7 Underrated Crime Shows of the 2010s to Stream for Free in May 2024

Even if you're not a particularly hardcore fan of crime dramas that have come out in the last decade, it's unlikely that you haven't heard about the shows like Britain's Sherlock and Broadchurch, or American projects from Criminal Minds to Mindhunter.

Today, however, we're going to talk about those crime shows from the last decade that, despite their cultural value, are sadly neglected today. Plus, you don't need to sign up for a free trial or regular subscription, because you can stream these shows for free on Tubi!

7. Top of the Lake

Premiere date: March 18, 2013

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

If you watched The Power of the Dog on Netflix, you probably remember the name of the film's director and writer, Jane Campion, who also released the equally famous The Piano in 1993. In 2013, the New Zealand filmmaker released Top of the Lake. The series is set in Sydney in the 2010s and follows a detective investigating sexual assault cases. If you're still not convinced, the fact that it stars Elisabeth Moss should be a strong argument!

6. Nikita

Premiere date: September 9, 2010

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

Few have not heard of Luc Besson's 1990 French film, and few have not heard of the American TV series adaptation starring the inimitable Maggie Q as a femme fatale with extraordinary spy skills. The series may seem a bit dated in 2024, but it is still a decent spy thriller with strong performances and action-packed scenes.

5. Wallander

Premiere date: November 30, 2008

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

Next on the list is a British series, based on the series of novels of the same name by Swedish author Henning Mankell. Kenneth Branagh stars as Kurt Wallander, a somewhat eccentric but shrewd police inspector in the town of Ystad. The show is sure to impress with its beautiful Swedish scenery, and the protagonist will certainly appeal to those who love the classic noir detective trope, as Kurt Wallander regularly indulges in existential musings during his investigations.

4. Luther

Premiere date: May 4, 2010

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Despite its enormous contribution to pop culture, Luther is not often talked about in 2024. And that's why, whether you're a first-time viewer or not, we can't recommend it enough, as it's one of the highest-quality, grittiest, and most profound shows of the past decade.

3. Southland

Premiere date: April 9, 2009

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

If you like the 'drama' element in crime dramas, then you'll certainly enjoy the American TV series Southland. In addition to starring the excellent Ben McKenzie, the series offered a lot of great storylines and a rare type of diversity. One of the protagonists was gay — prior to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, there weren't many movies or TV shows that portrayed queer people working in the police force.

2. Republic of Doyle

Premiere date: January 6, 2010

Rotten Tomatoes score (audience): 95%

This Canadian series is the epitome of 2010s television — it's ridiculous yet clever, it doesn't boast big-budget production values yet it's captivating, the script isn't the most intricate yet it's insanely hilarious. Republic of Doyle is a crime comedy-drama that follows a son and father who run a private investigation agency and regularly get into trouble beyond the law.

1. Line of Duty

Premiere date: June 26, 2012

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

This crime show follows members of Anti-Corruption Unit 12, the unit responsible for investigating corruption within the British police. Unfortunately, only four of the six seasons are available on Tubi (the last two are available on BritBox, which is available on Apple TV and Prime Video), but since it's free to watch, why not check out a great British series from the past decade?