12 Movies Like Line of Duty You Need to Watch
Craving tense crime drama and mystery? Explore 12 gripping picks with politics, расследations, and suspense for fans of Line of Duty.
If you want movies like Line of Duty, the best picks usually mix tense investigations, sharp character work, and a constant sense that something bigger is hiding under the surface. This list brings together 12 carefully chosen options, including Line of Duty (2012), Endeavour (2012), Ripper Street (2012), and Falcón (2012), all of which deliver strong crime storytelling with plenty of grit. You’ll also find the moody mystery of Top of the Lake (2013), the political edge of Secret State (2012), and the grounded intensity of End of Watch (2012). For viewers who like darker European drama, Caïn (2012) fits right in with its mix of casework, personality, and suspense.
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01
Endeavour
crime · drama · mystery
The early days of a young Endeavour Morse, whose experiences as a detective constable with the Oxford City Police will ultimately shape his future.
Directed by Shaun Evans, Kate Saxon, Colm McCarthy, Geoffrey Sax, Andy WilsonCast Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, James Bradshaw, Sean Rigby, Anton LesserAmazon Prime Video -
02
Ripper Street
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A drama set in the East End of London in 1889, during the aftermath of the "Ripper" murders. The action centres around the notorious H Division – the police precinct from hell – which is charged with keeping order in the chaotic streets of Whitechapel. Ripper Street explores the lives of characters trying to recover from the Ripper's legacy, from crimes that have not only irretrievably altered their lives, but the very fabric of their city. At the drama's heart our detectives try to bring a little light into the dark world they inhabit.
Directed by Andy Wilson, Anthony Byrne, Tom Shankland, Kieron Hawkes, Luke WatsonCast Matthew Macfadyen, Adam Rothenberg, MyAnna Buring, Jerome Flynn, David WilmotPeacock Premium -
03
Falcón
crime · drama
Falcón is a brilliant detective whose personal and professional life is compromised by dark secrets from the past.
Directed by Gabriel Range, Pete TravisCast Carla Sánchez, Hayley Atwell, Marton Csokas, Emilia Fox, Natalia TenaFreevee -
04
Top of the Lake
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A woman haunted by her past, Detective Robin Griffin, investigates complex and unsettling cases.
Directed by Jane Campion, Garth Davis, Ariel KleimanCast Elisabeth Moss, David Wenham, Peter Mullan, Thomas M. Wright, Skye WanseyHulu -
05
Secret State
drama · mystery · thriller
Secret State explores the relationship between a democratically elected government, big business and the banks.
Directed by Ed FraimanCast Gabriel Byrne, Ralph Ineson, Charles Dance, Jamie Sives, Gina McKeeAmazon Prime Video -
06
End of Watch
action · crime · drama · thriller
Two young officers are marked for death after confiscating a small cache of money and firearms from the members of a notorious cartel during a routine traffic stop.
Directed by David AyerCast Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, David HarbourAMC+ -
07
Caïn
crime · drama · mystery
A cynical experienced homicide detective based in Marseilles, France is crippled in the line of duty and depends on a wheelchair to get around. He is accompanied by a young ,vivacious female detective who's been forced on him to train as a condition of his ability to continue to work as a field detective.
Directed by Bertrand Arthuys, Thierry Petit, Christophe Douchand, Benoît d'Aubert, Bénédicte DelmasCast Smadi Wolfman, Mourad Boudaoud, Julie Delarme, Bruno Debrandt, Frédéric PellegeayAmazon Prime Video -
08
Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Denmark, 2013. Police officers Carl Mørck and Hafez el-Assad, sole members of Department Q, which is focused on closing cold cases, investigate the disappearance of politician Merete Lynggaard, vanished when she and her brother were traveling aboard a ferry five years ago.
Directed by Mikkel NørgaardCast Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Per Scheel Krüger, Troels Lyby, Øyvind B. Fabricius Holm, Søren PilmarkAMC+ -
09
Elementary
crime · drama · mystery
A modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare - a sober companion, Dr. Watson.
Directed by Guy Ferland, Christine Moore, John Polson, Ron Fortunato, Seith MannCast Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Aidan Quinn, Jon Michael Hill, Jordan GelberAmazon Prime VideoHulu -
10
Land of Sin
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An odd investigator and her new colleague are looking into the death of a teenager that leads to uncovering a dark generational family feud in the countryside.
Directed by Peter GrönlundCast Krista Kosonen, Lisa Lindgren, Peter Gantman, Mohammed Nour Oklah, William JannertNetflix -
11
Shades of Blue
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Sexy New York detective and single mother Harlee Santos fell in with a tight-knit group of dirty cops, taking bribes and protection money that she uses to provide the best life for her honest, talented daughter. But when she's trapped by the FBI and forced to inform on her own "brothers," she'll have to walk the fine line between love, loyalty, honor and betrayal, and try to keep it together for her daughter's future.
Directed by David Boyd, Steven DePaul, Dan Lerner, Paul McCrane, Barry LevinsonCast Jennifer Lopez, Ray Liotta, Drea de Matteo, Dayo Okeniyi, Vincent LarescaAmazon Prime Video -
12
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+
Wrapping Up
Whether you’re after a slow-burn mystery, a hard-edged thriller, or a character-driven police drama, this selection gives you plenty of smart places to start. Titles like Endeavour, Ripper Street, Top of the Lake, and End of Watch show how flexible the genre can be when the writing is tight and the stakes feel real. Bookmark this page if you’re building a watchlist, because it’s updated regularly with new recommendations and fresh comparisons. Come back whenever you want another dependable guide to gripping crime stories and tense investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Line of Duty?
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