2025 has been a standout year for crime dramas, with several new shows revitalizing the genre and offering truly compelling television. While crime dramas have long been a television staple, shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad continue to set the standard.
Crime dramas have evolved beyond the typical formula, with many recent shows offering fresh takes on the genre. We’re seeing everything from fun, comedic series like The Rookie to shows with connections to the superhero world, such as The Penguin. This means ‘crime drama’ now covers a much wider range of television programs.
The most exciting new crime shows are moving beyond simple detective stories. They’re mixing crime with other genres to create more interesting and layered narratives than we’ve seen before.
5. MobLand
First up is MobLand, a British crime drama starring Tom Hardy. Hardy plays a troubleshooter for the powerful Harrigan crime family in London, with Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren as the family’s head, and his wife.
With a strong cast and direction from talents like Guy Ritchie, MobLand isn’t just another crime show – it’s raising the bar and bringing quality back to the genre.
The show currently ranks low due to mixed reviews. While some critics feel it doesn’t live up to its promise, others strongly praise its high production quality.
4. Dept. Q
Image via Netflix
Netflix’s newest show, Dept. Q, is proving to be a hit with both viewers and critics. This gripping 2025 crime drama centers around a new unit within the Scottish police dedicated to reopening and solving old, unsolved cases.
Although repeatedly reviewing old cases could be dull and frustrating for the investigators, the unique personalities of the characters in the budget department make the series surprisingly engaging.
Matthew Goode stars as Inspector Morck, a grumpy and self-assured detective. The case quickly becomes more complex and thrilling as they uncover new clues.
3. Task
Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey lead the cast of this new HBO crime drama, which hasn’t gotten as much attention as some of HBO’s other popular shows. While HBO is known for high-quality television, some great series, like Task, can get overlooked.
Critics overwhelmingly loved Task, giving it a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the second highest score of any film on this list. While still positive, general audiences rated it a bit lower at 75%.
The show centers around Ruffalo’s character, who heads a team investigating a series of violent robberies believed to be carried out by a motorcycle gang. Though the basic idea is straightforward, the show’s power lies in its simplicity and strong foundation.
The acting is fantastic, and each episode is packed with excitement that will keep you hooked. While a few other crime shows released in 2025 might be slightly better, Task is still worth watching, and genre fans will likely enjoy it.
2. Adolescence
Netflix delivered a standout year for crime dramas, and their original series, Adolescence, quickly became a major talking point. Beyond its unique style – filming entire episodes in single takes – the show captivated audiences with its compelling story and fantastic acting.
After a young girl is found murdered, a classmate is arrested and questioned. The show follows the conversations between this young man and investigators as evidence mounts and the truth slowly emerges with each new development in the case.
Ebaster Report
Ebaster Report
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Adolescence is a beautifully made and deeply moving show. What makes it even more impressive is that each episode was filmed in a single, uninterrupted take. It’s a truly remarkable achievement, and critics agree – it has the highest score on Rotten Tomatoes.
1. Dexter: Resurrection
Zach Dilgard / ©Paramount+ with Showtime / Courtesy Everett Collection
While critics’ ratings are important, they aren’t the only factor in choosing the best crime drama of 2025. Given the current trend of sequels, prequels, and reboots, the most engaging and successful crime drama of the year is likely to be Dexter: Resurrection. This revival of the popular series aims to recapture the magic of the original, which hasn’t quite reached the same heights since its finale.
It’s easy to feel tired of studios always revisiting old favorites, but Dexter: Resurrection surprisingly succeeded in bringing back the energy of the original series while also pushing the story in a new direction.
I’ve been a huge fan of Dexter for years, and what always grabbed me was the fascinating idea of rooting for a serial killer! The show’s always been a great crime drama, but I’m really excited about the move to New York and how it throws Dexter into a world of other killers. It’s adding a whole new level of complexity to his character and making things even more suspenseful – I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
Dexter: Resurrection is a standout crime drama and is currently the highest-rated show in the genre for 2025, known for its innovative and brilliant storytelling.
| TV Show | IMDb Score | RT Critics Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MobLand | 8.4 | 76% | 69% |
| Dept. Q | 8.2 | 88% | 90% |
| Task | 8.0 | 96% | 75% |
| Adolescence | 8.1 | 97% | 74% |
| Dexter: Resurrection | 9.0 | 95% | 90% |
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2025-12-20 16:00