Fear Street: 1978

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Fear Street: 1978 is available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 2,260 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Sadie Sink anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Fear Street: 1978 is worth clearing space for. At its heart, Fear Street: 1978 understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. In 1978, two rival groups at Camp Nightwing must band together to solve a terrifying mystery when horrors from their towns' history come alive. The writing gets a boost from Sadie Sink and Emily Rudd, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2021. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Fear Street: 1978 passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Fear Street: 1978 delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch Sadie Sink work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.