12 Best Shows Like The Blacklist to Watch Next (2026)
Looking for crime-heavy TV with profiling, fugitives, and sharp mysteries? Explore 12 series picks that capture the tension and style of The Blacklist.
If you’re searching for shows like The Blacklist, the best place to start is with series that mix criminal cases, hidden motives, and a steady sense of danger. Titles such as Criminal Minds, FBI, and FBI: Most Wanted lean into fast-moving investigations, while The Following and Banshee bring a darker edge to the mix. For something more grounded but still tense, Hinterland, Prey, and The Truth Will Out all center on troubled investigators and difficult cases. This list also includes Graceland and Serangoon Road for viewers who want crime drama with a broader undercover or historical angle.
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01
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.
Why watch: If you like a darker, more psychological crime story, The Following is a strong fit. Its horror and thriller elements make it a good pick for viewers who want their investigations with a more disturbing edge.
Directed by Marcos Siega, Nicole Kassell, Joshua Butler, Liz Friedlander, Rob SeidenglanzCast Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore, James Purefoy, Sam Underwood, Jessica StroupNetflixTubiMore details on IMDb → -
02
Criminal Minds
3 Emmy nominations
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An elite team of FBI profilers analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. The Behavioral Analysis Unit's most experienced agent is David Rossi, a founding member of the BAU who returns to help the team solve new cases.
Why watch: If the profiling and case-solving side of The Blacklist appeals to you, Criminal Minds is an easy next step. It focuses on an elite FBI team analyzing criminal behavior, which should suit anyone who enjoys methodical, suspenseful investigations.
Directed by Glenn Kershaw, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Rob Bailey, Edward Allen Bernero, Matthew Gray GublerCast Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, Thomas GibsonAmazon Prime VideoHuluParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
03
Graceland
action · crime · drama
In Southern California, a beachfront property was seized and turned into a residence for undercover cops. They are all top agents of the DEA, FBI, and Customs and they are living in this house unofficially known as "Graceland". Coming of a new graduating at the top of his class, FBI rookie, Mike Warren, could make the life of a legendary FBI agent Paul Briggs and the others, more complicated or it could reveal the truth. It is based upon actual events.
Why watch: If you want undercover tension mixed with crime drama, Graceland is worth a look. Its setup around federal agents sharing a house creates a built-in sense of pressure and secrecy.
Directed by Russell Lee Fine, Larry Teng, Sanford Bookstaver, Renny Harlin, Duane ClarkCast Daniel Sunjata, Aaron Tveit, Vanessa Ferlito, Manny Montana, Serinda SwanHuluMore 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.
Why watch: If you enjoy stories about federal agents tackling major cases, FBI fits naturally. It keeps the focus on the New York office using skill and teamwork to protect the city and country.
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
Hinterland
crime · drama · mystery & thriller
Tom Mathias comes to Aberystwyth having abandoned his life in London. He's a brilliant but troubled man. Despite his faults he is an excellent detective, who knows that the key to solving the crime lies not in where you look for truth, but how you look.
Why watch: If you prefer a moodier detective story, Hinterland may be the right choice. Its mystery and thriller elements, plus a brilliant but troubled lead, make it appealing for viewers who like character-driven crime drama.
Directed by Ed Thomas, Gareth Bryn, Marc Evans, Rhys Powys, Julian JonesCast Richard Harrington, Mali Harries, Alex Harries, Hannah Daniel, Aneirin HughesTubiMore details on IMDb → -
06
Banshee
Won 1 Emmy
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.
Why watch: If you like crime dramas with an outsider at the center, Banshee offers a tougher, more action-driven take. The premise of an ex-con posing as a sheriff should appeal to viewers who want deception and personal stakes.
Directed by Ole Christian Madsen, Greg Yaitanes, Loni Peristere, S.J. Clarkson, Miguel SapochnikCast Antony Starr, Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Matt ServittoMaxMore details on IMDb → -
07
The Truth Will Out
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Could Sweden’s most notorious killer be innocent? Detective Peter Wendel struggles to hold together his fractured psyche – and mismatched cold case team – while uncovering the truth of a cryptic message.
