Se7en

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Se7en is available in the US on Peacock Premium, and in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV Cinema right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch Morgan Freeman work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Peacock Premium.

There is a reason Se7en keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting gives Se7en its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Somerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It was released in 1995. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Se7en passes that test consistently. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Se7en will keep you hooked. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Morgan Freeman's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.