Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Procedurals are great and all, but do you know what makes for truly thrilling TV? A good crime drama. On that front, the international market has been running laps around the American market for years. From shows that offer truly inspired, twisting plots to characters that feel painfully authentic, your average international crime drama is a great binge. And Netflix has A LOT of them.
To help you sort through a genre that’s near and dear to my heart, here is your cheat sheet on all of the murderous criminal investigations Netflix has to offer. From overworked detectives that just need a break, by god, to multiple shows about people inexplicably rising from the dead, this guide will help you decide which foreign-language miniseries is worth your time and which ones you can pass on. Cheers my internationally adventurous friends.
MUST WATCHES
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? David Tennant and Olivia Colman
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 2
Will I like it? It would be incredibly difficult for anyone not to like this slow burn, sorrowful meditation on crime and loss. Broadchurch is essentially the template for all prestige international crime shows. When a young boy is found murdered, his death threatens to tear a small coastal town apart. The series follows the residential detective and her new partner who gets on her last nerve. It’s absolutely a must watch.
Where’s it from? Britain and Ireland
Who’s in it? Gillian Anderson
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 3
Will I like it? Set in Northern Ireland, this drama pits a smart and ambitious detective against a ruthless serial killer. Whereas other entries on this list focus on multiple crimes or treat crime as a secondary plot point, The Fall completely revolves around how this one case transforms Superintendent Stella Gibson’s life. If you’re a fan of criminal deep dives like Fargo, you’ll love this masterful show.
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 4
Will I like it? This critically-praised and award-winning crime drama is a must watch for fans of the genre. The series follows John Luther, a Detective Chief Inspector with a troubled past and a violent streak. Luther follows its protagonist’s struggle to balance his job with his inner darkness. Anyone who loves tormented characters like those in Bloodline and True Detective will be a fan of this one.
Where’s it from? Colombia and America
Who’s in it? Wagner Moura and Boyd Holbrook
Do you need subtitles? Sometimes
How many seasons? 2
Will I like it? Netflix’s Original series about the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar’s drug empire does for cocaine what Breaking Bad did for meth. The series is a cat and mouse chase between Escobar, his enemies, the Colombian government, and the Americans, and it’s a battle no one really wins. Moura’s portrayal of Escobar puts him in the running as one of TV’s most memorable anti-heroes, and the series is more than worth a binge.
Where’s it from? France
Who’s in it? Anne Consigny and Frédéric Pierrot
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 2
Will I like it? This is an international crime thriller that has a sci-fi and fantasy slant. The gorgeously filmed and Emmy-winning series follows a small French town where dead people keep coming back to life, healthy again and acting like they had never died. As the citizens of this town try to get to the bottom of this, they unravel a seemingly never-ending string of mysteries. If you want a less weird and more grounded Twin Peaks, this is an excellent option.
Stream The Returned (French) on Netflix
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Stellan Skarsgård and Nicola Walker
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? It would be very difficult not to fall in love with this series about loss, grieving, and mental instability. The miniseries follows Detective John River, an odd professional who is prone to talking to himself. However, when his beloved partner is murdered, River’s hallucinations become worse, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. It’s a heartbreaking show that watches as a more emotional, romantic, and hacker-free take on Mr. Robot.
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 4
Will I like it? This BBC series hits all the marks of a great show. It’s won awards, has a passionate fan base, and has a large audience. The series follows a modern day version of the greatest detective in the world and his partner Watson as they uncover some of Britain’s most intricate crimes. If you haven’t yet watched, you’re only hurting yourself.
STEAMY FOREIGN CRIME
Where’s it from? Argentina
Who’s in it? Juana Viale and Luciano Cáceres
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? Half crime investigation, have political drama, Estocolmo is set in two different time periods. The first time period sees Rosario and Franco covering stories and handling dark cases from their positions as a reporter and prosecutor respectively. The second timeline sees the now politically-active pair now engaged. However, their future is challenged when a mysterious person from their past returns. If you’re in the mood for a sexier, foreign-language version of Scandal, this is it.
Where’s it from? Cuba
Who’s in it? Jorge Perugorria
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? Half strict crime drama, half period piece, this Netflix Original can best be described as Caribbean Noir. The series explores Cuba’s hectic Special Period through the eyes of Captain Mario Conde, a romantic who’s bound to the dark affairs around him. If passionate romance and stories of characters being hurt by the darkness around them sounds appealing, this is for you.
Stream Four Seasons in Havana on Netflix
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Anna Friel
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons?
Will I like it? Let’s get this out of the way: Marcella is crazy. If unhinged protagonists are your thing, this detective drama is for you. The series follows detective Marcella Backland, a woman who is devastated when her husband and children leave her. Over the course of the series, Marcella starts to experience more and more blackouts, a phenomenon that may connect our protagonist to violence and makes solving the case of a serial killer a lot harder. If you loved the manipulative insanity of Gone Girl, this is a good TV companion.
GANGS AND MORE
Where’s it from? Argentina
Who’s in it? Juan Minujin
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? This critically-acclaimed and award-winning series is a great pick for anyone who loves prison dramas. The series follows an ex-cop who goes undercover in a California prison. As Miguel Palacios tries to infiltrate the gang that was responsible for kidnapping a judge’s daughter, his time behind bars gets more and more terrifying. If The Night Of left you gasping, this is a must watch.