Why watch: If cold cases and unsettling mysteries draw you in, The Truth Will Out is a good match. It pairs a detective-led investigation with a fractured psyche, which gives it a more psychological feel.
Directed by Kjell-Åke Andersson, Lisa Farzaneh, Kristian Petri, Camilla Strøm HenriksenCast Robert Gustafsson, Louise Peterhoff, Ia Langhammer, Christopher Wagelin, Ingela OlssonAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
08
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.
Why watch: If you enjoy teams chasing fugitives, FBI: Most Wanted lines up well with that interest. The mobile task force setup makes it a fit for viewers who like pursuit-driven crime drama.
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 → -
09
Prey
1 BAFTA TV Award nomination
crime · drama · thriller
Three-part crime thriller. When detective Marcus Farrow looks into a seemingly forgotten case, he has no idea of the chaos and heartache that will soon follow. He is found at the scene of a murder, and with all the evidence pointing towards him, he is arrested and charged.
Why watch: If you like tense stories where suspicion falls on the investigator, Prey is a compelling option. Its crime thriller setup should work for anyone who enjoys a case that turns personal fast.
Directed by Nick Murphy, Lewis ArnoldCast Rosie Cavaliero, Daniel Jillings, John Simm, Adrian Edmondson, Benedict WongAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
10
Serangoon Road
crime · drama · mystery
1964-65. Singapore is a city at a crossroads. Political and racial tensions are at fever pitch as the British pull out, and a new nation is about to be born. The lights of Bugis Street have never burned so bright: bootleg copies of Motown songs boom out from street stalls; the Rolling Stones are in town along with tourists and American sailors fresh from Vietnam. They join British and Australian soldiers checking out the prostitutes and gambling dens, en route to their own war in Borneo.
This is the city of Sam Callaghan, Patricia Cheng, the CIA’s Conrad Harrison and the clients of the Cheng Detective Agency. The agency’s cases range from the usual (straying spouses and petty fraudsters) to events with international implications and complications. Sam’s contacts from his military days are useful - but they start to drag him back into a dark world that he would prefer to leave behind.
Why watch: If you want crime drama with a historical setting, Serangoon Road stands out. Its mix of mystery and period detail may appeal to viewers looking for something different from a modern procedural.
Directed by Peter Andrikidis, Tony TilseCast Don Hany, Joan Chen, Maeve Dermody, Alaric, Michael DormanFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
11
Taken
action · drama · thriller
The origin story of younger, hungrier, former Green Beret Bryan Mills as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world. As he fights to overcome the incident and exact revenge, Mills is pulled into a career as a deadly CIA operative, a job that awakens his very particular, and very dangerous, set of skills.
Why watch: If you prefer action to be part of the story, Taken may suit you. It blends drama and thriller elements around a man pushed into a dangerous new path.
Directed by Romeo Tirone, Bill Johnson, Elodie Keene, Lexi Alexander, Holly DaleCast Clive Standen, Jennifer Beals, Adam Goldberg, Jessica Camacho, Gaius CharlesAmazon Prime VideoTubiPeacock PremiumFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
12
The Hunting Party
action · crime · drama · thriller
A small team of investigators are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that's not supposed to exist.
Why watch: If you like the idea of tracking down dangerous criminals as a team, The Hunting Party is an easy fit. The premise and thriller-heavy genre mix should appeal to fans of manhunt stories.
Directed by Thor Freudenthal, Marcus Stokes, Shana Stein, Glen Winter, James BamfordCast Melissa Roxburgh, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie, Sara Garcia, Kari MatchettNetflixPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This lineup gives you plenty of ways to keep the tension going, whether you want FBI-led investigations, psychological cat-and-mouse stories, or crime dramas with a rougher edge. Start with the title that best matches your mood, then branch out to the ones that lean more mystery, action, or thriller. Bookmark this page and come back when you want another crime series to queue up, since it is updated regularly with new picks and fresh comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these shows similar to The Blacklist?
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.