prime Video -
12
L.A. Heat
action · comedy · crime · drama · thriller
Meet Chase McDonald and August Brooks. Two guys who will do anything to keep L.A. safe . . . even if it means blowing half of it up. An explosive crime drama that follows the action-packed cases of robbery/homicide detectives McDonald and Brooks, who are as different as night and day. L.A. Heat is an American action series starring Wolf Larson and Steven Williams as Los Angeles police detectives, in the tradition of films like Lethal Weapon. The series aired on TNT from March 15, 1999.
Directed by Richard Pepin, Cole S. McKay, Paul G. Volk, Jerry P. Jacobs, Bill TunnicliffeCast Wolf Larson, Steven Williams, Renee Tenison, Kenneth Tigar, Dawn EasonAmazon Prime VideoFreevee
Wrapping Up
Whether you want courtroom grit, detective teamwork, or a mystery that keeps tightening until the final scene, these titles offer plenty to explore. The mix here shows how flexible the franchise-style crime drama can be, from classic television to modern updates and international takes. Bookmark this page and come back when you want another crime-series recommendation, because the list is updated regularly as new titles arrive and old favorites stay relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Law & Order?
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.
Related Guides
Last updated: September 10, 2026