12 Movies Like The Mentalist You Need to Watch
Craving smart crime drama and eerie mystery? Explore 12 picks, from Luther to Leverage, with twists, clues, and suspense for your next watch.
If you liked the sharp deductions, case-by-case suspense, and cool-headed detective work of The Mentalist, this list is built for your next binge. We’ve gathered 12 crime, drama, mystery, thriller, and horror picks that lean into smart investigations, uneasy secrets, and characters who read people as well as clues. Start with Luther for a darker, more intense take on the genre, then try Leverage for a clever team-up with a playful edge. Son: The Guest and Surveillance bring a more unsettling, eerie mood, while Mad Detective and In Plain Sight keep the focus on observation, hidden motives, and tense reveals. You’ll also find Sensing Murder and The Mentalist itself in the mix for viewers who want psychic-style intrigue, procedural rhythm, and plenty of twists.
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01
Son: The Guest
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
The story of a psychic, a priest, and a detective who fight unusual crimes committed by strange powers.
Directed by Kim Hong-sunCast Kim Dong-wook, Kim Jae-Wook, Jung Eun-chae, Park Ho-san, Lee Won-jongAmazon Prime Video -
02
Mad Detective
crime · mystery · thriller
Bun, a schizophrenic, former police inspector comes out of retirement to help a rookie detective solve a complex murder case involving a missing colleague and a suspected policeman suffering from a multiple personality disorder.
Directed by Johnnie To, Ka-Fai WaiCast Ching-Wan Lau, Andy On, Ka-Tung Lam, Kelly Lin, Kwok-Lun LeeAMC+ -
03
Surveillance
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An FBI agent tracks a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims - all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.
Directed by Jennifer LynchCast Caroline Aaron, Hugh Dillon, David Gane, Gill Gayle, Kent HarperAmazon Prime Video -
04
Leverage
crime · mystery · thriller
A five-person team comprised of a thief, a grifter, a hacker, and a retrieval specialist, led by former insurance investigator Nathan Ford, use their skills to fight corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens.
Directed by Marc Roskin, Dean Devlin, Jonathan Frakes, John Harrison, Arvin BrownCast Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf, Aldis HodgeAmazon Prime Video -
05
Sensing Murder
crime · reality-tv
Sensing Murder is a television series from New Zealand and Australia, in which psychics are asked to act as psychic detectives to help provide evidence that might be useful in solving famous unsolved murder cases in each country by communicating with the deceased victims.
Directed by Paul Murphy, Drew Heriot, Joseph McMahon, Mike Bennett, Geoff HussonCast Rebecca Gibney, Jackson Robinson-Taylor, Taylor Bates, Deb Webber, Kelsey O'BrienAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
06
Luther
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A dark psychological crime drama starring Idris Elba as Luther, a man struggling with his own terrible demons, who might be as dangerous as the depraved murderers he hunts.
Directed by Sam Miller, Jamie Payne, Brian Kirk, Stefan Schwartz, Farren BlackburnCast Idris Elba, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley, Warren Brown, Ruth WilsonHuluAMC+ -
07
In Plain Sight
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon must hunt down witnesses for federal cases in the witness protection program while also managing a rather dysfunctional family and her own personal life.
Directed by Dan Lerner, Michael W. Watkins, Bryan Spicer, Bethany Rooney, Sam WeismanCast Mary McCormack, Frederick Weller, Paul Ben-Victor, Nichole Hiltz, Lesley Ann WarrenAmazon Prime Video -
08
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 -
09
Castle
comedy · crime · drama · mystery · romance
After a serial killer imitates the plots of his novels, successful mystery novelist Richard "Rick" Castle receives permission from the Mayor of New York City to tag along with an NYPD homicide investigation team for research purposes.
Directed by Rob Bowman, John Terlesky, Bill Roe, Bryan Spicer, Paul HolahanCast Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Molly C. QuinnAmazon Prime VideoHulu -
10
Criminal Minds
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.
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 Plus -
11
Fringe
drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham, brilliant but formerly institutionalized scientist Walter Bishop and his scheming, reluctant son Peter uncover a deadly mystery involving a series of unbelievable events and realize they may be a part of a larger, more disturbing pattern that blurs the line between science fiction and technology.
Directed by Joe Chappelle, Brad Anderson, Frederick E.O. Toye, Jeannot Szwarc, Charles BeesonCast Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Jasika Nicole, John Noble, Lance ReddickHulu -
12
Medium
crime · drama · fantasy · mystery · thriller
Allison Dubois works in the District Attorney’s office using her natural intuition about people and her ability to communicate with the dead to help to solve crimes. Her dreams often give her clues to the whereabouts of missing people.
Directed by Aaron Lipstadt, Peter Werner, Vincent Misiano, Arlene Sanford, Larry TengCast Patricia Arquette, Miguel Sandoval, Sofia Vassilieva, Jake Weber, Feodor LarkParamount Plus
Wrapping Up
Whether you want polished procedural tension, gritty crime drama, or a slower mystery that keeps you guessing, these picks give you plenty to explore after finishing The Mentalist. From the eerie unease of Son: The Guest to the strategic cons of Leverage and the brooding edge of Luther, there’s a strong mix of tone and style here. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want another smart, suspenseful watchlist. We update it regularly as new titles fit the mood, so it’s worth checking again when you’re ready for your next case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The Mentalist?
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