16 Shows Like ‘Dexter’ to Watch After You Binge the Revival
It’s official: Dexter is back.
In case you haven’t heard, Showtime released Dexter: New Blood, a limited-series revival starring Michael C. Hall as the calculating serial killer, Dexter Morgan. And while the show features plenty of new faces, from Julia Jones to Johnny Sequoyah, fans got to see the skilled analyst return to his old habits—even as he tried to turn over a new leaf.
Perhaps you're still making your way through the reboot, or maybe, like us, you've devoured all 10 episodes in one sitting (in which case, check out our thoughts on that dramatic finale twist here). Either way, you may be seeking a new title that satisfies your dark mystery cravings. Read on to see 16 of the best shows like Dexter, from Mr. Robot to Breaking Bad.
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1. ‘Mr. Robot’
Who’s in it? Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Carly Chaikin, Portia Doubleday, Martin Wallström
What’s it about? Like Dexter, Elliot (Malek) is not just an outsider with a twisted sense of morality, but he also leads an interesting double life. On Mr. Robot, Elliot is a cyber-security engineer by day and skilled underground hacker by night, but it’s nearly impossible to not root for this compelling character.
2. ‘Marvel’s The Punisher’
Who’s in it? Jon Bernthal, Ben Barnes, Amber Rose Revah, Jason R. Moore, Deborah Ann Woll
What’s it about? Bernthal stars as Frank Castle, a former marine-turned-vigilante who uses extreme methods while punishing the criminals responsible for his family’s murder. Sound familiar?
3. ‘Hannibal’
Who’s in it? Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park
What’s it about? It’s creepy, it’s suspenseful and it packs plenty of gore, much like Dexter. Based on Thomas Harris's Hannibal novels, the show follows FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Dancy), who works closely with a brilliant forensic psychiatrist named Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mikkelsen). Little does Will know that Hannibal is secretly the cannibalistic serial killer, Chesapeake Ripper.
4. ‘Mindhunter’
Who’s in it? Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv
What’s it about? This crime thriller follows psychologist Wendy Carr (Torv), who teams up with two FBI agents to launch a research project that allows them to interview incarcerated criminals and better understand their psychology. Can these insights help them bring even more bad guys down?
5. ‘Criminal’
Who’s in it? Kunal Nayyar, Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby, Hayley Atwell
What’s it about? A lot goes down within the four walls of an interrogation room. The show sheds light on the intense investigation process as a team of skilled interviewers in London question people who are accused of the most disturbing crimes.
6. ‘Animal Kingdom’
Who’s in it? Ellen Barkin, Ellen Barkin, Scott Speedman, Finn Cole
What’s it about? The Sopranos meets Kingdom in this captivating drama, based on the Australian film of the same title. It follows J. Cody (Cole), who moved in with his estranged family following the death of his mom. But it doesn't take long for him to realize that their lavish lifestyle is due to their numerous secret crimes.
7. ‘Prodigal Son’
Who’s in it? Tom Payne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Halston Sage, Aurora Perrineau
What’s it about? Meet Malcolm Bright, a top-notch criminal psychologist who works with the NYPD to stop criminals. The only problem? He has to deal with his alcoholic mother and his jailed sociopathic father, also known as the infamous “Surgeon.”
8. ‘Arrow’
Who’s in it? Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, Colin Donnell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards
What’s it about? After surviving a devastating shipwreck, famous playboy Oliver Queen (Amell) returns to Star City and morphs into a crime-fighting vigilante, protecting his home with the help of allies like former soldier John Diggle/Spartan (Ramsey) and skilled IT technician Felicity Smoak (Rickards). Expect nightmare-worthy villains and the best action sequences.
9. ‘The Killing’
Who’s in it? Mireille Enos, Billy Campbell, Joel Kinnaman, Michelle Forbes
What’s it about? Inspired by the Danish series of the same title, The Killing blends murder mystery, suspense and drama in the best possible way. Told from the perspective of Sarah Linden, a skilled detective from the Seattle Police Department, the show follows investigations into multiple cases, from the disappearance of a teenager to the massacre of a rich family.
10. ‘The Outsider’
Who’s in it? Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, Jason Bateman
What’s it about? Anything inspired by Stephen King’s work is guaranteed to be horrifying. Based on King’s novel of the same name, The Outsider details the gruesome violation and killing of an 11-year-old boy and the investigation that follows.
11. ‘Breaking Bad’
Who’s in it? Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt
What’s it about? An overqualified high school chemistry teacher with lung cancer turns to a life of crime, partnering up with a former student to make crystal meth and help support his family. With its complex characters and stunning cinematography, it's easy to see why this gripping crime drama earned 16 Emmys.
12. ‘Line of Duty’
Who’s in it? Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar, Lennie James, Keeley Hawes
What’s it about? Police corruption and organized crime are explored in this critically-acclaimed British drama, where Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Compston) transfers to the Anti-Corruption Unit after he refuses to cover up the unlawful, deadly actions of his team.
13. ‘The Following’
Who’s in it? Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Jessica Stroup
What’s it about? Prepare to sleep with the lights on after watching this nail-biting thriller. Kevin Bacon stars as Ryan Hardy, a former FBI agent who’s called upon to capture a diabolical serial killer who has escaped from prison.
14. ‘The Mentalist’
Who’s in it? Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman
What’s it about? We get the feeling Baker’s Patrick Jane and Dexter would’ve gotten along quite well, had they ever met. On the series, an extremely perceptive Patrick goes from posing as a "psychic" to consulting for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI). But there’s only one thing that drives him: Avenging his family’s murder.
15. ‘Barry’
Who's in it? Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Glenn Fleshler
What’s it about? Hader balances his unique brand of comedy with drama and it makes for one seriously addicting show. The actor stars as Barry, an aspiring actor and hitman who feels unfulfilled in life and uncertain about his future.
16. ‘You’
Who’s in it? Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Luca Padovan, Zach Cherry
What’s it about? Joe Goldberg (Badgley) may be dreamy and charismatic, but beneath the surface lies an extremely disturbed man who will stop at nothing (and we mean nothing) to be with the women he becomes obsessed with.
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