Shows like Big Little Lies
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Big Little Lies, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Heavy and layered: an inventive drama series, small-scale rather than epic. Best if you like puzzles over plain sailing. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of personal growth, troubled leads and mysteries that are not what they seem, plus tags such as feminist, girl power and parents.
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 Big Little Lies (2017).
- 1
True Detective (2014)
TV8.3
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder mystery, murder.
- 2
Unorthodox (2020)
TV7.9
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and inventive, with themes of personal growth. Common ground: feminism.
- 3
Prodigal Son (2019)
TV8.4
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of personal growth and troubled leads.
- 4
The Killing (2011)
TV7.9
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder mystery.
- 5
The Sinner (2017)
TV7.4
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of troubled leads and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 6
Luther (2010)
TV7.9
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of troubled leads and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 7
Elite (2018)
TV8.2Easier to follow
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: school, murder.
- 8
Home Before Dark (2020)
TV7.6
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 9
The Chestnut Man (2021)
TV7.7
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 10
Dexter (2006)
TV8.2
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and inventive, with themes of troubled leads and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 11
The Innocent (2021)
TV7.7
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 12
Servant (2019)
TV7.7
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and inventive, with themes of troubled leads and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 13
Sherlock (2010)
TV8.5
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder mystery, murder.
- 14
Bosch (2015)
TV8.0
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 15
Mare of Easttown (2021)
TV8.3
Why it's like Big Little Lies: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of troubled leads and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
Boxlist compares Big Little Lies 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 Big Little Lies?
- Picks with a similar feel include True Detective, Unorthodox, Prodigal Son and The Killing. Each shares part of Big Little Lies's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like Big Little Lies chosen?
- Boxlist compares Big Little Lies 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.