A mix between a police procedural and supernatural horror is a unique one to say the least. Grimm embodies these genres to provide an entertaining story for fans to sink their teeth into. If you were one of those, then you’ll surely love this list of 12 shows like Grimm.
Grimm, which was created by Stephen Carpenter, Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt, aired from 2011 to 2017, garnering legions of fans enamored by its fantastical twist on the cop drama genre. This show centers on Nicholas Burkhardt who finds out that he is a member of a group of people known as Grimms. Grimms are guardians who are mounted with the responsibility of keeping the balance between the real world and the supernatural world.
This TV procedural gave as many laughs as it did scares, and was just really a good time for fans who stayed dedicated to the show over the years till its conclusion after the 6th season. If you’re looking for another fantastical world filled with ghouls, ghosts and goblins, then here are 12 TV shows like Grimm for you to watch.
List of TV Shows Like Grimm
1. Being Human (2011)
Supernatural drama meets the Friends type sitcom in Being Human. Based on a British series of the same name, the show also maintains the same premise, by following the lives of a werewolf, vampire and ghost who live together as roommates. Together they try to keep their secrets from the outside world.
Being Human has its fair share of scares, laughs and relationship drama. The first season spends parts of its runtime giving us back stories into how the three roommates were transformed into their current states. If you’re a fan of supernatural drama series like Grimm, then Being Human should find its way onto your watch list.
2. Sleepy Hollow (2013)
The main protagonist of Sleepy Hollow is Ichabod Crane, an eccentric and hilarious character who awakens in the 21st century, in the quaint little town of Sleepy Hollow. This is centuries after he died fighting a Horseman who he beheaded, but soon discovers that is still alive. The Horsemen have one goal and one goal only, and that is to release their master Moloch, and bring about the ‘End of Days’.
Sleepy Hollow has been praised for the great chemistry between Ichabod Crane and Abbie Mills, an FBI Agent who he assists to solve cases of a supernatural nature. As a man so far flung from his timeline of the early 1700s, he is an awkward fit in modern times, and we get to see some really funny scenarios come out of this. It never gets old and I highly recommend this show for fans of shows like Grimm.
3. Supernatural (2005)
Supernatural is one of the biggest IPs on the CW network. Little wonder it lasted for over 15 years, and remains the benchmark by which many supernatural dramas are judged, including shows like Grimm. This series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers who together, hunt demons and other supernatural evil beings, and have fun while at it. If you’ve already seen it, check out our list of shows like Supernatural.
For a show that lasted so long, it’s quite an achievement that it retained high review scores throughout its time on air. A testament to the consistent quality in the writing and acting department. Supernatural, similar to shows like Grimm, is a scary, fun thrill ride, with a deeply built world, one that you won’t mind losing yourself in.
4. The Originals (2013)
A spin-off to the equally highly successful The Vampire Diaries, The Originals is a show about the first family of vampires, known as the Mikaelsons. The siblings are Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah, who all had recurring roles in The Vampire Diaries. Set in New Orleans, Klaus alongside his siblings returns to the French Quarter to take his rightful place as the king of New Orleans’ underworld.
Klaus, played by Joseph Morgan, remains one of the most recognizable TV villains of the 2010s, and his performance on the show should be enough to hold your attention. And if not, the spooky setting, frantic and high quality action set-pieces and intense acting performances that runs all through the cast, should give you something new to obsess over if you are a fan of shows like Grimm.
5. True Blood (2008)
It wouldn’t be wrong to call True Blood one of the pioneers of the huge influx of supernatural shows like Grimm that popped up towards the start of the 2010s, even debuting one year before The Vampire Diaries. The show centers on Sookie Stackhouse played by Anna Paquin, who lives in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, in a time when vampires have an alternative to human blood called ‘Tru Blood’.
This show has a bit of a social message to it, as it sees vampires struggling for acceptance into the society, and fighting against discrimination by the human population. But can anyone really blame the humans? These are vampires we’re talking about. If this is something that interests you, then you should definitely give True Blood a watch.
