10 Crime TV Shows With 100% On Rotten Tomatoes

In recent years, there has been a massive spike in the level of public interest in crime-focused programming. Of course, this means that there has also been a huge increase in the amount of this content being produced by studios and networks around the globe. While fans of the crime genre are bound to be happy about the uptick in crime-based streaming options appearing on services like Netflix and Max, the change does lead to another challenge; deciding which ones to watch.

Fortunately, websites like the popular review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes, help make these decisions a little easier. The site applies a “Tomatometer” score to every movie and TV show, which viewers can use to quickly determine what percentage of the movie/show’s reviews have been positive. Every once in a while, a show comes around that earns the honor of receiving a score of 100% on the Tomatometer. When searching for which crime show to binge next, it may be wise to check out which shows have earned this coveted perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

10 The Tower (2021 – Present)

Based On The Metropolitan Book Series By Kate London

The Tower is a prime option for fans of British television. The series, which spans eleven episodes across three seasons, explores what happens after a police officer and a teenager fall to their deaths from the roof of a London tower. To make matters even more complicated for the London police force, a rookie officer and a young boy who were both present on the roof mysteriously disappear soon after. The case soon falls into the hands of Detective Sergeant Sarah Collins (played by Gemma Whelan), who must figure out what’s going on before it is too late.

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The Tower has managed to fly a bit under the radar, but reviews are consistently positive for those who have seen this police procedural. The show is based on the popular Metropolitan book series by Kate London. Part of what makes the series, so compelling is the fact that London herself used to be a detective with the Metropolitan Police Service. While the stories are fictional, she is able to draw from her own experience, adding a level of realism that many fictional crime shows fail to achieve.

9 Black Snow (2023 – Present)

Six, Easy-To-Binge Episodes

Cast

Travis Fimmel , Jemmason Power , Talijah Blackman-Corowa , Alexander England , Rob Carlton , Brooke Satchwell , Jana McKinnon , Megan Smart , Alana Mansour , Dan Spielman , Victoria Haralabidou , Kat Stewart

Character(s)

James Cormack , Hazel Baker , Isabel Baker , Anton Bianchi , Victor Bianchi , Chloe Walcott

Release Date

January 1, 2023

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Lucas Taylor

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The Australian crime series, Black Snow, offers a chilling, dramatic story from beginning to end. In a small town in Australia, the opening of a time capsule reveals new details about the unsolved murder of a high school student 30 years before. When the new information falls into the hands of cold-case detective James Cormack (played by Travis Fimmel), he sets off to find out who performed the heinous crime once and for all.

Black Snow currently only has one six-episode season available to stream, making it an excellent option for viewers looking for mystery that will keep them hooked, without taking too much of their time. The show has, however, already been renewed for a second season, which is currently set to be released sometime in 2025. Black Snow is packed with twists and turns, making it certain to keep the audience guessing until the very last moment.

8 Worst Roommate Ever (2022 – Present)

A Shocking True Crime Docuseries

Worst Roommate Ever is a Netflix original documentary series detailing different people’s horrific experiences with strange roommates. The series focuses on five different cases, from a serial squatter who drives tenants out of their homes to a serial killing grandma who kills people that stay at her house. The mini-series premiered on Netflix in 2022.

Netflix’s Worst Roommate Ever is a haunting docuseries from Blumhouse Productions, perfect for fans of modern true-crime stories. As the title suggests, the series tells the shocking true stories of various roommates who maliciously upended the lives of those living closest to them. The show has not only been renewed for a third season, but is already set to receive its own spin-off series as well, to be titled Worst Ex Ever.

Viewers are told the shocking stories of these crimes by the survivors themselves, making them all the more chilling. While each episode is packed with psychological horrors and plenty of twists, the audience is constantly aware that these are not fictional stories designed intentionally to scare viewers; rather, these are real people recounting events from their pasts.

7 John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise (2021)

An Insight Into The Killer

Release Date

March 25, 2021

Seasons

1

The 2021 Peacock docuseries, John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise, tells the disturbing true story of one of the most well-known serial killers in America’s history. The six-part series follows Gacy’s story from the kidnapping that led to his arrest, all the way through to the questions that still linger about the case today. John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise is thorough enough to make older viewers vividly recall this era when every parent became deathly afraid for their child’s safety.

Among the strongest selling points of this docuseries is the inclusion of interviews with people from all sides of the story. Over the course of the six-part breakdown of the horrific crime spree, viewers get to hear from the people closest to the victims, some individuals who believe that there are still more details yet to be discovered, and even from Gacy himself. John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise stands out by being one of the few crime documentaries to show interviews not only with the victims, but with the actual killer himself.

6 Troppo (2022 – Present)

Based On The Acclaimed Novel By Candice Fox

Troppo is a crime drama series where a disgraced ex-cop partners with an eccentric private investigator to uncover the truth behind suspicious deaths in a remote Australian community. Based on the novel Crimson Lake by Candice Fox, the show explores themes of redemption and resilience amidst the unforgiving Australian wilderness. The series stars Thomas Jane, Nicole Chamoun, and David Lyons.

Cast

Thomas Jane , Nichole Chamoun , Cramer Cain , Ling Cooper Tang , Radha Mitchell , Kate Beahan , Sun Park , Angela Punch McGregor , Josh Helman , Damien Garvey , Yerin Ha , David Lyons , Peta Wilson , Wendy P. Mocke

Seasons

1

Production Company

Beyond Entertainment, EQ Media Group, Renegade Entertainment, Aperture Media Partners, AGC Television

The Australian crime drama, Troppo, is an exciting series about a pair of unlikely allies who team up in an effort to solve a case surrounding the disappearance of a prominent tech developer. The series, which is based on the acclaimed novel, Crimson Lake, by Candice Fox, currently has two eight-episode seasons, with the potential of a third coming in the future.

