8 Gripping Mystery Thriller Shows to Binge-Watch

There are some TV shows that are worth rewatching because they’re comforting or familiar, but these iconic mystery series are easy to revisit because they’re thrilling until the end. Incorporating hidden clues and Easter eggs you’re certain to miss the first time around, these shows take their genres to the next level, often highlighting the interpersonal dramas or blending different story elements, like sci-fi, into the story.

These thriller shows hook you from start to finish because it’s impossible not to care about both the characters solving the mysteries and the victims of the crimes, whose lives are often as compelling as the protagonists’. When the skill of the writing and the long-term planning involved in crafting these projects come through in every successive watch, it’s clear that these shows are something special.

Mare Of Easttown (2021)

Mare of Easttown is an HBO miniseries that’s a masterpiece from start to finish. Kate Winslet is doubtlessly one of the best actresses of her generation, and few projects prove this as soundly as Mare of Easttown, as the titular character, Winslet, digs into the heart and soul of Mare as her complicated life crumbles around her and she attempts to solve the murder and disappearances of young women in Easttown.

Though the series is a moving meditation on grief and acceptance, this doesn’t mean that Mare of Easttown isn’t afraid to get dark. The series finds a successful balance between the personal drama and the criminal mysteries, seamlessly tying them together by the final episode, which has a few tricks up its sleeve. When rewatching Mare of Easttown, it’s clear that the show knew what it was doing from the beginning.

Sharp Objects (2018)

Based on the book by Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects is a beautiful, decaying Southern Gothic nightmare that will grab hold of the audience and never let go. Starring Amy Adams in one of her best television roles to date, Sharp Objects follows her character, Camille, as she returns to her mother’s house to investigate the murders of young women in their small Missouri town.

One of the best parts of Sharp Objects is that the series works hard to ensure that the viewer won’t see the final twist coming. Even when you’ve been lulled into a false sense of security or certainty that Camille has pieced it all together, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The last-minute reveal makes it impossible not to want to start Sharp Objects all over again from the beginning.

True Detective (2014–Present)

The iconic anthology crime series True Detective became an instant hit after the release of its first season, and while the installments that came after have had a mixed reception, nothing will ever compare to the thrill of season 1. True Detective is elevated by the performances of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as Rust and Marty, a pair of detectives tracking a serial killer in Louisiana.

Since Rust and Marty are as invested in the case as the audience, they’re on the lookout for the same clues that hint at the story’s conclusion. However, the viewer gets to enjoy the perspective of both timelines that the story follows, giving us even more to puzzle over. True Detectives seasons 3 and 4 also tackle riveting mystery stories, making these three seasons well worth watching over again.

Broadchurch (2013–2017)

With a terrific ensemble cast led by Olivia Colman and David Tennant, it’s not just the mystery component that will make you want to rewatch Broadchurch. Though Broadchurch season 1 is easily the best of the show, each installment brings something new to the table and lets the inherent chemistry between Colman and Tennant shine, as they seamlessly disappear into their characters.

The heartbreaking reveal at the end of Broadchurch season 1 will shock audiences the first time around, and with every successive viewing, the seeds that are planted, foreshadowing this tragic twist, will become all the more clear. Broadchurch walks a fine line between including red herrings and genuine clues, finding a perfect balance that comes through every time you watch the show.

Dark (2017–2020)

As one of the best mystery box TV shows of all time, Dark never stops surprising the audience throughout its three unforgettable seasons. Following the secrets, lies, and betrayals hidden beneath the surface of a small German town, Dark deals with multiple generations of families and timelines, making it the kind of show with so many details that you’ll blink and miss them.

Even audiences who aren’t typically interested in sci-fi will feel themselves pulled in Dark‘s orbit, as it’s the kind of show that you feel yourself getting even more invested in with each rewatch. It’s not always easy to watch Dark the first time around, as the show can be dizzyingly complex, but this is what makes the series an ideal candidate to revisit.

The Leftovers (2014–2017)

The Leftovers is often compared to Lost, as both shows tackle issues of grief and begin with a central mystery that leaves the characters in emotional and physical disarray. However, The Leftovers differentiates itself from other series within the genre by encouraging the audience and characters to accept that not all of life’s mysteries will have satisfying conclusions, and that this is a fundamental part of being alive.

Though the answers to The Leftovers’ most pressing questions aren’t the most important part of the story, it’s worth revisiting The Leftovers for multiple watches because the character arcs are hinted at from the beginning. Going back to the start of the series and noticing how everyone relates to each other and tracking their trajectory makes The Leftovers an even sharper character study.

Twin Peaks (1990–1991)

When Twin Peaks first premiered in 1990, it’s unlikely that David Lynch and Mark Frost knew what a cultural phenomenon it would be. The long-term legacy of Twin Peaks can’t be overstated, as nearly every mystery box TV show to come out after the series is at least partially inspired by the iconic work. Cemented by the success of Twin Peaks: The Return, the project is almost infinitely rewatchable.

It’s no secret that Twin Peaks leans into the surrealist elements of the story, making it nearly impossible to pick up on every Easter egg. As interesting as it is to find out who Laura Palmer’s killer is, this isn’t what sustains the narrative, as Twin Peaks is much more concerned with the deeper themes that the story represents than answering concrete questions, leaving the show open to interpretation.

Mindhunter (2017–2019)

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Mindhunter is arguably the best Netflix original series the streaming service has released to date, and this only becomes clearer every time audiences revisit the show. Starring Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv as members of the FBI’s early Behavioral Analysis Unit, Mindhunter balances its explorations into the minds of notorious killers with the crimes the characters investigate.

Like every great mystery TV show, Mindhunter uses its thriller elements to explore its characters, seeing how dealing with so much violence impacts everyone, but especially Groff’s Holden Ford. Though it was just two seasons long, Mindhunter expertly crafts every episode, laying the groundwork for what’s to come, and making it impossible to look away from the agents’ total immersion in their work.