Some crime miniseries are just so good audiences can’t help but devour the entire series across the span of one solitary day. Whilelong-running showswithdozens of episodes per seasoncan be great, just as important are the short-form television shows that can be taken in, enjoyed, and then moved on from all over the course of 24 hours. With tightly constructed narratives that still have more room for character development than the average feature film, one-season miniseries are often the perfect medium to deliver an intense crime drama.
Many of thebest crime TV series of all timecan be binged in one day, as most true crime stories act as self-contained narratives that cannot be extended endlessly season after season. With Apple TV+ series, Netflix originals, and traditional networks all delivering exceptional crime series,there’s never been a better time to be a crime TV lover than right now. All these series have something special to offer, and those with a free day on their hands can even enjoy them in their entirety over the course of just one day.
The Undoing
Cast
The Undoing is a psychological thriller miniseries starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. Directed by Susanne Bier, the series centers on Grace Fraser, a successful therapist, whose life unravels when a violent death, a missing spouse, and a series of revelations disrupt her seemingly perfect existence. The series explores themes of deceit and trust while maintaining suspense throughout its narrative.
The Undoingbrought Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant togetherfor a thrilling murder mystery that viewers could devour in a single sitting. As an engaging spin on classic whodunnit tropes, Kidman played a New York therapist whose life is thrown into a whirlwind when her family ends up at the center of a murder investigation. With Grant trading his usual rom-com leading man charm to instead play a character with seriously sinister undertones, this was a prime example of the British actor’s willingness to take on more complex and challenging roles in recent years.
Featuring plenty of twists and turns, misdirects, and several detours,The Undoingtook viewers on a wild ride where nothing was certain from one episode to the next. WhileThe Undoingcould be criticized for valuing episodic twists over the narrative cohesion of the final project, like the best bingeable TV series, the enjoyment of this mystery came primarily from guessing along throughout. Sadly, the ending didn’t live up to all the exciting build-up that came before it, but there are certainly worse ways to spend an afternoon.
The Serpent
The Serpent is a true-crime drama series based on the real-life story of Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer who preyed on tourists in Thailand in the 1970s. The series follows the story of Herman Knippenberg, a junior diplomat at the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok, who becomes obsessed with tracking down Sobhraj.
The Serpentwas an eight-part co-production between the BBC and Netflix that truly has to be seen to be believed. This story of a French serial killer conning and murdering backpackers on the hippie trail through Asia during the 1970s was based on the real killer Charles Sobhraj, who was believed to have killed at least 20 tourists, with most of his crimes taking place in Thailand. As a tense, thrilling, and totally engrossing series,The Serpentis truly one of the most underrated miniseries to come out in recent years.
With an astounding lead performance from Tahar Rahim,The Serpentperfectly captured how Sobhraj stole his victims’ passports and identities to travel the world while selling stolen diamonds alongside his accomplice girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman.) Just as thrilling wasthe story of the Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg(Billy Howle), who made it his mission to uncover the truth behind the tourist’s deaths and bring Sobhraj to justice. WhileThe Serpentcan be binged in a day, the intensity of this series means it may be wise to spread it out over at least a few days.
Defending Jacob
Defending Jacob is a crime drama series starring Chris Evans as Andy Barber, an assistant district attorney whose life is upended when his teenage son Jacob is accused of murder. Adapted from the novel by William Landay, the series explores the strain on the Barber family as they grapple with the complexities of the legal system and the realization of their son’s potential guilt.
A parent’s natural impulse to protect their child versus a legal professional’s duty toward justice was tested against one another in the thrilling murder mysteryDefending Jacob. Based on a novel by William Landay,Defending Jacobstarred Chris Evans as Andy Barber, an assistant district attorney dealing with the impact of his 14-year-old son being accused of murdering his classmate. With plenty of tension and engaging melodrama, this engrossing eight-part series is one of the best original series to come out of Apple TV+.
There was an ambiguity toDefending Jacobthat kept its well-worn premise interesting right up until the end as the truth behind Jacob’s case revealed itself within its slow-burn narrative. Evan’s performance was a real highlight as he proved his talents outside of the superhero genre in a rare dramatic performance that made audiences wish he pursued more roles like this. WhileDefending Jacobcould have streamlined its novel’s source material a little more and would have worked better as a six-part series, it still made for engaging viewing.
