Best tv shows like The Cops
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Set in and around Stanton, a faceless and grim Northern enclave, The Cops depicts the daily grind for a group of policemen and women out on the beat as they interact, and sometimes clash, with the local community.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 171
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: detective
Best tv shows and movies like The Cops (1998):
Similar in 75%
On the Line (1997)
Plot Summary:
A female police detective tries to track down a gang of teenage bank robbers while dealing with sexual harassment on the job, and her troubled home life.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 237
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 87%
MacGruder and Loud (1985)
Plot Summary:
MacGruder and Loud is an American crime drama from Aaron Spelling Productions that aired on ABC in 1985. The series stars John Getz and Kathryn Harrold as married police officers Malcolm MacGruder and Jenny Loud in a Los Angeles Police Department-styled police agency. They fought a battle every day to keep it a closely guarded secret from their boss, Sgt. Hanson. Malcolm and Jenny lived in a duplex-type apartment complex where there was a secret door behind the grandfather clock in her apartment, where Malcolm could sneak in and enjoy her company. This was one of the few failures from Aaron Spelling's production company in its history, since it was picked by ABC to debut right after the Super Bowl in 1985 and was heavily promoted during the game. The promotion resulted in high ratings at first, but following a quick decline, the series was cancelled three months into its run, after ranking 40th out of 104 programs that aired that season with an average 15.76 household rating, according to TVTango.com. Because of the frequent commercials during the Super Bowl, the following night Johnny Carson ask rhetorically during his monologue on The Tonight Show: "Did you see that new show, 'Frequent and Loud'?".
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 122
Genere: Drama, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, detective series
Similar in 75%
In the Name of the Law (1994)
Plot Summary:
In the name of the law is a German television series that was broadcast from 1994 to 2007 by RTL.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 85
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 78%
Police Rescue (1989)
Plot Summary:
Police Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC. Apart from the 61 episodes, there was a 90-minute pilot episode as well as a feature film in 1994, starring Zoe Carides. The series dealt with the New South Wales Police Rescue Squad based in Sydney and their work attending to various incidents from road accidents to train crashes. The show was very well received for the first four series, however a decline in ratings by the commencement of the 1996 series saw the cancellation of the show, following an almost epitaph in the final three episodes. Police Rescue was shown in the United Kingdom and aired on Sky One, in parts of Italy as Polizia Squadra Soccorso on T9, in France on TF1 as Sydney Police, in Germany on VOX as Police Rescue – Gefährlicher Einsatz, in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark on the United Kingdom-based TV3, and in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉ.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 570
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Australia, UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 76%
The Vice (1999)
Plot Summary:
The Vice is an ITV police drama about the Metropolitan Police Vice Unit. It ran for five short series between 1999 and 2003. It tells the story of the London Metropolitan police force's vice squad, where prostitution, underage sex, and other such organized crime are regular occurrences. Most episodes end in such a way where the main villain is caught but often not in a 'naturally' concluded way that you would expect with other TV dramas, and often ending an episode with more questions unanswered than answered. The small dedicated team is led by Detective Inspector Pat Chappel who struggles to manage the balance between his home life and his work life - as do the other members of the team. Working in the seedy underworld leads to a continual dilemma for the team - the tension between the Vice Squad and the vice-related crimes that they investigate runs throughout the series and gives the show a rich viewing experience. The programme often blurs the line of the team staying on the right side of the law, as almost every member of the team at different points submits briefly or permanently to the temptations of either sex, drugs, money or honey traps. Sometimes with drastic consequences.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 586
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: detective, crime drama
Similar in 87%
Merseybeat (2001)
Plot Summary:
Merseybeat follows the fortunes of Newton Park police force, as the officers struggle to balance their demanding work and home lives.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 59
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Juliet Bravo (1980)
Plot Summary:
Juliet Bravo was a drama that focused on two female police inspectors, neither of whom were called Juliet Bravo! These two inspectors worked in the small fictional town of Hartley, Lancashire. Jean Darblay was on the scene first and had trouble with her sexist colleagues. However she soon managed to gain their trust and prove a woman could be a successful police officer and housewife. Jean's call sign was Juliet Bravo. When she was promoted and moved on she was replaced by Kate Longton who not only took over the patch but also the headaches that went with it.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 274
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 78%
Rosa Roth (1994)
Plot Summary:
Rosa Roth is a no-nonsense police commissioner stationed in Berlin, who has a small team of operatives she trusts with her life. Whatever happens on the field, takes a toll on them personally as well.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 94
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Germany
Duration:
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 88%
Pie in the Sky (1994)
Plot Summary:
