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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/1980s TV Shows/1980s Mystery TV Shows

    1980s Mystery TV Shows

    The 40 most popular 1980s mystery TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

    40shows
    1rated by members
    Top ratedKamen Rider Black5.0
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    Murder, She Wrote
    TMDB3.8

    Murder, She Wrote

    1984

    country: United States

    An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life homicide cases.

    Star Trek: The Next Generation
    TMDB4.2

    Star Trek: The Next Generation

    1987

    country: United States

    Follow the intergalactic adventures of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his loyal crew aboard the all-new USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, as they explore new worlds.

    Agatha Christie's Poirot
    TMDB4.1

    Agatha Christie's Poirot

    1989

    country: United Kingdom

    From England to Egypt, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, the intelligent yet eccentrically-refined Belgian detective Hercule Poirot pits his wits against a collection of first class deceptions.

    Magnum, P.I.
    TMDB3.6

    Magnum, P.I.

    1980

    country: United States

    A private investigator who works when he wants, lives in a beachfront estate in Hawaii, drives a posh Ferrari, runs up an unlimited tab at a swank bar, and charms attractive women in peril - that's the lifestyle of Thomas Magnum, aka Magnum, P.I.

    21 Jump Street
    TMDB3.6

    21 Jump Street

    1987

    country: United States

    21 Jump Street revolves around a group of young cops who would use their youthful appearance to go undercover and solve crimes involving teenagers and young adults.

    The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
    TMDB3.6

    The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    1985

    country: United States

    The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1985 to 1986, and on the USA Network from 1987 to 1989. The series is an updated re-imagining of the classic 1955 series Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

    Sherlock Holmes
    TMDB4.1

    Sherlock Holmes

    1984

    country: United Kingdom

    Sherlock Holmes uses his abilities to take on cases by private clients and those that the Scotland Yard are unable to solve, along with his friend Dr. Watson.

    The Twilight Zone
    TMDB3.8

    The Twilight Zone

    1985

    country: United States

    This 1980s revival of the classic sci-fi series features a similar style to the original anthology series. Each episode tells a tale (sometimes two or three) rooted in horror or suspense, often with a surprising twist at the end. Episodes usually feature elements of drama and comedy.

    Masterpiece Mystery
    TMDB3.1

    Masterpiece Mystery

    1980

    country: United States

    Mystery! is an episodic television series that debuted in 1980 in the USA. It airs on PBS and is produced by WGBH. The show has brought a large number of detective series and television movies—most of them British productions from the BBC or the ITV companies and usually adapted from mystery fiction literary sources—to air on American television. In 2002, they added an American-produced series based on the novels of Tony Hillerman to their roster.

    Moonlighting
    TMDB3.8

    Moonlighting

    1985

    country: United States

    After being duped and going bankrupt, model Maddie is convinced by David to become a partner in a detective agency. Together they solve various cases, while getting comfortable with each other.

    Inspector Morse
    TMDB3.9

    Inspector Morse

    1987

    country: United Kingdom

    Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis, as well as a large cast of notable actors and actresses.

    DuckTales
    TMDB3.8

    DuckTales

    1987

    country: United States

    Scrooge McDuck finds his hands full at home when nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie move to Duckburg. Joined by their loyal pals Launchpad McQuack, Gyro Gearloose and Mrs. Beakley, the DuckTales gang never fails to deliver a wealth of adventure. Get ready for a fortune of fun with DuckTales!

    Tales from the Crypt
    TMDB4.0

    Tales from the Crypt

    1989

    country: United States

    Cadaverous scream legend the Crypt Keeper is your macabre host for these forays of fright and fun based on the classic E.C. Comics tales from back in the day. So shamble up to the bar and pick your poison. Will it be an insane Santa on a personal slay ride? Honeymooners out to fulfill the "til death do we part" vow ASAP?

    City Hunter
    TMDB3.9

    City Hunter

    1987

    country: Japan

    Ryo Saeba works the streets of Tokyo as the City Hunter. He's a "sweeper" and with his sidekick Kaori Makimura, he keeps the city clean. People hire the City Hunter to solve their dangerous problems, which he does with a Colt Python. When Ryo's not working on a case, he's working on getting the ladies, and Kaori must keep him in check with her trusty 10 kg hammer.

