Prime Video has a variety of phenomenal streaming options available for its subscribers. Whether you’re in the mood to watch one of their many award-winning originals that cover a wide variety of genres, or a familiar long-running series that found a brand-new home on their platform, their library is chock-full of incredible options right at your fingertips.
Some of the most popular watches amongst viewers are crime shows. These kinds of shows have gained monumental popularity on a number of streamers that range from the usual thrilling detective mystery to a mixed-up cocktail of intriguing whodunits with bits of fantasy and sci-fi. Thankfully, there’s no need to pull out those detective caps this time around, Prime Video subscribers. We’ve got you covered with a list of some of the best crime shows on Prime Video right now that are ready for you to start binging.
Don’t have time to binge-watch? Check out our list of the best thriller or sci-fi movies on the platform instead!
Editor’s note: This article was updated June 2022 to include Reacher, Suits, and Fringe.
Outer Range (2022-present)
Creator: Brian Watkins
Cast: Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Lili Taylor
One of the platform’s newest series that is also one of its very best, Outer Range is a science fiction story crossed with a classic western about the cosmic chaos that befalls a Wyoming family. At the center of this is Josh Brolin’s Royal Abbott, a flawed patriarch who must cover up a violent act committed by one of his sons. Royal also has secrets of his own, namely a giant hole out on his land that is beginning to alter the fabric of time and space around him. The show’s first season is a strange experience though in the best way possible, making use of solid direction and acting to draw you into the mesmerizing world it is building. It is mysterious in how it often withholds information, though this only makes it all the more impactful when all the various pieces come together. It all creates a stunning first season that is out of this world in its cinematic potential while also being profoundly close to home in its sense of emotion. – Chase Hutchinson
Reacher (2022-present)
Created by: Nick SantoraCast: Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, Hugh Thompson, Chris Webster, Bruce McGill, Maxwell Jenkins, Gavin White, Kristen Kreuk, Harvey Guillén
Created by: Based on the books by Lee Child, Reacher follows retired military police officer Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson). Reacher is living on the road, going from town to town, and enjoying his solitude, when suddenly, in the town of Margrave, Georgia, he is arrested for a brutal murder he didn’t commit. After he is freed, Reacher works to clear his name, gains the trust of Detective Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) and Officer Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald), and uncovers a criminal conspiracy involving Margrave’s wealthy benefactor, the mayor, and corrupt cops. Reacher is a great watch for action, mystery, and even romance fans alike – the tension between Conklin and Reacher is honestly just as intense as the mystery at the center of Season 1. – Brynna Arens
Dexter (2006-2013)
Creator: James Manos Jr.
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas
One of the most intriguing crime shows of its time that was elevated by a creepy yet enigmatic performance by Michael C. Hall, Dexter has much to offer even as the latter seasons mark a steep decline in quality. Hall is the titular man himself, a serial killer in disguise as a blood-splatter analyst in Miami who uses his job as a cover to commit a whole host of murders. Operating on a code where he only kills people that he determines are bad, Dexter still gets caught up in a whole host of chaotic and messy crimes that will make you question: is this smiling serial killer really in control of himself? It is a show that is pulpy and gory, following a reliable ritual until things go completely off the rails while still being oddly compelling (often in spite of itself). It is one of a kind and owns it, making for one of television’s most enduring events to this day. — Chase Hutchinson
Suits (2011-2019)
Created by: Aaron Korsh
Cast: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, Amanda Schull, Dulé Hill, Katherine Heigl
Suits follows Mike Ross – a man with a photographic memory who charms his way into working for a New York law firm despite being a college dropout. Throughout the show, Mike must work on winning lawsuits and closing cases while also keeping his lack of formal education a secret. The show effortlessly combines smart legal drama with steamy romance and sharp comedy, making it one of the tonally lighter shows on the list while being just as compelling. – Taylor Gates
Fringe (2008-2013)
Created by: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Cast: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Jasika Nicole, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Kirk Acevedo, Seth Gabel, Mark Valley
If you like a side of sci-fi with your crime drama, you’re sure to love Fringe. Following in the tradition of shows like The X-Files, most episodes contain both a standalone case as well as information that contributes to the larger, overarching series-long plot. The show follows a group of FBI agents tasked with investigating unexplained occurrences related to a parallel universe. Fringe has amassed something of a cult following in the decade since it ended – and for good reason. It’s an engaging, unique show chock-full of mystery. – Taylor Gates
The Night Manager (2016)
Created by: David Farr
Cast: Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Debicki, Olivia Colman, David Harewood, Tom Hollander
Tom Hiddleston leads this British series that is based on the 1993 novel of the same name by John le Carré. The Night Manager is a six-part series that was first broadcast on BBC One in 2016 and found a home not long after in the United States on AMC. It tells the story of a hotel night manager and former British soldier named Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), who is recruited by an intelligence operative named Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) to spy on an arms dealer by the name of Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). The series won 11 awards, including two Emmys and three Golden Globes.
