15 Shows Like Dexter for Fans of Dark Plots and Sharp Writing

There’s something oddly addictive about dark comedy—especially when it’s wrapped up in a story that’s smart, sharp, and totally unexpected. But because there are so many options out there, we have to get a little picky. Our favorites always tend to have that strong, “I shouldn’t like you but I do” energy. You know, the ones where the main character is technically the bad guy, but you find yourself rooting for them anyway? Yeah, you get it. Enter: Dexter.

This TV series is arguably one of the most iconic anti-hero shows out there. And honestly? It makes sense. The writing is great, the jokes are perfectly timed, and the actors are incredible. And sure, the subject matter is a little dark—but when it’s delivered by Dexter Morgan (AKA Michael C. Hall)? It hits different! It’s creepy, clever, but still totally captivating.

If you’re about to hit “Play” on your 5th Dexter rewatch, put the remote down—we’ve got something better in store. We’ve pulled together all the best shows that give off major Dexter vibes. Think: dark humor, high-stakes suspense, and morally gray characters you can’t help but love. Get cozy—your watch list is about to be stacked.

15 Shows Like Dexter for Fans of Dark Plots and Sharp Writing

We’re serious binge-watchers here at Dear Media, and we know you guys are too. That’s why we’ve covered everything from TV shows like Shameless to TV shows like White Lotus! When we stumble on a new series that scratches that “comfort show” itch, it feels like a disservice not to share it with the community. 

That said, we couldn’t keep this list of shows like Dexter all to ourselves—it’s just too good! But before we dive straight into the recommendations, it’s only right that we give everyone a little refresher. 

Whether you’re a Dexter superfan or just here for the dark comedies and gritty crime dramas, you’re in the right place. Setting the scene is the best way to remember why this twisted genre pulls you in every time.

What Is the Show Dexter About?

The hit series Dexter is like a crime drama, psychological thriller, and dark comedy wrapped into one binge-worthy show. It centers on Dexter Morgan, an intelligent blood-splatter analyst for the Miami PD who helps investigate homicides. Oh, but he’s also the one committing the homicides—can’t forget that part! He’s got the whole investigator-by-day, serial-killer-by-night thing down to a science. 

But here’s the twist—Dexter only kills the bad guys—like those who slipped through the cracks of the justice system. His secret is totally off the radar, though. His cop co-workers are clueless, his cop sister has no idea. The only one who ever caught onto him was his adoptive father, Harry. And since Harry feels sorta responsible for the trauma Dexter endured during his childhood that sparked the urge to kill, he wants to help him. 

But not in the “Hey, killing is wrong,” kind of way. More in the “Channel your violent urges through killing the guilty,” sort of way. See what we mean about that morally gray, rooting for the anti-hero vibe? 

But that’s why the show is SO addictive! You know you shouldn’t love Dexter, but you kind of can’t help it. He’s methodical, strategic, and undeniably funny. Plus, the show does a really good job of exploring all the inner workings of Dexter, giving us this sense of understanding and, dare we say, empathy?

There’s plot twists, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and a little bit of emotionality that hits us when we least expect it. But as much as we love this series, we’re all craving something fresh and new with that same sort of dark, mysterious vibe. Dexter fans, these recs are for you.

What Shows Are Like Dexter?

Dexter: New Blood

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu, Paramount+

We couldn’t start this list with anything other than Dexter: New Blood—the sequel to the OG series. It picks up the story where the original left off, except it’s ten years later, and things are totally different.

We get to see Dexter living under his new identity, Jim Lindsay. And while doing so, he also has to figure out how to suppress his dark urges while also raising a teenage son. It’s a lot more introspective, but it still has that classic Dexter suspense. 

If you end up loving this sequel as much as we do, check out the prequel series—Dexter: Original Sin. Andddd, the newest addition to the sequel, Dexter: New Blood, titled Dexter: Resurrection. Yeah, there’s a lot going on—but we can’t get enough of it.