    Monsters
    TMDB3.4

    Monsters

    1988

    country: United States

    Monsters is a syndicated horror anthology series which originally ran from 1988 to 1991 and reran on the Sci-Fi Channel during the 1990s. Similarly to Tales from the Darkside, Monsters shared the same producer, and in some ways succeeded the show. It differed in some respects nonetheless. While Tales sometimes dabbled in stories of science fiction and fantasy, this series was more strictly horror. As the name implies, each episode features a different monster, from the animatronic puppet of a fictional children's television program to mutated, weapon-wielding lab rats.

    Crime Story
    TMDB4.0

    Crime Story

    1986

    country: United States

    The hard-boiled saga of hair-trigger cop Lieutenant Mike Torello and his obsessive pursuit of ruthless gangster Ray Luca.

    Spenser: For Hire
    TMDB3.4

    Spenser: For Hire

    1985

    country: United States

    Mystery and suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each episode.

    The Agatha Christie Hour
    TMDB3.4

    The Agatha Christie Hour

    1982

    country: United Kingdom

    This ten episode program was based on ten short stories written by Agatha Christie but with wide-ranging themes. Some were romances, some had supernatural themes and a couple were adventures. The common link was that all came from the talented pen of Agatha Christie, all were entertaining and each drama was carefully crafted and well cast with many of Britain's best known actors of the time represented.

    Unsolved Mysteries
    TMDB3.9

    Unsolved Mysteries

    1988

    country: United States

    Combines four to five segments of dramatic re-enactments, interviews and updates of real human and paranormal mysteries. An audience interactive call-to-action request allowed viewers to call in with tips to help solve the cases.

    The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
    TMDB3.3

    The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

    1987

    country: United Kingdom

    The Ruth Rendell mysteries is a British television series made by TVS and Meridian Television for ITV between 2 August 1987 and 11 October 2000.

    Furuya Ikkou's Great Detective Kindaichi Kousuke Series
    TMDB3.5

    Furuya Ikkou's Great Detective Kindaichi Kousuke Series

    1983

    country: Japan

    No overview available

    Friday the 13th: The Series
    TMDB3.7

    Friday the 13th: The Series

    1987

    country: Canada

    Micki and Ryan with the help of their friend Jack try to recover cursed antiques so they can store them in safety inside the antique store's vault.

    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
    TMDB4.7

    Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

    1987

    country: China

    No overview available

    Ghostbusters
    TMDB3.4

    Ghostbusters

    1986

    country: United States

    Jake Kong Jr. and Eddie Spencer Jr. are sons of the original Ghost Busters, and they work alongside Tracy the Gorilla (who also worked with their fathers). Together, they are dedicated to ridding the world of the evil ghost wizard Prime Evil and his cast of henchmen.

    Nero Wolfe
    TMDB3.8

    Nero Wolfe

    1981

    country: United States

    Nero Wolfe enjoys a life of refined self-indulgence in his comfortable Manhattan brownstone — reading, dining, spending regular hours in his rooftop plant rooms, and only reluctantly involving himself in the detection of crime. Famously sedentary, Wolfe relies on his legman Archie Goodwin to collect the clues and the suspects in any case at hand, while he spars with his live-in chef Fritz Brenner and bickers with his resident orchid nurse Theodore Horstmann. Often assisted by freelance detective Saul Panzer, Wolfe and Archie customarily gather the suspects in Wolfe's office and present the solution to the exasperated Inspector Cramer of Manhattan Homicide.

    Freddy's Nightmares
    TMDB3.6

    Freddy's Nightmares

    1988

    country: United States

    The evil, sinister killer of the "Nightmare On Elm Street" movies, Freddy Krueger, hosts this show, where each week, he shows us a tale of evil and death about the lives of people who live in Springwood.

    Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense
    TMDB3.3

    Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense

    1984

    country: United Kingdom

    A short-lived anthology television series from Hammer Studios. Though similar in format to the 1980 series Hammer House of Horror, the Mystery and Suspense series had feature-length episodes, usually running around 70 minutes without commercials. Co-produced by Hammer Studios with 20th Century Fox Television, it is known in the United States as Fox Mystery Theater. Unlike 1980's Hammer House of Horror, all episodes feature American actors as either the leads or in key roles. It first broadcast in the UK on ITV in 1984, though was not simulcast and was shown in different timeslots throughout the various regions.

    Space Stars
    TMDB3.9

    Space Stars

    1981

    country: United States

    As the entire world went "space action" crazy at the end of the Seventies, Hanna-Barbera reconvened its Sci-Fi superstars Space Ghost and the Herculoids for another round of adventures. Joining the sixties sci-fi faves in their interstellar battle against evil were newcomers Teen Force and Astro and the Space Mutts (yes, that Astro!).

