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Murder mysteries make up some of the most bingeable genres, from their eccentric casts of characters to complex plot lines full of shocking twists and turns. In fact, many of the most successful modern TV shows are either full-blown murder mysteries or contain elements of the murder mystery in their plot. After all, mysteries like Hulu's Only Murders in the Building, Netflix's The Perfect Couple, and Hulu's Under the Bridge, have all released new seasons this year alone.
But the genius of the murder mystery existed long before these modern renditions, starting with several classics that continue to impress viewers with their wit and well-developed characters. Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote and Poirot from Agatha Christie: Poirot, are beloved detectives who have appeared in several adaptations and sequels over the years. Along with these strong leading characters, classic murder mysteries were also surprisingly ahead of their time.
10 Dragnet (1949-1970)
Created by Jack Webb
There are few iconic murder mysteries that came before Jack Webb's, Dragnet, which started out as a murder mystery program in 1949 as a radio show. The series, which was created and produced by, and starred actor Jack Webb, followed LAPD Detective, Joe Fry, as he investigated murders across the city. Through the years, the program adapted to the shifting times and gradually lost its film noir look.
Dragnet radio show (NBC) | 1949 - 57 |
Dragnet TV show original (Universal TV) | 1951 - 59 |
Dragnet TV show revival (Universal TV) | 1967 - 70 |
Although the black-and-white look of the series gives it a dated feel, much of the acting in Dragnet is grounded in a more realistic type of acting than was popular during its time on television. Heartfelt and emotional performances make the emotional stakes of the show higher for audiences as they watch the struggles of victims in each episode.
Much of its realistic style can be attributed to the fact that many of its stories are based on real-life police cases. In the end, Dragnet's depiction of the harsh realities of policing and crime is still impactful and shocking to watchers.
9 Perry Mason (1957-1966)
Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Perry Mason is a legal drama series starring Raymond Burr as the titular character, a defense attorney who solves complex criminal cases. Running from 1957 to 1966, the show features Barbara Hale as Mason's secretary Della Street and William Hopper as private investigator Paul Drake. The series focuses on Mason’s ability to expose the truth in the courtroom, often leading to the real culprit confessing to the crime.
Cast Raymond Burr , Barbara Hale , William Hopper , Ray Collins , William Talman , Don Anderson , Lee Miller , Wesley Lau
Release Date September 21, 1957
Seasons 9
Creator(s) Erle Stanley Gardner
Perry Mason is the epitome of the film noir genre which was popular in the 40s and 50s, equipped with suspenseful music and shifty characters, all against a black-and-white backdrop. Though a clear product of its time, Perry Mason was clever in its approach to the murder mystery by focusing on its connection to the law and the justice system.
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The show follows a criminal defense lawyer, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), as he helps his clients escape from wrongful prosecution in various murder cases in Los Angeles. Besides nostalgia for its highly stylized look and feel, Perry Mason has well-developed, complex storylines based around the law and its interactions with fighting crime.
Mason may not be a rogue detective operating on the fringes of society, but his ability to exonerate his clients and investigate from within the system is equally compelling to watchers. Today, the show is cemented as a classic, and was recently adapted into a successful remake with Matthew Rhys as Perry Mason in 2020 by HBO.
8 Columbo (1971-1978)
Created by Richard Levinson and William Link
Columbo is a crime drama TV series featuring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a shrewd but unassuming homicide detective in the LAPD. Known for his disheveled appearance and seemingly scatterbrained demeanor, Columbo uses his keen insight and relentless questioning to solve complex cases. The series is noted for its unique format where the audience sees the crime unfold and watches Columbo piece together the clues to catch the culprit.
Cast Peter Falk , Mike Lally , John Finnegan , Bruce Kirby , Dianne Travis , Shera Danese , Vito Scotti , Ed McCready
Release Date September 15, 1971
Seasons 10
Creator(s) Richard Levinson , William Link
Columbo is one of the genre's first hits. The show, which starred Peter Falk as Detective Columbo, was unique for its depiction of the bumbling detective. Columbo isn't the model of the polished and well-mannered detectives who came before him. Instead, Falk's take on the detective is that of a working-class man who is, at times, gruff.
