10 Best Crime Thriller Shows Like Prime Video’s Steal

Crime thrillers have become incredibly popular recently, and shows like the new Prime Video series Steal are a great example of this trend. These shows can be difficult to pull off successfully, though. They need a compelling story, realistic situations, and well-rounded characters to really work, no matter how much money is spent on production.

The most gripping crime thrillers excel at creating intense moments where even small decisions seem to have huge consequences. Whether it’s a carefully crafted heist, a complex plot, or a thrilling pursuit, that feeling of suspense needs to feel justified and significant. To keep viewers hooked over several episodes, a story needs believable stakes, characters we care about whose choices drive the plot, and a premise that makes sense within its world.

Streaming services have really found success with crime shows because they aren’t limited by the time constraints and commercials you see on traditional TV. This freedom lets them create genuinely thrilling stories with complex plots, detailed settings, and a high-quality, cinematic feel, building suspense in surprising and engaging ways. Unlike network TV, streaming shows can take their time and develop stories more fully.

Prime Video’s new crime thriller, Steal, has quickly become a hit with viewers. The show centers around Zara Dunne, played by Sophie Turner, an everyday office worker whose life is turned upside down when armed robbers target her company. Over six episodes, Zara and her coworkers are forced to collaborate with the thieves during a major robbery.

“Steal” starts with a simple theft but quickly expands into a larger conspiracy involving the police, forcing the characters to make difficult ethical choices as they try to pull off the crime. The show skillfully combines the excitement of the heist with a character-driven story, building tension from both the external threats they face and the internal struggles within the group. It’s a more complex and thoughtful series than your typical crime thriller.

Although Steal is a recent addition to the world of crime thrillers, it’s just one of many options for viewers. Numerous shows on streaming platforms offer similar excitement, with some focusing on complex robberies and others building tension through psychological suspense. These series all explore characters and, often, the darker side of human nature in unique ways.

10. The Blacklist

The TV show The Blacklist centers around Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader), a notorious criminal who unexpectedly turns himself in to the FBI. He offers to help them capture other dangerous criminals, and begins working with a new FBI profiler named Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). Each episode features both a self-contained case and an ongoing, complex mystery, filled with secrets and changing relationships.

Running from 2013 to 2023 on NBC, The Blacklist is a classic crime thriller. It keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with a constant game of cat and mouse, characters who aren’t clearly good or bad, and the ongoing mystery of what Reddington is really up to. The show maintains high stakes as FBI agents struggle to stop criminals while dealing with the consequences of Red’s hidden world.

9. The Asset

Credit: Jonas Berlin / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Netflix’s The Asset is a gripping Danish crime thriller about a police cadet who goes undercover to take down a major drug smuggler. To get close to him, she befriends his wife, and as she gets deeper into the investigation, her professional life becomes tangled with her personal feelings. The show focuses on the difficult choices these undercover operations force people to make, exploring themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the emotional toll it takes.

“The Asset” is a gripping crime thriller that explores the emotional toll of spying and the difficult choices people face when their loyalties are divided. Instead of relying on a complex plot, the show focuses on its characters, making their motivations and struggles central to the story. This careful approach ensures that every surprising turn and important decision feels impactful, drawing the audience further into the suspense.

8. Good Girls

The show Good Girls starts with a funny, albeit risky, idea: three moms rob a supermarket to get out of debt. But things quickly get much more serious, turning into a dark and complicated crime story. As they get involved with criminals and the police, every decision they make puts themselves and their families in greater danger.

This crime thriller, which ran on NBC from 2018 to 2021, is unique because it features characters viewers can connect with who find themselves increasingly involved in serious criminal activity. Starring Retta, Mae Whitman, and Christina Hendricks, the show follows their descent into schemes, money laundering, and dangerous situations that test their boundaries.

7. Kaleidoscope

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Kaleidoscope, a Netflix series released in 2023, revolves around a skilled thief and their crew attempting a $7 billion heist. What makes the show unique isn’t just the robbery itself, but how the story is told. Unlike typical series, Kaleidoscope lets viewers watch the events in a non-linear order, adding an intriguing twist.

