CrimeDramaAction & Adventure1986–1988NBC

The Best Episodes of Crime Story

Every episode of Crime Story ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Crime Story!

Best episode
S2E17 Desert Justice
8.779 votes
Worst episode
S2E15 Pauli Taglia's Dream
6.579 votes
Top season
Season 1
8.1avg
Binge time
1d 7h
43 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons2

All12

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Crime Story Season 2 Episode 17 - Desert Justice
    8.7/10(79 votes)

    S2:E17

    The Justice Department must deal with crooked cops and feuding brothel owners when Pauli's prostitute-girlfriend is murdered.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 20 - Top of the World
    8.5/10(117 votes)

    S1:E20

    Luca's jubilation over his growing business turns to fear that his associates are setting him up. Luca's insatiable lust for violence proves his undoing when he rapes Pauli's girlfriend. Pauli testifies for the prosecution in Luca's trial.

    Director:Michael Mann
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 14 - Fatal Crossroads
    8.5/10(107 votes)

    S1:E14

    Torello is subpoenaed to testify for Luca. An enraged Abrams jumps to Torello's defense. Luca orders Torello and Abrams killed.

    Director:Gary Sinise
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 15 - Torello on Trial
    8.4/10(114 votes)

    S1:E15

    Breitel brutally cross-examines Torello. Acquitted Luca moves to Las Vegas. Torello gets a new assignment.

    Director:Gary Sinise
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 19 - The Pinnacle
    8.4/10(92 votes)

    S1:E19

    Luca's greedy ploy to take over another casino puts his entire gambling empire in jeopardy.

    Director:John Nicolella
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 13 - Protected Witness
    8.4/10(81 votes)

    S2:E13

    In return for the man's testimony, Torello offers government protection to a Chicago mobster with a contract on his life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 14 - Last Rites
    8.4/10(69 votes)

    S2:E14

    After Manny is stricken by a heart attack, Luca demands that he be the first heart-transplant recipient. Max convinces Steve to put a hit on Luca.

    Director:Colin Bucksey
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 21 - Ground Zero
    8.3/10(108 votes)

    S1:E21

    After his murder mistrial, Luca clashes with a crime kingpin over plans to split up control of the sinking Luca gambling empire. Pauli changes his mind and rescues Luca from Torello as they hide in a house in the desert, a target site for nuclear testing.

    Director:Peter Medak
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 16 - The Kingdom of Money
    8.3/10(91 votes)

    S1:E16

    Torello and Krychek join the Federal Task Force planning to raid Luca's new gambling business in Las Vegas.

    Directors:James A. Contner, Michael Mann
    Writer:David J. Burke

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  10. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 5 - The Saint Louis Book of Blues
    8.2/10(118 votes)

    S1:E5

    Mobsters support Luca's nationwide gambling scheme. A publicity-seeking sheriff hampers Torello's arrest of one of Luca's men.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 18 - The Survivor
    8.2/10(111 votes)

    S1:E18

    Torello falls in love with a Justice Attorney's former wife, only to find out that the attorney has been molesting his adopted daughter. Molestation charges jeopardizes the Unit's investigation of Luca.

    Director:Alan Myerson
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 9 - Old Friends, Dead Ends
    8.2/10(110 votes)

    S1:E9

    Torello confronts his new friend, now laundering money for the Mob. Federal investigators indict Luca and Bartoli.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 10 - Justice Hits the Skids
    8.2/10(107 votes)

    S1:E10

    Devastated by Kehoe's death, Torello stonewalls Breitel's federal investigation. Abrams joins the MCU on the street.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 17 - The Battle of Las Vegas
    8.2/10(90 votes)

    S1:E17

    To take over Las Vegas casinos, Luca murders the head of a resort-workers union to put his own man in the position.

    Director:Aaron Lipstadt
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 4 - Atomic Fallout
    8.2/10(83 votes)

    S2:E4

    Torello follows a crazed killer into Mexico, unaware his quarry will lead him to an arms-for-drugs operation run by an alive-and-well Luca.

    Director:Bill Duke
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 5 - Shockwaves
    8.2/10(79 votes)

    S2:E5

    Luca returns to Vegas with immunity to work for the US Government, causing revenge-minded Abrams to resign in frustration and Torello unable to get near Luca.

    Director:Bill Duke
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 6 - Robbery, Armed
    8.2/10(75 votes)

    S2:E6

    A Chicago thug, preparing for the heist of a Las Vegas casino, shoots Krychek on the eve of Torello's birthday.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 18 - Byline
    8.2/10(67 votes)

    S2:E18

    Torello's writer-friend plans to take down Luca by exposing him in an article.

    Director:Eugene Corr
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 3 - Final Transmission
    8.1/10(131 votes)

    S1:E3

    With Torello's MCU hunting a psychopath, Luca plots jewel heists and the takeover of a sports-gambling operation.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Richard Christian Danus

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  20. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 4 - Shadow Dancer
    8.1/10(125 votes)

    S1:E4

    Torello gains a major advantage when one of Luca's burglars is connected to a robbery-homicide of a coin collector's wife. Torello finds out Julie is pregnant.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 8 - Pursuit of a Wanted Felon
    8.1/10(113 votes)

    S1:E8

    Conflict ruins the Torello's weekend trip. Luca situates in Las Vegas. Bigots target Abrams's relationship with Susan.

    Director:Aaron Lipstadt
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 7 - Little Girl Lost
    8.1/10(79 votes)

    S2:E7

    An investigator searching for a man's girlfriend, who happens to be Weisbord's granddaughter, is murdered before he gives information to Torello. Luca offers a drug-addicted Abrams a position on his staff.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 16 - Roadrunner
    8.1/10(72 votes)

    S2:E16

    While escorting a prisoner and his girlfriend, Torello is trapped in the desert and stalked by corrupt lawmen who want the prisoner.

    Director:Jeff Stein
    Writer:Gail Morgan Hickman

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  24. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 6 - The War
    8.0/10(126 votes)

    S1:E6

    A book intercepted by Torello jeopardizes Luca's nationwide gambling operation. The Torellos meet with tragedy.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Crime Story Season 2 Episode 8 - Love Hurts
    8.0/10(96 votes)

    S2:E8

    Luca falls for an actress in a movie he is financing and discovers she is more than even he can handle.

    Director:David Soul
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Desert Justice" is the best rated episode of Crime Story. It scored 8.7/10 from 79 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on March 22, 1988. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Top of the World".

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