The Fall (2013-2016)
Created by: Allan Cubitt
Cast: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, John Lynch, Aisling Franciosi, and Archie Panjabi
In The Fall, a seemingly cold but very passionate policewoman (Anderson) goes head-to-head with a seemingly passionate father (Dornan) who is, in fact, a cold serial killer in this procedural out of Belfast. A psychological thriller that has your heart racing from start to finish, the first season is a tour de force from a writing perspective, and the two leads, Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson, are riveting. Keeping you on your toes from start to finish, this cat and mouse game between the two characters is filled with tension and never lets you breathe, even after the screen goes dark. – Arianne Binette
Animal Kingdom (2016-2022)
Creator: Jonathan Lisco
Cast: Ellen Barkin, Scott Speedman, Shawn Hatosy, Finn Cole, Daniella Alonso
Based on the 2010 film of the same name, Animal Kingdom series follows the Cody family and their crime empire out of southern California. After his mother’s death, a teenager (Finn Cole) moves in with his estranged grandmother (Ellen Barkin), who runs their crime enterprise with an iron fist; he joins the family business and helps keep the Cody family in power. As they evade law enforcement and maintain their affluent lifestyle, the power dynamics within the family are always shifting, which makes this crime family drama so compelling. – Meredith Loftus
Hand of God (2014-2017)
Creator: Ben Watkins
Cast: Ron Pearlman, Dana Delany, Andre Royo, Julian Morris, Elizabeth McLaughlin
Hand of God follows the story of a dishonorable judge (Ron Perlman) who believes he has received visions from God to go down a path of vigilante justice, targeting those he believes responsible for his son’s attempted suicide. Seeking answers and comfort during this time, he and his wife (Dana Delany) get heavily involved in a church that turns out to be a sinister cult, run by a charismatic leader (Julian Morris). The two-season psychological series pulls back the layers of how a man’s desire for justice further sends him into insanity while tackling conspiracy and spirituality. Ron Perlman and Dana Delany’s performances are electrifying, drawing you in as they try to uncover the truth about their son’s accident, by any means necessary. — Meredith Loftus
Bosch (2014-2021)
Created by: Michael Connelly
Cast: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Sarah Clarke, Madison Lintz
Bosch was produced for Prime Video back in early 2014. Based on Michael Connelly’s novels City of Bones, Echo Park, and The Concrete Blonde, this show follows a Los Angeles homicide detective named Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) and the various cases that he becomes involved with that force him to confront his past and analyze his future. It’s proven to be one of the platform’s more successful shows, even spawning a spinoff, Bosch: Legacy.
