The world of crime thrillers has never been more thrilling! With the rise of streaming services, the genre has evolved to captivate audiences worldwide. And, we’re thrilled to announce that a new cop crime thriller show has stolen the spotlight, raking in an impressive 90% audience score! This gripping show has become the talk of the town, with viewers hooked on its pulse-pounding storylines, complex characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
The Rise of On Call
Shows about police officers have been around for decades. The conflict and dangerous situations that come with the profession are evidently fertile ground for on-screen drama. Since 2000, a number of cop shows have come and gone, some of which put unique spins on the classic procedural formula. Justified takes the police thriller and mixes it with the Western, Fargo adds comedy, and Hannibal adds horror. Sometimes, though, audiences are just looking for a more typical show about cops. Recent shows like We Own This City and Mare of Easttown delivered on this front, as has True Detective, The Shield, S.W.A.T., and The Rookie. There’s one cop thriller show, however, that has just recently released on Prime Video, and it’s quickly established itself as a win with audiences for its grounded storytelling and compelling character drama. Mare of Easttown season 2 is not yet confirmed, but it has been reported to be a possibility. On Call Has Become A Streaming Hit The Crime Thriller Has Divided Critics & Audiences Close On Call has just ascended to the top of Prime Video’s top 10 streaming chart. Created by Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf, On Call stars Troian Bellisario and Alex Larracuente, among others, with a structure that follows a pair of police officers as they respond to different calls on their radio. The show, which hails from executive producer Dick Wolf, scored an impressive 90% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, but critics have shared a more mixed response to the series, with the critics’ score being only 50%.
Related The 25 Best Cop Shows Of All Time Ranked For decades, the very best cop shows have been a staple of television, captivating audiences with a blend of action, drama, and mystery. Per new data from FlixPatrol, On Call currently ranks as the most popular show on Prime Video in the U.S. as of January 15, 2025. The series beats a handful of big titles, including Beast Games, Cross, Secret Level, and Reacher. The police thriller show has been on the top 10 list for 5 days now, and has yet to be moved from the top position. Check out the full top 10 list below: Prime Video Top 10 Shows In The U.S. (Jan 15, 2025) 1 On Call 2 Beast Games 3 Cross 4 Secret Level 5 Reacher 6 The Rig 7 Pop Culture Jeopardy! 8 Coach Prime 9 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power 10 Fallout
What On Call’s Streaming Success Means For The Show
Reviews for On Call aren’t glowing, with critics taking issue with the show’s lack of originality. Though it’s half-hour episode format makes it easy to consume, the show doesn’t offer up much that is new in a genre that has now been extensively explored for decades. On Call characters like Alex Diaz and Traci Harmon are well-realized, but this evidently hasn’t been enough to make the show a standout entry for critics. For audiences, though, it’s clear that the Prime Video series is a worthwhile entertainment venture. Though it lacks any real surprises narratively, its streaming success speaks to just how watchable it is. On Call occupying the top spot on the Prime Video top 10 also bodes well for a potential season 2, which hasn’t yet gotten the green light. If On Call continues to dominate streaming, audiences could certainly be seeing more of Traci and Alex in the future.
The Show’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Well-Realized Characters – Alex Diaz and Traci Harmon are well-realized, but this hasn’t been enough to make the show a standout entry for critics. Grounded Storytelling – The show’s grounded storytelling is a major strength, offering a realistic portrayal of police work that is both tense and suspenseful. Lack of Originality – The show’s lack of originality is a major weakness, with critics taking issue with the show’s similarities to other cop shows. Potential for Predictability – The show’s predictable narrative is another major drawback, with audiences able to see the twists and turns coming a mile away.
Future of On Call
Potential for Season 2 – The show’s streaming success and high audience score on Rotten Tomatoes suggest that there may be a potential for a second season. Implications for the Show’s Future – If the show continues to dominate streaming, it’s possible that we could see new storylines and characters introduced in future seasons. Streaming Success and Critical Reception – The show’s streaming success and mixed critical reception suggest that it may not be a standout entry in the cop thriller genre, but it’s still a worthwhile entertainment venture. Potential for Growth and Improvement – With a second season potentially on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how the show evolves and improves over time.
More Cop Crime Thriller Shows
I am still upset about the cancellation of Julie and the Phantoms, a show that originally got picked up for season 2, but was ultimately canceled by Netflix. With ridiculously high Rotten Tomatoes scores from both critics and audiences (93% and 98%), this seems to make no sense at all. The show was loved by many, and I still see people talking about it, even though season 1 came out four years ago. This is one of those shows that I feel could have gone on for several seasons, but alas, the studio decided against it. Jason Momoa will not return as Aquaman, with the actor having joined James Gunn’s DC Universe as Lobo. Since Gunn previously revealed that he had talks with Henry Cavill to cast him in a new role in the franchise, I would love to see him in the DCU, and Cavill as The Human Target on a limited series based on Tom King & Greg Smallwood’s comics would be perfect. Disney+’s Daredevil series was originally not going to have Karen and Foggy by Matt’s side, but then fans (rightfully so) threw a fit. The series went back into development for reshoots and rewrites, and now, we finally have a trailer. Karen and Foggy are shown in one brief scene. One that everyone knows about because they filmed it on the streets of New York City, and then it went viral. Will these two be a major part of the Daredevil: Born Again series? They should be, but I have my doubts. We only see them briefly in this trailer, along with many other returning characters. I hope I am wrong, but I have a feeling their roles will be minimal in the new series.
Conclusion
Conclusion: The Rise of Crime Thrillers and Their Enduring Appeal
The recent success of a cop crime thriller show with a staggering 90% audience score is a testament to the enduring appeal of the crime thriller genre. As discussed in our previous article, the show’s gripping storyline, well-developed characters, and masterful pacing have captivated audiences worldwide, making it a streaming hit. This phenomenon is not an isolated incident, as crime thrillers have consistently dominated the streaming landscape in recent years. The key to their success lies in their ability to tap into our collective fascination with the darker aspects of human nature, while also providing a sense of catharsis through the resolution of complex mysteries.
The implications of this trend are far-reaching and significant. As streaming services continue to evolve and compete for audience attention, the demand for high-quality crime thrillers is likely to remain high. This presents a unique opportunity for content creators to push the boundaries of the genre, experimenting with new formats, themes, and styles. Furthermore, the success of crime thrillers highlights the importance of audience engagement and feedback, emphasizing the need for creators to listen to their audience and adapt to changing tastes and preferences.