The unique structure of the show also adds suspense to each episode, because Columbo begins at the start with the reveal of the murderer.
The result not only makes him an endearing character, but also someone who is continuously underestimated by the villains in each episode. In the end, this makes his triumphs all the more fulfilling. The unique structure of the show also adds suspense to each episode, because Columbo begins at the start with the reveal of the murderer, meaning audiences know the identity of the killer before Columbo does.
For audiences of today as well as in the past, this is a clever way to involve the audience in the show as an active witness, thus heightening the stakes every time Columbo gets close or fails to discover the criminal. The surprise comes from the "will he or won't he" factor, not the reveal itself.
7 Cannon (1971-1976)
Created by Edward Hume
In the same year, another popular murder mystery, Cannon, also debuted its first season. This leading detective was similar to Columbo's: a tough, grumpy private investigator. However, Frank Cannon (William Conrad) has a dark history and backstory as an ex-cop who lost his family to tragedy.
Throughout the rest of the series, Cannon operates with a personal chip on his shoulder...he isn't solving crimes for the sake of his occupation, but because he has a personal vendetta. Despite the darkness that lurks behind Cannon's character and past, the show also has several moments of surprising levity sprinkled in each episode.
Frank Cannon was a police officer and Army vet, but decided to become a private investigator when his wife and son passed away in a car accident. However, the episode that is entitled, "Nightmare," offers up a theory that his family was instead killed by a hitman, when a dying man confesses his guilt to the detective.
Some of this can once again be attributed to Cannon's nearly comedic character of the grumpy, unapproachable detective. However, the show is more about Cannon and his journey than that of the crimes themselves. Today, the show is still a compelling and surprising character study about its complicated leading detective on a journey for answers.
6 Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
Created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson, and William Link
Murder, She Wrote was a long-running Drama and Crime television series created by Richard Levinson, Peter S. Fischer, and William Link. Starring Angela Lansbury, the series chronicled a mystery writer that become involved in solving many of the murders that sparked in her fictional hometown of Cabot Cove.
Cast Angela Lansbury
Release Date January 1, 1984
Seasons 12
Murder, She Wrote is one of the genre's most distinct and unique series. Unlike the traditional detective of many murder mysteries, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), the show's leading lady, isn't involved in the criminal justice system at all. Instead, she is a writer of mystery and crime novels who finds herself hilariously in the middle of a series of crimes in her sleepy town in Maine.
Lansbury's performance as Jessica Fletcher makes the premise of the series all the more surprising to viewers, who aren't necessarily used to seeing a prim and proper elderly lady as the leading detective on a crime case.
In fact, the series broke boundaries not only because of its comedic twist on the murder mystery, but also for its decision to center around a main character who is an older woman. To viewers today, Lansbury's fiercely clever and classy Jessica Fletcher is still an inspiring example of a strong female lead. The show went on to be adapted into a series of popular films and is now being considered for a new remake directed by Amy Pascal.
5 Remington Steele (1982-1987)
Created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason
Another leading lady in the world of murder mysteries is Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist) in Remington Steele. This series follows a female private investigator who creates a firm under the pseudonym of "Remington Steele" in the hopes of getting more clients. Of course, her plan was successful.
Though the premise of this murder mystery may be lighthearted and comedic, the series makes a statement on the very real and sad reality of sexism that women faced and still face in the workplace today as they struggle to be taken seriously. Once again, Remington Steele focused more on character as opposed to the actual crimes themselves.
The show depicted a modern woman for the time: passionate about her work but in tune with her emotions as well. Though Laura Holt is fiercely protective of her career (as evidenced by her plans for disguise), she is able to enjoy romantic flings with several characters. The premise of Remingron Steele is sure to keep audiences on their feet, and contains themes and storylines that are still resonant today.
4 Cagney and Lacey (1981-1988)
Created by Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday
Cagney and Lacey is another famous murder mystery that is still an exciting and shocking series to follow. Once again, the series brought female leads to the spotlight in the murder mystery genre, making the show ahead of its time. The main stars of Cagney and Lacey's cast were Chris Cagney (Sharon Gless) and Mary Beth Lacey (Tyle Daly) work as cops in New York City, battling both crime and sexism in the workplace.