Psych (2006-2014)
Created by: Steve Franks
Cast: James Roday, Dulé Hill, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson, Kirsten Nelson, Corbin Bernsen
This detective comedy series took USA Network by storm when it first aired in 2006. Psych told the story of a young crime consultant named Shawn Spencer (James Roday) who was able to convince people that he solved cases with his “psychic abilities.” (But mainly it was because of his observational skills and photographic memory.) With the help of his best friend Gus (Dulé Hill), the two are brought on to help with a number of cases. The series ran for eight seasons until 2014, but a two-hour TV movie was released a few years later in 2017 called Psych: The Movie, as well as a sequel called Psych 2: Lassie Come Home, which premiered on Peacock in 2020. Clearly, the Psych fan base has a power all their own to keep that show afloat.
Absentia (2017-2020)
Created by: Gaia Violo and Matt Cirulnick
Cast: Stana Katic, Patrick Heusinger, Cara Theobold, Neil Jackson, Angel Bonanni, Bruno Bichir, Paul Freeman, Ralph Ineson, Patrick McAuley, Richard Brake
Absentia first debuted in 2017 and tells the story of an FBI agent named Emily Byrne (Stana Katic), who disappears while trying to track down a serial killer in Boston. She’s eventually declared dead in absentia (another way of saying that she was legally presumed to be dead) but is found six years later. With no memory of what happened to her, she returns home and finds herself the prime suspect in a string of new murders. It’s a series that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.Watch on Prime Video
Tin Star (2017-2020)
Created by: Rowan Joffe
Cast: Tim Roth, Christina Hendricks, Genevieve O’Reilly, Abigail Lawrie, Oliver Coopersmith, Ian Puleston-Davies, Sarah Podemski, Ryan Kennedy, Lynda Boyd, Michelle Thrush, John Lynch, Anamaria Marinca, Jenessa Grant, Nigel Bennett
Originally, Tin Star made its debut on Sky Atlantic, a British television channel, but became available internationally thanks to Amazon. It tells the story of a former detective named Jim Worth (Tim Roth), who moves to a small Canadian town in the Rocky Mountains called Little Big Bear with his family and becomes their new police chief. Unfortunately, Worth’s violent past begins to catch up with him in the seemingly quiet town, and he promises to do whatever it takes to protect his family. Its tense storyline and brilliant acting are a perfect combination to keep you on your toes.
Mr. Robot (2015-2019)
Created by: Sam Esmail
Cast: Rami Malek, Carly Chaikin, Portia Doubleday, Martin Wallstrom, Christian Slater, Michael Cristofer, Stephanie Corneliussen, Grace Gummer, BD Wong, Bobby Cannavale
Mr. Robot has received mass amounts of critical acclaim over the years and has gone on to be recognized with a Peabody Award, along with receiving six Emmy nominations and winning a Golden Globe for Best Television Drama Series.
The story follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a young man who lives in New York City and works at a cybersecurity company called Allsafe as a cybersecurity engineer. Because of his incredible hacking skills, he’s recruited by someone known as Mr. Robot to help take down one of the largest corporations in the world: E Corp. The series is filled with numerous twists and turns, along with incredible acting to boot, that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
Carnival Row (2019-present)
Created by: René Echevarria and Travis Beacham
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne, Simon McBurney, Tamzin Merchant, David Gyasi, Andrew Gower, Karla Crome, Arty Froushan, Indira Varma, Jared Harris
This recently released Prime Video original has quickly taken the world by storm. Since its premiere, the response to Carnival Row has been largely positive. Its lived-in fantasy world and intriguing mythology have set the show apart from others like it, and at its heart is a neo-noir murder mystery that’s as interesting as the world surrounding it.
This series follows a number of mythical creatures that have fled their homelands to find a new home in the city. As tensions rise between these immigrant creatures and citizens of the town, a string of murders unravels at the story’s center, and a detective named Rycroft Philostrate (Orlando Bloom), along with a fairy named Vignette Stonemoss (Cara Delevingne), team up to track the killer down. Much like a number of shows on this list, this series is a cocktail of genres that are sure to immediately invest any viewer.
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