TV Shows Like The Day of the Jackal
The Day of the Jackal is a modern reimagining of the book sporting the same name. Packed full of action and espionage thrills through its 10 episodes, Sky’s latest thriller is quite the bingeable watch. If you’ve finished watching this one, or are looking for shows with a similar plotline, tone or theme, we’ve got you covered!
We’ve combed through the archives and picked out out top 10 picks for alternate viewing. Oh, and to keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve also added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming The Day of the Jackal!
Fauda
Similarities – Espionage, Action, Tense Negotiations
Fauda is an Israeli television series that follows Doron Kavillio, a retired undercover operative, who returns to the field to hunt down a notorious Hamas terrorist. The show explores the complexities and moral ambiguities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from both sides, while peppering in plenty of action along to way to make for a highly enjoyable watch.
Both series center on special operatives engaged in covert missions, showing the complex political and personal dynamics involved in such operations.
24
Similarities – Agents working against the clock
24 centers on Jack Bauer, a counter-terrorism agent working for the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). Each season covers 24 hours of real-time, with Jack facing various terrorist threats and conspiracies across the 24 episodes. The show’s real-time format and high stakes make it tense and action-packed, although some of the stories shine brighter than others.
The Night Agent shares more than a few similarities to 24, given they both follow counter-terrorism agents working against the clock to prevent catastrophic attacks. Both shows feature intense action and high-stakes situations, making it an easy recommendation.
The Terminal List
Similarities – Revenge & Action
The Terminal List has all the ingredients to be a sure-fire hit. High-octane action, twists and turns along with enough treachery and intrigue to keep you guessing.
Our protagonist here is a former Navy SEAL officer called James Reece (Chris Pratt). The story opens with a tense, covert mission deep in enemy territory that goes completely awry, leading to his team being slaughtered.
With the plan a bust, the soldiers head back to US soil and are debriefed. When his friends begin to die in mysterious ways, Reece quickly learns that there’s a conspiracy going all the way up the chain of command. Naturally, Reece begins to investigate further, setting up a kill list as he begins going after those responsible.
Tehran
Similarities – Thriller & Cat and Mouse Chase
Following the success of Fauda, writer Moshe Zonder returns to the small screen for another Israeli espionage thriller, this time in the form of Tehran. Well written, tightly paced and featuring some nice twists along the way, Tehran is certainly an enjoyable series, with a good slew of episodes sandwiched by an excellent opener and an equally thrilling finale.
The story revolves around a high-stakes, dangerous mission conducted by a Mossad agent called Tamar. After switching outfits at the airport, she sets to work infiltrating Tehran while trying to evade detection. With hacker friend Sick-boy guiding her along the way, Tamar soon finds herself in over her head, with danger lurking at every turn.
To complicate matters further, a rogue officer known as Faraz realizes something big is going down and conducts his own search, engaging in a cat and mouse game with Tamar until a twist midway through throws him off his game.
When Heroes Fly
Similarities – Setting & Action
Israeli Netflix Original Series When Heroes Fly may play with a simple storyline but its deeply profound message around PTSD make it a surprisingly moving drama. Jumping between different time periods and locations around the world, the show does well to mix things up throughout its 10 episodes.
Despite a slow start, When Heroes Fly soon opens up and becomes much more action orientated. This is where the show is at its strongest, delivering a really well written second half to this one.
You can read our thoughts on When Heroes Fly in our full season review here!
Stranger
A Politically Charged Thriller
Stranger is a thrilling procedural, with some great action, lots of detective work and two seasons with plenty to whet the appetite. In many ways, this sequel fails to match the brilliance of the first but it’s not for the want of trying.
Still, the mystery is intriguing, with a lot of politically charged references and ideas. Still, there’s a reason this one is rated so highly and the ending seems to hint we’ll be getting a third season at some point.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Manhunt: Unabomber
Similarities – Thriller Elements & Tension
Based on true events, Manhunt: Unabomber blurs the line between fact and fiction in this dramatized reconstruction of the Unabomber case in 1995.
The story follows an FBI case into a notorious killer, dubbed the Unabomber, who mails packages containing bombs to people across America which blow up the unsuspecting victims.
Tasked with tracking down the killer through increasingly ingenious methods, Jim “Fitz” leads an investigation to hunt down the killer before more lives are lost.
It’s a bit of a slow burn but the show definitely hits the right level of tension making for an engaging watch.
You can read our thoughts on Manhunt: Unabomber in our full season review here!
Vagabond
Similarities – Action & Drama
This action-orientated Korean drama is exciting, suspenseful and manages to carry quite the punch across its run-time. The story does end with a really unsatisfying finish and multiple plot threads left dangling but the ride there is worth experiencing if you’re a fan of Tehran.
The story resolves around stuntman Cha Dal-Geon. With a close relationship with his nephew keeping him going through tough moments in his career, Cha’s world is turned upside down when the plane his nephew is on crashes to the ground.
With suspicions surrounding a mysterious man on the flight and coded messages with the co-pilot, the plot thickens and it soon becomes apparent that this crash was no accident.
It’s not perfect but it still makes for a compelling watch worth checking out if you fancy something a bit different.
You can read our thoughts on Vagabond in our full season review here!
Treadstone
Similarities – Espionage, Action
Created off the back of the successful Bourne movies, Treadstone is a series set in the exact same universe, centering around the black ops program, Treadstone, which was responsible for creating highly skilled assassins, including Jason Bourne.
The show follows multiple sleeper agents around the world as they are awakened to carry out their missions. There’s also additional lore thrown in here too, delving into the origins and inner workings of the Treadstone program.
Much like The Night Agent, this show highlights the global scope and high stakes of intelligence work, as well as the personal sacrifices faced by those involved.
The Bridge
Similarities – Characters & Mystery
The Bridge begins with a chilling crime scene: a body placed precisely on the Øresund Bridge, the border between Denmark and Sweden. This unusual murder brings together Swedish detective Saga Norén and Danish detective Martin Rohde, whose contrasting personalities make for a fascinating partnership. Their investigation unfolds into a dark, complex mystery that challenges their ethics and reveals unexpected layers to both characters.
Each season explores themes like political activism and social justice, with suspenseful storytelling and moody visuals that pull viewers into its morally ambiguous world.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching The Day of the Jackal.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!