Top Shows Like Mindhunter: Must-Watch Crime Dramas and True Crime Series

As a longtime true crime enthusiast and TV analyst, I've eagerly awaited news on Mindhunter season 3. David Fincher confirmed earlier this year that Netflix's gripping series—inspired by real FBI behavioral science unit pioneers from the 1970s—is returning after an indefinite hold.

What makes Mindhunter stand out? It's rooted in real events, featuring actual serial killers and the agents who profiled them. This blend of history and psychology feels strikingly relevant today. While we anticipate delving into BTK's psyche, here are expert-recommended shows to bridge the gap.

Most are available on streaming platforms, but cable viewers can catch true crime on channels like Investigation Discovery and Crime & Investigation. Providers like Optimum Cable include these in all packages.

Note: Shows listed in no particular order.

1. Luther

• Genre: Crime, Drama, Psychological Thriller
• Number of seasons: 5
• Number of episodes: 20
• Creator: Neil Cross
• Main cast: Idris Elba, Dermot Crowley, Ruth Wilson, Michael Smiley, Patrick Malahide
• IMDb rating: 8.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 88%

Idris Elba stars as a brilliant detective obsessed with serial killers in this dynamic crime drama. Like Mindhunter, it explores behavioral profiling to crack cases.

2. Hannibal

• Genre: Psychological Thriller, Horror, Crime Drama
• Number of seasons: 3
• Number of episodes: 39
• Developed by: Bryan Fuller
• Main cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne
• IMDb rating: 8.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 92%

Echoing The Silence of the Lambs, profiler Will Graham forms a chilling bond with cannibal Hannibal Lecter. A masterful take on the criminal mind.

3. The Killing

• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Number of seasons: 4
• Number of episodes: 44
• Developed by: Veena Sud
• Main cast: Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Michelle Forbes, Billy Campbell
• IMDb rating: 8.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 68%

This riveting series follows the murder of Rosie Larsen. Detectives Linden and Holder's tense partnership mirrors the dynamic between Mindhunter's Bill Tench and Holden Ford, unraveling interconnected crimes.

4. Dexter

• Genre: Crime, Drama, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comedy
• Number of seasons: 8
• Number of episodes: 96
• Developed by: James Manos Jr.
• Main cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Velez, James Remar, David Zayas
• IMDb rating: 8.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 71%

Forensic expert Dexter Morgan aids Miami police by day but hunts killers by night. A deep dive into a vigilante's psyche and moral code.

5. Making a Murderer

• Genre: True Crime, Documentary
• Number of seasons: 2
• Number of episodes: 20
• Directors: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos
• IMDb rating: 8.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 84%

This docuseries chronicles Steven Avery's wrongful 18-year imprisonment and subsequent murder charge. A compelling look at justice's flaws.

6. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

• Genre: True Crime
• Number of seasons: 1
• Number of episodes: 10
• Directors: Ryan Murphy, Anthony Hemingway, John Singleton
• Main cast: Kenneth Choi, Sterling K. Brown, Sarah Paulson, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Schwimmer, Nathan Lane, John Travolta
• IMDb rating: 8.4/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 97%

Anthology series dramatizing high-profile crimes. Season 1 gripping recreates O.J. Simpson's trial, captivating the nation.

7. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

• Genre: Docuseries
• Number of seasons: 1
• Number of episodes: 4
• Director: Joe Berlinger
• IMDb rating: 7.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 56%

The ultimate Mindhunter companion: archival interviews reveal Ted Bundy's charm and cunning as one of America's most notorious serial killers.