The show was one of the few crime dramas with a creative team of two women, Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday, both of whom were involved in the writer's room for all episodes of the series.
Each episode follows the fallout of a different crime, and both Cagney and Lacey work together to make an arrest. Beyond their dangerous work in the field, the two women's stakes are much higher because of their gender.
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When issues related to gender arise in cases they work on, both women advocate for greater protection of female victims as well, raising awareness about issues that are still present today. This gives the show a surprisingly modern feel to it thematically and contextually that would perform well with audiences today.
3 Miami Vice (1984-1989)
Created by Anthony Yerkovich
Miami Vice is a groundbreaking 1984 television series starring Don Johnson as Sonny Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo Tubbs, two undercover detectives in the Vice unit of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Set against a backdrop of Miami's vibrant nightlife, the show is known for its stylish visuals, contemporary music, and exploration of the drug trade and other criminal activities.
Cast Don Johnson , Philip Michael Thomas , Saundra Santiago , Olivia Brown , Michael Talbott , Edward James Olmos , John Diehl , Rico Paisley
Release Date September 16, 1984
Seasons 5
Creator(s) Anthony Yerkovich
Few shows capture the essence of the 1980s better than Miami Vice. Set in the neon, colorful world of Miami, two undercover detectives (Detective James Crockett and Detective Ricardo Tubbs) fight crime and solve murders in the "Magic City." The show is known for its fast-paced, action-packed style that mimics the party scene of the city that it is set in.
This distinctive setting and aesthetic is still attractive to audiences today, who would likely be swept up into the intoxicating world of 1980s Miami, paired perfectly with 1980s pop music which made up its soundtrack. The series' ability to encapsulate the time period as well as produce exciting story lines is what makes the original series stand out against other murder mysteries and procedural dramas of its time. The series is still so popular that it was adapted into a film remake in 2006 and Miami Vice is being considered for a new remake.
2 Agatha Christie's: Poirot (1989-2013)
Created by Agatha Christie
Poirot is a British television drama series centered on Agatha Christie's famous detective, Hercule Poirot, portrayed by David Suchet. Running from 1989 to 2013, the series follows Poirot's meticulous and methodical investigations into various criminal cases, showcasing his unparalleled deductive skills and brilliance.
Release Date January 8, 1989
Seasons 13
Inspired by the famous crime stories written by Agatha Christie, Poirot ran on the BBC for a staggering 13 seasons. Christie's depiction of the Belgian detective, with his perfectly slicked back hair, styled mustache, and crisp suits, was first introduced in this murder mystery series. Each episode is tightly structured with a crime that Poirot solves with seeming ease.
To date, Hercule Poirot has appeared in 33 Agatha Christie novels.
Though Poirot is a call back to the traditional stereotype of the proper detective, the series itself is a quirky and eccentric take on the murder mystery. Poirot's stereotypical appearance and personality are a perfect match for the period drama which takes place in old London.
Beyond this, each episode features clever twists and turns that keep the viewer on their toes, as Poirot works out the facts of the crime in real-time. Today, Poirot is still a popular figure, played by Kenneth Branagh in films like Murder on the Orient Express or A Haunting in Venice.
1 Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost
Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura's life wasn't as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season.
Release Date May 23, 1990
Seasons 2
Directors Mark Frost
It is hard to find a murder mystery as unique and strange as David Lynch and Mark Frost's, Twin Peaks. The show, now a cult classic, only ran for two seasons but garnered a loyal fan base. In the series, the audience follows Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) as he investigates the murder of the town's sweetheart, Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee).
For modern audiences, the shockingly abrupt ending is sure to catch them by surprise, equally amazing and agonizing for its lack of conclusion, something that most murder mysteries have.
The series is known for its surrealist style that only devolves more in its last season. Elements of horror and the supernatural are featured prominently in its second season, alerting watchers that Laura's death is more nefarious than a simple murder.
The ending of the series is notorious for its cliffhanger and twist: Dale Cooper is caught in a mysterious place called "The Black Lodge" and the tragedy of who killed Laura Palmer is never fully explained until its later film prequel, Fire Walk With Me. For modern audiences, the shockingly abrupt ending is sure to catch them by surprise, equally amazing and agonizing for its lack of conclusion, something that most murder mysteries have.
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