Crime TV Shows & Characters

Dive into the world of TV crime dramas featuring antiheroes, mob bosses, and the thin line between law and lawlessness.

8
Shows
44
Characters

About Crime Television

The crime genre has produced some of the most compelling and culturally significant television of the modern era. TVCeleb profiles 8 crime series spanning networks including AMC, HBO, Netflix, BBC, with streaming available on platforms like Netflix, Max, Paramount+. These shows represent the full breadth of what crime television can achieve, from intimate character studies to sweeping narratives that have shaped how audiences engage with the medium.

Across these 8 series, TVCeleb profiles 44 distinct characters who have captivated audiences and inspired dedicated fan communities. Among the most popular are Walter White from Breaking Bad (played by Bryan Cranston), Tony Soprano from The Sopranos (played by James Gandolfini), Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders (played by Cillian Murphy), Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad (played by Aaron Paul), Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman from Better Call Saul (played by Bob Odenkirk). Each character profile includes detailed arc analysis, key episodes, fan ecosystem mapping, and Fan Heat Index scoring that measures engagement, social activity, and cultural impact.

Whether you're a longtime fan of crime television or discovering these shows for the first time, TVCeleb provides the most comprehensive resource for exploring the characters, relationships, and storylines that make crime series so compelling. Our detailed profiles go beyond basic plot summaries to examine what makes each character resonate with audiences, how they contribute to their show's themes, and why they've inspired such passionate fan communities.

Crime Shows (8)

AMC Ended

Breaking Bad

2008–2013 · 5 Seasons

A high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine manufacturer descends into the criminal underworld.

DramaCrimeThriller
95
HBO Ended

The Sopranos

1999–2007 · 6 Seasons

A New Jersey mob boss navigates the demands of his criminal empire and family while seeing a psychiatrist.

DramaCrime
94
Netflix Ended

Ozark

2017–2022 · 4 Seasons

A financial advisor moves his family to the Ozarks to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel.

DramaCrimeThriller
85
BBC Ended

Peaky Blinders

2013–2022 · 6 Seasons

A gangster family rises to power in post-WWI Birmingham, England, led by the cunning Thomas Shelby.

DramaCrimePeriod Drama
90
AMC Ended

Better Call Saul

2015–2022 · 6 Seasons

The origin story of Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman, tracing a small-time lawyer's transformation into a criminal attorney.

DramaCrime
93
Showtime Ended

Dexter

2006–2013 · 8 Seasons

A forensic blood spatter analyst leads a secret double life as a serial killer who targets other murderers.

DramaCrimeThriller
88
Hulu Ongoing

Only Murders in the Building

2021–present · 4 Seasons

Three true-crime-obsessed neighbors investigate murders in their Upper West Side apartment building while recording a podcast.

ComedyMysteryCrime
84
HBO Ended

True Detective

2014–2024 · 4 Seasons

An anthology series where detectives unravel dark crimes across different American landscapes and time periods.

DramaCrimeMystery
86

Top Crime Characters (44)

Breaking Bad

Walter White

Played by Bryan Cranston

Seasons 1–5 97
The Sopranos

Tony Soprano

Played by James Gandolfini

Seasons 1–6 97
Peaky Blinders

Thomas Shelby

Played by Cillian Murphy

Seasons 1–6 96
Breaking Bad

Jesse Pinkman

Played by Aaron Paul

Seasons 1–5 94
Better Call Saul

Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman

Played by Bob Odenkirk

Seasons 1–6 94
True Detective

Rust Cohle

Played by Matthew McConaughey

Season 1 93
Dexter

Dexter Morgan

Played by Michael C. Hall

Seasons 1-8 92
Breaking Bad

Gustavo "Gus" Fring

Played by Giancarlo Esposito

Seasons 2–4 91
Ozark

Ruth Langmore

Played by Julia Garner

Seasons 1–4 91
Better Call Saul

Kim Wexler

Played by Rhea Seehorn

Seasons 1–6 91
Breaking Bad

Saul Goodman

Played by Bob Odenkirk

Seasons 2–5 90
Dexter

Arthur Mitchell / The Trinity Killer

Played by John Lithgow

Season 4 90
Peaky Blinders

Alfie Solomons

Played by Tom Hardy

Seasons 2–6 89
Better Call Saul

Lalo Salamanca

Played by Tony Dalton

Seasons 4–6 89
Ozark

Marty Byrde

Played by Jason Bateman

Seasons 1–4 88
Better Call Saul

Mike Ehrmantraut

Played by Jonathan Banks

Seasons 1–6 87
The Sopranos

Christopher Moltisanti

Played by Michael Imperioli

Seasons 1–6 86
Breaking Bad

Mike Ehrmantraut

Played by Jonathan Banks

Seasons 2–5 85
Better Call Saul

Chuck McGill

Played by Michael McKean

Seasons 1–3 85
True Detective

Marty Hart

Played by Woody Harrelson

Season 1 85
Dexter

Debra Morgan

Played by Jennifer Carpenter

Seasons 1-8 85
Ozark

Wendy Byrde

Played by Laura Linney

Seasons 1–4 84
Peaky Blinders

Polly Gray

Played by Helen McCrory

Seasons 1–5 84
Better Call Saul

Nacho Varga

Played by Michael Mando

Seasons 1–6 84

Explore More on TVCeleb

TVCeleb.com is the internet's most comprehensive resource for television character fandom, covering 38 acclaimed TV series with 205 detailed character profiles and 153 actor biographies. Our coverage spans 24 genres across 16 networks and streaming platforms, with content organized to help fans discover, explore, and engage with television from every angle.

Browse our collection by genre to find shows in your preferred category, by network to see what's available on your streaming platform, by decade to explore different eras of television history, or by curated lists that group characters by archetype and achievement. Each show page features expanded synopses, production details, and video content, while character pages include detailed arc analysis, key episodes, quotes, trivia, and fan ecosystem mapping.

Every character on TVCeleb is scored using our proprietary Fan Heat Index, which measures engagement, social activity, meme velocity, fan art density, and fandom longevity on a scale of 0 to 100. This data-driven approach provides objective insight into which characters have inspired the most passionate and active fan communities. Use the search page to find any character, show, or actor instantly, or start browsing from our homepage to discover what's trending in television fandom today.

? Frequently Asked Questions

TVCeleb.com covers 8 Crime shows including Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Ozark, Peaky Blinders, Better Call Saul, and more. Each show features detailed character profiles, fan ecosystem mapping, and Fan Heat Index scoring. These series represent a range of approaches to the crime genre, from critically acclaimed award winners to fan-favorite cult hits, all available for exploration on TVCeleb.

There are currently 44 characters from 8 Crime TV shows profiled on TVCeleb.com. Each character page includes a detailed character arc, key episodes, Fan Heat Index breakdown measuring engagement and social activity, quotes and trivia, fan ecosystem links, and FAQ sections. New characters and shows are added regularly as the TVCeleb database continues to expand.

Crime television is spread across multiple networks and platforms. AMC, HBO, Netflix, BBC, Showtime are among the primary homes for crime programming covered on TVCeleb. Streaming platforms including Netflix, Max, Paramount+ have also become major destinations for crime content, making these shows accessible to global audiences.

TVCeleb uses the Fan Heat Index, a proprietary scoring system that measures character popularity across multiple dimensions including fan engagement, social media activity, meme velocity, and overall cultural impact. Each Crime character receives an overall score out of 100, with detailed breakdowns available on individual character pages. This data-driven approach provides objective insight into which characters resonate most strongly with audiences.