Best Crime TV Shows on HBO Max

If you are in the mood for tense mysteries, gritty detectives, and big conspiracies, Max has a deep bench of crime series to dive into. This list pulls together long running favorites, one season wonders, international imports, and true crime docuseries that focus on real investigations. You will find everything from mob sagas and police procedurals to legal dramas and psychological thrillers. Pick a case, meet the investigators, and see how each story unravels one reveal at a time.

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

This series follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he balances organized crime with family life. Episodes move between mob operations and therapy sessions that examine stress and leadership inside a criminal enterprise. Storylines track rival families, law enforcement pressure, and internal betrayals. The ensemble includes capos, associates, and relatives whose choices drive investigations and reprisals.

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

Set in Baltimore, this show studies the drug trade from the perspectives of police, dealers, and institutions. Each season focuses on a different system including the docks, city hall, schools, and the press. Wiretaps and surveillance teams map crews and their connections. Investigations highlight how policy and bureaucracy shape everyday policing.

‘True Detective’ (2014– )

Every season presents a new case with different detectives and a new setting. Investigations use interviews, forensics, and timelines to piece together crimes that span years. The show examines how past choices echo through present evidence. Cases move from initial scenes to interrogations and final confrontations.

‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)

The series charts Prohibition era crime in Atlantic City led by political boss Enoch Nucky Thompson. Storylines follow bootlegging networks, federal agents, and rival gang leaders. Historical figures intersect with fictional characters across shifting alliances. Revenue streams, territory, and enforcement shape each season’s conflicts.

‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)

A small town detective investigates a local murder while managing family pressures and a past case. The series details how evidence is processed and how tips shape leads. Community relationships complicate interviews and alibis. The case timeline drives the search for connections across suspects.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

After a fatal incident, a college student enters the criminal justice system while a defense attorney builds a case. The show follows police procedure, evidence handling, and plea bargaining. Jailhouse politics affect the defendant as the trial approaches. Each episode examines how a single night can spiral into a complex prosecution.

‘Perry Mason’ (2020–2023)

Set in 1930s Los Angeles, this reimagining follows a private investigator who becomes a defense attorney. Cases involve ransom plots, corruption, and competing jurisdictions. Period forensics and courtroom strategy guide each breakthrough. The production recreates the legal procedures of the time with attention to chain of custody and witness prep.

‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)

A reporter returns to her hometown to cover a series of murders while facing buried trauma. Investigative steps include victimology, timelines, and interviews with family members. Local politics and social dynamics cloud the search for the killer. Clues surface through records, photographs, and conflicting testimonies.

‘The Outsider’ (2020)

A police detective confronts a case where physical evidence points to an impossible suspect. Investigation methods include DNA testing, surveillance footage, and travel records. As anomalies mount, the team tests alternative explanations. Witness accounts and forensic gaps push the inquiry in unexpected directions.

‘We Own This City’ (2022)

Based on real events in Baltimore, this series follows federal and local probes into a police gun trace task force. The narrative tracks indictments, plea deals, and internal affairs interviews. Case files show overtime fraud, illegal searches, and civil rights violations. The show details how investigators assemble a conspiracy case from paper trails and wiretaps.

‘Barry’ (2018–2023)

A contract killer attempts to change careers while criminal ties complicate his plans. Episodes show how hits are organized, how evidence lingers, and how witnesses alter risk. Police investigations develop through ballistics, phone data, and informants. The story maps the overlap between acting classes and underworld networks.

‘Tokyo Vice’ (2022– )

An American crime reporter in Tokyo works with detectives to cover organized crime. Reporting involves cultivating sources, verifying records, and navigating press rules. Police work includes controlled buys, surveillance, and financial tracking. The series examines how corporate fronts interface with street level operations.

‘Strike’ (2017– )

A private investigator and his partner take on murders and missing persons cases in London. They assemble evidence through stakeouts, interviews, and background research. Each case emphasizes motive and opportunity across a wide suspect pool. The partnership balances legwork with careful analysis of timelines.

‘The Undoing’ (2020)

A therapist and her family face scrutiny after a high profile death. Investigators examine financial records, cell data, and forensic reports. The legal team navigates media attention and jury perception. Hearings and trial strategy hinge on credibility and reasonable doubt.

‘Big Little Lies’ (2017–2019)

A death at a school fundraiser unravels through police interviews and flashbacks. The investigation reconstructs relationships, prior incidents, and opportunities. Statements from parents reveal tensions and secrets that affect the case. The structure builds from witness accounts to the event’s true sequence.

‘The Deuce’ (2017–2019)

Set in 1970s and 1980s New York, this series covers vice policing, organized crime, and changing laws. Storylines tie street level activity to money laundering and real estate. Police units track patterns and target venues through undercover work. The show follows how regulation shifts affect enforcement and profit.

‘Oz’ (1997–2003)

Inside a maximum security prison, staff and inmates navigate crime, punishment, and control. Episodes depict contraband networks, gang rivalries, and internal investigations. Administrative hearings decide sanctions and transfers. Medical and security records document cause and effect after incidents.

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

A fugitive assumes a sheriff’s identity and applies law in a town with heavy criminal interests. Cases involve robberies, trafficking, and organized crime responses. Action sequences stem from raids, warrants, and territorial fights. Forensic details and tactical planning shape each operation’s outcome.

‘Quarry’ (2016)

A Marine returns from Vietnam and enters a contract killing network in Memphis. The series covers recruitment methods, payment routes, and cover stories. Police interest rises as bodies connect through ballistics and patterns. Tension develops between military experience and the criminal economy.

