Shows like Bates Motel
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Bates Motel, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Small-scale and smart: a serious crime series, dark rather than wholesome. Best if you like puzzles over plain sailing. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival, plus tags such as motel, single mother and dysfunctional family.
Here are 15 shows with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Bates Motel (2013).
- 1
Dexter: Original Sin (2024)
TV8.2
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intimate and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: prequel, serial killer.
- 2
Marianne (2019)
TV7.7Easier to follow
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also dark and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival. Common ground: horror.
- 3
Mr. Mercedes (2017)
TV7.2
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: serial killer.
- 4
Chucky (2021)
TV7.9
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also dark and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival. Common ground: serial killer.
- 5
Ratched (2020)
TV7.8
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intimate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: motel.
- 6
Mare of Easttown (2021)
TV8.3
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intimate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: dysfunctional family, small town.
- 7
The Innocent (2021)
TV7.7
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival.
- 8
Them (2021)
TV7.6Faster-paced
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also weighty and dark, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival. Common ground: horror.
- 9
Chapelwaite (2021)
TV7.5Easier to follow
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also dark and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival. Common ground: horror.
- 10
The Mentalist (2008)
TV8.4
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intricate and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: serial killer.
- 11
Broadchurch (2013)
TV7.9
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intimate and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: small town.
- 12
The Outsider (2020)
TV7.4
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intimate and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival. Common ground: small town.
- 13
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
TV8.1Easier to follow
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also dark and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival. Common ground: horror.
- 14
Sharp Objects (2018)
TV7.8
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: dysfunctional family.
- 15
Lie to Me (2009)
TV7.9
Why it's like Bates Motel: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
Boxlist compares Bates Motel with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Bates Motel?
- Picks with a similar feel include Dexter: Original Sin, Marianne, Mr. Mercedes and Chucky. Each shares part of Bates Motel's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like Bates Motel chosen?
- Boxlist compares Bates Motel with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.