Shows like The Outsider
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines The Outsider, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Expect an intimate, layered crime series, heavy rather than light. Best if you like puzzles over plain sailing. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of deep rivalry, mysteries that are not what they seem and an all-consuming quest, plus tags such as georgia, loss of child and private investigator.
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 The Outsider (2020).
- 1
Defending Jacob (2020)
TV8.5
Why it's like The Outsider: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, detective, investigation.
- 2
Perry Mason (2020)
TV7.5
Why it's like The Outsider: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, investigation.
- 3
Sherlock (2010)
TV8.5Faster-paced
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: detective, investigation, murder.
- 4
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
TV7.7
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: detective, investigation.
- 5
Presumed Innocent (2024)
TV7.9
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, investigation, murder.
- 6
The Night Of (2016)
TV7.9Slower burn
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intimate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, murder.
- 7
Mare of Easttown (2021)
TV8.3
Why it's like The Outsider: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: small town, detective, investigation.
- 8
Broadchurch (2013)
TV7.9
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intimate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: small town, investigation.
- 9
All Her Fault (2025)
TV8.1
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: investigation.
- 10
Twin Peaks (1990)
TV8.2
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intimate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: doppelgänger, small town.
- 11
UNTAMED (2025)
TV7.2
Why it's like The Outsider: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: loss of child, investigation, murder.
- 12
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)
TV7.7
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer.
- 13
True Detective (2014)
TV8.3
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: detective, investigation, murder.
- 14
Bates Motel (2013)
TV8.1
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intimate and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem and resilience and survival. Common ground: small town.
- 15
How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
TV7.9
Why it's like The Outsider: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, murder.
Boxlist compares The Outsider 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.
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- What should I watch if I like The Outsider?
- Picks with a similar feel include Defending Jacob, Perry Mason, Sherlock and Under the Banner of Heaven. Each shares part of The Outsider's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like The Outsider chosen?
- Boxlist compares The Outsider 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.