‘Love & Death’ (2023)

This limited series dramatizes a real Texas murder case. The story follows police procedures, evidence analysis, and pretrial motions. Community ties and church life affect witness cooperation. Courtroom scenes show how attorneys frame motive and opportunity.

‘Full Circle’ (2023)

A botched kidnapping investigation exposes a web of past crimes. Detectives trace cash drops, travel history, and communication records. The plot tracks how one mistake unravels connections across families. Evidence links create a path from present events back to older offenses.

‘The Flight Attendant’ (2020–2022)

After a death in a hotel room, an airline employee tries to reconstruct her movements. Investigators sort through passenger lists, security footage, and financial activity. International travel complicates jurisdiction and cooperation. Each lead forces changes to the timeline and suspect list.

‘The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst’ (2015–2024)

This documentary series examines multiple deaths linked to a wealthy real estate heir. Filmmakers compile interviews, legal files, and audio evidence. Episodes show how new information triggers renewed scrutiny by authorities. The production demonstrates how public exposure can influence an investigation.

‘I’ll Be Gone in the Dark’ (2020)

This docuseries follows the hunt for the Golden State Killer through archives and survivor accounts. Investigators use DNA genealogy, crime scene records, and timeline mapping. The series shows how cold cases gain momentum through new techniques. Victim perspectives anchor the evidence driven approach.

‘McMillion$’ (2020)

The documentary reconstructs a fraud scheme that targeted a fast food promotional game. Federal agents explain tips, subpoenas, and undercover tactics used to build the case. Financial trails and phone records reveal how the network operated. The show lays out the roles of recruiters, winners, and organizers.

‘Murder on Middle Beach’ (2020)

A filmmaker investigates a family member’s unsolved killing. The series uses interviews, public records, and court documents to follow leads. Conflicting statements force reevaluation of motives and alibis. Each episode organizes evidence into a clearer picture of the case.

‘The Case Against Adnan Syed’ (2019)

This docuseries revisits a Baltimore murder conviction through new testing and legal filings. Attorneys examine cell tower data, witness reliability, and ineffective assistance claims. The narrative tracks appeals and post conviction proceedings. The show highlights how evolving standards affect old cases.

‘Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children’ (2020)

The series reviews the child murders in Atlanta and the subsequent investigation. It compiles archival footage, interviews, and case files. Questions about evidence handling and alternate suspects are presented. The episodes trace changes in investigative focus over time.

‘Mind Over Murder’ (2022)

This documentary explores a Nebraska murder and the controversial confessions that followed. Filmmakers detail interrogation methods, memory issues, and legal outcomes. Archival materials and community theater scenes reconstruct events. The series examines how narratives form around uncertain facts.

‘The Staircase’ (2022)

This scripted series portrays a high profile North Carolina murder case and the defense team’s strategy. Episodes show expert testimony, forensic disputes, and media attention. The production recreates scene analysis and blood pattern debates. Courtroom developments shift public understanding of the evidence.

‘Mosaic’ (2018)

A disappearance in a mountain town leads to an investigation with multiple viewpoints. Clues include financial incentives, creative rivalries, and phone records. The story uses interviews and recovered files to build the case. The structure encourages the audience to track motives alongside the detectives.

‘Burden of Proof’ (2023)

A brother searches for answers in his sister’s decades old disappearance. The series uses depositions, record requests, and expert reviews. Conflicting accounts from family members complicate the timeline. Law enforcement files guide a renewed look at earlier decisions.

‘Telemarketers’ (2023)

This docuseries uncovers how certain fundraising call centers operated and where donations went. The investigation includes undercover footage, corporate documents, and regulatory records. Whistleblowers describe tactics used to reach targets and redirect money. The show follows efforts to bring the scheme to light.

‘White House Plumbers’ (2023)

The series dramatizes the team behind the Watergate break in. Episodes track planning, break ins, and the legal fallout. Government offices, campaign operations, and investigative journalism intersect. The narrative shows how operational security failures led to exposure.

‘Warrior’ (2019–2023)

Set in 19th century San Francisco, this series follows rival tongs and law enforcement during the Tong Wars. Storylines involve protection rackets, corruption, and immigration politics. Police raids and political deals shape outcomes on both sides. The show connects street fights to institutional power.

‘Animal Kingdom’ (2016–2022)

A teenage boy enters a Southern California crime family after a tragedy. The crew plans heists, launders money, and manages heat from detectives. Tensions rise as members test loyalty and leadership. Police investigate patterns across burglaries and robberies.

‘The Alienist’ (2018–2020)

In Gilded Age New York, a team uses early forensic psychology to hunt a killer. Investigators combine autopsy findings, city maps, and behavioral clues. Newspaper resources aid surveillance and research. The cases reveal how limited technology still yielded actionable profiles.

‘Snowpiercer’ (2020–2024)

A murder aboard a perpetual train triggers jurisdictional conflict between classes. Investigators manage scarce tools, restricted access, and shifting alliances. Evidence collection adapts to the confined environment. The case exposes power structures that control resources and enforcement.

‘Rizzoli & Isles’ (2010–2016)

A detective and a medical examiner solve homicides in Boston. Episodes focus on forensics, lab work, and coordinated field interviews. Case files draw from witness statements and digital records. The partnership balances procedural steps with specialist insight.

‘The Closer’ (2005–2012)

Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson leads a major crimes squad that secures confessions. Interrogation strategy and case preparation take center stage. Teams assemble warrants, run surveillance, and manage media pressure. The series shows how precise questioning can close complex cases.

Share your favorite picks and the next crime show you plan to watch in the comments.