10 Most Binge-Worthy Crime Miniseries You Can Watch in One Weekend

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Jon Bernthal in uniform as Officer Wayne Jenkins in We Own This City

Anja Djuricic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1992. Her first interest in film started very early, as she learned to speak English by watching Disney animated movies (and many, many reruns). Anja soon became inspired to learn more foreign languages to understand more movies, so she entered the Japanese language and literature Bachelor Studies at the University of Belgrade.

Anja is also one of the founders of the DJ duo Vazda Garant, specializing in underground electronic music influenced by various electronic genres.

Anja loves to do puzzles in her spare time, pet cats wherever she meets them, and play The Sims. Anja's Letterboxd four includes Memories of Murder, Parasite, Nope, and The Road to El Dorado.

If you don't have extroverted weekend plans or just feel like taking it slow one Saturday and Sunday, there's no better way to spend that time than watching a great crime TV show. But, shows with five or more seasons can require too much time, and despite some masterpieces of television belonging in this category, a very limited show might be a better choice this time.

That's when the TV gods heard us and gave us the concept of miniseries—stories that develop and end over the course of several episodes, but still feel immersive and deeply satisfying by the end. If you're interested in investing time in one, here are the ten binge-worthy crime miniseries you can finish in a single weekend (or less).

10 'We Own This City' (2022)

If you're a fan of The Wire, its author, David Simon, has, most recently, penned another Baltimore-set crime show, We Own This City, which was based on the nonfiction book of the same name by reporter Justin Fenton of the Baltimore Sun. The story is told in a non-linear fashion and through a lot of flashbacks, showing how corruption infiltrated the minds and hearts of people who were meant to honor the law. The star-studded cast is led by Wunmi Mosaku and Jon Bernthal; out of many actors, Domenick Lombardozzi and Jamie Hector also starred in The Wire, making the show feel like a callback to its predecessor.

We Own This City follows the members of the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), led by Wayne Jenkins (Bernthal), who was charged with various instances of corruption in 2018 and 2019. The show also depicts the FBI agents who investigated the GTTF, the attorneys involved in the investigation, and the other members of the Baltimore PD who were either dragged into the case or investigated it themselves. We Own This City is a gripping crime drama based on real life, and it's an interesting watch; it has six episodes, so it's very easy to binge-watch within a weekend, or even one day.

9 'Love & Death' (2023)

Elizabeth Olsen holds her ground as the most successful Olsen sister of the past decade, and though she's mostly remembered for being the Scarlet Witch, her talents extend beyond waving her arms around and floating; she shows off an excellent lead role in Love & Death, a crime miniseries based on real life that just feels too wild to be true. The story was based on the trial of Candy Montgomery back in the late 1970s, who was accused of murdering her ex-lover's wife. There are still many debates about whether Montgomery was heavily traumatized or just skillfully manipulative.

Love & Death is set in 1978 and follows the members of the same church congregation in Wylie, Texas. The focus is on Candy Montgomery (Olsen), a woman unhappy in her marriage, and her friend, Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons), who is also in a strained marriage himself. Candy and Allan begin an affair, until Allan patches things up with his wife, Betty (Lily Rabe), which Candy doesn't take very lightly. Candy's descent into dissociated madness is shown superbly, and Olsen embodies this beautifully in Love & Death. With only seven episodes, you can watch Love & Death within a day or two.

8 'The Residence' (2025)

The sadly canceled crime series, The Residence, is one of the best whodunit shows we've seen lately. It was produced by Shondaland (Shonda Rhimes' production company) and based on the book by journalist Kate Andersen Brower called The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House. The show is based on the book and rooted in real life, but sets up a fictional murder mystery that only a keen private eye can solve. Stylish, star-studded, quirky, and incredibly fun, The Residence is one of the best crime miniseries you could watch over a weekend.