6. Haven (2010)
Based on a novel by Stephen King, Haven is set in a fictional town of the same name, where characters wind up with diseases of a supernatural nature. Assigned here to help the good ole’ townspeople is FBI Special Agent Audrey Parker, played by Emily Rose, who soon discovers that the goings-on in the town of Haven may be more personal that she thought at first.
She becomes increasingly involved in the town’s misfortunes and makes it her mission to bring them to an end. This show has an unsettling sheen to it, similar to shows like Haven, especially due to the quaint and quiet nature of the town in which it is set. You should catch Haven on a streaming platform one of these days, if you’re interested in small town supernatural dramas like Grimm.
7. Van Helsing (2016)
Set in a near post-apocalyptic future, Van Helsing gives its take on the iconic vampire hunter character. Kelly Overton is Vanessa Van Helsing, a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing, who wakes up three years after the eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera, which has made the world one that is unpleasant to live in, blocking up large portions of the sky in ash and smoke.
This show is filled with great action scenes, similar to shows like Grimm, as Vanessa takes it upon herself to hunt down the vampires who currently terrorize humanity. It makes good use of its source material, while managing to separate itself and stand on its own as a self-contained story, and a great one at that.
8. Shadowhunters (2016)
Shadowhunters is a supernatural drama similar to shows like Grimm, which is based on the book series written by Cassandra Clare, known as The Mortal Instruments. Theshow is centered on Clary Fray, played by Katherine McNamara, who discovers just like Nicholas in Grimm, that she is a descendant of an ancient race, known as the Shadowhunters, hybrids between humans and angels who have the sole purpose of hunting down evil.
Clary is still a teenager, and so struggles with the same issues as every other teenager. The show is buoyed by its source material, and visually thrilling scenes which will keep your eyes glued to the screen, not wanting to miss a single minute. So take the time to give this supernatural teen drama a quick look, you might end up not wanting to drop it again.
Also Read: Shows like Sense8
9. iZombie (2015)
iZombie is characterized by the blonde-haired Olivia Moore, a medical examiner working for the Seattle Police Force, who is secretly… a zombie. She helps solve murders by eating the victim’s brains, which gives her access to their final thoughts and their memories, and also their personality.
Olivia Moore goes out of her way to be the ‘good guy’ by limiting herself to feeding on the brains of the corpses that she examines in her autopsies, instead of turning to murder as a means of getting by. So while it is a supernatural series in the vein of shows like Grimm, we get to see someone like this be the good guy for once. A refreshing and welcome change.
10. Once Upon A Time (2011)
Once Upon A Time is admittedly more fantastical than supernatural shows like Grimm, due to its fairy tale setting and bright and rosy locale in the fictional town in Maine called Storybrooke. However, underneath the shiny exterior, there is something evil going on underneath.
The residents of Storybrooke are actual fairy tale characters who have been transported to this town, and have had their memories wiped away by Regina the Evil Queen, played by Lana Parilla. The residents live in something of a loop as they do not age, and they are in need of someone, anyone who will come to break the curse placed on them.
11. Emerald City (2017)
In Emerald City, weget to explore another reimagining of an iconic story and location in fiction, which is the Land of Oz. Dorothy Gale is transported from the town of Lucas, Kansas to the land of Oz. She is thrust into a world-spanning adventure that sees her come to the realization that she has been brought there to fulfill a prophecy.
The show has been noted for its expansive storytelling and epic battles, making it a good addition to the genre of shows similar to Grimm. If you’re nostalgic for classic tales retold in a modern fashion, then make sure to give Emerald City a watch.
12. Bitten (2014)
Bitten is a Canadian television series based on the series of books by Kelley Armstrong, called the Women of the Otherworld. The show is centered on Elena Michaels, a female werewolf who lives in Toronto with her boyfriend, Philip. But she gets pulled to New York when duty calls.
Bitten was successful during its two seasons on air between 2014 and 2016, garnering accolades and awards, including a win at the Leo Awards. This is yet another supernatural drama in the vein of shows like Grimm which you should set aside some time to watch.
Honorable Mentions
Here is a list of TV shows like Grimm that didn’t make it, which you can also check out:
- The Vampire Diaries (2009)
- Lucifer (2016)
- The Finder (2012)
