6 Best Crime Shows More Than 5 Seasons

Crime shows are incredibly popular because they present thrilling mysteries, dangerous criminals, and unexpected plot twists. The recent trend of limited series on streaming platforms has led to many crime shows being produced this way. However, some viewers still prefer longer, multi-season crime dramas, which allow them to become truly invested in the story and the characters.

Many popular crime shows run for several seasons, featuring everything from classic police investigations to stories based on famous books and characters. These long-running series let you really connect with the detectives and see how they grow, both personally and professionally, as they tackle tough criminals and complex mysteries.

Criminal Minds Deals With Disturbing Serial Killers

Criminal Minds is a widely popular and gripping crime drama. The show follows the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), a team of experts who are called in to assist with the most unsettling crimes across the country, including serial killings, kidnappings, and acts of terrorism. Each case is deeply disturbing and showcases the complexities of criminal behavior.

After finishing its fifteenth season in 2020, Criminal Minds unexpectedly returned due to strong fan support. The revival, now called Criminal Minds: Evolution, premiered new seasons, with Season 3 airing in 2025 as Season 18 of the original series. The show has already been picked up for another season.

I first started watching Criminal Minds because of Mandy Patinkin, who played Jason Gideon – he was the original head of the BAU team. Thomas Gibson played Aaron Hotchner, who later took over as the unit chief. The show really came together with the rest of the team: Lola Glaudini as Elle Greenaway, Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan, and Matthew Gray Gubler, who was amazing as Dr. Spencer Reid. They all made a fantastic group!

The first season of Criminal Minds featured A.J. Cook as JJ Jareau, the team’s communications expert, and Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, their technical analyst. Over the show’s run, many new characters were added, with some staying for just a few seasons and others, like Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) and David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), becoming core members of the team.

Criminal Minds is a captivating and often unsettling crime series that keeps audiences hooked. After over 300 episodes, it’s become a lasting hit. While many long-running crime shows lose their spark, Criminal Minds continues to deliver surprising and engaging storylines.

Psych Is a Clever Crime Show Featuring One of the Smartest Fictional Detectives

Many people overlook it, but Psych is one of the best crime shows ever made. It features Shawn Spencer, brilliantly played by James Roday, an incredibly observant police consultant who pretends to be psychic, and some would argue he’s even more astute than Sherlock Holmes.

I’m a huge fan of Psych, and what I love is that each episode throws a brand new mystery at Shawn Spencer. It’s cool seeing how he got so good at noticing everything, too. They often show flashbacks to when he was a kid, and his dad – a former cop – was basically training him to hone those observation skills. It’s not just backstory either; those childhood moments usually end up being key to solving the current case!

Shawn’s talent for observation and deduction led him to start his own detective agency, where he pretended to be psychic. He’d cleverly feed the police clues about cases, making them wonder if he was somehow connected to the crimes himself. Over time, Shawn established himself as a reliable and dedicated consultant, assisting the police in cracking even the toughest and most puzzling mysteries.

Psych is a funny show that combines comedy with intriguing murder mysteries. It focuses on the friendship between Shawn and his partner, Gus, and the often-difficult relationship Shawn has with his dad. After running for eight seasons and over 100 episodes, the show ended, but due to popular demand from its fans, it came back as a series of mystery movies.

Bosch Is a Gritty Crime Drama Based on the Michael Connelly Book Series

Bosch is a compelling crime show filled with action and realistic drama. Each season draws from multiple books in the series, weaving together different plots and investigations into a single, captivating story. The show focuses on a major case throughout the season while also delving into the lives and personal growth of its characters.

Bosch is a standout original series on Prime Video. The show centers around Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver, an LAPD detective known for challenging the system. Harry is a bit of a lone wolf who gets frustrated with rules and paperwork. He’s completely dedicated to solving crimes and making sure justice is served – it’s not just his job, it’s what drives him.

The show Bosch boasts a strong supporting cast, including Jamie Hector as Detective J. Edgar, Harry’s partner, Amy Aquino as Lieutenant Grace Billets, Lance Reddick as Deputy Chief Irvin Irving, Mimi Rogers as lawyer Honey Chandler, Sarah Clarke as Harry’s ex-wife Eleanor Wish, and Madison Lintz as his daughter, Maddie.

