The best crime shows to watch in 2026 start with Happy Valley, Sally Wainwright's three series of Yorkshire crime drama, and The Responder, with Martin Freeman as a morally compromised Liverpool police officer. Slow Horses (Apple TV+) brings Gary Oldman to Mick Herron's Slough House spy thrillers, The Wire (HBO) remains the definitive American crime drama, and Sherwood, True Detective: Night Country, The Diplomat (Netflix) and ITV's Broadchurch complete the list. For intense British realism, start with Happy Valley, The Responder or Sherwood, then see the Tivimate IPTV service.
Whether you prefer gritty British police procedurals, Scandi noir, or sprawling US crime epics, there has never been a better time to be a crime drama fan. The challenge is knowing what to watch next — and where to watch it.
With Tivimate, you get live channels and an on-demand library in one subscription. Here are our top picks for 2026.
The Best Crime Shows to Stream in the USA Right Now
The Responder
Intense British crime drama starring Martin Freeman as a morally compromised Liverpool police officer navigating corruption and personal crisis. Raw, brilliant, unmissable.
Happy Valley
Sally Wainwright's masterpiece. Three series of compulsive Yorkshire crime drama — Catherine Cawood is one of the greatest characters in British TV history.
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
Gary Oldman leads this exceptional spy-thriller from Mick Herron's Slough House novels. Witty, tense and far superior to most British drama of the last decade.
The Wire (HBO)
If you haven't watched The Wire, stop everything. The definitive American crime drama — five seasons of unmatched storytelling about Baltimore's drug trade, police and politics.
Sherwood
A double murder in a former mining community reignites old wounds. This BBC two-part drama is one of the finest pieces of British TV in recent years.
True Detective: Night Country
Season 4 of the anthology series sends Jodie Foster to the Alaskan tundra for a bleak, atmospheric investigation that divides opinion but demands to be watched.
The Diplomat (Netflix)
A political thriller about a US ambassador to the UK — fast-paced, sharp writing, and genuinely funny between the tension. Season 2 delivered on every promise.
Broadchurch
ITV's defining drama. A child's murder in a Dorset seaside town. Three brilliant series that made Olivia Colman a household name globally.
Why Crime Drama Dominates Streaming Right Now
British crime drama has experienced a genuine golden age over the past decade. Shows like Happy Valley, Sherwood and The Responder are internationally acclaimed precisely because they do something US crime shows rarely achieve — they root the crime in specific place and community, making the social context as gripping as the investigation itself.
For US viewers, there is the additional pleasure of recognition: the landscapes, the accents, the institutions, and the specific anxieties of contemporary British life. Few genres feel quite as distinctly British as the crime drama.
Where to Watch All of These in the USA
The frustration with modern streaming is fragmentation — Happy Valley is on BBC iPlayer, Slow Horses on Apple TV+, True Detective on Sky Atlantic, The Wire on a different platform. Following your favourite shows increasingly means subscribing to five or six services simultaneously.
Tivimate puts live channels and an on-demand library in one subscription. Individual titles come and go, so ask our WhatsApp support about a specific show before you subscribe. Plans start from just $19.99/month.
What to Watch Next: Our Quick Picks by Mood
- For intense British realism: Happy Valley, The Responder, Sherwood
- For clever, witty spy-crime: Slow Horses, The Diplomat
- For long-form American prestige: The Wire, True Detective
- For cosy British crime: Broadchurch, Vera, Midsomer Murders
- For twisty modern thrillers: Bodyguard, Line of Duty, Trigger Point
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Happy Valley in the USA?
Happy Valley is available on BBC iPlayer.
Is Slow Horses available in the USA?
Slow Horses is an Apple TV+ original, so Apple TV+ is the place to watch it.
Can I watch US crime shows like The Wire on Tivimate?
The Wire is an HBO original. Titles in Tivimate's on-demand library change over time, so message our support team via WhatsApp to check a specific show before you subscribe.
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