Looking for great drama shows? We’ve got you covered.
From crime thrillers and family sagas, to Western epics, legal showdowns, and sci-fi journeys that bend reality, our curated list of dramas doesn’t stay in one lane. Clearly.
The 35 shows in our rundown stand out for their big-name stars, plots that pull you in, and characters that stay with you long after the credits roll: from the DEXTER® franchise to the NCISverse, and from Kelly Reilly in Dutton Ranch to Kathy Bates in Matlock. As an added bonus, they’re all streaming right here on Paramount+. Read on to get our picks – and to find your new favorite show.
High-stakes drama shows
A combustible mix of jealousy, betrayal, greed, vendettas, and tragedy fuel the drama shows you’ll see below. These shows deliver as many family secrets and as much emotional baggage as they do power struggles.
1. Landman
What it’s about: From co-creators Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, this Paramount+ original drama puts a fresh spin on the contemporary Western, digging into the politics, power struggles, and big personalities behind the booming West Texas oil business. Oscar® winner Billy Bob Thornton stars as the no-nonsense Tommy Norris, a boots-on-the-ground, oil-company exec, i.e., a landman.
Why you should watch it: Thornton leads a dynamite ensemble that, in a show now renewed for Season 3, includes Oscar® nominees Demi Moore, Andy Garcia, Ali Larter and Oscar® nominee Sam Elliott.
WATCH NOW: Landman
2. Mayor of Kingstown
What it’s about: Mike McLusky (Oscar® nominee Jeremy Renner) is the powerbroker in a Michigan town where prison is business, and corruption is rampant.
Why you should watch it: Renner rules Mayor of Kingstown, a show headed toward its fifth and final season. Through every twist and turn, he is the steady hand guiding the Paramount+ original drama – another hit from series co-creator Taylor Sheridan.
Need another reason? Here’s a big one: Edie. Falco. The Emmy® winner from The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie joins the cast in Season 4 as the prison warden.
WATCH NOW: Mayor of Kingstown
3. The Madison
What it’s about: Introducing the Clyburns, a close-knit family led by Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell. The Madison is a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana.
Why you should watch it: Oscar® nominee Pfeiffer and Golden Globe® Award nominee Russell lead an impressive cast in a story that explores the ties that bind families together. Created by Taylor Sheridan, The Madison is considered his most intimate work to date.
WATCH NOW: The Madison
4. The Chi
What it’s about: This SHOWTIME® drama from Emmy® winner Lena Waithe follows life on the South Side of Chicago, where ordinary residents navigate love, ambition, and survival in a neighborhood that can be as hopeful as it is harsh.
Why you should watch it: See characters like Emmett (Jacob Latimore), Kiesha (Birgundi Baker), Papa (Shamon Brown Jr.), and Jake (Michael V. Epps) come of age and grow into their powers. With seven seasons now streaming – and the final season coming May 22 – The Chi is a saga worthy of your time.
WATCH NOW: The Chi (Paramount+ Premium plan only)
5. Tulsa King
What it’s about: In this Paramount+ original executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, a New York mafia capo (Oscar® nominee Sylvester Stallone) is exiled by his crime family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he establishes a new criminal empire.
Why you should watch it: Stallone is in top-notch form as Dwight “The General” Manfredi. As he navigates an unfamiliar world filled with new friends – and even more foes – Stallone helps serve up a can’t-miss mix of humor, violence, and plenty of the star’s signature charm.
Need another reason? We’ve got an Oscar® nominated one for you. Samuel L. Jackson! The actor guest stars in the Season 3 episode, “Dead Weight.” This appearance marks Jackson’s debut as Russell Lee Washington Jr., the character Jackson will play in the upcoming Tulsa King spinoff, Frisco King.
WATCH NOW: Tulsa King
6. MobLand
What it’s about: Starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Oscar® winner Helen Mirren, this Paramount+ original crime-family drama from Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes) follows the ever-brewing, violent war between two London kingpins. At the center of their bloody conflict – and all its butchered bodies, bags of money, and exploding automobiles – is Harry Da Souza (Hardy), a fixer delicately navigating the battle between captains, while trying to keep his family out of the crossfire.
