The Best Suspense TV Shows

Updated October 12, 2020 5.9k votes 1.2k voters 77.0k views69 items

List RulesVote up the best suspense series - those shows that keep you on the edge of your seat thanks to their twists and turns.

The best suspense TV shows get you snared in story and caught up in the characters. Whether they're weaving suspenseful scenes with horror, drama, crime, or even sci-fi, each episode of the very best suspense series on television has you eager for more. The only thing more suspenseful than the best suspense shows is trying to determine which series are the best. This list of the greatest suspense shows is ranked from best to worst, thanks to your votes, to clear up any debate about what the most entertaining suspense show of all time is.

This list features suspenseful tv shows like Twin Peaks, True Detective, and Ozark - all shows that amp up the intrigue and know how to keep you guessing. Don't let your favorite suspense 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 suspense television shows below includes information like the program's cast, creator, and premiere date when available.

This list answers the questions, "What is the best suspense show of all time?" and "What are the greatest suspense shows?"

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Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul
Premiered: 2008
Network: AMC
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Prison Break
Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller
Premiered: 2005
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
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3
148
49
Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman
Premiered: 2010
Network: BBC One
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197
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Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey
Premiered: 2011-04-17
Network: HBO
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Dexter
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter
Premiered: 2006
Network: Showtime
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Stranger Things
Winona Ryder, David Harbour
Premiered: 2016
Network: Netflix
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The Haunting of Hill House
Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino
Premiered: 2018
Network: Netflix
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31
Ozark
Jason Bateman, Laura Linney
Premiered: 2017
Network: Netflix
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152
87
True Detective
Mahershala Ali, Matthew McConaughey
Premiered: 2013
Network: HBO
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24
Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub
Premiered: 2001
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
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97
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The Killing
Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman
Premiered: 2011
Network: AMC
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97
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The Mentalist
Simon Baker, Robin Tunney
Premiered: 2008
Network: CBS
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13
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Jack Ryan
John Krasinski, Abbie Cornish
Premiered: 2018
Network: Amazon Video
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58
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The Sinner
Jessica Biel, Bill Pullman
Premiered: 2017
Network: USA
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Bates Motel
Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore
Premiered: 2013
Network: A&E
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The Handmaid's Tale
Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes
Premiered: 2017
Network: Hulu
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Lost
Naveen Andrews, Emilie de Ravin
Premiered: 2004
Network: American Broadcasting Company
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62
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Westworld
Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton
Premiered: 2016
Network: HBO
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19
62
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You
Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail
Premiered: 2018
Network: Netflix, Lifetime
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Criminal Minds
Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler
Premiered: 2005
Network: A&E, CBS
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115
The Walking Dead
Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal
Premiered: 2010
Network: AMC
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Homeland
Claire Danes, Mandy Patinkin
Premiered: 2011
Network: Showtime
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55
31
The X-Files
David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson
Premiered: 1993
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
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24
57
34
Big Little Lies
Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman
Premiered: 2017
Network: HBO
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Broadchurch
David Tennant, Olivia Colman
Premiered: 2013
Network: ITV
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