Summary

• Shows like Narcos, such as The Wire and Gomorrah, explore the dark and criminal world of drug lords in gripping storylines.
• Narcos: Mexico, a highly regarded spin-off, continues to impress with its tense narratives and powerful characters.
• Drug Lords, a documentary series, offers an entertaining and educational look at the real-life stories of infamous drug kingpins.

Thanks to shows like Narcos, audiences have fallen in love with TV series about the dark and criminal world associated with drug lords. Shows with criminals and bad guys as the main characters are nothing new, as The Sopranos was the hottest show on HBO at one time and The Shield brought crooked cops to network TV. However, in the case of Narcos, it was a little different. The bad guys leading the way in this show were all based on real people — mafia bosses and drug lords who got rich by making the world a very dangerous place.

Narcos continued to impress viewers years after its finale with its tense storylines, heavy subject matter, and incredible performances. If fans of the show are looking for more content that includes some similar elements, there are plenty of shows like Narcos to enjoy. A highly regarded spin-off show, Narcos: Mexico, took up where the original left off, and its popularity shows that series with similar themes connect heavily with audiences. The best shows like Narcos offer engrossing stories that should entertain audiences for years to come.

15 The Wire

(2002-2008)

The Wire took place in Baltimore and each season represented a different aspect of society there.

Easily, one of the best shows about the illegal drug trade was HBO's The Wire. However, there was so much more to this show than just a look at drug lords. The Wire took place in Baltimore and each season represented a different aspect of society there. The first season is where this compares well to shows like Narcos, as it focuses on the illegal drug trade run by drug kingpin Stringer Bell (Idris Elba). The other seasons focus on the port system, the government, the schools, and the media. All in all, The Wire as a complete series is considered one of the best dramas that HBO ever produced.

Watch on Max

14 Gomorrah

(2014-2021)

The Italian crime drama Gomorrah is based on the non-fiction book by Roberto Saviano about the Camorra criminal organization. An award-winning movie was released in 2008 based on the book (with a Criterion Collection release) and the TV show hit in 2014. While both are based on the book, neither the movie nor the show is connected to each other in any other way. The series takes place in Naples and focuses on the Camorra clan, specifically after its leader Pietro Savastano is arrested, and a power struggle breaks out between rival clans, and within his own crime family as well.

Watch on Max

13 The Deuce

(2017-2019)

The Deuce takes place in New York City during the 1970s and 80s and follows twin brothers who work for the mafia while operating out of Times Square.

The Deuce is another Max crime drama, and it had The Wire creator David Simon behind it. This show takes place in New York City during the 1970s and 80s and follows twin brothers who work for the mafia while operating out of Times Square. The cast was impressive for television, with James Franco starring as the twin brothers Vincent and Frankie, and Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as Candy Renee, a prostitute who wants to get in on the ground floor of the growing porn industry in New York City. With government and police corruption and the violence surrounding the NYC drug trade, this is a show that fans of Narcos should love.

Watch on Max

12 Gangs Of London

(2020- )

Gangs of London is a British TV series co-created by Gareth Evans (The Raid) and based on a video game franchise called The Getaway. Despite the video game connection, this is a crime drama about rival gangs and criminal organizations in London and the fight for power when the most powerful crime boss is assassinated. When one crime family decides to take power, it creates an all-out war between different crime families, which erupts in the streets of London, both from within and from outsiders wanting to move in and take over. There are two seasons and the show has received universal acclaim.

Watch on AMC+

11 Snowfall

(2017-2023)

Snowfall was an addition to the crime drama genre from FX, with the first season premiering in 2017. The show is set in Los Angeles in the 1980s and focuses on the crack epidemic at the time and how it affected the city. After the first season focused on the epidemic on a wide scale, the second season became more like shows like Narcos because it narrowed the focus to one drug dealer on the rise in L.A. Snowfall received an impressive six seasons and 60 episodes, and it might have also received a spinoff series focusing on Gail Bean's character of Wanda Simmons.

Watch on Hulu

10 Power

(2014–2020)

Power has quickly become a very popular series and just like shows like Narcos, it proves that drug-related shows are what people are looking for right now. It is a gripping series that brings two worlds colliding into one and showcases the lies and deceit many drug lords push in order to hide their identities. Focusing on James St. Patrick, a feared major drug lord, the series follows him as he tries to get out of that life. Despite his successes in the criminal world, he pushes for a legitimate life as a nightclub owner, but things do not work out quite that simply.

Watch on Starz

9 Narcos: Mexico

(2018–2021)

Anyone who enjoys shows like Narcos should have chec out Narcos: Mexico. The show is similar to the original in many ways, with some of the most powerful main characters of Narcos: Mexico being equally terrifying as those in Narcos. Concentrating on the growth of the drug empire in Mexico, there is just as much drama, politics, and heated moments within this as there is in the original. Because of its familiar tone and style, it is easy to assume fans of Narcos will be equally impressed with Narcos: Mexico. Thankfully, there are enough differences to make this show unique in itself, and there may be more spinoffs in the future after Narcos: Mexico.

Watch on Netflix

8 Drug Lords

(2018)

Drug Lords is a documentary series, making it very different from many of the other shows like Narcos. The show is all based on reality and facts and is not about over-dramatization. However, because the drug world is jam-packed with heightened drama, there is plenty here to entertain, while also educating viewers. Each episode touches on a different famous drug kingpin, and fans of series like Narcos will particularly enjoy this one because the very first episode is all about the life of Pablo Escobar.