Barry 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu, HBO Max

Love the dark comedy and endless twists and turns of Dexter? Then you’ll love Barry, where Bill Hader stars as Barry Berkman—a hitman who’s sick and tired of his job. While reluctantly traveling to Los Angeles to execute a hit on an actor, Barry finds a new interest: Acting!

Yeah, it’s a big career jump, but we support it. Barry’s handler, Fuches, isn’t letting him get away that easily, though. And, as much as he wants to change, that darkness keeps pulling him back. Like Dexter, it strikes the perfect balance between dark comedy and existential crisis. 

Mr. Robot

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Think less murder-y and more tech-y, but just as dark and mysterious. Mr. Robot follows Elliot, a cybersecurity expert during the day but a vigilante hacker by night. Once he’s recruited by Mr. Robot, the leader of an underground group of hackers, he’s tasked with a big responsibility.

Not only is he in charge of bringing down the corporation he works for, but he also has to bring down corporate America. He justifies it by claiming that he’s fighting evil in his “own way,” but things unravel FAST. If you love the dark, secret life aspect of Dexter, you’ll love Mr. Robot.

Bates Motel

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

After Norma Bates’ husband passes, she buys a motel in the cute little town of White Pine Bay, hoping for new beginnings for her and her son, Norman. What Norma didn’t realize, though, was that this was actually a huge mistake.

Bates Motel is actually a modern-day prequel to the 1960s film Psycho. Fans of OG crime and horror, this one is all you. The entire series is dedicated to giving viewers a glimpse into what Norman’s teenage years were like. And, in turn, how everything went so terribly wrong. Like Dexter, Norman tries to fight his dark urges, but it doesn’t work out like he wishes it did.

Shows Like Dexter on Netflix

Prodigal Son

Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

As a child, Malcolm Bright led to the arrest of his serial killer father, known as “The Surgeon.” Years pass, Malcolm grows up, and the former FBI profiler now works for the NYPD. Except, the one thing he never expected to happen, well, happens.

There’s a copycat killer on the loose, and they’re using the tactics of none other than “The Surgeon.” Malcolm now has to work alongside his father and his longtime mentor, Gil, to continue solving cases. The only problem? Malcolm begins to question his own psyche, wondering if his fate is to follow his father’s footsteps.

Mindhunter

Where to watch: Netflix

Sometimes we wanna see inside the mind of the villain, which is exactly why we’re obsessed with Mindhunter. FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench don’t just want to catch the serial killers; they want to understand them. 

But these aren’t just average, everyday serial killers—not that any of this is average, but you get what we mean. They explore infamous names like Ed Kemper, Charles Manson, and Dennis Rader. Even more intriguing, the series is based on the real-life work of John E. Douglas and Robert Ressler, pioneers of criminal profiling. It’s the perfect pick for Dexter fans more intrigued by the analytical side of things.

You

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Joe Goldberg might as well be Dexter’s long-lost brother; that’s how similar these two characters are. The desire, the methodical strategies, the charming persona—it’s all there. The only difference? Joe obsesses and pursues innocent women, not guilty people who, in some twisted way, had it coming.

At first, it seems like a typical love story—just with a very… reserved and introverted guy. You even find yourself rooting for Joe at times (which we partially blame on Penn Badgley’s irresistible charm). But as the series progresses, you realize that there’s zero hope for Joe as he gets messier and more reckless. 

Honestly? He could definitely benefit from listening to “Stable Relationships Are Not Sexy ft. Therapy Jeff” from We Met At Acme.

Breaking Bad

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

There’s a reason Breaking Bad was the most critically acclaimed show of all time back in 2013. The series follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who faces challenge after challenge. His family is struggling, he feels powerless, he’s watching his former colleagues rise to success. And just when he didn’t think things could get worse, he gets diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. 

Worried about the financial burden the family’s about to face, he turns to one thing that’s guaranteed to make him money: a meth lab. Easy enough, right? While he’s not a serial killer like Dexter, he experiences that same deep descent into darkness. But he’s not a bad guy! Walter and Dexter definitely had a showdown or two (in our heads, at least) about who was the ultimate anti-hero.

