Crime series have the ability to snag human interest. They tap into emotional appeal while giving a vicarious look at the seedy underbelly ranging from true detective series to hard-boiled fiction. What first originated as a literary trope evolved to apply itself across a variety of media, and with it, brought about a refreshed approach to time-worn themes. Naturally, crime dramas leached onto television and streaming platforms. Original content flooded the airwaves and provided an over-saturation of crime-inspired programming. The rise in popularity, in turn, resulted in a surge in demand.
Updated: January 2023: To keep this article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Maria McGinnis.
Peaky Blinders became one of Netflix’s most prized in-house crime series. Doubling as a period piece, this British drama trails after the events of the Great War and ties into the conversation about the nation’s economic cataclysm. The titular gang, Peaky Blinders, sits at the heart of the series as they’re the most powerful crime syndicate at the time. Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his family are determined to see themselves thrive and survive as the United Kingdom takes a new shape after the war. As the series approaches its sixth and final season, here are some similar shows to watch to keep the spirit of Peaky Blinders alive.
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10 Breaking Bad
Sony Pictures
Breaking Bad keeps up with the daily life of mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) with an even bigger secret: his methamphetamine business. He turns to a life of crime after coming to the realization that he simply cannot survive on a teacher’s salary alone and cannot support his struggling family. Juggling the reality of a disabled teenage son, a pregnant wife, and a cancer diagnosis, White risks his reputation and his well-being to cook the illegal stimulant drug. Breaking Bad has been proclaimed as one of “the best shows of all time” as it presents a commentary on the American healthcare system and education system through a more extreme perspective.
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9 The Sopranos
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
If you’re into the crime drama genre and enjoy shows like Peaky Blinders, it’s possible you’ve already seen The Sopranos, as it ran from 1999 to 2007 and has since been named one of the greatest TV shows of all time. The series focuses on Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), an Italian-American mobster in New Jersey. Tony is constantly struggling to balance his family life and his role as the mob boss of the Soprano family, all while suffering from panic attacks and unpacking his struggles in therapy. If you’re a Sopranos fan, there’s also a new prequel series, The Many Saints of Newark, on HBO that’s set in the ’60s and ’70s and details the background story for The Sopranos.
8 Ozark
Netflix
After moving from Chicago to the Ozarks, financial adviser Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) and his family adjust to their new life in the mountains. In Ozark, Byrde soon finds trouble as a money-laundering scheme goes awry, threatening to disrupt the peace that was once kept in mind for his family. The financial planner is asked to pay off his debts to a Mexican drug lord in exchange for the safety of his wife and their two children. The payments that he must keep up ultimately endanger Byrde’s stability, directly targeting his well-being. The financial planner who sought out the best for his family through their move is now responsible for keeping them connected as his life spirals away from him.
7 Boardwalk Empire
HBO EnterprisesHBO EnterprisesWarner Bros. Television Distribution
Boardwalk Empire clashes with the Prohibition-era head-on as Atlantic City looks past any rules set in stone. Town treasurer Enoch “Lucky” Thompson dually lives as a politician as he does gangster, keeping the coastal New Jersey town under his thumb. He, in the company of his brother Elias, keeps watch over the city as they keep their eye on ward bosses that may pose themselves as a threat. Thompson finds himself among the ranks of some of the top gangsters, running alongside the lines of Al Capone while dealing out illegal alcohol. His illegal activity remains undisrupted until his former protégé poses a greater threat.
6 The Alienist
The Alienist is a very interesting and well-done period drama. It stars Luke Evans, Dakota Fanning, and Daniel Bruhl in mid-1890s NYC as they form a team together to investigate a local serial killer. It’s based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Caleb Carr, and the second season, The Alienist: Angel of Darkness, is based on the second book. It’s an addictive murder mystery full of drama and an incredible set and setting that really makes you feel like you’re back in the 19th century. The acting is also fantastic and the show as a whole has great pacing that really holds your interest.
5 True Detective
HBO
True Detective is an anthology crime drama, with each season being its own self-contained story with unique characters — a lot like American Horror Story. Season one is about a pair of Louisiana State Police investigating a serial killer; season two takes place in California and details the murder of a corrupt politician; and season three takes place in the Ozarks over three distinct time periods, following an investigation into two missing children. The series has seen several big-name actors like Matthew McConaughey, Vince Vaugh, Woody Harrelson, Rachel McAdams, and Colin Farrell. There will also be a fourth season that will take place in Alaska and be called True Detective: Night Country. While there isn’t a specific release date yet — other than sometime in 2023 — Jodie Foster and professional boxer Kali Reis will star in the season.
4 Ripper Street
Endemol UK
Ripper Street is a British drama that takes place in 1889, five-six months after the last Jack the Ripper murder. There’s a group of police that had desperately hunted the killer but never found him, but then more women start turning up dead on the streets of Whitechapel in East London — where the Ripper originally was — leading the police team to begin to wonder if the killer is back. The series ran for five seasons from 2012 to 2016 and is another example of a period drama done right. From the costumes to the setting, it’s truly captivating. It’s also a unique telling of the infamous Jack the Ripper story and is well worth the watch.
3 Taboo
BBC
In Taboo, adventurer James Delaney (Tom Hardy) defies the rumors of his death as he inherits his father’s empire after returning from Africa to London. Upon his return, he is faced with fending off new enemies who are determined to make his return to civilization as troubled as possible. They are insistent on dethroning the Delaney shipping empire that directly wars against a similar corporation in East India. In the midst of his return to the United Kingdom, he is driven to avenge his father’s death. He pulls at the unraveling of death, conspiracy, bloodshed, and betrayal as he dodges a death sentence of his own.
2 Penny Dreadful
Showtime Networks
Lurking in the shaded corners of Victorian London, the retelling of classic literary horror tales unfolds as creatures dominate the city in Penny Dreadful. Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton) seeks out vengeance for his daughter’s death and will unwaveringly pay the price in order to mend her past. He joins forces with clairvoyant Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) as he hunts down the monsters of London while locating his daughter.
1 Better Call Saul
High Bridge Productions
This direct Breaking Bad spin-off follows ace attorney Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) before he was defending the meth-making Walter White in court. The series presents Goodman in a new light as he lives as Jimmy McGrill, taking on small-scale cases while attempting to grow his reputation as a lawyer. He’s an underdog that is determined to give voices to the voiceless and defend the meek, even if his ambitious spirit and the self-aware moral code happen to grate against each other. Much like its companion series, Better Call Saul has been awarded high praise and critical accolades.
