20 Crime-Drama Shows To Watch if You Love ‘Breaking Bad’

While it has been a decade since Breaking Bad finished its run, it remains in constant discussion thanks to its brilliant storytelling and fantastic characters. Breaking Bad has proven to be one of the most popular TV series of the 21st century, with its story of a simple family man becoming a drug lord capturing the attention of TV viewers worldwide. While viewers were glued to their screens watching Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) navigate the drug syndicate world as its five seasons aired, the show remains just as popular as new fans are discovering it every day on streaming websites.

The problem with every great show is that eventually it has to end, and fans have to let go of the characters and worlds they have become attached to. While restarting Breaking Bad from the beginning is an option, as is watching the sequel movie El Camino, viewers looking for a new crime-drama obsession have plenty of options. Some possess stories that mirror Mr. White’s, while others explore different areas of the criminal underworld.

20

‘Gangs of London’ (2020–)

Created by Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery

An adaptation of the video game of the same name in the Gateway game series, Gangs of London follows the journey of Sean Wallace, the protégé and son of Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney), head of London’s most powerful crime family. When Finn dies, Sean sets out to fill the vacuum, battling rival gangs, outside forces, and an undercover cop who would do anything to expose the Wallace family.

Exploring the power struggles of London’s criminal underworld, Gangs of London is poles apart from Breaking Bad and Mexican drug cartel battles. However, as crime shows, both these shows are equally powerful and engaging, with a gripping narrative and a well-paced plot. Notwithstanding the visceral action pieces, Gangs of London succeeds in its appealing drama and character arcs. The British crime drama series has also been widely praised for the convincing performances from Joe Cole as Sean Wallace and Michelle Fairley as the family matriarch, Marian. —Maddie P

19

‘The Brothers Sun’ (2023)

Created by Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu

Starring Michelle Yeoh as one of the main characters, The Brothers Sun tells the story of Bruce Sun (Sam Song Li), an average LA student who lives with his mother, Eileen (Yeoh), a nurse. When suddenly his estranged brother, Charles (Justin Chien), visits them, Bruce’s world is turned upside down, as he learns the truth about his family background, and rediscovers his family relationships and himself.

While The Brothers Sun is nothing like Breaking Bad, the Netflix original series is a colorful and high-energy show with swift martial arts action, sharp dialogue, and witty punchlines that would satisfy genre fans. At the same time, the narrative is neatly balanced with sentimental moments surrounding their individual journeys and interpersonal dynamics, especially of Bruce and Charles, making it more of a coming-of-age story. The Brothers Sun has earned great appreciation and critical acclaim for its quirky characters and their equally convincing portrayal by the three lead actors. —Maddie P

18

‘Griselda’ (2024)

Created by Eric Newman

Based on the life of Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord known as “the Godmother,” Griselda offers audiences a look into the harrowing events that transpired in Griselda’s life. The show follows Griselda’s journey climbing up the ranks in the Miami drug scene, her successes and triumphs, as well as the unfortunate consequences of her actions. Griselda is portrayed by beloved actress Sofia Vergara, who unflinchingly plays the drug lord with such intensity and spirit that captivates the audience.

Similar to Breaking Bad, Griselda explores the transformation of its protagonist into a criminal mastermind. Both shows make sure to feature the nuances and complexities of their main characters, which allows audiences to empathize with their struggles, portraying them as more than just villains but as individuals with motivations and struggles. For fans of Breaking Bad who want a gritty thrilling TV show full of drug syndicates to sink their teeth into, Griselda is the perfect show to watch.

17

‘Weeds’ (2005–2012)

Created by Vince Gilligan

After losing her husband to a heart attack, Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) begins selling marijuana as a way to support her two sons. While her drug operation starts as a small business to merely keep their current lifestyle, it ultimately snowballs into something bigger which puts the lives of Nancy and her family in danger.

Weeds is one of the shows similar to Breaking Bad, as they both feature a normal parent in the suburbs who turns to selling drugs to make money. Where Weeds differs is that it aligns more with the comedy genre, as it tends to take itself less seriously than Breaking Bad despite the dark subjects it often explores. For those who miss the show, a revival of the show is currently in the works on Showtime, so they might see more of Nancy’s successes and misadventures in the world of drugs.

16

‘Prison Break’ (2005–2017)

Created by Paul Scheuring

When his brother is falsely accused of murder and placed on death row, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) devises a plan to break him out. A skilled engineer, Michael has blueprints of the prison tattooed on his body and is purposely incarcerated in the same prison as his brother, so he can execute their escape from the inside.

