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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/1990s TV Shows/1990s Mystery TV Shows

    1990s Mystery TV Shows

    The 40 most popular 1990s mystery TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

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    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    TMDB4.0

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    1999

    country: United States

    In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.

    C.I.D.
    TMDB2.9

    C.I.D.

    1998

    country: India

    A team of dedicated men and women in the Crime Investigation Department will risk everything to solve Mumbai's toughest, most complicated crimes.

    Midsomer Murders
    TMDB3.7

    Midsomer Murders

    1997

    country: United Kingdom

    The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

    Detective Conan
    TMDB4.0

    Detective Conan

    1996

    country: Japan

    The son of a world famous mystery writer, Jimmy Kudo, has achieved his own notoriety by assisting the local police as a student detective. He has always been able to solve the most difficult of criminal cases using his wits and power of reason.

    The X-Files
    TMDB4.2

    The X-Files

    1993

    country: United States

    The exploits of FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully who investigate X-Files: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder believes in the existence of aliens and the paranormal while Scully, a skeptic, is assigned to make scientific analyses of Mulder's discoveries that debunk Mulder's work and thus return him to mainstream cases.

    Charmed
    TMDB4.1

    Charmed

    1998

    country: United States

    Three sisters (Prue, Piper and Phoebe) reunite and unlock their powers to become the Charmed Ones, the most powerful good witches of all time, whose prophesied destiny is to protect innocent lives from evil beings such as demons and warlocks. Each sister possesses unique magical powers that grow and evolve, while they attempt to maintain normal lives in modern day San Francisco.

    Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
    TMDB3.6

    Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

    1997

    country: United States

    Can you tell the difference between fact and fiction? Several stories of strange, mysterious and incredible occurrences are chronicled during each episode. It is up to the viewer to decide which stories actually happened and which were completely fabricated by the show’s writers. The answer is revealed by Jonathan Frakes at the conclusion of each episode.

    Twin Peaks
    TMDB4.2

    Twin Peaks

    1990

    country: United States

    The body of Laura Palmer is washed up on a beach near the small Washington state town of Twin Peaks. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is called in to investigate her strange demise only to uncover a web of mystery that ultimately leads him deep into the heart of the surrounding woodland and his very own soul.

    Diagnosis: Murder
    TMDB3.5

    Diagnosis: Murder

    1993

    country: United States

    Dr. Mark Sloan is a good-natured, offbeat physician who is called upon to solve murders.

    Batman: The Animated Series
    TMDB4.3

    Batman: The Animated Series

    1992

    country: United States

    Vowing to avenge the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne devotes his life to wiping out crime in Gotham City as the masked vigilante "Batman".

    The Pretender
    TMDB3.7

    The Pretender

    1996

    country: United States

    Raised in a secret facility built for experimenting on children, Jarod is a genius who can master any profession and become anyone he has to be. When he realizes as an adult that he's actually a prisoner and his captors are not as benevolent as he's been told, he breaks out. While trying to find his real identity, Jarod helps those he encounters and tries to avoid the woman sent to retrieve him.

    Homicide: Life on the Street
    TMDB4.1

    Homicide: Life on the Street

    1993

    country: United States

    An American police procedural chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit.

    Relic Hunter
    TMDB3.4

    Relic Hunter

    1999

    country: Canada

    Sydney Fox is a professor and globe-trotting "relic hunter" who looks for ancient artifacts to return to museums and/or the descendants of the original owner. She is aided by her linguistic assistant Nigel and occasionally by her somewhat air-headed secretary Claudia. She often ends up battling rival hunters seeking out artifacts for the money.

    A Touch of Frost
    TMDB3.8

    A Touch of Frost

    1992

    country: United Kingdom

    Jack Frost is a gritty, dogged and unconventional detective with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice who attracts trouble like a magnet. Despite some animosity with his superintendent, Norman “Horn-rimmed Harry” Mullett, Frost and his ever-changing roster of assistants manage to solve cases via his clever mind, good heart, and cool touch.

    Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
    TMDB4.8

    Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen

    1990

    country: Japan

    No overview available

    Detective Investigation Files
    TMDB4.0

    Detective Investigation Files

    1995

    country: Hong Kong

    "Detective Investigation Files" revolves around the professional and meticulous investigations carried out by a group of dedicated police officers. As they delve into mysterious deaths with unclear causes, they tirelessly work towards maintaining peace and security for the people. However, their demanding job often comes at the expense of personal happiness. Cheung Dai Yong, a brilliant and astute police officer, has a track record of solving crucial cases. His trusted colleague, Lee Chung Yee, stands by his side, and together they tackle challenging and complex cases. Amidst their work, Dai Yong encounters Ko Jit, a tenacious journalist. Despite their initial conflicts, a deepening connection blossoms between them. However, Ko Jit already has a romantic partner.