The Residence is set in the White House after a mysterious murder takes place during the official visit of the Australian Prime Minister (played by Julian McMahon in his last role). The murder can only be solved by private eye Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), who is a keen detective and an avid birdwatcher in her spare time. The Residence is particular because of how the book describes the hidden parts and rooms of the White House, with the show taking that and turning it into a landscape for a fun murder mystery. Besides Aduba and McMahon, The Residence stars Randall Park, Giancarlo Esposito, and Ken Marino, among others.

7 'Sharp Objects' (2018)

Amy Adams as Camille Preaker looking at something intently in Sharp Objects.

One of the darkest and most compelling crime shows is Sharp Objects, which doubles as a psychological thriller that plays with the protagonist just as much as it does with the viewers. Sharp Objects was based on Gillian Flynn's debut novel of the same name, and it's a miniseries with an incredible plot twist and great performances all around. Amy Adams leads the show in one of her best performances, but she shares that title with Patricia Clarkson, who is captivating and often terrifying as Adams' mother. With eight episodes, you can quickly get to the bottom of this dark whodunit, like, over one weekend.

Sharp Objects follows troubled crime reporter Camille Preaker (Adams), an alcoholic who was in a psychiatric hospital for a long time due to self-harming in her youth. Camille's psyche suffers after she returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, where her mother Adora (Clarkson) lives with her husband and Camille's step-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen). Camille, wishing to focus on work by trying to solve the murders of two teenage girls in Wind Gap, seems to have fragmented views of reality; her psyche reflects on the viewers, too, always keeping us on our toes and guessing what's next. It's heavy, but it forces you to keep watching.

6 'When They See Us' (2019)

Korey Wise and Kevin Richardson stand at their trial in When They See Us.

Another miniseries based on an astounding true story, When They See Us, is Ava DuVernay's gripping show about the arrests of five Black and Latino boys in Central Park after a female jogger was found dead. It's a devastating but incredibly important crime series that will stick with you for a long time after watching it. The standout of the series is Jharrel Jerome, who portrays the oldest boy in the group and gets the toughest penalty; his performance here is easily one of the greatest TV performances of all time.

When They See Us shows five Black and Latino boys: Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), and Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez), spending time with their families and each other, until they're arrested as part of a raid in Central Park, NYC. Right after, the body of a female jogger is found, and the boys are separated from each other and coerced into taking the fall for her death. This case shows systemic oppression and racism, with the show looking at the consequences on the individuals and their families, making them real, relatable, and human, as they always were. The show has four episodes, and it's a gripping, attention-grabbing masterpiece.

5 'Adolescence' (2025)

Owen Cooper staring ahead with a vacant expression in Adolescence.

An Emmy-winning series that feels rooted in real life is Adolescence. This short miniseries swept award shows this year, and for good reason—it's gripping, interesting, and addictive. Adolescence boasts a talented ensemble led by Stephen Graham, who is the show's co-creator; he reunited with director Philip Barantini, who opted to direct every episode of Adolescence in one take, just like his and Graham's acclaimed movie Boiling Point. The combination of bold artistic choices and a gripping, disturbing story that crosses into reality makes Adolescence a crime show you won't be able to stop watching.

Adolescence follows the Miller family, consisting of parents Eddie (Graham) and Manda (Christine Tremarco), older daughter, Lisa (Amélie Pease), and youngest, Jamie (Owen Cooper). Early one morning, detectives knock on the Millers' door and arrest Jamie, who is under suspicion of killing a girl from his school. The story unravels with Eddie trying to understand Jamie's possible motives, Jamie unraveling in front of a psychiatrist, and how the entire situation impacts the Millers. This moving show is about fathers and sons, but also about generational trauma and the gripes of modern discourses and social media.

4 'Black Bird' (2022)

Taron Egerton on the phone at prison in Black Bird.

True crime doesn't get scarier or more intense than Black Bird, another story that feels too intense to be real. Yet, Black Bird was inspired by the novel by an ex-con named James "Jimmy" Keene, who wrote about the time he was encouraged to befriend a serial killer named Larry Hall in prison. Keene's story is full of brilliant plot twists and highly tense moments, with Dennis Lehane writing a captivating script and Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser doing their best work as Keene and Hall, respectively. Black Bird is a masterpiece from start to finish, and one you won't be able to drop.