With Kaleidoscope, viewers could start with any of the eight episodes, creating a unique viewing experience. The show centers around a heist, but tells the story in a non-linear way, breaking away from traditional episode structures. While the plot is full of suspense, the show’s innovative format offers a fresh take on crime dramas.

6. Sneaky Pete

Prime Video’s Sneaky Pete, from creators David Shore and Bryan Cranston, centers on Marius Josipović (Giovanni Ribisi), a just-released con man. To escape a ruthless crime boss, Marius pretends to be his former cellmate, Pete Murphy, and gets tangled up in Pete’s messy life, where his deception starts to affect his real connections with others.

Sneaky Pete stands out as a thrilling crime drama. It tells the story of a con artist who gets caught up in a dangerous web of lies as he assumes another man’s identity, and the stakes keep getting higher the deeper he goes. The show is captivating and full of unexpected twists, which makes for a really intense viewing experience.

5. Cross

Prime Video’s Cross brings James Patterson’s popular Alex Cross novels to television. The series stars Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross, a gifted detective and forensic psychologist who investigates crimes in Washington, D.C. and other locations. It offers a straightforward yet expanded take on Patterson’s stories, creating a more detailed and engaging world for the audience.

“Cross” is a gripping series that combines intense emotional storytelling with a carefully paced investigation, creating a similar feel to popular Prime Video shows like “Bosch.” The show delves into the pressures of a demanding job and the lingering effects of personal tragedy – in this case, the murder of the main character’s wife – and features a constant, high-stakes game of cat and mouse that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

4. Leverage

Originally broadcast on TNT from 2008 to 2012, Leverage wasn’t your typical crime show. It followed a team of ex-criminals who used their talents to fight back against powerful, corrupt individuals and companies. Led by Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton), the series showed how people with questionable pasts could become heroes.

Each episode of Leverage creates excitement with its intricate schemes and surprising turns, unfolding in a series of stories that connect throughout the season. The show excels at crafting clever plans, combining thrilling heist-like plots with well-developed characters.

3. The Night Manager

Inspired by John le Carré’s novel, The Night Manager is a thrilling spy story about Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), a former soldier who now works as a hotel night manager. After a ten-year break, the show’s second season is currently being released, following the first season which aired in 2016. The original story centers around Pine’s dangerous mission to go undercover and expose the arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie).

The Night Manager excels at creating a suspenseful and gripping atmosphere, thanks to its compelling characters and the constant danger faced by the protagonist, Pine. Combining elements of crime, spying, and psychological suspense, the show is a particularly strong example of a thriller that focuses on character development.

2. His & Hers

The new Netflix thriller, His & Hers, follows news anchor Anna Andrews (Tessa Thompson) as she returns to her hometown following a murder that brings up painful memories. She teams up with her husband, Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal), to investigate, and together they begin to unravel a complex mystery involving old secrets and past hurts.

His & Hers expertly blends a gradually unfolding investigation with complex characters and rising emotional tension, making the mystery even more compelling. The series explores how a detective’s personal past clashes with her professional responsibilities, and each new discovery ratchets up the suspense as she battles external threats and her own internal struggles. By focusing on character development and building a layered plot, the show maintains a consistently high level of suspense throughout.

1. Money Heist

Okay, let me tell you about Money Heist, the Spanish series that took Netflix by storm back in 2017. It’s a really clever show centered around a criminal genius, known only as The Professor, and his absolutely audacious plan to rob the Royal Mint of Spain. He assembles a team of incredibly skilled thieves, and the series takes you right into the heart of their attempt to print billions of euros. It’s a thrilling ride, and you’re constantly wondering if they’ll actually pull it off!

Money Heist uses flashbacks and complex character development to tell the story of a daring rebellion and the planning behind it. The show builds intense suspense and explores deep emotions, revealing the strong bonds needed to pull off something more than just a robbery. With its intricate plot and memorable visuals, Money Heist is a truly captivating crime thriller you can stream.

2026-01-31 01:51