    Earth: Final Conflict
    TMDB3.4

    Earth: Final Conflict

    1997

    country: Canada

    Years ago, the Taelons came to Earth, offering friendship and technology to humanity. But there are those who believe the Taelons have more sinister motives.

    Tales of the Bizarre
    TMDB3.9

    Tales of the Bizarre

    1990

    country: Japan

    Inspired by American TV movies like "Hitchcock Theater" and "The Twilight Zone," the show features multiple works with Tamori as the storyteller and actors as the main characters. While horror and supernatural themes are predominant, a variety of genres like comedy and drama are also produced. Most episodes, however, have a bad ending.

    Are You Afraid of the Dark?
    TMDB4.1

    Are You Afraid of the Dark?

    1992

    country: Canada

    This spooky anthology series for kids recounts ghost stories told by the young members of the Midnight Society as they gather around a campfire. Each episode opens with members of the Midnight Society at their secret spot in the woods, where they prepare their fire and the night's storyteller announces the title of the his or her offering. However, the cameras soon leave the storyteller and switch to the tale being told.

    Serial Experiments Lain
    TMDB4.1

    Serial Experiments Lain

    1998

    country: Japan

    Lain—driven by the abrupt suicide of a classmate—logs on to the Wired and promptly loses herself in a twisted mass of hallucinations, memories, and interconnected-psyches.

    Goosebumps
    TMDB4.0

    Goosebumps

    1995

    country: Canada

    Anything can turn spooky in this horror anthology series based on the best-selling books by master of kid horror, R.L. Stine. In every episode, see what happens when regular kids find themselves in scary situations, and how they work to confront and overcome their fears.

    The Files of the Young Kindaichi
    TMDB3.8

    The Files of the Young Kindaichi

    1995

    country: Japan

    A young man who showed little promise while a high school student becomes a master detective, just like his grandfather.

    The New Batman Adventures
    TMDB4.0

    The New Batman Adventures

    1997

    country: United States

    After a long hiatus -- The Caped Crusader is back and cooler then ever, in the animated action-packed series -- The New Batman Adventures. Picking up years after Batman: The Animated Series, the series highlights Batman and his crimefighting cadre of Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl, as they join forces to battle Gotham City's classic super-villains.

    Inspector Rex
    TMDB3.6

    Inspector Rex

    1994

    country: Austria

    After his handler is killed, police dog Rex teams up with recently-divorced inspector Richard Moser to investigate crimes and solve mysteries on the streets of Vienna. And they sometimes get help from their two-legged friend, Inspector Stockinger.

    Streets of Broken Lights
    TMDB3.3

    Streets of Broken Lights

    1998

    country: Russia

    Russian detectives unwind the ball of the most intricate and cruel crimes. They are consummate professionals, the best cops in town. Even on the most dangerous missions, this quartet never loses their sense of humor. It is it that helps them find the most incredible ways out of any situation. They uphold the law and emerge victorious.

    Dalziel and Pascoe
    TMDB3.2

    Dalziel and Pascoe

    1996

    country: United Kingdom

    In the fictional Yorkshire town of Wetherton, the unlikely duo of politically incorrect elephant-in-a-China-shop-copper DS Andrew Dalziel (pronounced Dee-ell) and his more sensitive and university educated sidekick DS, later DI, Peter Pascoe is always on hand to solve the classic murder mystery, while maintaining down-to-Earth wit and humour.

    Millennium
    TMDB3.9

    Millennium

    1996

    country: Canada

    A retired FBI serial-profiler joins the mysterious Millennium Group, a team of underground ex-law enforcement experts dedicated to fighting against the ever-growing forces of evil and darkness in the world.

    BeastMaster
    TMDB3.2

    BeastMaster

    1999

    country: Australia

    BeastMaster chronicles the adventures of Dar, the last surviving male of the storied Sula tribe, who is blessed with the ability to communicate telepathically with the animals of his ancient world. Also endowed with the strength, courage and fighting skills of a great warrior, he uses his gifts to defend all living creatures oppressed by the forces of evil.

    Forever Knight
    TMDB3.4

    Forever Knight

    1992

    country: Canada

    Forever Knight is a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern day Toronto. Wracked with guilt for centuries of killing others, he seeks redemption by working as a homicide detective on the night shift while struggling to find a way to become human again. The series premiered on May 5, 1992 and concluded with the third season finale on May 17, 1996.