Why you should watch it: If you like British charm (and menace) blended into your mob sagas, you’ll want to cross the pond for MobLand.
WATCH NOW: MobLand
7. Ray Donovan
What it’s about: In Los Angeles, Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber) is a fixer to the rich and famous – a job that’s a piece of cake compared to his personal life. On top of dealing with marital troubles on the home front, his mob-tied father Mickey (Jon Voight) is fresh out of prison and trying to stay one step ahead of the FBI.
Why you should watch it: With 82 episodes produced over seven seasons, this SHOWTIME® series doesn’t skimp on binge-watch material – or on drama.
WATCH NOW: Ray Donovan
8. Billions
What it’s about: Ruthless New York City hedge-fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Emmy® winner Damian Lewis) and powerful federal prosecutor Chuck Rhoades (Oscar® nominee Paul Giamatti) engage in an epic battle of brains – and bank accounts.
Why you should watch it: Billions, a drama about power-hungry people, is as smart as it is tense. Plus: There are seven seasons of the SHOWTIME® favorite for you to binge!
WATCH NOW: Billions
9. Lioness
What it’s about: CIA operative Joe (Oscar® winner Zoe Saldaña) leads an undercover program designed to take down dangerous terrorist networks. Inspired by real military operations, Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness blends high-stakes espionage with personal sacrifice, as Joe and her recruits navigate loyalty, deception, and life-or-death missions.
Why you should watch it: If it’s star power you crave, this Paramount+ original drama is for you. In addition to Saldaña, Lioness features Oscar® winner Nicole Kidman, Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman, and Emmy® nominee Michael Kelly. There are two seasons ready for you to binge, and more is on the way: The show has been renewed for Season 3.
WATCH NOW: Lioness
10. Why Women Kill
What it’s about: In each of its two seasons, this Paramount+ original dark comedy from Emmy® nominee Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives) follows women who are pushed to make big life (as well as very deadly) decisions. Season 1 of the anthology series, set in the 1960s, 1980s, and 2010s, stars Lucy Liu, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste; Season 2, set in 1949, stars Allison Tolman and Lana Parrilla.
Why you should watch it: This show’s toxic cocktail of lies, deceit, betrayal, and (of course!) murder makes it a binge-watch to die for.
WATCH NOW: Why Women Kill
11. Lawmen: Bass Reeves
What it’s about: From executive producer Taylor Sheridan, Lawmen: Bass Reeves tells the true-life story of its title character (played by Oscar® nominee David Oyelowo), one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi. As Reeves captures outlaws and upholds justice across the Wild West, he navigates family and freedom in the post-Civil War United States.
Why you should watch it: The Paramount+ original drama packs a lot into its 10 episodes, including a Golden Globes®-nominated performance by Oyelowo.
WATCH NOW: Lawmen: Bass Reeves
The Dutton family saga on Paramount+
12. 1883
Starring Oscar® nominee Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Oscar® winner Billy Bob Thorton and Isabel May, 1883 follows the Duttons of the late 19th century as they take a wagon-train journey westward from Tennessee. All 10 episodes of this Paramount+ limited-run original drama are now streaming.
WATCH NOW: 1883
13. 1923
In 1923, Oscar® nominee Harrison Ford and MobLand matriarch and Oscar® winner Helen Mirren star as Jacob and Cara Dutton, respectively. Timothy Dalton also stars as a merciless mining mogul. Now streaming, this show offers up two seasons of epic drama and romance.
WATCH NOW: 1923
14. Marshals
Taking place in the present day, Marshals sees Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) living his post-rancher days as a U.S. Marshal. He uses his skills as a former Navy SEAL to protect the place he loves: Montana. The show premiered on CBS in March. All Season 1 episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: Marshals
15. Dutton Ranch
Dutton Ranch stars Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, in an all-new series as they fight to build a future together — far from the ghosts of Montana — they collide with brutal new realities and a ruthless rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire. Oscar® nominees Annette Bening and Ed Harris also star.
