Best tv shows like Backstrom
Last updated March 2024
Looking for tv shows like Backstrom? Share your knowledge to lead others to tv series and films you've seen already that may also spellbind them. Help enlarge the network of people mentioning videos to each other. We welcome your involvement!
Plot Summary:
Detective Lieutenant Everett Backstrom is a man with no filter. After a five-year exile to the traffic division for offensive behavior, he has returned from disgrace to lead Portland's newly minted S.C.U. Tasked with navigating the city's most sensitive and serious cases, he must solve each crime as he tries, and fails, to change his own self-destructive behavior. Based on renowned Swedish criminologist and novelist Leif G.W. Persson’s hit series of books of the same name.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 44 min
Plot tags: cynical, realistic, detective, humorous, captivating, psychological, tense, cult classic, serious, suspenseful
Best tv shows and movies like Backstrom (2015):
Similar in 84%
Impastor (2015)
Plot Summary:
Buddy Dobbs, a slacker on the run from a loan shark, steals a man's identity and ends up posing as a small town's new gay pastor.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: captivating, tense, light, feel good, hilarious
Similar in 76%
Harry (2013)
Plot Summary:
Harry is a single story, six-part crime drama series set in Auckland which follows the intense psychological journey of Detective Harry Anglesea.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 252
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: New Zealand
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, realistic, suspenseful, detective, tense, gloomy, hardboiled detective, detective series
Similar in 88%
Memphis Beat (2010)
Plot Summary:
Memphis Beat is an American drama series that debuted on TNT on June 22, 2010 and ended on August 16, 2011. Memphis Beat was officially canceled on October 14, 2011.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 43 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, realistic, detective, humorous, offbeat, detective series
Similar in 87%
Republic of Doyle (2010)
Plot Summary:
Republic of Doyle is a Canadian comedy-drama television series set in St. John's, Newfoundland which debuted 6 January 2010 on CBC Television. The show stars Seán McGinley and Allan Hawco as Malachy and Jake Doyle, a father and son who partner as private investigators in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Their cases involve them in all sorts of dealings – not all of them on the right side of the law.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, suspenseful, semi serious, detective
Similar in 86%
The Last Cop (2010)
Plot Summary:
Der letzte Bulle is a German television series that was first aired in 2010. The series is about a cop from the 1980s put into a modern police department in Essen.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 969
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, humorous, semi serious, realistic, detective, sentimental
Similar in 75%
Babylon (2014)
Plot Summary:
London's police force is in need of a public image revamp. And Chief Constable Richard Miller has found just the woman to do it...American visionary from the world of new media Liz Garvey, sets out to revolutionise the force's PR department just as an outbreak of violence erupts.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: realistic, atmospheric, serious, captivating, detective, humorous, stylized, semi serious, fake documentary
Similar in 88%
The Bill (1984)
Plot Summary:
The Bill is a police procedural television series that was broadcast on the ITV network from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, entitled Woodentop, which was broadcast in August 1983. In its final year on air, The Bill was broadcast once a week, usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays, in a one-hour format. The programme focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work. At the time of the series' conclusion, The Bill was the longest-running police procedural television series in the United Kingdom, and was among the longest-running of any British television series. The series was produced by Thames Television. The series name originated from "Old Bill", a slang term for the police. This was also Geoff McQueen's original title idea for the series, before he eventually decided on "The Bill". Although highly acclaimed amongst fans and critics alike, the series attracted controversy on several occasions. An episode broadcast in 2008 was criticised for featuring fictional treatment for multiple sclerosis, and another episode in the same year resulted in litigation, submitted by MP George Galloway for defamation. The series has also faced more general criticism, concerning the levels of violence it portrays, particularly prior to 2009, when it occupied a pre-watershed slot. During its time on air, The Bill won several awards, including BAFTAs, a Writers' Guild of Great Britain award and the title of "best drama" at the Inside Soap Awards in 2009, the latter being the series' fourth consecutive win. Throughout its twenty-seven-year run, the programme was always broadcast on the main ITV network. In later years, episodes of the show were repeated on ITV3 on their week of broadcast. The series has also been repeated on other digital stations, including UKTV Gold, Alibi, Watch and UKTV G2. In March 2010, executives at ITV announced that the network did not intend to recommission The Bill, and that filming on the series would cease on 14 June 2010. The last ever episode of the series was aired on 31 August 2010.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: captivating, serious, sincere, detective, crime drama, realistic
Similar in 80%
Common Law (2012)
Plot Summary:
Common Law is an American comedy-drama television series, which ran on USA Network from May 11 to August 10, 2012, and stars Michael Ealy and Warren Kole as two Los Angeles Police Department detectives who can't stand each other and are ordered to see a couples therapist to remedy the situation. The series was created by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley and was produced by CBS Television Studios and Junction Entertainment. While originally planned to premiere on January 26, 2012, the series was pushed back until summer 2012. The series premiered following Fairly Legal on Friday, May 11, 2012. The show was canceled by the USA Network after one season and 12 episodes on October 31, 2012, due to low ratings.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 43 min
