5 best crime shows on Netflix to watch (and 2 to skip)

Fans of crime dramas enjoy the thrill of trying to solve the crimes along with investigators featured in the series. Whether you prefer delving into the minds of a killer, watching a crack team of investigators cleverly accomplish their goals, or viewing the inner workings of a team that pulls off the ultimate heist, Netflix has a series for you. The choices for crime dramas on Netflix are vast, so below, we've made a list of five must-watch crime series and two you can skip.

Narcos

Narcos is a gritty and violent crime drama that consists of three seasons, all of which are available on Netflix. The story follows Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), drug kingpin and billionaire, and his rise to become one of the most successful cocaine producers and distributors worldwide. His story is told alongside that of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agents Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal) and Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook), who are tasked with bringing down Escobar.

Ozark

Ozark is a tense thriller that follows money-laundering financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman). After a deal goes south and his partner is killed, he moves his family to Missouri at the Lake of the Ozarks. There, he expands his operation and his whole family becomes involved in the criminal workings with local families and eventually the mafia. The series shows what money and power-hungry people will do to maintain their status.

Unbelievable

Inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning article, An Unbelievable Story of Rape, by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, Unbelievable is a heartbreaking yet powerful series. Starring Toni Collette and Merritt Wever as Detectives Grace Rasmussen and Karen Duvall, who search for a serial rapist, and Kaitlyn Dever as Marie Adler, a woman who was sexually assaulted. Marie's report of rape was dismissed by the cops, but Rasmussen and Duvall will stop at nothing to discover the truth. The series explores the aftermath of survivors of rape and their perspectives and the injustices they face at the hands of the American judicial system.

Peaky Blinders

The Cillian Murphy-led Peaky Blinders is the story of Thomas Shelby (Murphy), the boss of a crime family in 19th-century Birmingham. The six-season series chronicles the family's rise and interactions with other criminal families who threaten their way of life. The costumes will make a viewer swoon, and the soundtrack for this series is all rock n' roll, giving it a unique feel against the 19th-century setting. Throughout the series, the supporting cast varies, which is always phenomenal, adding to the excellence of this series.

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is a five-part crime drama that brings to life one of the best antiheroes, Walter White, portrayed by Bryan Cranston. White is an average high school chemistry teacher who, after a life-altering event, begins cooking and distributing meth. He partners with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul, and the duo embark on a brutal journey deep into the world of drug trading.

2 crime dramas to skip

Devil in Ohio

The limited series Devil in Ohio is based on creator Daria Polatin's novel of the same name and stars Emily Deschanel, Sam Jaeger, and Madeleine Arthur. The story tells of a hospital psychiatrist (Deschanel) who welcomes a young cult escapee (Arthur) into her home. The strange girl's presence in her home brings about chaos in her family. While it isn't the worst crime drama out there, it mostly falls flat compared to the other outstanding choices.

Inside Man

The limited series Inside Man stars the exceptionally talented Stanley Tucci as a former criminology professor on death row in an Arizona prison and David Tennant as vicar. The synopsis for the series tells that Tucci's character crosses paths with a woman trapped in a cellar under the vicarage in an unexpected way. While the series has been praised for both actors' performances, the storyline, which began strong, fizzled as the episodes continued.

What are some of your favorite crime shows on Netflix to watch?