WATCH NOW: Dutton Ranch
Crime drama shows and detective drama shows
Whether you’re an armchair sleuth who loves solving crimes (or watching TV detectives do the solving for you), or a procedural junkie who digs seeing criminals brought to justice, Paramount+ has your back.
16. Criminal Minds and Criminal Minds: Evolution
What it’s about: Launched on CBS as Criminal Minds, and continued on Paramount+ as Criminal Minds: Evolution, this saga is about the dedicated agents of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). During its run, the show has featured big stars (Joe Mantegna, Mandy Patinkin, Paget Brewster, and more), and copious amounts of crime-scene tape.
Why you should watch it: You’d have better luck solving a decades-old cold case than discovering a more enduring, engaging procedural crime drama than the Criminal Minds shows.
Fun fact: On Paramount+, you’ll find all seasons of Criminal Minds and Criminal Minds: Evolution. Found under Criminal Minds on the service, Season 1–Season 15 are Criminal Minds episodes; Season 16–Season 19 are Criminal Minds: Evolution episodes.
WATCH NOW: Criminal Minds
WATCH NOW: Criminal Minds: Evolution
17. Blue Bloods
What it’s about: For the Reagans, justice is a family business. Blue Bloods follows this multigenerational clan of New York City police officers (and one lawyer), as they balance duty, honor, and family life. Tom Selleck stars as the family patriarch, Frank Reagan.
Why you should watch it: With compelling cases and the Reagans’ unwavering loyalty to each other, Blue Bloods delivers drama and heart in equal measure.
Fun fact: All episodes, from all 14 seasons of this Emmy®-nominated CBS favorite, are now streaming. And if that’s not enough Reagans for you, try Boston Blue. The CBS Original spinoff, starring Donnie Wahlberg in a reprisal of his role as Danny Reagan, premiered Oct. 17, 2025. All episodes are now streaming on Paramount+. For the casebook on the series, check out our viewing guide to Boston Blue Season 1.
WATCH NOW: Blue Bloods
18. Watson
What it’s about: Why it’s elementary, dear reader. Watson is about Dr. Watson, the keenly intelligent and faithful friend of Sherlock Holmes. That should sound pretty familiar. But in this CBS Original iteration of the classic detective tales, this famous physician (here portrayed by Morris Chestnut) is a 21st-century “doc-tective,” a medical investigator who solves (what else?) medical mysteries – and, in early episodes, aims to figure out what happened to the presumed-dead Holmes.
Why you should watch it: Like any good procedural, its narratives are a delight to watch unfold. And like any good Holmes-and-Watson story, those same narratives travel from point A to B with plenty of twists in between. Watson produced two seasons. All episodes from Watson are now streaming on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: Watson
Dexter® franchise
Serial killer antihero Dexter Morgan doles out vigilante justice, systematically eliminating evildoers while satisfying his own bloodlust, across four SHOWTIME® original dramas — all streaming now on Paramount+ (various plans).
19. Dexter®: Resurrection
The crime thriller’s latest chapter drops Dexter (Emmy® winner Michael C. Hall) into New York City, where his Dark Passenger collides with fresh dangers. Alongside chilling new foes — like Emmy® winner Peter Dinklage, as a billionaire obsessed with serial killers, and Golden Globe® winner Uma Thurman — he reconnects with familiar faces, including former Miami Metro detective Angel Batista (David Zayas).
WATCH NOW: Dexter®: Resurrection (Paramount+ Premium plan only)
20. Dexter®: Original Sin
Set 15 years before the original series, this prequel tracks the young Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he morphs from a confused young man into a methodical vigilante. With OG franchise star Hall narrating Dexter’s inner thoughts, and Christian Slater starring as Dexter’s father Harry, Dexter®: Original Sin offers a portrait of how a Miami Metro forensics intern becomes TV’s most notorious antihero.
