2026 watch guide

The best thriller TV shows to watch in 2026

The thriller series worth your time this year — ranked by real viewer rating, what's airing now first, with where to stream each in your country.

Pick me a thriller showUnderrated thriller picksUpcoming premieres

Genre

On the air now

Currently-airing thriller series you can start this year.

Line of Duty8.5
Line of Duty
Black Mirror8.4
Black Mirror
Luther8.4
Luther
Taboo8.3
Taboo
Reacher8.2
Reacher
True Detective8.1
True Detective
Criminal Minds8.1
Criminal Minds
The Night Manager8.1
The Night Manager
Slow Horses8.1
Slow Horses
Dept. Q8.1
Dept. Q
The Day of the Jackal8.0
The Day of the Jackal
The Diplomat7.9
The Diplomat

The 2026 ranking

  1. Breaking Bad posterBreaking Bad (2008–2019)netflix · Drama · Crime9.2
  2. Death Note posterDeath Note (2006–2007)netflix · amazon prime video · Anime8.8
  3. The Expanse posterThe Expanse (2015–2022)amazon prime video · Science-Fiction · Thriller8.7
  4. Dept. Q posterDept. Q (2025–present)netflix · Drama · Crime8.1Airing now
  5. The Day of the Jackal posterThe Day of the Jackal (2024–present)Thriller8.0Airing now
  6. Orphan Black posterOrphan Black (2013–2017)netflix · amazon prime video · Drama8.6
  7. Reacher posterReacher (2022–present)amazon prime video · Drama · Action8.2Airing now
  8. Line of Duty posterLine of Duty (2012–present)amazon prime video · fubotv · Drama8.5Airing now
  9. Jo Nesbøs Harry Hole posterJo Nesbøs Harry Hole (2026)netflix · Drama · Thriller7.9
  10. Hazardous History with Henry Winkler posterHazardous History with Henry Winkler (2025–present)Comedy · Thriller7.9Airing now
  11. Friendly Rivalry posterFriendly Rivalry (2025–2025)netflix · rakuten viki · Thriller7.9
  12. Malpractice posterMalpractice (2023)hulu · Thriller · Medical8.2
  13. Black Mirror posterBlack Mirror (2011–present)netflix · Drama · Science-Fiction8.4Airing now
  14. Slow Horses posterSlow Horses (2022–present)apple tv · Drama · Thriller8.1Airing now
  15. Pluribus posterPluribus (2025–present)apple tv · Drama · Science-Fiction7.8Airing now
  16. Luther posterLuther (2010–present)hulu · amc plus · Drama8.4Airing now
  17. The Terminal List: Dark Wolf posterThe Terminal List: Dark Wolf (2025)amazon prime video · Drama · Thriller7.8
  18. Utopia posterUtopia (2013–2014)britbox · Drama · Science-Fiction8.4
  19. MINDHUNTER posterMINDHUNTER (2017–2019)netflix · Drama · Crime8.4
  20. Common Side Effects posterCommon Side Effects (2025–present)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama7.8Airing now
  21. Reservatet posterReservatet (2025–2025)netflix · Drama · Crime7.8
  22. Critical Incident posterCritical Incident (2024)hulu · Drama · Thriller7.8
  23. Taboo posterTaboo (2017–present)fubotv · peacock · Drama8.3Airing now
  24. Andor posterAndor (2022–2025)disney plus · Science-Fiction · Thriller8.0
  25. Longmire posterLongmire (2012–2017)paramount plus · Drama · Thriller8.3
  26. Mr. Robot posterMr. Robot (2015–2019)Drama · Crime8.3
  27. Black Bird posterBlack Bird (2022–2022)apple tv · Drama · Crime8.0
  28. Bron / Broen posterBron / Broen (2011–2018)mz choice · mhz choice · Drama8.3
  29. Berlín y la dama del armiño posterBerlín y la dama del armiño (2026–2026)netflix · Action · Crime7.7
  30. Reset posterReset (2022–2022)Drama · Science-Fiction8.0
  31. The Diplomat posterThe Diplomat (2023–present)netflix · Drama · Thriller7.9Airing now
  32. Squid Game posterSquid Game (2021–2025)netflix · Drama · Thriller7.9
  33. Beyond Evil posterBeyond Evil (2021–2021)netflix · kocowa · Drama7.9
  34. 3 Body Problem poster3 Body Problem (2024–present)netflix · Drama · Science-Fiction7.6Airing now
  35. Penny Dreadful posterPenny Dreadful (2014–2016)amazon prime video · fubotv · Horror8.2
  36. The Killing posterThe Killing (2011–2014)hulu · amc plus · Drama8.2
  37. 24 poster24 (2001–2014)hulu · Drama · Action8.2
  38. Prison Break posterPrison Break (2005–2017)hulu · Drama · Crime8.2
  39. Humans posterHumans (2015–2018)amazon prime video · peacock · Drama8.2
  40. Bodyguard posterBodyguard (2018–2018)netflix · Drama · Crime8.2

Best TV shows by genre, for 2026

All genresActionAdultAdventureAnimeChildrenComedyCrimeDIYDramaEspionageFamilyFantasyFoodHistoryHorrorLegalMedicalMusicMysteryNatureRomanceScience-FictionSportsSupernaturalTravelWarWestern

Good to know

What are the best thriller TV shows to watch in 2026?

Our top thriller picks for 2026 are Breaking Bad, Death Note, The Expanse — ranked by viewer rating, with where to stream each.

How is this 2026 list ranked?

By real viewer rating, weighted toward series that are airing now or premiered recently, so the freshest great thriller shows rise to the top.

Where can I watch these thriller shows?

Every series links to its page with live streaming availability for your country, so you can jump straight to where it's playing.

Keep exploring

Hidden gemsUnderrated thriller shows

High ratings, low profile — the great series most people have missed.

The chartTop thriller shows, ranked

The all-time ranking by viewer rating, with where to stream.

TonightWhat's actually on

Tonight's schedule, in air-time order.