The Night Of
The Night of is a TV mini-series revolving around Nasir ‘Naz’ Khan, a young college student who, after partying with a woman, finds her stabbed to death in his room the following morning. Riz Ahmed stars as Naz alongside John Turturro as his lawyer and Michael K. Williams as Freddy Knight, an influential inmate at Rikers Island.
Few series have played with audiences’ beliefs and perceptions of the truth better thanThe Night Of. This astounding HBO miniseries starred Riz Ahmed as Naz Khan, a Pakistani-American college student accused of murdering a young woman on the Upper East Side of New York, and John Turturro as John Stone, the lawyer representing him. As a richly crafted mystery that kept viewers questing right up to the finale, by the time the credits roll on each episode, it’s nigh on impossible not to continue watching and try to uncover the truth behind this darkly eventful night.
The most thrilling aspect ofThe Night Ofwas how viewers' thoughts about Naz’s innocence changed from episode to episode. WhileNaz’s frantic panic and lack of memory surrounding the events of the young woman’s deathinitially seemed to indicate he was innocent, as new aspects of his personality are revealed in prison, this no longer feels as certain.The Night Ofwas an excellent series about the truth, justice, and the blurred lines between them.
Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects is an HBO thriller mini-series that centers on reporter Camille Preaker, a woman with a dark past returning to her hometown. Returning to Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate two murders, she takes up at her childhood home, where she must now contend with her mother, who will force her to reckon with her past.
The dark history of a troubled reporter is uncovered inSharp Objects, an excellent eight-episode adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s debut novel of the same name. Starring Amy Adams as Camille Preaker, an alcoholic journalist recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital who returns to her hometown to cover the murders of two young girls, this HBO series showcased a life that was categorized by trauma, self-harm, and emotional devastation.
Adams’ impeccable portrayal of Camillewas what madeSharp Objectsstand out as she perfectly captured the character’s downward spiral and the internal descent into disorientation that made the novel such a pageturner. As a riveting miniseries that walked the fine line between pulpy excitement and high drama, the dark nature of the murders forced Camille to confront her own trauma and the overbearing impact of her relationship with her mother. As a miniseries categorized more by self-loathing than its murder mystery,Sharp Objectswas a uniquely bleak series.
When They See Us
Created by Ava DuVernay, When They See Us is a True Crime miniseries that was released on Netflix in 2019. The plot follows five separate individuals that were charged with the assault of female victim in Central Park.
With just four episodes, the astounding miniseriesWhen They See Uscan easily be binged in a day, although the sheer emotional devastation of its story may make this a difficult endeavor. Created, co-written, and directed by Ava DuVernay,this miniseries was based on events of the 1989 Central Park jogger caseand its effects on the five Black and Latino suspects who were falsely accused of the rape and assault of a white woman. With the juvenile suspects being as young as 14 years old, these false accusations had ripple effects throughout their entire lives as they were prosecuted for a crime they did not commit.
When They See Uswas based on a real case that continues to divide and spark debate among people to this day and a shocking and engrossing glimpse into the injustices within the legal system. By adding humanity to the stories of these young men,When They See Usshowcased for audiences the devastating effects of police profiling and the nature of justice in America. With an emotional impact that truly cannot be understated,When They SeeUs was must-watch television.
The Staircase
The Staircase delves into Michael Peterson’s family life and the mysterious events tied to his wife Kathleen’s death, which occurred following a fall down a staircase in their home. Michael Peterson’s involvement in the death - or lack thereof - has been a hotly debated issue.
The case against Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing his wife Kathleen, has fascinated viewers for more than two decades now, as the original 2004 true crime documentary outlined the complex and divisive nature of his story. However, it was the 2022 miniseriesThe Staircase, starring Colin Firth as Peterson, that added a new dramatic layer of intrigue to this story. Over the course of eight episodes, audiences witnessed the dramatization of not just Kathleen’s death but also the media circus that surrounded Peterson’s tumultuous legal battle.