The Fall

Where to watch: Netflix, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

The Fall is a little bit slower-paced than Dexter, but the plot twists are totally worth the buildup. This crime drama series follows a mysterious serial killer targeting young, successful women. The ironic twist? A young, successful female detective is the one tasked with finding out who he is.

As the viewers, we know that the serial killer is Paul Spector from the start. But like Dexter, his double life keeps him under wraps. So much so that even his own wife doesn’t know what he’s up to. This series shows you that you never truly know who someone else is—even when you think you do.

That realization is terrifying, right? But it’s also… kind of intriguing? Don’t worry, you can find more of that in this post: “Podcasts Like Something Was Wrong: Messy, Moody, Addictive.”

Hannibal

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

This series follows Will Graham (played by Hugh Dancy), a criminal profiler who actually empathizes with psychopaths. While working with FBI agents to hunt down a twisted serial killer, he begins to realize he’s in a little over his head. The deeper things get, the more he wants to reach out for help.

And who better to reach out to than forensic psychologist and cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter? (AKA, the extremely talented Mads Mikkelsen.) Wouldn’t be our first pick, but hey, Graham knows best! Like Dexter, the part true crime, part psychological thriller series delves into the mind of a killer who is literally hiding in plain sight.

The Sinner

Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

An American psychology crime thriller, The Sinner follows Detective Harry Ambrose as he investigates why regular, ordinary people commit shocking, violent, and brutal crimes. He’s not asking “Who did this?” Instead, his question is, “WHY did they do this?”

Each season focuses on a different crime and a completely different character, making it equal parts intriguing and binge-worthy. Regardless of the character or storyline, though, one thing stays the same: Detective Ambrose has one goal and one goal only—to get to the bottom of why something happened and explain what caused the person to do it.

Like Dexter, The Sinner features an obsessive protagonist who wants to know everything about human psychology. Oh, and they’ll do just about anything to uncover the truth.

Ozark

Where to watch: Netflix

If you love binge-watching American crime dramas, you’ll love the series Ozark. Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) decides to move his family away from Chicago to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Why does his do this? Because he’s avoiding execution by the Mexican drug cartel after his partner took their money.

They offer Marty one reprieve: Relocate to Missouri, launder $500 million, and pay back the stolen cash. But as if Marty wasn’t in deep enough, he also has to deal with local criminals and the FBI as he navigates paying the cartel back while keeping his family safe.

You can probably see how Ozark and Dexter compare without us even explaining it. Dark crime thrillers, ordinary-seeming men, hiding criminal-related activities… Need we go on?

Killing Eve

Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount+, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Killing Eve is a spy thriller that follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a British intelligence investigator who becomes obsessed with tracking down Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a wildly talented assassin with a taste for designer clothes, elaborate kills, and generally doing whatever she wants.

The problem? Villanelle becomes just as fascinated with Eve. What starts as a cat-and-mouse chase across Europe quickly turns into a seriously complicated obsession, with the two women constantly hunting, manipulating, and somehow being drawn to each other. And the deeper Eve gets into Villanelle’s world, the harder it becomes to tell whether she actually wants to catch her or just can’t stay away.

If you love the morally questionable characters and dark humor and Dexter, you’ll understand the appeal of Killing Eve. A charming anti-hero you probably shouldn’t be rooting for but can’t help but love? Check, check, and check.

Deadwind

Where to watch: Netflix

If you’re into moody crime dramas and murder mysteries that keep getting more complicated, Deadwind is absolutely worth adding to your list. The Finnish series follows detective Sofia Karppi who returns to work shortly after the death of her husband and is immediately thrown into a disturbing murder investigation.

When the body of a woman is discovered at a construction site, Karppi and her new partner, Sakari Nurmi, start digging into what happened. Of course, what looks like one murder doesn’t stay simple for long. Their investigation leads them into a much bigger web involving powerful companies, personal secrets, and plenty of people who would rather the truth stay buried.

