If you’re a fan of Guy Ritchie’s cinematic universe, then we’re certain that you have already watched “The Gentlemen (2024), a series that promises to be as stylish and suspenseful as its big-screen counterpart.
Set in the world of high-stakes crime, the show follows a new Duke of Halstead, played by Theo James, as he navigates a dangerous cannabis business rife with shady characters and nefarious agendas. If you’re on the internet looking for similar ones, here are our ten best picks.
Peaky Blinders (2013)
Peaky Blinders is a British show that takes you back to post-World War I Birmingham, England. At the center of it is the Shelby family, who run the Peaky Blinders gang, which is famous for sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps, hence the name.
The POV character is Tommy Shelby, the cunning and ambitious leader of the gang, who wants to expand his empire, but that means he’s constantly butting heads with other gangs, the government, and even his own family.
Fargo (2014)
Fargo is a TV series that takes its cues from the Coen Brothers’ movie of the same name, but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its own identity.
Each season tells a different story in a different time and place, with new characters and a whole new set of crazy shenanigans, but what ties them all together are themes of lies, secrets, and, of course, murder. Like the original film, the show has a dark sense of humor, and it’s full of quirky characters and unexpected twists that’ll make you revisit it over and over again.
Breaking Bad (2008)
Breaking Bad is a jaw-dropping crime drama that’ll have you hooked from the first episode. The show is built around Walter White, who is down on his luck, a chemistry teacher who turns to making meth after he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis.
He teams up with his former student, Jesse Pinkman, and starts to manufacture meth in an old van. Along the way, he takes on the alias “Heisenberg” and transforms from a mild-mannered teacher to a ruthless drug lord who doesn’t shy away from infamously reminding everyone that: “ “I am not in danger, I am the danger.”
Better Call Saul (2015)
Better Call Saul is like a prequel to Breaking Bad that shows us how Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer, transforms into the infamous Saul Goodman.
Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the show plunges us into Jimmy’s world as he tries to make a name for himself, all while dealing with his complicated relationships. There’s his brother Chuck, who’s a big-shot lawyer, his love interest Kim Wexler, and a whole cast of shady characters from the criminal underworld that Saul rubs elbows with.
If you’re looking for a legal show with dark humor, Better Call Saul is the best choice.
Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Boardwalk Empire takes you back to the roaring 1920s in Atlantic City during Prohibition, where you’ll meet Nucky Thompson. He is a big shot who runs the city and pulls strings in politics, business, and, of course, crime.
As he gets deeper into bootlegging and shady deals, Nucky catches the eye of the feds, who start snooping around his business. The show is a wild ride through a time when the line between legal and illegal was about as clear as mud, exploring the dark side of power and corruption.
Ray Donovan (2013)
The lowdown on Ray Donovan is that it is a gritty crime drama that revolves around Ray Donovan. Ray’s not an average office worker but a “fixer” for the rich and famous in LA.
He helps them solve their problems using whatever means necessary, legal or not, but things get complicated when his dad, Mickey Donovan, gets out of prison, stirring up old issues and bringing troubles to Ray’s already disheveled life.
With Liev Schreiber in the lead role, the show shows the lengths people will go to in order to keep up appearances and chase after power and redemption.
The Sopranos (1999)
The Sopranos is a legendary crime drama that takes you into the world of Tony Soprano, who happens to be a mob boss from New Jersey. Tony’s got a lot on his plate, trying to juggle the demands of his crime family and his personal life.
To make things even more interesting, he spills his guts to his psychiatrist, Dr. Melfi, about all the craziness he deals with. The show also explores Tony’s relationships with his family, his Mafia friends, and his enemies. Simply put, it is a story of one man’s quest for identity and power in the Mafia underworld.
Sons of Anarchy (2008)
A SAMCRO motorcycle club in Charming, California, is at the center of Sons of Anarchy. The POV character is Jax Teller, who starts to question everything about the club and his own life after finding his dad’s written thoughts.
Similar to The Gentleman, the show explores the themes of brotherhood, loyalty, betrayal, and redemption as the club deals with inner conflicts, cops, and rival gangs, all while getting mixed up in some shady stuff like smuggling guns.
Narcos (2015)
Narcos tells the epic story of Pablo Escobar and the Medellín drug cartel. The show follows Escobar’s journey from a small-time player to a kingpin, raking in crazy amounts of cash and power along the way. But it’s not all glitz and glamour for the kingpin, as soon the U.S. DEA gets hot on Escobar’s trail, trying to take down his empire.
Narcos shows you the brutal and bloody battle between the cartels and law enforcement and how the drug trade affects everyone involved. Be advised it is also one of the most brutal shows ever made.
Deadly Class (2019)
Deadly Class is a dark and gritty series set in the 80s, following the life of Marcus Lopez Arguello. Marcus is an orphaned teen whose world gets turned upside down when he gets recruited into King’s Dominion, a school for the kids of crime bosses. The show explores Marcus’s struggles with the school’s violent teachings, the social hierarchy, and his own inner battles.
Things get even more intense as Marcus sets his sights on revenge against Ronald Reagan, whom he blames for his parents’ death. Deadly Class kicks off with a bang, but sadly, it faced some criticism for its storytelling and was canceled after just one season.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching Netflix’s The Gentlemen.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!