    The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries
    TMDB3.3

    The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries

    1995

    country: United States

    Sylvester and Tweety help out when Granny opens a detective agency.

    Kindaichi Case Files
    TMDB4.0

    Kindaichi Case Files

    1997

    country: Japan

    Kindaichi Hajime may look dumb, but he is one of the smartest you will ever see. He encounters mysteries after mysteries with his good friend, Miyuki, and he swears to solve them in the name of his grandfather, which was a great detective.

    It
    TMDB3.5

    It

    1990

    country: United States

    In 1960, seven outcast kids known as "The Losers' Club" fight against an ancient shape-shifting alien who poses as a child-killing clown, while also dealing with bullies and abusive parents. Thirty years later, they reunite to stop the creature once and for all when it returns to their hometown.

    Prime Suspect
    TMDB3.9

    Prime Suspect

    1991

    country: United Kingdom

    Highly skilled Detective Inspector Jane Tennison battles to prove herself in a male dominated world.

    The File Of Justice
    TMDB4.0

    The File Of Justice

    1992

    country: Hong Kong

    The Files of Justice is a series of Hong Kong legal drama produced by TVB. There were 5 seasons produced, the first was aired in 1992 spanning 13 episodes. The series revolves around a group of lawyers and legal personnel with stories interwoven between their personal lives and the court cases in which they’re engaged. This drama is Bobby Au Yeung's TV debut.

    Jonathan Creek
    TMDB3.8

    Jonathan Creek

    1997

    country: United Kingdom

    Working from his home in a converted windmill, Jonathan Creek is a magician with a natural ability for solving puzzles. He soon puts this ability to the use of solving impossible crimes and mysterious murders.

    Justice Pao
    TMDB4.2

    Justice Pao

    1993

    country: Taiwan

    Justice Bao is a 236-episode television series from Taiwan, first airing on Chinese Television System from February 1993 to January 1994. The show stars Jin Chao-chun as the Chinese official Bao Zheng in the Song Dynasty. It was hugely popular in Greater China as well as many other countries in the Far East. The series was originally scheduled for just 15 episodes. However, the show garnered high ratings when the initial episodes aired. Due to its popularity, CTS expanded the show to 236 episodes. The TVB and ATV Home networks in Hong Kong both bought the series in an attempt to gain viewers. Competition between the two networks during the showing of the series was so severe that identical episodes were shown on both channels on the same night. It was also one of the first dramas that used NICAM technology.

    Master Keaton
    TMDB3.6

    Master Keaton

    1998

    country: Japan

    The amazing Taichi Keaton works on cases around the globe that always lead to adventure! He combines his arsenal of multidisciplinary expertise in investigation, archeology, and survival with his experience as a professor, a Falklands Conflict veteran and a SAS agent to unravel the often dangerous challenges in each riveting episode.

    Baywatch Nights
    TMDB3.1

    Baywatch Nights

    1995

    country: United States

    Baywatch Nights is an American police and science fiction drama series that aired in syndication from 1995 to 1997. Created by Douglas Schwartz, David Hasselhoff, and Gregory J. Bonann, the series is a spin-off from the popular television series, Baywatch.

    Swamp Thing
    TMDB3.1

    Swamp Thing

    1990

    country: United States

    Swamp Thing: The Series, is a science fiction, action/adventure television series based on the DC Comics character Swamp Thing. It debuted on USA Network on July 27, 1990 and lasted three seasons for a total of 72 episodes. It was later shown in reruns on the Sci Fi Channel.

    Revolutionary Girl Utena
    TMDB4.0

    Revolutionary Girl Utena

    1997

    country: Japan

    "Never lose that strength or nobility, even when you grow up." When Utena was just a child and in the depths of sorrow, she found salvation in those words. They were the words of a prince, who bestowed upon her both a ring and the promise that it would lead her to him again. She never forgot the encounter. Now a teenager, Utena attends the prestigious Ohtori Academy; however, her strong sense of chivalry soon places her at odds with the student council and thrusts her into a series of mysterious and dangerous duels against its members.

    About 1990s Mystery TV Shows

    The 1990s

    1990s television was the last era of true mass audiences, when a network sitcom or a season finale could be a shared national event.

    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
    Batman: The Animated Series (8.6)
    Often also
    Drama, Crime, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
    Longest run
    39 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best 1990s mystery TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, C.I.D., and Midsomer Murders. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1990s 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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