Fact – if you are reading this, you have a fantasy of becoming a cool police detective that solves crimes for a living. Also, a fact – you know that’s never happening, so you’d much rather just binge on shows like Law And Order (1990) to satisfy your craving.
You know it’s true, and I do too. Law and Order is a beautiful concoction of detective work, drama, and courtroom producers mixed into one epic show. The show was a gamble, and it paid off massively for showrunner Dick Wolf who exalted himself as a Hollywood legend.
Receiving critical acclaim and audience praise, Law and Order went on to run for 20 successive seasons! That’s no easy feat for any kind of show and also puts it in the league of longest-running shows ever.
6 Brilliant Shows Like Law And Order | Shows That Will Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seats!
One of the reasons Law and Order found the kind of success it did is its stellar storytelling. Then it’s directing and, most importantly, the cast. They are the ones who make Law and Order likable even when we are witnessing gruesome acts of violence in the show.
And no, before you ask, all the murders and kidnappings are mostly fictional on Law and Order. Though the writers have confirmed, they rely on the news for inspiration and sometimes incorporate real-world tragedies. That’s a nice way to keep new episodes interesting with the freedom to add their kind of twist.
There have been many shows like Law and Order that have tried to replicate what the show did. It even has its own set of spinoffs and has a whole franchise going. The show also got renewed for its 21st season and aired on 24 February 2022 after being canceled back in 2011. So if you want to get back into watching some more police action shows like Law and Order, let’s check some of the best options!
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1# Criminal Minds (2005)
Everyone’s favorite crime drama, Criminal Minds, is one the best shows like Law and Order you can watch! The show has some intense storyline that doesn’t deal with your run-of-the-mill criminals, but it deals with the most mentally twisted killers.
Following a group of psychological specialists from the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, Criminal Minds aims to catch serial killers who have eluded the local law enforcement. BAU has to analyze the thinking of these criminals and catch them before they make their next move. A show of excitement and unmatchable thrill, Criminal Minds is a must-watch for every person, not just a fan of crime dramas!
Additional Details About The Show –
| Release Date | 2005 |
| Creator | Jeff Davis |
| Cast | Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Joe Mantegna, and Thomas Gibson |
| Genre | Crime/Drama/Mystery |
| IMDb Rating | 8.2/10 |
| Average Run-Time | 42m |
| Streaming Platform | Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Paramount + |
| Number of Seasons | 15 |
| Number of Episodes | 324 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 86% |
2# Mindhunter (2017)
Though not directly related, Mindhunter is kind of the predecessor to Criminal Minds. Coming from the brilliant director of the master of suspense, David Fincher himself, Mindhunter is a crime-solving classic. It follows the lives of two detectives – Against Holden Ford and Bill Tench, who look to study the minds of serial killers.
They want to understand what makes them do what they do and what serial killers’ motivations are like. Minndhunters is based in the 1970s, solidifying it as an indirect and unofficial prequel to Criminal Minds. The foundations of learning behavioral patterns of psychopaths to identify them in other people to stop a crime from being committed. Now that’s an interesting premise. With the show being brilliantly executed, I’m sure you will love Mindhunter.
Additional Details About The Show –
| Release Date | 2017 |
| Creator | Joe Penhall |
| Cast | Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, Hannah Gross, and Sonny Valicenti |
| Genre | Crime/Mystery/Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 8.6/10 |
| Average Run-Time | 1h |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
| Number of Seasons | 2 |
| Number of Episodes | 19 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 97% |
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3# Unbelievable (2019)
Unbelievable is a true-crime mini-series that grips you from start to finish. It is also very hard to watch as its similarity to real-life events will shake you to your core. Unbelievable is based on the articles published in ProPublica that followed a real investigation. The case is about a girl named Marie who is wrongfully convicted for lying about r*pe.
A few years later, Det. Grace Rasmussen and Det. Karen Duvall stumbles upon similar cases on their own and senses a dark pattern. They combine their detective skills to look for what is possibly a serial rapist that no one has been able to identify. Unbelievable is truly an unbelievable show to watch and is one the best shows like Law and Order in terms of drama!