    Kamen Rider Black
    TMDB4.2
    FF5.0

    Kamen Rider Black

    1987

    country: Japan

    Desperate and terrified, Kotaro Minami escaped the clutches of the ancient secret society, Gorgom—but in doing so, left behind his best friend and adoptive brother, Nobuhiko Akizuki. Both have been transformed into beings of immense power in order to serve Gorgom's dark purposes. If left unchecked, Gorgom will destroy humanity and eliminate all traces of its civilization and culture. Now the powerful cyborg known as Kamen Rider Black, Kotaro will use the powers Gorgom gave him to preserve justice and freedom, as well as to save his brother. But Gorgom has their own plans for Nobuhiko—and if Kotaro can't save him, he may have to fight him!

    Cat's Eye
    TMDB3.5

    Cat's Eye

    1983

    country: Japan

    Cat's Eye is the most notorious group of art thieves in Japan. No one knows their identities, but for most of Tokyo, the mystery only heightens their allure.

    Power Play
    TMDB4.7

    Power Play

    1984

    country: Brazil

    Eloá and Osmar's marriage is thrown into crisis when a mysterious man crosses their path. With a thirst for prestige and power, Eloá will face the consequences of her ambition.

    Lovejoy
    TMDB3.7

    Lovejoy

    1986

    country: United Kingdom

    The adventures of the eponymous Lovejoy, a likeable but roguish antiques dealer based in East Anglia. Within the trade, he has a reputation as a “divvie”, a person with an almost supernatural powers for recognising exceptional items as well as distinguishing genuine antique from clever fakes or forgeries.

    El Engaño
    TMDB4.3

    El Engaño

    1986

    country: Mexico

    No overview available

    Cackling Kitarou
    TMDB4.5

    Cackling Kitarou

    1985

    country: Japan

    3rd TV anime of Shigeru Mizuki's "Gegege no Kitarou".

    Hammer House of Horror
    TMDB3.5

    Hammer House of Horror

    1980

    country: United Kingdom

    Each self-contained episode features a different kind of horror, varying from witches, werewolves, ghosts, devil worship and voodoo, but also includes non-supernatural themes such as cannibalism, confinement and serial killers.

    Street Hawk
    TMDB3.5

    Street Hawk

    1985

    country: United States

    Street Hawk is an American television series that aired for 13 episodes on ABC in 1985. The series is a Limekiln and Templar Production in association with Universal Television. Its central characters were created by Paul M. Belous and Robert "Bob" Wolterstorff, and its core format was developed by Bruce Lansbury, who had initially commissioned the program's creation. This series was originally planned for the fall of 1984, Mondays at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central. However, ABC executives changed their minds when the summer series Call to Glory did well, and Street Hawk was pushed to mid-season. Street Hawk made its debut on January 4, 1985 on ABC at 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central and ran until May 16, 1985. Reruns aired on the USA Network on Saturdays at 10:00AM from 1990-91.

    Father Dowling Mysteries
    TMDB3.7

    Father Dowling Mysteries

    1989

    country: United States

    Father Dowling is a sleuthing parish priest from Chicago who investigates baffling crimes

    La madrastra
    TMDB2.8

    La madrastra

    1981

    country: Chile

    Marcia has grown bitter and full of resentment after being framed for murder 20 years ago during a visit to the United States. As soon as she gets out of jail she comes back to Chile to recover what was taken away from her and search the real killer of the incident that costed several years of her life.

    Mike Hammer
    TMDB3.4

    Mike Hammer

    1984

    country: United States

    Private detective Mike Hammer hunts down criminals on the mean streets of New York City.

    Eurocops
    TMDB3.3

    Eurocops

    1988

    country: Germany

    No overview available

    About 1980s Mystery TV Shows

    The 1980s

    1980s television saw the serialized primetime drama take hold and cable begin to fragment the audience that networks had held uncontested for thirty years.

    Mystery

    Mystery series stretch a central question across a season, which lets them develop suspects and setting far past what a film allows. The form's risk is the ending, and its reward is the slow build.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (8.4)
    Often also
    Drama, Crime, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
    Longest run
    45 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best 1980s mystery TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Murder, She Wrote, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Agatha Christie's Poirot. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1980s mystery TV shows are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these TV shows?
    Every show page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

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