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Though its story is certainly compelling on its own, Troppo is propelled forward by its characters. Portrayed by Nicole Chamoun and Thomas Jane respectively, the main characters of the series are Amanda Pharrell, an unusual detective with a shady past, and Ted Conkaffey, a disgruntled former police officer. Pharrell and Conkaffey are both complex, believable characters, and their unlikely bond adds an impressive sense of depth to the series.

5 The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman (2022)

Perfect For A Low Time Commitment

Release Date

January 18, 2022

Seasons

1

Netflix has had many true crime hits over the years, but one of the most well-received by critics is The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman. This three-part docuseries from 2022 unravels the surprising true story of Robert Hendy-Freegard, a notorious British conman. Throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, Hendy-Freegard manipulated various people into giving him large sums of money by pretending to be a British spy, weaving an elaborate web of lies to fool his targets into believing his story.

The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman manages to tell the fascinating story of Hendy-Freegard without overstaying its welcome, holding itself to only three episodes. This makes the docuseries perfect for anyone looking for a new crime show that won’t require a massive time commitment. The true-crime series is full of twists and turns, and features a surprising ending that has sparked plenty of conversation since its release.

4 Bad Sport (2021)

A Story Of Olympic Manipulation

Release Date

October 6, 2021

Seasons

1

The 2021 Netflix docuseries, Bad Sport, presents six individual stories of crime within the world of professional sports. Scandals involving various sports/leagues around the world are highlighted in the series, with episodes covering everything from fixed cricket matches to the manipulation of judges at the Olympics. Each episode presents a thorough breakdown of the events, featuring interviews from the athletes, coaches, and even the law enforcement officers involved with the case.

Bad Sport is a great option for anyone interested in exploring the intersection between crime and sports. Because each episode features its own self-contained story about a different scandal in the sporting world, there is no need to worry about having to get invested in a single, overdrawn storyline. Viewers are free to jump in wherever they see fit, whether it be by watching every episode in order, or by jumping around to whichever ones sound the most interesting.

3 Deadloch (2023 – Present)

A Comedic Touch To Dark Subject Matter

Deadloch is a mystery thriller series that follows a detective investigating a dark and eerie town in Australia, where he uncovers a web of secrets and lies. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he must confront the town’s sinister forces and dark past.

Cast

Kate Box , Madeleine Sami , Nina Oyama , Tom Ballard , Alicia Gardiner

Release Date

June 1, 2023

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Kate McCartney , Kate McLennan

Set in a fictional town in Tasmania, Deadloch is an Australian comedy/crime series about what happens when a dead body washes ashore on a local beach. With the tragic event happening at the same time as the Tasmanian Winter Festival, two detectives with very different personalities must work together to get to the bottom of things before the once-quiet town descends into chaos. The series, which has been renewed for a second season, received numerous honors at the AACTA Awards, including ten nominations and five wins.

Deadloch is a standout in the way it manages to seamlessly introduce comedic elements in a way that doesn’t detract from the drama and tension that most viewers typically expect from crime shows. Because of the generally dark subject, most crime-centered television shows wouldn’t dare include comedy in any capacity. Deadloch proves that this can be done effectively, though, offering a suitable option for fans of both genres.

2 Murder on Middle Beach (2020)

A Docuseries With Emotional Impact

Murder on Middle Beach is a documentary series directed by Madison Hamburg, exploring the unsolved murder of his mother, Barbara Hamburg. The series delves into various theories and suspects while unraveling complex family dynamics. Through interviews and personal reflections, Hamburg seeks justice and closure, providing a comprehensive look into the emotional and investigative process surrounding the case.

Release Date

November 15, 2020

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Josh Adler

In late 2020, Max released Murder on Middle Beach, a shocking, deeply personal take on the true-crime genre. The four-part docuseries was created by Madison Hamburg, and follows his journey as he attempts to figure out who was responsible for the murder of his mother ten years before. Assembled using interviews spanning eight years, Murder on Middle Beach is the product of one dedicated man and his relentless journey to find the truth.

The fact that the series is the first television project by Hamburg does not detract from its quality at all, but rather amplifies the show’s emotional impact.Murder on Middle Beach stands out as a true-crime piece far more personal than most others in the genre, as it truly is the story of a young man desperately trying to understand what happened to his mother. Audiences are bound to feel a profound connection to Hamburg, who offers an honest, gut-wrenching portrait of himself.

1 No One Saw a Thing (2019)

A Fascinating Story About Turning A Blind Eye

Release Date

August 1, 2019

Seasons

1

In the early 1980s, widely-detested “town bully” Ken Rex McElroy was shot and killed in a very public area of Skidmore, Missouri. Avi Belkin’s docuseries, No One Saw a Thing, explores what happened when none of the nearly 60 townspeople present were willing to admit that they saw what happened. This bizarre occurrence fascinated the nation for years, with no one ever being charged for the public murder. Belkin’s six-episode series takes a deep dive into what may have led to the entire town turning a blind eye to the crime.

Fans of the true-crime genre know that some of the most captivating mysteries are the ones that never get answered. The mind-boggling events that form the basis of No One Saw a Thing are made even more peculiar by the fact that a complete explanation was never achieved. The fascinating story of an entire town turning a blind eye feels like the type of story that could only exist on television, and knowing that it doesn’t makes it even better.