Black Bird follows Jimmy Keene (Egerton), a Chicago-based criminal, who gets arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison despite accepting a plea deal for two. The FBI approaches Keene while in prison, promising to forgive his punishment if he agrees to be transferred to a hospital for the criminally insane and elicit a confession out of serial killer Larry Hall (Hauser). With toe-curling tension and moments of uncertainty almost continuously, Black Bird will make your weekend all the more exciting.

3 'Mare of Easttown' (2021)

Kate Winslet stands outside the police station in Mare of Easttown.

Mare of Easttown is one of the best miniseries of the past five years, and if you've seen and loved Task, this will be your new favorite, mostly because both shows were written by Brad Ingelsby. Like Task, Mare of Easttown methodically layers a crime over small-town discomfort, but in Mare, it's all about a murder mystery, making the show an attention-grabbing whodunit along the way. The case becomes secondary in a sea of things happening to Mare, showing the bits of her life in between working and being a detective, and how her job impacts her loved ones. Kate Winslet stars as Mare and is joined by a great cast, among whom are Jean Smart and Guy Pearce.

Mare of Easttown follows Mare Sheehan (Winslet), an emotionally closed-off detective dealing with grief, who must solve the murder of a local teenage girl. With suspects popping up left and right, Mare wonders what kind of life her co-townies have been leading, which escalates into a mystery with a tragic and unexpected plot twist. Mare of Easttown is superbly acted and is partly a thriller, too, because Mare is always on the brink of something; the anticipation often becomes unbearable, but even with that, you won't be able to stop watching.

2 'The Outsider' (2020)

Ben Mendelsohn standing next to Cynthia Erivo, who is staring at him concerned in The Outsider.

If you're a Stephen King fan, The Outsider will be a very special treat for you. This miniseries was based on King's novel of the same name and stars Ben Mendelsohn, Jason Bateman, and Cynthia Erivo. Erivo steps into the role of a character that's crossed over into several of King's stories, Inspector Holly Gibney, who appears in the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, and a few other books. Gibney might be one of King's best and most interesting characters, and Erivo really makes her stand out, showing her potential to become an iconic, memorable character in the Kingverse.

The Outsider is set in a small town where the gruesome murder of a young boy shakes the entire community. The main suspect is the boy's soccer coach, Terry Maitland (Bateman), and the local detective, Ralph Anderson (Mendelsohn), believes it was Terry's fault, until the case shows there are more sinister powers at play. This is where the savant detective Holly Gibney comes into the picture—her open mind and great deduction skills help Anderson find out the truth. This is an interesting crime story with elements of thriller and supernatural horror that will be a part of your steady rotation.

1 'The Penguin' (2024)

Colin Farrell as Oz 'The Penguin' Cobb sneering down at someone in The Penguin.

Matt Reeves' The Batman doesn't rely too much on heroics and classic "heroes vs. villains" narratives. It's more of a neo-noir thriller with well-known characters like Bruce Wayne, The Riddler, and The Penguin, set in a world of dimly lit streets, seedy nightlife, and Gotham's finest criminals. The movie's spin-off, The Penguin, vibes in a similar manner, looking more like a noir thriller than a superhero series, but make no mistake—The Penguin is a classic villain-making arc that will surprise you and captivate you. The show even makes us sympathize with Oz Cobb just before reminding us why he's Batman's sworn enemy.

The Penguin follows Oz Cobb, aka The Penguin (Colin Farrell), who is a part of Carmine Falcone's crime family in Gotham. After Falcone dies, Oz does whatever he deems necessary to inherit the Falcone mafia, but his plans are hindered after Falcone's daughter, Sofia (Cristin Milioti), is released from Arkham Asylum and decides to take over herself. Friendships and alliances are formed and burned throughout the eight intense episodes of The Penguin; Farrell and Milioti stand tall in their roles, both giving incredibly memorable and special performances that make the show the masterpiece it is.