The Bosch series showcases Harry Bosch as a detective who tackles both challenging cases and personal struggles. We see him navigating a difficult relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, and dealing with the fallout from his quick decisions. Though he can be confrontational, Bosch is a remarkably intelligent detective, consistently uncovering clues and making connections that others overlook.

After seven seasons, the show Bosch concluded, but the story continued with a sequel and spin-off called Bosch: Legacy. This new series follows Bosch as he works as a private investigator and also features familiar faces like Honey Chandler and Harry’s daughter, Maddie. In 2025, Prime Video introduced another crime series, Ballard, which takes place in the same world as Bosch and Bosch: Legacy.

The Shield Explores Police Corruption Through an Experimental Division of the LAPD

The Shield is a crime drama about a controversial division of the Los Angeles Police Department plagued by corruption. At the center of the show is the Strike Team, an anti-gang unit led by Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis). The original team also featured officers Ronnie Gardocki (David Rees Snell) and Curtis Lemansky (Kenneth Johnson).

Operating from a renovated church they called the Barn, the Strike Team faced intense pressure from the Chief of Police. This led them to frequently push legal boundaries, using strong-arm tactics and even violence to achieve their goals. Eventually, they began breaking the law outright, planting evidence and making shady deals with drug dealers—all to create the appearance of success.

The TV series The Shield was based on the true story of the Rampart police scandal. This scandal revealed corruption among officers in CRASH, an anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department, and involved over seventy officers. The scandal also served as inspiration for the popular film Training Day, which starred Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.

FX’s The Shield is a compelling and often intense crime drama that ran for seven seasons, totaling over 80 episodes. Featuring a talented ensemble cast including Glenn Close, Michael Peña, Forest Whitaker, and Anthony Anderson, it’s widely considered one of the best television series and crime shows ever made.

Elementary Is a Great Modern Adaptation of Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a famously intelligent detective who’s been adapted for television many times. While Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal in the series Sherlock is well-known, Elementary is another notable adaptation that often gets less attention. Elementary featured Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson, who served as his companion and provided support during his recovery.

Elementary was a crime drama that followed the typical format of the genre, with a new case each week. But it also featured larger, season-long mysteries and a complex cast of characters who impacted Sherlock’s personal journey. At its heart, the show focused on the strong connection between Sherlock and Watson, brought to life by the fantastic chemistry between actors Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu.

Though most people are familiar with the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, the TV show Elementary offered a fresh take on the famous detective. By setting the story in modern-day New York City, Elementary made Sherlock’s adventures engaging for both newcomers and longtime fans of Arthur Conan Doyle’s books. The show also cleverly incorporated characters and storylines from the original novels, giving those familiar with them something to enjoy.

The show Elementary aired for seven seasons, totaling over 150 episodes. Beyond presenting complex mysteries that only Sherlock Holmes could crack, the series explored serious issues like addiction and recovery. This was primarily shown through Sherlock’s own battle with drug addiction and his tendency towards self-destructive actions, and how those impacted those around him.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Adapts Every Hercule Poirot Story

Many captivating TV series don’t last very long, often running for fewer than five seasons. However, Agatha Christie’s Poirot is an exception. This British crime drama ran for an impressive 13 seasons and 70 episodes, adapting nearly every story and novel featuring Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective, portrayed by David Suchet.

Agatha Christie is widely considered one of the greatest crime writers ever. Famous as the Queen of Mystery, she created the incredibly popular detective Hercule Poirot, a brilliant investigator who frequently assists both Scotland Yard and ordinary people in solving complex cases.

The television series Agatha Christie’s Poirot is a beloved adaptation of the classic detective stories. David Suchet won over fans with his incredibly accurate and engaging portrayal of the quirky Belgian detective, bringing Agatha Christie’s character to life. Each episode is based on a different Poirot novel or short story, offering viewers a constant stream of mysteries to solve.

The popular crime series Agatha Christie’s Poirot successfully adapted many of Agatha Christie’s novels, including her final Hercule Poirot story, providing a satisfying conclusion to the character’s journey. First airing in 1989 and concluding in 2013, Agatha Christie’s Poirot continues to be considered one of the greatest crime shows, even more than a decade later.

2026-01-11 04:15