The region secured 94 titles, surpassing North America and Asia Pacific combined, and the UK in particular matched the US in first-run series orders, reflecting shifting investment trends

Gary Oldman in the series Slow Horses (© Apple)

Western Europe hit a record volume of crime and thriller production orders from leading global streamers in 2024, reaching a total of 94 titles, Ampere Analysis has found. This number refers to scripted first-run TV, season renewals and movie commissions in the crime and thriller genre ordered within the time period by Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Max/HBO Max, Netflix and Paramount+. Overall the crime and thriller genre's key role in streamers’ commissioning strategy is increasing around the globe, with its share of scripted content growing from 20% in 2020 to 32% in 2024.

Ninety-four titles are equivalent to a 43% share of all commissions by major streamers in the genre, more than the North American and Asia Pacific regions combined. It represents a record result for Western Europe and it also shows consistent growth, since the percentage rose from 28%, which was the result in 2020. In contrast, North America's share of the streamers’ commissions in the genre has declined, dropping by half over the same period to just 19% of orders in 2024.

While the US, on a country basis, continues to lead in crime commissioning overall, the UK matched its first-run series (excluding renewals and movies) orders for the first time in 2024, with both countries producing 21 new series. Global streamers have increasingly relocated scripted commissions abroad, reducing North America’s share from 55% in 2020 to 31% in 2024. Western Europe has gained the most, securing 29% of global scripted production orders by 2024.

Cyrine Amor, Research Manager at Ampere Analysis, commented on the findings: “Crime and thriller titles consistently dominate viewership charts on platforms like Netflix, with Ampere’s research showing the genre is key to subscriber growth and retention—critical as streaming markets mature. Given how well the genre travels across borders and demographics, and with rising production costs in the US, it makes sense for the streamers to shift more originals in this genre beyond North America. Western Europe, with its rich tradition in crime and thriller storytelling, and the UK, the streamers’ key international production hub, are leading the way. But as streamers continue to expand their global footprint and seek cost-effective commissioning and production opportunities, we can expect other production regions to start playing more of a role in this genre as well.”

Among notable upcoming titles ordered for production in 2024 were the UK-produced Netflix/BBC Film co-commissioned movie adaptation of the hit series Peaky Blinders, Season 5 of major Apple hit series Slow Horses and the second season of the Spanish-produced Netflix Money Heist spin-off Berlin.