Pie in the Sky is a British offbeat police comedy drama programme starring Richard Griffiths and Maggie Steed, created by Andrew Payne and first broadcast in five series on BBC1 between 13 March 1994 and 17 August 1997 as well as being syndicated on other channels in other countries, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series departs slightly from other police dramas in that the protagonist, Henry Crabbe, while still being an on-duty policeman, is also the head chef of the title restaurant set in the fictional town of Middleton and county of Westershire.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 90%
The Rookies (1972)
Plot Summary:
The Rookies is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1972 until 1976. It follows the exploits of three rookie police officers working in an unidentified city for the fictitious Southern California Police Department.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, retro, vintage
Similar in 77%
Fox Grønland (2001)
Plot Summary:
The series is about police investigators in Greenland police and the assignments they receive. Every day they face new challenges that affect them differently. These consist of inspector Jan Erik Holm, Hassan Mohammed Arif Osman, Trond Olsen and Holms ex-wife Cecilie Melvold. The series paints a somewhat grim picture of Oslo, it is a place where no one is safe, where nobody is above threats and blackmail. Even policemen are subjected to harassment.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 128
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Norway
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 89%
The Gentle Touch (1980)
Plot Summary:
The Gentle Touch is a British police drama television series made by London Weekend Television for ITV which ran from 1980-1984. Commencing transmission on 11 April 1980, the series is notable for being the first British series to feature a female police detective as its leading character, ahead of the similarly themed BBC series Juliet Bravo by four months.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 296
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 85%
Most Wanted (1976)
Plot Summary:
Most Wanted is an American crime drama series shown on ABC from October 16, 1976 until August 20, 1977. It stars Robert Stack, Jo Ann Harris, Shelly Novack, and Hari Rhodes. This program marks the reunion of series star Stack with noted producer Quinn Martin, as the two had worked together previously on the legendary hit crime series The Untouchables. This is one of only three series from QM Productions not to have an announcer reading out or accompanying the opening credits.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 84
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 81%
Missing Persons (1993)
Plot Summary:
Missing Persons is a short-lived American crime drama television series, set in Chicago. It followed a fictitious missing persons unit; each episode usually following the investigation into three or more cases. It ran on ABC from August 30, 1993 to February 17, 1994. It was produced by Gary Sherman Productions in association with Stephen J. Cannell Productions, and often used local Chicago-based actors, as well as occasional big-name guest stars such as Nina Foch, Eddie Bracken and Lois Smith. Semi-regulars included Ian Gomez, Irma P. Hall, Laura Cerón and Valerie Harper. Unlike most series from Cannell's company, he did not create or co-create this series.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 73
Genere: Drama, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 83%
Dempsey and Makepeace (1985)
Plot Summary:
Dempsey and Makepeace is a British television crime drama made by London Weekend Television for ITV, created and produced by Ranald Graham. The leading roles were played by Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber, who later married each other on 18 November 1989. The series combined elements of previous series such as the mis-matching of British and American crime-fighters from different classes as seen in The Persuaders! and the action of The Professionals.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 77%
Cuffs (2015)
Plot Summary:
Cuffs is a fresh, authentic and visceral drama that will take the audience on an exhilarating ride through the challenges of front-line policing. Adrenalized and vibrant, the show is packed full of dramatic incidents and colourful characters. From a booby trapped cannabis farm in a suburban semi to an elderly farmer's wife with a shotgun, the stories are surprising and exciting. There will be more absurd altercations - such as a middle-class dog-napping or fisticuffs between pensioners - as well as the daily grind of speeding drivers, city-centre shoplifters and Saturday night drinkers.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, suspense, suspenseful, tense, unusual plot structure, contemplative, crime drama, queer cinema
Similar in 80%
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 89%
Murder Call (1997)
Plot Summary:
Murder Call was an Australian television series, created by Hal McElroy for the Southern Star Entertainment and seen on the Nine Network between 1997 and 2000. The idea to the series was born by the books of Tessa Vance by Jennifer Rowe: Suspect/Deadline and Something Wicked. Both books were integrated as episodes in the TV series. The series dealt with the cases confronted by an unconventional team of homicide detectives, Tessa Vance and Steve Hayden.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 463
Genere: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Country: Australia
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: detective
Similar in 86%
Justified: City Primeval (2023)
Plot Summary:
Having left the hollers of Kentucky 15 years ago, Raylan Givens is now based in Miami, balancing life as a marshal and part-time father of a 15-year-old girl. A chance encounter on a Florida highway sends him to Detroit and he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent sociopath who’s already slipped through the fingers of Detroit’s finest once and wants to do so again.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 48 min
Plot tags: neo noir, crime drama, hardboiled detective, psychological thriller, psycho film
Similar in 86%
From Darkness (2015)
Plot Summary:
The story of Claire Church, a former police officer who moves away to the remote Western Isles in an attempt to escape the past and violence that still haunts her. Soon, Claire is pulled back into an investigation she thought she long left behind, by her former lover and colleague DCI John Hind and his new DS Anthony Boyce.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 233 min
Plot tags: detective, tense, psychological, unusual plot structure, suspense, suspenseful, disturbing, psychological thriller, crime drama
Similar in 79%
Thirty Cases of Major Zema (1975)