Additional Details About The Show –
| Release Date | 2019 |
| Creator | Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, and Michael Chabon |
| Cast | Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, and Kaitlyn Dever |
| Genre | Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 8.4/10 |
| Average Run-Time | 43m – 58m |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
| Number of Seasons | 1 |
| Number of Episodes | 8 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 98% |
4# The Good Fight (2017)
Most shows like Law and Order have the thrill of catching criminals but not how they are prosecuted. Enter the legal drama The Good Fight. The show follows the lives of two highly successful lawyers, one quite young while the other pretty much past her prime. The Good Fight sees a scam ruins the career of Maria while bankrupting Dianne Lockhart out of her savings.
Both must now start afresh in a dog-eat-dog world. They find that place in a big law firm in Chicago where it is a struggle for them to prove themselves every day. The Good Fight is a sequel to another highly successful legal drama The Good Wife, and features some of the cast from the original show. How does a veteran lawyer bring criminals to justice? You will have to watch the show to find out!
Additional Details About The Show –
| Release Date | 2017 |
| Creator | Michelle King |
| Cast | Christine Baranski, Rose Leslie, Erica Tazel, Cush Jumbo, and Delroy Lindo |
| Genre | Legal/Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 8.4/10 |
| Average Run-Time | 45m |
| Streaming Platform | Paramount + and Amazon Prime Video |
| Number of Seasons | 5 |
| Number of Episodes | 50 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 95% |
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5# Broadchurch (2013)
Big cities are filled with many people and hence have a lot of crime, but what about when crime moves to a small beachside town in Britain? Well, Broadchurch is a show that follows the exact premise with Olivia Colman and David Tennant of Doctor Who supplying the star power. An 11-year-old boy is found murdered in the small town of Dorset, which sends shockwaves across the country.
With lots of outpouring of media attention, big-city detective Alec Hardy is brought in to break the case. What unfolds is a three-season thriller trying to find the mysterious killer whose identity remains a secret until the absolute end. Broadchurch isn’t just a great crime drama to watch but great suspense and thriller. With both the stars combining to give a strong performance, the show is a must-watch!
Additional Details About The Show –
| Release Date | 2013 |
| Creator | Chris Chibnall |
| Cast | Olivia Colman, David Tenant, Jodie Whittaker, and Andrew Buchan |
| Genre | Drama/Mystery |
| IMDb Rating | 8.4/10 |
| Average Run-Time | 46m – 51m |
| Streaming Platform | Amazon Prime Video and PBS |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Number of Episodes | 24 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 92% |
6# Blue Bloods (2010)
Blue Bloods is one of those shows like Law and Order that has been going on and on and on. The show features your mom’s crush from the 90s, Tom Selleck, in the lead. Selleck plays the role of Frank Reagan, the New York City police commissioner. Blue Bloods follows the life of Frank and his family members. His sons are in the police department, while his daughter is an assistant district attorney.
The diversity in their jobs gives them a complete picture of the system and how law and order work in the real world. While Blue Bloods is mostly a show about one single family and their drama, the thrill and action from the streets to the courtroom are just as interesting. The mix of family drama with a cop show makes Blue Blood unique.
Additional Details About The Show –
| Release Date | 2010 |
| Creator | Mitchell Burgess, and Robin Green |
| Cast | Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Len Cariou, and Will Estes |
| Genre | Crime/Mystery/Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 7.8/10 |
| Average Run-Time | 43m |
| Streaming Platform | CBS and Amazon Prime Video |
| Number of Seasons | 12 |
| Number of Episodes | 252 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 88% |
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Final Words
These shows make our list of the best shows like Law And Order that you can stream right now. Each show is great in its own right, and the actors and the writers have crafted some great series. We, as viewers, can only make the most of them as we binge on them now and then. What are your thoughts about these shows? Does your favorite make a list? Let us know in the comments below!