Prison Break was a big hit on release and swiftly caught people’s attention as it became one of the most talked about shows of its era. While the series loses steam in later seasons (how many times can one man break out of prison), its first two seasons remain quality viewing and are an essential watch for anyone who likes twisty crime dramas like Breaking Bad.

15

‘Barry’ (2018–2023)

Created by Bill Hader and Alec Berg

When experienced hitman Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) becomes disillusioned by his life as a professional killer, he discovers a love for acting. As he enrolls in an acting class and tries to put his troubled past behind him, Barry finds his criminal associates won’t let him leave and frequently try to bring him back to the dark side.

Despite being a comedy, Barry often treads into dark territory as Barry juggles both sides of his working life. Hader is fantastic in the leading role, showcasing both his knack for comedy and drama. There are also plenty of tragic deaths in Barry, akin to the unfortunate death in Breaking Bad that have struck a chord with audiences such as Jane Margolis’ (Krysten Ritter) overdose. In a way, Barry’s character arc is the opposite of Walter White’s, as Barry is a criminal searching for a normal life, whereas White is attempting the reverse.

14

‘The Gentlemen’ (2023–)

Created by Guy Ritchie

A spin-off follow-up to Guy Ritchie’s 2016 film of the same name, The Gentlemen takes fans back to the risky and ritzy criminal underworld of England in a colorful crime comedy. The plot follows Eddie Horniman (Theo James), who, unwittingly, becomes the Duke of Halstead, inheriting his family estate, business, and associated connections. When Eddie learns that his father’s business is but a front for the drug kingpin, Mickey Pearson’s cannabis empire, the newly crowned duke finds himself in a ride-or-die game with dangerous people and career criminals.

Ritchie’s television adaptation is as slick and stylish as the film, with his signature undertones of dark satire and a slew of quirky and eccentric characters that make The Gentleman an engaging watch. Even if the Netflix British crime comedy is not on the same lines as Breaking Bad, The Gentlemen is as grungy as the AMC series and holds up to all aspects of a well-rounded, entertaining crime drama series, just like Breaking Bad. —Maddie P

13

‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (2014–2020)

Created by Peter Nowalk

In this hit legal drama series, Viola Davis stars as a top-notch Philadelphia lawyer and law professor, Annalise Keating, in an award-winning performance. In How to Get Away with Murder, after Annalise gets entangled in a murder, she uses the intelligence, skills, and legal knowledge of her five students and two assistants to cover up the crime. But with time, the group gets deeper into troubles that upend the lives of everyone involved and impact the social and justice system.

With legal battles, cover-ups, corruption, betrayal, love, loss, and dangerous liaisons, How to Get Away with Murder is both a thrilling and emotional ride that makes the series as addictive as Breaking Bad. There are also parallels between Walter White’s and Annalise Keating’s character journeys. Like Walter, Annalise always protects her family—her students, even if she has to take the toughest road, and her students fear and admire her equally. —Maddie P

12

‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)

Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams

Financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) is forced to move his family to the Ozarks region in Missouri after a money laundering scheme goes wrong. In major debt to a Mexican cartel, Marty concocts another scheme that will pay an even larger reward as he works to pay back the money he owes, while his family also becomes involved with local criminals.

Ozark proved to be a major success for Netflix, as it received critical acclaim throughout its four-season run. Fans found it to be one of the best shows like Breaking Bad as it also examines the impact of crime on a seemingly normal family, while the criminals they associate with are also given a focus. With its suspenseful plot twists, Ozark will keep viewers on their toes and constantly guessing about the fate of the Byrde family.

11

‘Tulsa King’ (2022–)

Created by Taylor Sheridan

Sylvester Stallone stars as the lead in his first scripted show in this Paramount+ original crime drama series in a critically acclaimed performance. Tulsa King follows Stallone as Dwight Manfredi, an invincible mafia boss who is released from prison after a 25-year sentence and moves to Tulsa to take over the city’s underworld. With an oddball crew to replace his old gang, Dwight set out to make his own empire and become the titular ruler of T-town.

Fans of Breaking Bad and similar thrillers are sure to like Tulsa King, where Taylor Sheridan and Terence Winter explore a different genre and narrative style with dark comedy, urban underworld, and intense action pieces. One of the most notable aspects of Tulsa King that makes the show successful is how Stallone commands the screen as the gritty and slick crime boss. Even though the Taylor Sheridan show is vastly different in story and narrative, oddly, both shows share similar record-breaking success within their first few seasons. —Maddie P