Plot tags: exciting, humorous, semi serious, realistic, detective, crime drama, talky
Similar in 80%
Pretty Hard Cases (2021)
Plot Summary:
A fun and honest portrayal of two radically different female detectives in their early 40s following Guns and Gangs detective Sam and Narcotics detective Kelly, who by day are true action heroes in their own particular way: skilled, tough, determined, and ruthless. But by night, they’re both grappling with loneliness, dysfunctional families, screwed-up love lives, and a sense that their professional ambitions may not be totally in line with their personal needs.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration:
Plot tags: captivating, psychological, tense, unusual plot structure, suspense, suspenseful, funny, detective, sincere
Similar in 83%
New Tricks (2003)
Plot Summary:
New Tricks is a British comedy-drama that follows the work of the fictional Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad of the Metropolitan Police Service. Originally led by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, it is made up of retired police officers who have been recruited to reinvestigate unsolved crimes.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, crime drama, serious, realistic, tense, captivating, suspenseful
Similar in 75%
King (2011)
Plot Summary:
King is a Canadian police drama which premiered April 17, 2011 on Showcase. The series stars Amy Price-Francis as Jessica King, a veteran police officer who gets promoted to head of the Major Crimes Task Force in Toronto after her predecessor has a breakdown on television. Season 2 began production in September 2011 and premiered 29 February 2012. On June 2, 2012, it was reported that King had been cancelled after 2 seasons.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration:
Plot tags: realistic, serious, suspenseful, captivating, detective, psychological, tense, clever
Similar in 75%
DCI Banks (2010)
Plot Summary:
A thrilling drama based on the novels by Peter Robinson. Stephen Tompkinson and Andrea Lowe star as the tenacious and stubborn Chief Inspector Alan Banks and the feisty and headstrong Detective Sergeant Annie Cabbot.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: detective, realistic, crime drama, tense, rough, serious, suspenseful, dark, gloomy
Similar in 85%
The Unusuals (2009)
Plot Summary:
The Unusuals is a comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from April 8 to June 17, 2009 in the U.S. and Global in Canada. The pilot and first episode were written by Noah Hawley, a former writer and producer for Fox's Bones. An ABC press release described The Unusuals as "like a modern-day M*A*S*H" that "explores both the grounded drama and comic insanity of the world of New York City police detectives, where every cop has a secret". Its premise elaborated: The initial series order was for 10 episodes. Show creator Noah Hawley announced via his Twitter account in mid-May 2009 that ABC would not be bringing the show back for a second season.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, light, captivating, detective, anime, psychological thriller, realistic, psycho film
Similar in 79%
Diagnosis Murder (1993)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Mark Sloan is a good-natured, offbeat physician who is called upon to solve murders.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: detective, serious, suspenseful, captivating, realistic, exciting, humorous, suspense, medical drama, thrilling
Similar in 90%
Ironside (2013)
Plot Summary:
Ironside is an upcoming American drama television series that is scheduled to premiere in the 2013–14 television season on NBC. It will air on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern/9 p.m. Central, after Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. It is a remake of the 1960s television series Ironside and is set to premiere on October 2, 2013.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, serious, tense, captivating, suspense, detective, suspenseful
Similar in 85%
The Bridge (2010)
Plot Summary:
The Bridge was a Canadian police drama commissioned by CTV and CBS starring Aaron Douglas. The name of the series is derived from the bridge which connects the wealthy Rosedale neighborhood of Toronto with one of its poorest, St. James Town. The initial order is for 11 episodes, produced by Entertainment One. After CTV ordered the pilot to series in November 2008, CTV later shared the pilot with CBS. This series premiered on CTV on March 5, 2010 and premiered on July 10, 2010 on CBS. It has been canceled in the US after three episodes due to low ratings. CTV announced on June 3, 2010 that the series will return for a second season during the 2010–2011 season. However, on January 13, 2011, star Aaron Douglas tweeted that the series has been officially canceled after only one season.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 470
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, psychological, captivating, detective, rough, suspenseful
Similar in 76%
Robbery Homicide Division (2002)
Plot Summary:
Robbery Homicide Division was an American police procedural television series on CBS, created by Barry Schindel with executive producer Michael Mann. Schindel has been nominated for three Emmy Awards.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 403
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, serious, suspenseful, exciting, captivating, realistic
Similar in 82%
Battle Creek (2015)
Plot Summary:
In this mismatched buddy cop dramedy, an amazingly handsome, happy-go-lucky FBI agent is paired with a local, hard scrabble Michigan homicide detective. As they solve crimes together, their polar opposite methods only slightly outweigh their disdain for each other.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 44 min
Plot tags: detective, realistic, witty, cynical, exciting, tense, serious, suspenseful, psychological thriller, interesting
Similar in 79%
10-8: Officers on Duty (2003)
Plot Summary:
10-8: Officers on Duty is an American police drama television series. The series aired on ABC from September 28, 2003 to January 11, 2004. The title is in reference to the ten-code for "officer in service and available for calls.".