Where’s it from? Norway and America
Who’s in it? Steven Van Zandt
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 3
Will I like it? Netflix’s first international acquisition is a bit of its own beast. The series follows Frank Tagliano, a former underboss in the American mafia whose time in witness protection sends him to Norway. It’s a bit like a more humorous and international version of The Sopranos.
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Cillian Murphy
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 3
Will I like it? Almost immediately you’ll be able to tell if Steven Knight’s anachronistic take on one of the UK’s most notorious gangs is for you. The oddly named show is a period piece that centers on the dramas and negotiations of gangs in 19th century England, but what makes this series stand out is its superb acting, great modern soundtrack, and beautiful cinematography. One of the most fun options on the list, if you like Marvel’s latest batch of Netflix shows, you’ll probably enjoy Peaky Blinders.
Stream Peaky Blinders on Netflix
SUPERNATURAL WONDERS
Where’s it from? Australia
Who’s in it? Patrick Brammall and Emma Booth
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? This Netflix Original is a bit more of a supernatural drama than a criminal drama. When six people inexplicably return from the dead, a small town has to figure out what to do. It’s a weird, tense, and oddly human take on the genre that’s less bingeable than the French The Returned but still worth checking out.
Where’s it from? Belgium
Who’s in it? Lynn Van Royen
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? Another crime drama with a supernatural slant, Hotel Beau Séjour is one of the best examples of this highly specific subgenre. The series follows Kato Hoeven, a teenage girl who was brutally murdered. But here’s the kicker: Kato is still able to interact with a select group of people, and even more oddly, she doesn’t remember being killed. The series tracks down the odd circumstances of her death while examining loss. In this way, it’s a bit like a more mature 13 Reasons Why or a weirder The Lovely Bones.
Stream Hotel Beau Séjour on Netflix
FEMINIST MASTERPIECES
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Sarah Lancashire
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 2
Will I like it? This Netflix acquisition is the ultimate example of the overworked and highly competent female detective trope. The series follows Catherine Cawood, a strong-willed sergeant who is still coping with the suicide of her teenage daughter. The series follows Cawood as she solves crimes connected to sexual assault and murder all while pushing away her own demons. It’s a superbly feminist crime drama that fans of The Fall and How to Get Away with Murder should enjoy.
Stream Happy Valley on Netflix
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Indira Varma and Robert Gelnister
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? This Netflix Original features one of international crime’s best tropes, hardcore police women who are 100 percent over their jobs. When a young girl is found murdered on a playground, it’s up to this group of detectives to solve the case. However, the more details they uncover, the more involved in a conspiracy theory they become. If you found the twisting roads of True Detective engaging, this is a good alternative.
SAD PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE OVER THE JOB
Where’s it from? Finland
Who’s in it? Ville Virtanen
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? Another show, another tired detective who just wants to escape his hectic life by moving to a small town. This Netflix Original follows Detective Inspector Kari, an officer who moves to a town by the border of Russia after his wife nearly dies of brain cancer. However, crime seems to follow Kari, and his peaceful existence is soon tormented by murders, rapes, kidnappings, and dog fights. If you love grumpy put-upon male protagonists, this is a good one.
Where’s it from? Belgium
Who’s in it? Yoann Blanc and Guillaume Kerbusch
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? After suffering a tragic loss, Detective Yoann Peeters returns to his hometown of Brussels with his teenage daughter. However, his peaceful return home soon turns into work when the body of a young African football player appears in the river. It’s a deeply dark show that loves to embrace these themes. If you’re missing The Leftovers’ harsh tone but want less of an emotional investment, check out The Break.
Where’s it from? Iceland
Who’s in it? Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir
Do you need subtitles? Yes
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? As far as the genre goes, this Netflix Original is a bit paint by the numbers. The series features a lot of tropes that have been utilized better by other shows on this list, namely the dead teenage female victim, a small town in shock, and a group of detectives that just can’t believe the dark crime in front of them. If you’re looking for a crime drama that’s not as intense or emotionally heavy as Broadchurch but is a step above Law & Order, this is a good option.
Where’s it from? Wales
Who’s in it? Richard Harrington
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 2
Will I like it? If you like British crime dramas, there’s a really good chance you’ll like this Welsh one. The series follows Detective Mathias, a police officer who leaves the city but it met by a string of disturbing murders in his new, calmer town. Slowly, he starts to sort through a complicated series of crimes all while guarding his own secrets. If a bleaker Broadchurch with less of an emotional investment sounds good, this is your show.
Where’s it from? Scotland
Who’s in it? Douglas Henshall
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 3
Will I like it? This critically-praised BBC series follows a murder mystery that’s set against the backdrop of the Shetland Isles. Shetland follows detective Jimmy Perez, another self-hating cop who certainly needs professional help. As he tries to solve the dark crimes around him, Perez tries to fight off the darkness inside of him. It’s a beautifully set and smartly constructed show that’s reminiscent of another BBC anti-hero, Luther.
Where’s it from? Britain
Who’s in it? Sean Harris
Do you need subtitles? No
How many seasons? 1
Will I like it? One of the most atypically structured shows on this list, Southcliffe is less about solving a crime and more about the effects of crime. Told through a jumping narrative, the miniseries explores how a series of shootings by a local man has affected a tight-knit town and its residents, all seen through the eyes of one journalist. If the nonlinear and deep exploration of Big Little Lies was appealing to you, its darker British cousin may be up your alley.
