5 Binge Worthy Crime Thrillers on Netflix

Since my husband and I have zero time to watch tv in real time with 2 kids in the mix, we rely heavily on Netflix and other streaming services to be able to watch a show from beginning to end. My husband loves crime thrillers or true crime shows, so I’m always on the lookout for the next best crime series. 

Here are 5 crime shows on Netflix (Canada)  that I would definitely consider “binge worthy.”

1. & 2.  Narcos & Narcos Mexico

If you’re into Colombian drug lords, mass murder and the ongoing pursuit of justice, then Narcos is the intense crime series is for you. Narcos chronicles the Colombian government’s fight against powerful drug cartels and the narcos who lead them, with a little help from the American DEA. The first two seasons focus on notorious drug lord and narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar, who was undoubtedly crazy AF, or to quote my husband, “insane in the membrane.”

Escobar’s power in Colombia was absolute and during the height of his drug empire, his cartel was estimated to be making around $60-$70 million a day. The things this guy did are unbelievable – he killed judges, politicians, police and civilians during his reign of terror and even built a government-approved prison for himself. Seriously.

Narcos is fast-paced and the actor portraying Escobar is especially captivating. While I missed Escobar in Season 3, the action-packed series continued to keep my husband and I riveted right to the end (he practically threw the kids into their beds so he could watch it). I should also mention that a lot of the dialogue jumps from English to Spanish, so be prepared to read some subtitles with this one. It’s worth it though.

Narcos Mexico – this is a separate Netflix show that focuses on the drug cartels in Mexico and is filmed in the same style as the original Narcos. The timeline of this show overlaps with the Narcos timeline and follows the rise of drug lord Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo and later “El Chapo” Guzman and more. 

 

3. Mindhunter

On a much darker note, Mindhunter is a Netflix series set in 1977 that follows the FBI’s criminal psychology and Behavioural Science Unit in its early days. Based on true events, the series focuses on two FBI agents within the unit who begin a controversial project. Why is it controversial?

Well, they begin to interview imprisoned serial killers to learn more about how they (the killers) think, in the hopes that this knowledge will help solve ongoing cases. The serial killer interviews re-enacted on the show are based on actual interviews held with real-life serial killers and are downright creepy, yet fascinating. Interwoven with the agents’ interview schedule is a glimpse into their personal lives and how their sinister interview subjects begin to affect their own view of the world. There is only one season so far in this series and I CANNOT wait for the next season to come out. I found this series so gripping and again, the quality of the acting from all the characters involved took this series to another level.

 

4. Ozark

Another drug-based, murder-filled series, Ozarks follows financial planner Martin Byrd and his family who are forced to relocate to the Missouri Ozarks due to a very unfortunate misunderstanding with a powerful Mexican drug cartel. Oh yeah – Martin launders money for said cartel and is forced to launder and repay millions of dollars to the cartel, or he and his family dies.

Rough, right? Even worse, the Ozarks aren’t as quaint as Martin expected and some local criminals begin to throw a wrench into his best-laid money laundering plans. Ozarks has that dark “Breaking Bad” quality to it that keeps you rooting for under-estimated, under-appreciated Martin and his family of misfits. You never know what to expect from episode to episode and Martin’s struggle to keep his family alive is made all the more challenging as his family life begins to unravel at the same time. The final season is now available on Netflix.

 

 

5. Sons Of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy follows Jax and his band of merry outlaw bikers in their gun smuggling business. These bikers have a tight bond and get into all sorts of mayhem that usually ends in dead or battered bodies (the body count is high in this show!). Trying to navigate his leadership in the club while starting a family pulls Jax in different directions and dealing with his overbearing mother doesn’t help matters either. This is an action packed show that deals with the politics and strategy of running a gun-running gang, while trying to stay a step ahead of the police and rival gangs. What is especially addictive is the brotherhood vibe of the club that has you rooting for these criminals right to the end. Plus, every season has a new villain that challenges the bonds of the club and makes you totally despise them for some great crime thriller fun!

 

What Netflix crime shows are you watching these days?

Related reading:

Binge-Worthy Netflix Shows For The 30-Something Woman