8.5/10
109,216
215 user 66 critic

Luther 

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1:01 | Trailer
DCI John Luther is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Creator:

Neil Cross
Reviews
Popularity
375 ( 10)

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Years



5   4   3   2   1  
2019   2015   2013   2011   2010  
Top Rated TV #206 | Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 14 wins & 64 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Series cast summary:
Idris Elba ...  DCI John Luther 21 episodes, 2010-2019
Dermot Crowley ...  DSU Martin Schenk / ... 17 episodes, 2010-2019
Michael Smiley ...  Benny Silver / ... 17 episodes, 2010-2019
Warren Brown ...  DS Justin Ripley 16 episodes, 2010-2015
Ruth Wilson ...  Alice Morgan 15 episodes, 2010-2019
Paul McGann ...  Mark North 11 episodes, 2010-2019
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Storyline

John Luther is a police detective, and a very good one. He deals with murder cases, often involving serial killers, and has a knack for getting inside the mind of the killer. However, his methods, personality and troubled private life often get him into strife with his superiors, leading some to regard him as the problem rather than the solution. Written by grantss

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

What if you were on the Devil's side without knowing it?


Certificate:

TV-MA | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2010 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Luther See more »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Enzo Cilenti and Michael Smiley both starred in Free Fire (2016) See more »

Quotes

DSU George Stark: There was a park ranger. In America, that is. He was struck seven times by lightning. Seven times. Actually made the Guinness Book of Records for being the unluckiest guy in the world. Or maybe the luckiest guy in the world. Depends on how you look at it.
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Connections

Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #13.40 (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

Paradise Circus
(Main title)
Written by Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall, Hope Sandoval, Dan Brown (as Daniel Jonathan Brown) and Stew Jackson (as Stewart Neville Jackson)
Performed by Massive Attack
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
Crazy, unhinged, but great show
23 November 2010 | by cfisanickSee all my reviews

What's remarkable about "Luther" is how series creator Neil Cross takes a rag-tag bag of clichés--brilliant but damaged rogue cop, long-suffering boss, genius killer, etc.--and makes it all seem so fresh. Of course, having the fantastic Idris Elba helps immeasurably. He doesn't just act the part of Luther; he is Luther, fully inhabiting the role and moving like a force of nature through every scene. This is one of those rare times where you see an actor's innate intelligence and physicality used perfectly. (Watching Luther decompensate, as he does at various times over the story arc, is really something to see.) Elba is matched every step of the way by Ruth Wilson, playing a sort of female Hannibal Lector--brilliant, amoral, remorseless, scary, and, I daresay, sexy. She and Elba make quite a pair, and their interplay is priceless.

Finally, it's worth noting that this series, while ostensibly a cop show, has its own look and feel. It plays more like a beautifully filmed, weird morality play. (Cross makes the point that Luther believes in only two things, life and love, though the viewer will quickly see that, despite his damaged psyche and emotional baggage, he also ultimately believes in himself.) Some may think that it's just insane, far-fetched, and way over the top. (which it sometimes is if you look closely and cynically). But I think that it exudes a unique vibe. Take a look at the impressionistic opening credits with Massive Attack on the soundtrack, and you'll know right up front that this is something special.


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