The 10 Best Crime Shows With Less Than 20 Episodes, Ranked
Collider has put together a ranked list of the best crime television shows that run to fewer than 20 episodes, aimed at viewers who want a satisfying binge without the huge time commitment of long-running procedurals like The Sopranos. The selection spans true-crime dramas, stylised miniseries and prestige adaptations, highlighting shows that pack strong storytelling and performances into a compact run.
Among the entries featured are Tokyo Vice, HBO Max's lavishly produced true-crime drama starring Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe, which was cancelled after two seasons; Too Old to Die Young, Nicolas Winding Refn's ambitious and divisive Los Angeles crime miniseries; The Night Of, HBO's acclaimed murder-mystery series starring Riz Ahmed and John Turturro; and Ripley, the black-and-white Andrew Scott adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novels. The full list ranks ten shows in total, though only a handful are detailed in the excerpt provided.
In short
- Collider ranks the 10 best crime shows under 20 episodes.
- Featured picks include Tokyo Vice, The Night Of and Ripley.
- List targets viewers wanting shorter, high-quality crime binges.
Explained simply
Crime television ranges from long-running police procedurals to short series that tell a story in a limited number of episodes. A compact run can make a show easier to watch in a short time, while still allowing room for crime plots, character drama and questions about justice.
The shows mentioned include The Night Of, a murder mystery starring Riz Ahmed and John Turturro, and Ripley, Andrew Scott’s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novels. Tokyo Vice draws on real events and stars Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe, while Too Old to Die Young is a crime miniseries set in Los Angeles.
These titles take different approaches to crime, from mysteries to stylised drama and adaptations. Their shorter runs make them distinct from long-running series, where stories and characters can unfold over many seasons.