WATCH NOW: Dexter®: Original Sin (Paramount+ Premium plan only)
21. Dexter®: New Blood
A decade after disappearing, Dexter Morgan (Hall) is hiding in small-town New York, trying to live a normal life. But old urges resurface, a new villain (Clancy Brown) emerges, and a surprise reunion with his son Harrison (Jack Alcott) forces him to wonder whether the cycle of blood can ever be broken.
STREAM NOW: Dexter®: New Blood
22. Dexter®
This is the groundbreaking original SHOWTIME® drama that started it all. In it, we are introduced to Dexter (Hall), the Miami blood-spatter expert with a secret life as a vigilante serial killer. Equal parts crime drama and psychological thriller, the show delivers unforgettable arcs — including John Lithgow’s Emmy®-winning turn as the Trinity Killer — and builds the foundation for a franchise that still grips fans today.
WATCH NOW: Dexter®
NCIS and the NCISverse drama shows
From its origins as a JAG spinoff to its expansion to a global franchise, NCIS has blended military intrigue, character-driven cases, and a family-like team dynamic.
23. NCIS
This is the flagship series that kicked off the mega-franchise. Now in Season 23, the Emmy®-nominated CBS drama follows Washington, D.C.-based NCIS agents, initially led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), and now headed by Alden Parker (Gary Cole), as they solve crimes – from terrorism and treason, to murder and the occasional missing submarine. All episodes stream on Paramount+. Missed an old episode, or even an entire season? No problem. All those past episodes stream on Paramount+, too – all 500–plus of them.
WATCH NOW: NCIS
24. NCIS: Tony & Ziva
This entry into the NCISverse brings two of NCIS‘ most popular characters back into the spotlight. The Paramount+ original espionage drama follows Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) as they race across Europe in the aftermath of an attack on Tony’s security company. The duo’s chemistry has always been electric, and now it anchors a show that feels both familiar and totally fresh. All episodes are now streaming.
WATCH NOW: NCIS: Tony & Ziva
25. NCIS: Origins
This CBS prequel series, which takes place in the early 1990s, follows the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in his early days as an NCIS Special Agent. Narrated by longtime Gibbs portrayer Mark Harmon, NCIS: Origins explores the very beginnings of the NCISverse, adding depth and context to the popular, long-running franchise. All episodes are available to stream on Paramount+.
STREAM NOW: NCIS: Origins
26. NCIS: Sydney
NCIS: Sydney is the first international edition of the franchise, bringing together U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police to tackle naval crimes in the contested waters of the Indo-Pacific. The team is led by Special Agent Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) and AFP Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey (Todd Lasance). All episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: NCIS: Sydney
27. NCIS: New Orleans
Buckle up and ride along as Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) and his team solve crimes that affect the Navy and Marines in the Big Easy. Each episode combines high-pressure cases with the energy, passion, and culture of New Orleans. Pride and his team bring humor, heart, and grit to every investigation, making the series both thrilling and uniquely grounded in its setting. Produced from 2014-2021, all seven seasons of this CBS Original are now streaming on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: NCIS: New Orleans
Legal drama shows
Intense legal drama shows on Paramount+? No objections here. The following courtroom dramas explore battles over justice, power, and morality. From the politically charged conflicts of The Good Fight to the clever, classic maneuvering of Matlock, these series show that courtroom (and boardroom) showdowns can be just as gripping as any crime scene.
28. Matlock
What it’s about: Madeline Kingston (Oscar® winner Kathy Bates) is a retired lawyer who joins a prestigious law firm under the alias Madeline “Matty” Matlock – “like the old TV show,” she’s fond of pointing out. Although Matty has been out of the game for a while, you wouldn’t know it as she uses her sharp mind and unassuming style to win cases and expose corruption from within.
Why you should watch it: This Emmy®-nominated CBS Original drama stays true to the original Matlock courtroom drama of the ’80s and ’90s, while adding a twist that’s tied to Matty’s quest for justice. All episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: Matlock
29. The Good Wife
What it’s about: Alicia Florrick (Julianne Margulies, in an Emmy®-winning turn) finds her life turned upside down when her politico husband (Chris Noth) is sent to prison amid professional and personal scandals. This very public humiliation rocks what she thought was her stable family life. Not one to wallow, Alicia returns to her legal career to support herself and her children.