Plot Summary:
Thirty Cases of Major Zeman is a Czechoslovak action-drama television show intended as a political propaganda to support the official attitude of the communist party. The series were filmed in the 1970s. Each episode encompasses one year, and investigations are stylized to that year. Most are inspired by real cases. The series follows the life of police investigator Jan Zeman during his career from 1945 to 1975.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 243
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Czechoslovakia
Duration:
Plot tags: detective, poliziottesco
Similar in 80%
The Thin Blue Line (2021)
Plot Summary:
Swedish drama series about police officers in Malmö, their tiring work and the difficulties of keeping their personal and professional life separate.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Sweden, Finland
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, unusual plot structure, suspense, suspenseful, disturbing, detective, contemplative
Similar in 85%
High Incident (1996)
Plot Summary:
High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan Johnson. It first aired on March 4, 1996, running a total of 32 episodes.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 427
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, exciting, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 86%
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 89%
Brooklyn South (1997)
Plot Summary:
Brooklyn South is an American ensemble police drama series that aired on CBS for only one season during the 1997–98 television season. The series was co-created by Steven Bochco, Bill Clark, David Milch and William M. Finkelstein. Bochco is the creator of many well-known police dramas such as Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue. Milch was Bochco's co-creator for NYPD Blue. Finkelstein and Clark both also worked on NYPD Blue. The series attempted to create a setting of a gritty, realistic police station similar to that of NYPD Blue, but differed by focusing on the uniformed police officers rather than the detectives. The pilot of Brooklyn South was noted as the first TV-MA rated episode on broadcast television.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 85%
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 84%
Against the Wall (2011)
Plot Summary:
Against the Wall is an American police drama television series created by Annie Brunner. The series starred Rachael Carpani as Abby Kowalski, a police detective who recently joined the Internal Affairs division of the Chicago Police Department. The series was broadcast in the United States on the cable channel Lifetime, and is a production of Universal Cable Productions. It premiered on July 31, 2011, following Drop Dead Diva. Lifetime opted not to renew the show for a second season.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, realistic, touching, detective, serious
Similar in 89%
New York Undercover (1994)
Plot Summary:
New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the Fox television network from 1994 to 1998. The series stars Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's Fourth Precinct who were assigned to investigate various crimes and gang-related cases. The cast also included Patti D'Arbanville-Quinn as their superior, Lt. Virginia Cooper, and Lauren Vélez, who joined the cast in the second season as Nina Moreno, fellow detective and love interest to Torres. New York Undercover was created and produced by Dick Wolf, and its storyline takes place in the same fictional universe as Wolf's NBC series Law & Order and its spin-offs. New York Undercover is notable for being the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles. In contrast to the popularity of NBC's "Must See TV" on Thursday nights in the 1990s, many African-American viewers flocked to Fox's Thursday night line-up of Living Single, New York Undercover, and Martin. In fact, these were the three highest rated series among black households for the 1996-1997 season.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, rough, realistic, suspenseful, detective, crime drama
Similar in 79%
Between the Lines (1992)
Plot Summary:
Between the Lines was a television police drama series created by J. C. Wilsher and produced by World Productions for the BBC. It was first shown on BBC1 between 1992 and 1994, running for three series. The show centred on the eventful life of Detective Superintendent Tony Clark, played by Neil Pearson. Clark was an ambitious member of the Complaints Investigation Bureau, an internal organisation that investigates claims of corruption inside the police in England and Wales. Along the way Clark had to overcome strong influence from his superiors and problems in his private life, most notably the break-up of his marriage following an affair with WPC Jenny Dean. Throughout the series Clark was assisted by sidekicks Harry Naylor and Mo Connell. Clark's work as a lead officer in CIB was the focus of the first two series. In the first series his boss was Deakin, a tough Irish policeman. At the end of the first series Deakin was revealed to be a corrupt officer himself. He left the force but remained a recurring character working freelance for the security services and others, sometimes in conflict with Clark and sometimes assisting him. At the start of the third series Clark, Naylor and Connell leave the police force and work in the murky world of private security, far right politics and espionage. The third series ends with the betrayal of Clark and Naylor who had been masquerading as mercenaries. The betrayal is made by Connell in league with Deakin, their former boss and nemesis. It is unclear whether Clark and Naylor have died as the show ended on a cliffhanger. Rumours of a remake did circulate for some years, but Pearson confirmed in 'Watching the Detectives' that he had wanted a 'final' ending at the time and would never return to the role.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 611
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: detective, tense, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 81%
Blue Murder (2001)
Plot Summary:
Blue Murder is a Canadian crime drama television series, featuring stories that reflected the turbulence of urban life and the crimes that make headlines. The Blue Murder squad members were an elite group of big-city investigators out to solve some of the city's most complicated and riveting crimes.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 144
Genere: Drama, Crime
Country: Canada
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, tense, captivating