The Penguin recently premiered on HBO and has impressed critics and audiences with its unique blend of the superhero and gangster drama genres. Inspired by DC Comics, the series follows Oswald Cobb (Colin Farrell) as he strives to become the successor to Gotham’s former crime kingpin.
So far, The Penguin has earned stellar reviews for its dark tone, gritty premise, and deep dive into the psychology of one of DC’s most iconic villains. Viewers enjoying The Penguin can use our guide to find similar TV shows and movies to stream online now on platforms like Max, Netflix, Disney+, and more.
Arrow
Based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow comics, Arrow follows Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), a billionaire playboy who disappears at sea with his father one day. Five years later, he returns as a changed man, becoming a vigilante to clean out the crime that has encroached on his city and business in his absence. Arrow boasts grit and a serious tone, though it does lean more into the superhero genre than the crime genre and is a less intense and violent alternative to The Penguin.
Daredevil
Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, Daredevil follows Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer who begins leading a double life as a vigilante to fight the crime kingpin Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). The series is delightfully dark, gritty, and action-packed, delving into complex themes of morality, justice, and religion while offering a mesmerizing and chilling villain in D’Onofrio’s Fisk. Daredevil parallels The Penguin with its exceptional quality, character studies, and iconic lead villain.
Gotham
As its title suggests, Gotham is set in the same city as The Penguin, although in a different universe/timeline. The series follows James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as a rookie detective whose investigation into the murder of Bruce Wayne’s (David Mazouz) parents brings him face-to-face with Gotham’s most dangerous criminals. Both The Penguin and Gotham offer a gritty dive into corruption and crime, but Gotham does so from the perspective of an iconic hero rather than an iconic villain.
Joker
Loosely based on the DC character of the same name, Joker follows Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disillusioned by poverty, abuse, and discrimination who begins descending into madness. The film is a riveting character study and a refreshing take on the iconic Batman villain that is elevated by its social commentary. Joker boasts a similar tone to The Penguin and tackles many of the same themes, especially since they both examine villains with disabilities who have experienced poverty and discrimination.
Pennyworth
Pennyworth is a prequel to Gotham and V for Vendetta that follows a young Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), who opens a security firm and catches the attention of the wealthy Wayne family. The series is more a spy thriller than a crime drama, but it offers the same gritty, mature tone as The Penguin, top-notch performances, intriguing social commentary, and a unique spin on Batman lore.
Scarface
Scarface is a crime drama that follows Tony Montana (Al Pacino), a Cuban refugee who arrives in America penniless but, believing he’s meant for something more, begins moving up in the criminal underworld to become a fearsome drug lord. Over the years, the film has become a cult classic, earning praise as a gangster epic offering a mesmerizing Pacino performance and an intriguing deep dive into morality. Meanwhile, Montana strongly parallels the Penguin as a villain who came from very little but never stopped believing he was destined for something bigger.
The Batman
The Batman is a must-watch for The Penguin fans, considering it debuts Farrell’s Penguin and kickstarts Matt Reeves’ Batverse. The film sees Batman (Robert Pattinson) investigating a string of grisly deaths in Gotham while struggling with his family’s past and whether the corrupt Gotham deserves saving. It plays out more like a film noir than a superhero movie with a dark and brooding tone and gorgeous cinematography, making it the perfect preface to the world of The Penguin.
The Godfather
The Godfather and its sequels are like The Penguin but without the superhero elements. The original is considered one of the greatest gangster dramas ever made, following the larger-than-life Corleone family as the young Michael Corleone (Pacino) joins the family business and begins his transformation into a mafia boss. The Godfather’s influence on The Penguin is evident with its Vito Corleone-esque main villain, exploration of crime families, and the story of a man’s descent deeper and deeper into the criminal underworld.
The Sopranos
While The Penguin appears to have drawn inspiration from numerous iconic crime bosses, Farrell seems to channel Tony Soprano the most. The Sopranos follows Tony (James Gandolfini), a mob boss who struggles to balance his criminal lifestyle and family life. Both The Penguin and The Sopranos are told from the villain’s POV and, in doing so, humanize the villains, adding numerous layers of complexity by painting them simultaneously as the villain, hero, and victim of the story.
The Untouchables
The Untouchables tells the true story of Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), a Prohibition agent who formed a law enforcement team dubbed The Untouchables to take down crime boss Al Capone (Robert de Niro). The movie received high critical acclaim, including four Academy Award nominations, for its performances and thrilling premise. The Untouchables is an excellent alternative for viewers looking for a more realistic and slightly less bleak look at crime than The Penguin.
Where to watch movies and TV shows like The Penguin
Check our list below to find out where to stream these 10 TV shows and movies like The Penguin in the U.S.!
