The Night Of

Riz Ahmed is phenomenal in this tense eight-part mini-series about a New York City murder.

If Four Lions, Nightcrawler and Rogue One haven't already made you a fan of Riz Ahmed, then The Night Of will. The British actor is phenomenal in the tense eight-part mini-series, putting in the type of quietly potent performance that he has become known for across his career, and also winning himself a well-deserved Emmy Award in the process.

Ahmed plays Pakistani American college student Nasir 'Naz' Khan. When a young woman is murdered on New York City's Upper West Side, he's accused of the crime — with hardworking lawyer John Stone (John Turturro) enlisted to try to prove his innocence. If someone made an entire series that just featured Ahmed and Turturro chatting, it'd be must-see TV. Based on the first season of UK series Criminal Justice, The Night Of delivers much more than merely its two leads talking, but it also makes the most of its stars.