The Staircasemade for nail-biting viewing for those already familiar with the case and those learning about it for the first time, as it gave audiences all the information they needed to make up their own minds about his innocence without ever truly giving a definitive answer on it.Firth gave an astounding performance as Peterson, an eccentric man whose true intentions are incredibly hard to pinpoint. As a fresh perspective on a well-worn mystery,The Staircaseminiseries was a real treat for true crime lovers.
Des
An award-winning British three-part television drama miniseries, Des is based on the 1983 arrest of notorious Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen. When human remains are discovered at his property, the police trace back through a harrowing history of multiple chilling murders.
While audiences will recognize David Tennant as the fun-loving 10th incarnation of the Doctor onDoctor Whoor even as the hilarious fictionalized version of himself fromStaged, this Scottish actor was totally unrecognizable in the crime miniseriesDes.This terrifying three-part ITV series starred Tennant as Dennis Nilsen, the notorious Scottish serial killer and necrophile who murdered at least twelve young men and boys between 1978 and 1983. As a truly vile and despicable man, Nilsen performed ritualized killings on his victims before shockingly flushing their dismembered remains down the toilet.
Deswas an unrelentingly bleak crime drama that, after three episodes spent with Tennant’s Nilsen, certainly felt long enough. The monstrous nature of Nilsen’s crimes truly boggled the mind and was a glimpse into a level of evil far beyond common criminal behavior. Tennant won the International Emmy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Nilsen, a part that pushed him the farthest out of his comfort zone and normally friendly persona he had ever dared to endeavor.
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is a mystery crime-drama that stars Kate Winslet as a detective attempting to solve a murder as her life crumbles around her. Marianne “Mare” Sheehan is assigned to investigate the murder of one girl while trying to tackle a cold case of another missing girl. Having recently lost her son, Mare’s world is steeped in chaos as she attempts to reclaim her life in the eyes of the town - and herself.
Oscar winner Kate Winslet has given some truly astounding movie performances across her Hollywood career, although perhaps her best acting came in the HBO crime miniseriesMare of Easttown. Playing out like a page-turner novel, Winslet starred as Mare Sheehan, a tough-as-nails detective sergeant investigating the murder of a young girl and the disappearance of another in her small Pennsylvania town. As a slowly unveiling mystery where everyone’s a suspect,Mare of Easttownmade for truly nail-biting viewing over the course of its swift seven-episode run.
With strong female representation, an accurate presentation of the seldom-heard Philadelphia accent, and one knockout performance after another, everyone involved inMare of Easttownwas working at the top of their game. Boasting overwhelming critical acclaim,Mare of Easttownwas an astounding example of what can be achieved within the confines of a miniseries, as the tight narrative had cinematic quality yet maintained enough room to breathe and develop.Mare of Easttownreceived sixteen Emmy nominations, with Winslet deservedly winning Outstanding Lead Actress.
Black Bird
Inspired by the true story of convicted serial killer Larry Hall, Black Bird is an Apple TV+ drama series that follows a wealthy young named James Keene Jr., who finds himself imprisoned after being convicted on drugs and weapons charges. Fortunately for James, the FBI offers him an early out - if he can get Larry to sign a confession by befriending him in prison, his sentence will be commuted.
The incredible Apple TV+ seriesBlack Birdwas a fascinating true crime drama based on the true story of Jimmy Keane (Taron Egerton), a charming narcotics dealer who agrees to a transfer to a high-security prison in return for a reduced sentence. However, the deal he made was anything but simple, as he must extract a confession from presumed serial killer Larry Hall, a suspected killer and rapist accused of killing 14 women. As a gritty and disturbing crime story,Black Birdechoed the character-driven appeal that made series likeThe Night Ofso popular.
While Egerton gave an incredible performance as Keane, the standout role was Paul Walter Hauser’s disturbing portrayal of Hall, a performance that captured the complex menace and buried humanity of this troubled killer.Black Birdwas a series full of career-best performances that also featured Ray Liotta in a poignant posthumous role as Keane’s ailing father. As an entertaining and engrossing piece of television,Black Birdwas a perfect example of a crime series that can be binged entirely in just one day.