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 280
Genere: Drama, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, captivating, detective, realistic
Similar in 77%
L.A. Dragnet (2003)
Plot Summary:
Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith methodically investigate crimes in Los Angeles.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, detective
Similar in 75%
Dark Blue (2009)
Plot Summary:
Dark Blue was an action/drama television series which premiered on TNT on July 15, 2009, at 10 pm. It ended its run on September 15, 2010. The series is set in Los Angeles, California. It revolves around Carter Shaw, the leader of an undercover unit. He is an officer who has dedicated his life to taking down the worst criminals in L.A., and this dedication has cost him his marriage. His team includes Ty Curtis, a newlywed who struggles between his job and his new life; Dean Bendis, an officer who is so deep in his undercover role that his team is no longer sure which side he is on; and Jaimie Allen, a green patrol cop recruited into the undercover unit because of her dark past and criminal skills.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, detective, crime drama, exciting
Similar in 77%
Identity (2010)
Plot Summary:
Identity is a British police procedural drama television series starring Aidan Gillen and Keeley Hawes, airing in the UK during July–August 2010. Concerning identity theft, the series was created and written by Ed Whitmore, a writer most noted for his work on the BBC's Waking The Dead and the acclaimed ITV mini-series He Kills Coppers. The remake rights have been sold to the ABC Network in America who are developing their own version of the show. ITV confirmed that the show had been cancelled on 19 October 2010, after a single series.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 717
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, psychological, serious, realistic, captivating, detective, crime drama, suspenseful, stylized, gloomy
Similar in 82%
The Body Farm (2011)
Plot Summary:
Dr Eve Lockhart is one of Britain's leading forensic pathologists and runs a state-of-the-art forensic research facility called The Body Farm with her business partner Mike Phillips. Theirs is the only facility in the country using real human body-donors to examine the complex and fascinating journey the body goes through as it decays and returns to the earth.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 842
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration:
Plot tags: serious, realistic, tense, captivating, detective, psychological, rough, suspenseful
Similar in 80%
Karen Sisco (2003)
Plot Summary:
As a U.S. Deputy Marshal, based on Miami, Florida's Gold Coast, Karen must deal with the underbelly of South Beach nightlife and Palm Beach high life while tracking down fugitives. She also struggles to win the respect of her fellow officers. Karen occasionally gets advice from her father, a retired Miami police officer turned private investigator, who is Karen’s confidant, counselor, and confessor.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 915
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, tense, captivating, disturbing, detective, humorous, suspenseful, neo noir
Similar in 83%
Shots Fired (2017)
Plot Summary:
A media storm sets off when an African-American cop kills a white teenager in a small North Carolina town.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 43 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, captivating, suspense, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, detective, crime drama
Similar in 76%
Bull (2016)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Jason Bull is the brilliant, brash, and charming founder of a hugely successful trial consulting firm.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: captivating, entertaining, light, humorous
Similar in 83%
Perception (2012)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Daniel Pierce, a neuroscientist and professor, is recruited to help the federal government crack difficult cases. His intimate knowledge of human behavior and masterful understanding of the mind give him an extraordinary ability to read people, but his eccentric view of the world and less-than-stellar social skills can often interfere with his work.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 42 min
Plot tags: exciting, mind bending, offbeat, intellectual, serious, detective, psychological, entertaining, dramatic, crime drama
Similar in 78%
Rizzoli & Isles (2010)
Plot Summary:
Perhaps their strikingly different personalities make the relationship between detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles so effective. Jane, the only female cop in Boston's homicide division, is tough, relentless and rarely lets her guard down, while the impeccably dressed Maura displays a sometimes icy temperament — she is, after all, more comfortable among the dead than the living. Together, the best friends have forged a quirky and supportive relationship; they drop the protective shield in each other's company, and combine their expertise to solve Boston's most complex cases.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: captivating, tense, realistic, detective, serious, crime drama, suspenseful
Similar in 79%
Castle (2009)
Plot Summary:
After a serial killer imitates the plots of his novels, successful mystery novelist Richard "Rick" Castle receives permission from the Mayor of New York City to tag along with an NYPD homicide investigation team for research purposes.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 172000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 43 min
Plot tags: witty, realistic, detective, entertaining, crime drama, sensitive, thrilling, suspenseful, semi serious, humorous
Similar in 82%
NYC 22 (2012)
Plot Summary:
NYC 22 is an American police procedural drama which ran on CBS from April 15 to August 11, 2012. The series was a mid-season replacement for CSI: Miami. On May 13, 2012, both series were canceled by CBS.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, tense, detective, psychological, captivating, suspense, disturbing, rough, suspenseful