This SwiftChannels guide keeps the list practical: the best crime series, country by country, all released in 2025 or earlier and all sitting at IMDb 7.0/10 or higher. The aim is not to list everything; it is to give you a reliable queue with famous, well-rated titles.
The shortlist
-
2002
01The Wire
A city-wide crime drama where police, dealers, schools, politics and media connect into one patient portrait of systems. The useful viewer signal is the execution: performances, pacing and visual choices make the premise easy to understand before you decide whether to commit the evening. For a "The best crime series, country by country" list, it gives the category a distinct angle instead of simply repeating familiar genre beats. Skip it tonight only if you need something completely light, very short or deliberately low-stakes.
IMDb 9.3/10 -
2013
02Broadchurch
A coastal murder investigation turns into a study of grief, suspicion and community damage, anchored by performances that keep the mystery human. Its appeal is not just the genre label; the scenes build with enough clarity and personality that you can feel why people keep recommending it. It is especially useful when you want a recommendation that feels familiar enough to trust but specific enough to remember afterward. Choose another title if your mood is for comfort viewing with no tension or moral pressure.
IMDb 8.3/10 -
2014
03Gomorrah
A bleak Italian crime series that treats organized crime as a system of fear, money and loyalty rather than glamour. This is the kind of pick that helps a mixed group decide quickly because the hook is readable, the tone is specific and the craft does not feel anonymous. Use it as the accessible entry in the set: the premise is easy to sell, while the filmmaking gives the choice more weight. It may not be the first choice for distracted viewing, but it works very well when you want a film or series to hold the room.
IMDb 8.6/10 -
2019
04Unbelievable
A crime miniseries about belief, trauma and patient investigation, strongest when it contrasts institutional failure with careful police work. What matters here is how the story moves: the stakes stay visible, the characters have a clean dramatic function and the best moments pay off what came before. It belongs here because the entertainment value is clear, but the texture around it gives viewers something to talk about after the credits. If you want pure noise in the background, save it for later; it plays better when the details can land.
IMDb 8.3/10 -
2011
05The Bridge
A Nordic crime series where a cross-border case pairs contrasting detectives and lets atmosphere, procedure and character friction do the work. Use it when you want more than background viewing. It rewards attention through atmosphere, structure and performances rather than leaning only on the headline idea. It rounds out the queue by covering a different mood, so the list does not collapse into five versions of the same evening. The rating is helpful, but the better test is mood: pick it when this exact tone sounds inviting.
IMDb 8.6/10
You can use this as a simple evening queue. Many titles like these appear in the film and series libraries offered with SwiftChannels, so do not hesitate to watch them through your SwiftChannels IPTV line after your free test.