Breaking Bad is one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows of all time, winning countless accolades and earning a cult following over its five-year run.
Viewers became enamored with the suspenseful and social commentary-filled story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a terminally ill family man who turns to drug dealing to ensure his family will be taken care of after his passing.
If you’ve missed Breaking Bad since it concluded, here are 10 other great crime dramas or shows with biting social commentary you can stream online today on platforms like Netflix, Max, Prime Video, and more!
Barry
Barry is a dark comedy that follows Barry Berkman (Bill Hader), a veteran and hitman who starts to question his life choices and criminal activity when he begins building a secret new life in Los Angeles. Like Breaking Bad, Barry follows a man constantly navigating moral dilemmas and probing whether one is ever too far gone to do the right thing. It also features strong performances and a good dose of dark humor.
Better Call Saul
One can’t get much closer to Breaking Bad than the TV show’s official spinoff, Better Call Saul. The series largely serves as a prequel to Breaking Bad, examining the early career of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), the corrupt lawyer who helped White build his drug empire. It offers viewers the same suspense and drama as Breaking Bad, as it tracks a good man’s slow descent into the world of crime and corruption.
Gotham
Viewers who love the crime drama aspects of Breaking Bad will especially enjoy Gotham. Based on DC’s Batman comics, the show offers a much more serious tone and delves far deeper into concepts of corruption while following Jim Gordon’s (Bob McKenzie) attempts to restore order in a city notorious for its crime. The show offers a fascinating, dark, and thrilling take on topics like systemic corruption and the meaning of justice.
Griselda
Griselda tells the story of the real-life female version of White: Griselda Blanco (Sofia Vergara). While Blanco isn’t terminally ill, she’s a woman who has been dealt a bad hand in life, growing up in a world of crime and abuse, so she feels she has no choice but to turn to the world of drug trafficking to provide a better life for her children. Like Breaking Bad, it offers a complex and emotional story of how some people feel forced to turn to crime due to a lack of resources and options.
Mad Men
Mad Men follows Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a man living a double life who tries desperately to maintain his carefully crafted image as an advertising genius and family man. Similar to how Breaking Bad subtly examines issues like the broken healthcare system and underpaid educators, Mad Men puts a magnifying glass on numerous social issues of the 1960s while examining the concepts of identity and happiness.
Narcos
Viewers intrigued by White’s drug empire will be interested in Narcos, which tells the true story of Pablo Escobar’s (Wagner Moura) rise to power as a Colombian drug lord. The show offers a far grittier and more realistic take on drug lords and narcoterrorism, making it a great series for Breaking Bad fans who want to learn how much the show gets right about drug trafficking.
Ozark
Ozark follows Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), a family man and former financial adviser who is forced into a money laundering scheme and must go deeper into the business to protect his family. The series echoes Breaking Bad’s masterful tracking of a character’s development and growth while learning to navigate the criminal underworld. Viewers may find it interesting to compare Byrde and White’s character arcs and how their stories diverge despite both being motivated by family and good intentions.
Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is a period crime drama that follows the exploits of war hero Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his gang, the Peaky Blinders, following World War I. Like Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders is considered one of the best crime dramas, although they have very different tones. Both tackle moral dilemmas, scrutinize their time period, and boast an exciting pace and quality performances.
The Boys
The Boys isn’t a crime drama, but it’s one of the few shows that tackles controversial subjects as effectively as Breaking Bad. The series is a superhero dark comedy that follows a group of vigilantes on a quest to stop corrupt superheroes from ruling the world. Like Breaking Bad, it delves deep into the concept of good, evil, and justice while often viewing America through a dark, satirical lens.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos follows Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) as he tries to balance his life as a family man with his job as the head of a mob. Similar to Breaking Bad, it offers viewers a blend of family and crime and an iconic lead antihero who comes across as relatable and likable despite leading a corrupt lifestyle.
Where to watch shows like Breaking Bad online
Check out our list below to find out where to stream these 10 great shows like Breaking Bad in the United States!