Watch on Netflix

7 El Chapo

(2017–2018)

El Chapo follows the story of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, whose life is chronicled by this Netflix series. It is another gripping show and because it is based on a real-life person, it is even easier to connect with and become attached to. The series focuses on how he grows his status within the criminal world, which leads him to become a true drug lord himself. Being in charge of a major cartel, the series showcases how he deals with those who defy him and how he becomes as powerful as he was.

Watch on Netflix

6 Peaky Blinders

(2013– )

Another show that is loosely based on real-life, Peaky Blinders is one that any fans of shows like Narcos should enjoy. The series follows the Shelby family as they build their empire through various means, whether that be drugs, alcohol, or gambling. The show is incredibly gripping as Tommy Shelby tries to lead the family into prosperity, but they must overcome plenty of hurdles to get there. Whether that be other gangs or even those in the political world, both of which provide some of the most vicious antagonists in Peaky Blinders, the family is forced to get violent at various points, adding real excitement to the show.

Watch on Netflix

5 Top Boy

(2011– )

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This show is not about glitz and glamour like others in the genre.

Initially running for two seasons and then getting revived in 2019 is Top Boy, which is all about rival drug gangs competing against each other in London. This show is not about glitz and glamour like others in the genre. Instead, it is gritty and honest, offering a sense of realism to the gripping series. The first two seasons are listed as Top Boy: Summerhouse, with the third listed as Top Boy. There is violence, emotion, and plenty of drama that highlights just how important power and being the top dog is within the world of drugs, and the show is certainly something fans of shows like Narcos will enjoy.

Watch on Netflix

4 Weeds

(2005–2012)

Weeds is very different from many other shows like Narcos, and that is what made it so incredibly popular. It takes a widow who seems like a normal citizen and throws her into the drug world when she begins selling marijuana to provide for her family. The series is a dark comedy and has a lot of funny moments within it, adding to its charm and further differentiating itself from other shows about criminal activities. That does not mean that things do not get serious as well, though. After all, this is a show about someone building their drug empire, so things are always going to take a dark turn. Its excellent blend of these genres helps contribute to its longstanding reputation as a stellar show.

Watch on Peacock

3 Ozark

(2017–2022)

Ozark has proven to be incredibly popular since it first aired, and a big part of that is the family dynamic that runs throughout it. The series takes a different approach to the drug world here, as it focuses on the financial side, with money laundering to keep the crime undercover. Of course, the Byrde family ends up being wrapped up in that world. The show highlights the position a drug cartel can take and just how many underlings they will create to get their jobs done. Thrilling from the opening scenes to the closing credits, Ozark held viewers' attention and kept them wanting more.

Watch on Netflix

2 Queen Of The South

(2016–2021)

After their boyfriends are killed by a cartel leader, most people would run away and never wish to be involved in that life. But that is not the case for Teresa in Queen Of The South. She decides to do the total opposite and heads to the United States, aiming to become a drug lord herself. She wants to take over the scene and avenge his death by becoming powerful enough to do so. It is a great twist on shows like Narcos, and seeing her attempt to rise within the world helps create a very compelling and intriguing series.

Watch on Netflix

1 Breaking Bad

(2008–2013)

When it comes to shows like Narcos, they do not get much better than Breaking Bad. This series is the true elite when it comes to exploring this world, creating antiheroes, and having compelling characters even though they are doing dastardly things. The series primarily focused on Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, who were mainly used as cooks, creating meth to sell. However, as they grew in the world, the duo quickly began to run into several problems with other drug lords, which is when the stakes began to rise. Breaking Bad is often considered one of the best TV shows of all time, and this is with good reason.

Watch on Netflix

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  Narcos

  Summary:

  A chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years. Narcos is a Netflix original series created by Chris Brancato, Carlo Benard, and Doug Miro. The first season premiered in 2015 and became one of the streaming service's most well-received programs, earning two Golden Globe nominations. Its first two seasons dealt with Escobar, who became a cocaine kingpin and had several interactions with drug lords, the DEA, and rivals. The third season is set after the fall of Escobar, detailing the DEA's efforts to take down the Cali Cartel, which broke away from Pablo Escobar to conduct its own business in the late 1980s. The Cali Cartel remained active until around 1998. Netflix has already announced Narcos has been renewed for a fourth season. Want to know more about Narcos?

  Watch Narcos Season 3 Trailer

  Escaping Pablo Escobar Improves Narcos

  Why There Are So Many Movies About Pablo Escobar

  Cast:

  Boyd Holbrook, Damian Alcazar, Wagner Moura, Juan Sebastián Calero, Jorge Monterrosa, Alberto Ammann, Raúl Méndez, Juan Murcia, Pedro Pascal, Francisco Denis, Paulina Gaitan, Paulina Garcia

  Genres:

  Biography, Drama, Crime

  Release Date:

  2015-08-28

  Seasons:

  3

  Story By:

  Chris Brancato

  Writers:

  Chris Brancato

  Streaming Service(s):

  Netflix

  Directors:

  Chris Brancato

  Showrunner:

  Chris Brancato