If Dexter keeps you watching for the murders, mysteries, and morally gray characters, Deadwind scratches a similar itch… Just add a much colder, Nordic-noir feel!

The Killing

Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

If you like crime dramas where every episode leaves you with another suspect, The Killing is the kind of show that’ll have you changing your theory constantly. The series follows Seattle homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder as they investigate murders that are rarely as straightforward as they first appear.

The first case centers around the murder of Rosie Larsen, a teenager whose body is discovered in the trunk of a car. As Linden and Holder dig into her death, the investigation pulls them into Rosie’s life, local politics, and a growing list of people with secrets to hide. And unlike crime shows that wrap everything up neatly by the end of the episode, The Killing lets the mystery build slowly while showing how the case affects everyone involved.

If you love the darker side of Dexter, The Killing should be right up your alley with complicated detectives, disturbing murders, and morally questionable characters.

Books Like Dexter

Already watched every episode of Dexter? Go back to where it all started! The series is based on Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter novels, beginning with Darkly Dreaming Dexter. The book introduces Dexter Morgan as the blood-spatter analyst we know from the show: charming, seemingly normal, and secretly a serial killer who directs his urges toward people he believes deserve it.

There are eight books in Lindsay’s series, including Dearly Devoted Dexter, Dexter in the Dark, and Dexter by Design. Just don’t expect the books to play out EXACTLY like the TV series. The two eventually head in pretty different directions, which means there’s still plenty of new territory to get into even if you already know the show inside and out.

Want something beyond Dexter’s own story? Try You by Caroline Kepnes for another disturbingly charismatic narrator whose mind you probably shouldn’t enjoy being inside quite this much. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith is another classic pick if morally questionable protagonists are your thing, while My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite mixes murder with the kind of dark humor that makes seriously messed-up situations oddly entertaining.

Basically, if what you loved about Dexter is getting way too close to a killer’s perspective, these novels with similar vibes should be your TBR busy for a while.

Where to Watch Dexter

Ready to start your Dexter binge? As of 2026, all four shows in the Dexter universe are streaming now on Paramount+. The original eight seasons of Dexter and Dexter: New Blood are available with any Paramount+ plan, while Dexter: Original Sin and Dexter: Resurrection require Paramount+ Premium.

Now… About that watch order. If it’s your first time watching, we’d recommend going by release date: Dexter, Dexter: New Blood, Dexter: Original Sin, and then Dexter: Resurrection. Yes, Original Sin is TECHNICALLY a prequel set before the original series, but watching in release order means you get the story and its reveals the way audiences originally did.

If you’d rather watch everything according to Dexter’s actual timeline? Start with Dexter: Original Sin, which follows a young Dexter in the 1990s. Then move onto Dexter, followed by Dexter: New Blood, which picks up about a decade after the original finale. Finish with Dexter: Resurrection, which continues the story just weeks after New Blood.

Whichever route you choose, you’ve got a LOT of serial-killer drama ahead of you. Happy binge-watching!

Which of these dark, Dexter-level shows are you diving into first?

As far as dark comedy and crime dramas are concerned, Dexter is one of the best. Although we’ll always have room in our queue for this iconic series, we wanna mix it up and explore what else is out there! Maybe you’re drawn to the push and pull of good and evil, or the psychological deep dive into crime. Whatever sparks your curiosity, one thing’s certain: each series scratches that moody, disturbing, yet totally binge-worthy Dexter itch.

Looking for more recs based on your favorite shows? We’ve got you. Check out:

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• Like ‘Love is Blind’? Check Out These 5 Other Dating Shows
• Shows Like The Summer I Turned Pretty
• Shows Like Yellowjackets Full of Secrets and Survival

Want even more series recommendations? Check out Dear Media! We’re always keeping you updated with series that replicate the vibe of all your fave comfort shows. And of course, let us know in the comments which series you’re binge-watching first! (Then obviously you have to come back and let us know how much you loved it.)