Why you should watch it: The Good Wife stands out for its strong characters, complex storylines, and the way it balances personal drama with professional battles. With compelling performances and razor-sharp writing, it remains one of the most respected legal dramas in television history. As an added bonus, it makes for a satisfying seven-season binge-watch. All episodes from the 2009-2016 CBS Original drama are now streaming.
WATCH NOW: The Good Wife
30. The Good Fight
What it’s about: This Emmy®-nominated Paramount+ original drama picks up where The Good Wife left off. The series follows Chicago attorney Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) as she loses everything in a financial scam and is forced to rebuild her career at a new firm. Along the way, the show tackles headline-grabbing issues with brilliant writing and bold storytelling.
Why you should watch it: With fearless plots and an equally fearless cast, The Good Fight carves out its own place as one of TV’s most ambitious legal dramas.
WATCH NOW: The Good Fight
31. Your Honor
What it’s about: This SHOWTIME® legal thriller follows Michael Dessiato (Emmy® winner and Oscar® nominee Bryan Cranston), a respected judge, whose life unravels after his son becomes involved in a deadly hit-and-run accident tied to a notorious crime family.
Why you should watch it: Originally envisioned as a miniseries, Your Honor proved too gripping to contain to a single, 10-episode season, and the saga was expanded to a second season. All episodes are now streaming.
WATCH NOW: Your Honor
32. Perry Mason
What it’s about: You can’t have a proper conversation about courtroom drama without Perry Mason. So, about that: Emmy® winner Raymond Burr stars in the original Perry Mason TV series as the titular defense attorney who (almost) never loses a case.
Why you should watch it: Think of Perry Mason as a granddaddy of the crime procedural. Perry leaves no clue unexamined in order to get his innocent client acquitted – usually in dramatic courtroom fashion, where the real baddie is ultimately unmasked. A long-running CBS hit of the 1950s and 1960s, its first five seasons are now streaming on Paramount+. (And with seasons that total 30-something episodes each, there are more than 150 episodes to binge-watch.)
WATCH NOW: Perry Mason
Action drama shows
When it comes to intense drama series, Paramount+ keeps the pressure dialed all the way up.
These shows throw characters into dangerous situations where every decision matters, and that tension makes the stories impossible to look away from.
33. Tracker
What it’s about: Survivalist Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) is a good guy to have around. His unique set of skills gives him the ability to find missing people and solve dangerous cases across the country. Each episode drops him into a new landscape with a different set of challenges, giving the show the feel of a road trip fueled by suspense.
Why you should watch it: Now in its third season, this CBS Original drama is one of TV’s biggest hits, so really, it’s time you hit the road with it. All episodes are streaming on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: Tracker
34. Fire Country
What it’s about: Now in its fourth season, this CBS Original drama follows Bode Leone (Max Thieroit), a onetime inmate who follows in his family’s bootsteps to make a career of firefighting in the town of Edgewater, California.
Why you should watch it: Fire Country is literally flamin’ hot, from its storytelling, to its characters, to its actual flames. (Suffice it to say, there’s little downtime for the fire crews in Edgewater.) All episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.
Fun fact: If you love Fire Country, try Sheriff Country. The spinoff series, starring Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox, stepsister of Fire Country stalwart Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), premiered on Oct. 17, 2025. All episodes are streaming on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: Fire Country
35. The Agency
What it’s about: This action-packed drama centers on an undercover CIA operative (Oscar® nominee Michael Fassbender) as he attempts to reclaim his past love. International espionage ensues.
Why you should watch it: In addition to Fassbender, The Agency stars Oscar® winner Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Emmy® nominee Richard Gere. So, yeah, there you go. All the reasons. And one more: Season 2 premieres Sunday, June 21, 2026.
WATCH NOW: The Agency
