Mindhunter is a hit Netflix show produced by famed director David Fincher, Charlize Theron and Penhall. If you have already finished watching it and are looking for more similar recommendations, check out these 10 excellent shows like Mindhunter that you will thoroughly enjoy. Mindhunter is based on the 1996 book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by former special agents- John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. John developed profiling techniques to catch notorious serial killers and rapists as he pursued them for years. An extremely well-directed with careful attention to detail and in the field of criminal psychology, the show is an incredible achievement. The world-weary, hard-pressed veteran FBI agent is juxtaposed with the academic relative novice who wants to get inside the minds and motivations of serial killers.
List of TV Shows Like Mindhunter
Here Is Why These 10 TV Shows are like Mindhunter
1. Broadchurch (2013)
The suspenseful murder mystery show Broadchurch begins with the discovery of the body of an 11-year-old boy called Danny in the small fictional town of Broadchurch on the coast of Dorset, England. The series focuses on Detective Alec Hardy and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller.
Broadchurch puts to light how we often think everything with people is okay from afar, but when we look closer, dark secrets unravel. New colours of grief are portrayed– the internal and outward struggles through the moving performances. All with beautiful and atmospheric locations, and a soundtrack that feels like a haunting ballad. There’s a good chance you will appreciate Broadchurch if you are a fan of shows like Mindhunter. If you’ve already seen it, check out more shows like Broadchurch.
2. Mr Robot (2015)
When the show first aired, everyone was intrigued by the character of Elliot (Rami Malek). Elliot is a brilliant and highly unstable cyber-security engineer who is also a vigilante hacker by night. The contrast between the personality of being one thing, a ‘normal’ guy in front of the world, and totally the opposite in secrecy became the key feature in the complex storytelling. If you are a fan of this, here are more shows like Mr Robot you should watch.
Elliot is not only brilliant but an introverted individual whose presence challenges the psyche of humans. Psychological thrillers like Mr Robot present a nerve breaking mysteries, so if you are trying to find a series similar to Hannibal, this will be the right choice.
3. Hannibal (2013)
Hannibal is based on Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon, Hannibal and Hannibal Rising novels. Belonging to the genre of psychological horror, Hannibal features Hugh Dancy and Mad Mikkelsen in the challenging roles of Will Graham and Dr Hannibal Lecter respectively. The show does not shy away from gory visuals and is often appreciated for its powerful imagery that leaves the viewers thinking.
The series is a call back to the iconic film Silence of Lambs as it showcases the complexities of human behaviour through murder, cannibalism, and twisted relationships. The allure and mysteries of the main characters leave one wanting to see more. Without going into too much in detail, it’s safe to say, that if you like Gillian Anderson, then Hannibal will be a good reminder for the viewers of the supernatural world they experienced in shows like Mindhunter.
4. American Crime Story (2016)
The O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story is the 1st season of the FX true crime anthology TV series American Crime Story. This season revolves around the infamous O. J. Simpson murder case and is based on the book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. by Jeffrey Toobin.
For the most part, the show offers a very close representation of what happened all those years ago. It’s worth remembering though, that it’s never considered itself a documentary. Give this riveting series a try if you want more shows like Mindhunter.
5. Killing Eve (2018)
The dark comedy series Killing Eve follows a female international assassin and a female investigator in British intelligence. Both of them are chasing each other (Eve is investigating Villanelle, while Villanelle is intrigued by Eve). Without wasting any time, the story of Killing Eve gets straight to the point.
Killing Eve is quite truly a wild ride for a spy thriller show. Villanelle (played by talented Jodie Comer) exudes charisma in spite of being a crazy psychopathic killer, trust me- the character will find a way to make you love and empathise with her. Both the characters are destined to ruin each other and yet get drawn like a moth to a flame. The show is worth a try if you are a fan of shows like Mindhunter.
6. Hunters (2020)
The show Hunters takes place in 1977 with Nazis living amongst us in the USA, infiltrating every aspect of people’s daily lives. Some are old escapees from Nazi Germany, some were invited here because of their expertise, and some are offspring of those who lived during WWll and believe in a Fourth Reich.
The Nazi hunters discover 100s of high-ranking Nazi officials in 1977 in New York City, that are conspiring to make a 4th Reich in the U.S.; the Hunters hence set out to bring the bad ones to justice and end their new genocidal plans. Al Pacino provides the most authentic performance and the rest of the cast is equally brilliant. So if you are looking for shows similar to Mindhunter, then Hunters is a great option for you.
7. True Detective (2014)
True Detective is a fantastic fantasy series looking at a pair of detectives, Matthew McConaughey as Rustin Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Martin Hart. The detective duo are in pursuit of a serial killer linked to occult crimes from over 17 years in Louisiana. This is a fantastic TV series and has one of the best performances of recent times. If you’ve already seen it, here are some more shows like True Detective you might like.
The story is not what you would expect, not a typical fashionable crime-solving show in the streets of London but, in actuality you will see 2 broken degenerate men struggling and fighting to resist the corrupting world around them. Though the 2nd season is a bit weak, True Detective does manage to do really well by its 3rd season. If you want to see shows like Mindhunter, we will certainly recommend that you check out True Detective.
8. Criminal Minds (2005)
Criminal Minds is a police procedural drama created by Jeff Davis, which follows a criminal profilers group called the Behaviour Analyst Unit (BAU) that works for the FBI to help solve crimes and mainly find a suspect knowan an as ‘unknown-subject’.
Action-packed and full of suspense, Criminal Minds has been on air for 15 seasons with a dedicated viewership. The cast does change as seasons progress but the presence of the well-liked core members keeps the viewers hooked. For a show running as long as Criminal Minds, writers managed to write new episodes with engaging plots almost every time. If you want to watch shows similar to Mindhunter then Criminal Minds will be worth checking out.
9. Dexter (2006)
Dexter became an American fan favourite upon airing in 2006. The psychological drama follows Dexter (played by Michael C. Hall) – a boy who is orphaned at a young age- witnessing the brutal murder of his mother in front of his eyes. He is adopted by Harry Morgan, a Miami Police Officer. Harry recognizes Dexter’s trauma entails odd tendencies of sociopathy from which he manipulates Dexter into committing heinous crimes – killing those who slip through the criminal justice system.
Dexter is a Forensic Analyst by day and a killer by night. His job helps him cover his tracks. The challenge of judgment on good vs. bad makes Dexter an iconic character even though he is essentially a serial killer. Dark sequences with well-balanced humour are a part of the show’s clever twists. If you enjoy shows like Mindhunter, then investing your time in watching Dexter is worth it.
10. Manhunt (2017)
Based on a Shocking True Story. Manhunt: Unabomber is about a fascinating look at the FBI Profiler who used forensic linguistics to solve a crime in the 90s. It’s a suspenseful, beautifully shot, sharply edited, expertly investigated police procedural crime drama that keeps us hooked from start to finish.
The story goes back and forth in time (non-linear storytelling) is amazing, Production value is excellent. Paul Bettany gives one of the best TV performances of all time. I will definitely recommend you to watch this show if you just completed a series like Mindhunter.
Honourable Mentions
Here are a few series like Mindhunter that didn’t make this psychological thriller list, but you can check them out nonetheless:
- Elementary
- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
- You
- I’ll Be Gone In The Dark
