The very best psychological thriller shows incorporate elements of suspense, drama, and intrigue to keep characters - and viewers - guessing. This list of the top psychological thrillers on television is ranked from best to worst, and it includes pictures from the shows when available. A sneaky criminal on the loose? A clever killer outwitting victims and detectives alike? Get a forensic psychologist on the case. Popular psychological thriller TV shows have been a staple of television for years, so there's often debate about which are the most entertaining psychological thriller shows of all time. Don't let your favorite psychological thriller television programs in history get to the bottom of the list- be sure to vote them up so they have the chance to reach the top spot. The list of psychological thriller television shows below includes information like the program's cast and premiere date when available.
Examples of shows on this list include Twin Peaks and Hannibal. There are many psychological shows on streaming services as well, such as The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix and Homecoming on Amazon Video. Many of these psychological thrillers are the most exciting thriller series of all time and more new thrillers are premiering all the time.
This list answers the questions, "What is the best psychological thriller show of all time?" and "What are the greatest thriller shows with elements of psychology??" Where do your favorite mind-bending thrillers fall? Vote up your favorite psychological thrillers on television!
- 1Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Laurence Fishburne
- Premiered: April 4, 2013
The stylist and well constructed Hannibal was an instant hit with audiences and critics. The series revolves around investigator Jack Crawford's hunt for prolific serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen's indescribable relationship as criminal profiler and serial killer marks the focal point of this psycho killer series.
- 2Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv
- Premiered: October 13, 2017
Helmed by David Fincher, Mindhunter takes places in the early days of criminal profiling. FBI Agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench are joined by psychologist Wendy Carr as they interview imprisoned serial killers to learn more about what makes them tick. Based on a book by a former FBI Agent and featuring depictions of real life serial killers, the series has received critical acclaim for its slow burn pace and attention to detail.
- NEW
- Premiered: September 13, 2023
- 3Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, C.S. Lee
- Premiered: October 1, 2006
What if there was a serial killer that killed serial killers? Dexter was irreparably damaged at age three, causing lifelong urges he couldn't quell. To satisfy them yet remain “good", he becomes a forensic analyst for the Miami PD and moonlights as a vigilante killer. Watching Dexter struggle to hide his irregularities and connect with people on a human level marks quite a twist in the world of psychological thriller shows.
- 4Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Timothy Hutton
- Premiered: October 12, 2018
An anthology miniseries consisting of two mind bending TV shows so far, The Haunting of Hill House manages to be terrifying and heart wrenching at the same time. Season one features the Crain family, who grew up in a house with paranormal activity and reunite after going on different strikingly different paths in life. Season two is actually an adaptation of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw and follows an au pair who begins to see apparitions at the manor.
- 5Daniel Kaluuya, Toby Kebbell, Rory Kinnear
- Premiered: December 4, 2011
Black Mirror took the world by storm when it first aired. Each episode of the British TV series functions independently and tells dystopian stories, often with a cruel ending. Sometimes the focus of the episode is politics, sometimes love, sometimes revenge - but the running theme is the double-edged sword of an increasingly digital society. Black Mirror's ability to suck the audience into their tech-obsessed worlds before twisting a knife into their hearts has made this one of the most acclaimed and influential series of the 2010s.
- 6Penn Badgley, Tati Gabrielle, Charlotte Ritchie
- Premiered: September 9, 2018
A pretty face can get you pretty far. You, starring Penn Badgley, may be about a deranged stalker serial killer, but audiences have simultaneously become obsessed with the character in question. Using social media to track the objects of his affection, Joe Goldberg hunts the city for prey while also being an unassuming bookstore manager.
