Shows like Elite
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Elite, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Serious and dark: an intimate crime series. Best if you like depth over escapism. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of unlikely connections and mysteries that are not what they seem, plus tags such as teen drama, school and murder.
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 Elite (2018).
- 1
Riverdale (2017)
TV8.6
Why it's like Elite: Also intimate and weighty, with themes of unlikely connections and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: school.
- 2
Dexter: Resurrection (2025)
TV8.5More intricate
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 3
Blood & Water (2020)
TV7.9Warmer in tone
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of unlikely connections and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: teen drama.
- 4
TV7.2More intricate
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 5
Who Killed Sara? (2021)
TV7.6
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 6
Pretty Little Liars (2010)
TV8.0Warmer in tone
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of unlikely connections and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: teen drama.
- 7
TV7.5
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: school.
- 8
The Innocent (2021)
TV7.7More intricate
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and dark, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 9
Bates Motel (2013)
TV8.1More intricate
Why it's like Elite: Also intimate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 10
Dark Desire (2020)
TV7.3More intricate
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of unlikely connections and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 11
Lie to Me (2009)
TV7.9More intricate
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 12
Dead to Me (2019)
TV7.3Lighter option
Why it's like Elite: Also intimate and dark, with themes of unlikely connections and mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 13
The Chestnut Man (2021)
TV7.7More intricate
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and dark, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 14
Nancy Drew (2019)
TV7.9
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty and dark, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: teen drama.
- 15
Paradise (2025)
TV7.4
Why it's like Elite: Also weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
Boxlist compares Elite 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 Elite?
- Picks with a similar feel include Riverdale, Dexter: Resurrection, Blood & Water and A Murder at the End of the World. Each shares part of Elite's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like Elite chosen?
- Boxlist compares Elite 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.
- Is there a lighter show like Elite?
- Dead to Me has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.