With horse racing, flat caps, and gang fights galore, Peaky Blinders has captivated audiences with its gritty and epic narrative since its premiere back in 2013. (The series has a 76 Metascore and an 8.7 user score).

Originally a BBC series but later bought by Netflix, the historical epic is inspired by the true story of the titular Peaky Blinders, a real Birmingham youth gang known for wearing flat caps with razors sewn into the bill to better fight rival gangs, and is set in the same place and time as the real gang: Birmingham, England in the early 20th century.

The show follows the leader of the Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, as he aspires to build up the gang by crafty and ambitious means, but not without pushback along the way. Often opposed by law enforcement or rival gangs, Tommy and the Peaky Blinders navigate their way through their dangerous and political landscape, dealing with matters of violence, money, and power.

For audiences that enjoy getting lost in the complicated and often unpleasant underbelly of the criminal world, Peaky Blinders has hit the spot. Unfortunately, it came to an end in 2022, first in the U.K. and then streaming globally on Netflix. So, now is a good time to take a look at some other crime dramas to fill the void.

Here, Metacritic highlights 10 shows like Peaky Blinders to watch next, each recommendation likely to scratch that same cunning criminal itch, ranked by Metascore.

The Sopranos

Metascore: 94 
Best for: Fans of the mafia and dark comedy
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 6

Regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time, The Sopranos follows the life of fictional Italian American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) as he struggles finding the balance between his home life and criminal operations, an inner conflict that's explored during his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). Over the course of its career, The Sopranos won a total of 21 Emmy Awards, eight Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards. Peaky Blinders fans are likely to appreciate the artistry of humanizing some of society's most criminal individuals, as well as its insights on Italian American culture.

"The show is as darkly gleeful as ever, shrewdly and even elegantly put together and, in a way that no other TV drama series has ever been, troublingly seductive and irresistible." — Tom Shales, The Washington Post

The Wire

Metascore: 91 
Best for: Crime drama fans, critical thinkers
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes, 
Seasons: 5

Created and written by former police reporter David Simon, The Wire explores the various institutions of Baltimore, Md. and their impact on the individuals within these systems through gripping narratives. The series tackles these institutions season by season, starting with the illegal drug trade, which is followed by the port system, the city government, education and schools, and print news media. Though the show remains specific to Baltimore, its thorough portrayal of these systems and the individuals who are forced to face those in which they exist allow for a larger conversation about urban America. For the Peaky Blinders fans who enjoy the politics of it all, The Wire may be the perfect next watch.

"There is little precedence within television history for the rich portrayal of working class life as depicted by The Wire." — David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun

Sherlock

Metascore: 88
Best for: Fans of murder mysteries and sarcasm
Where to watch:

, , Google Play, iTunes,
Seasons: 4 (and a movie)

Sherlock offers a contemporary take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories told in four three-part seasons and a standalone movie that take place in 21st century London. The show stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a broody, calculating Sherlock and Martin Freeman as his roommate Dr. John Watson as they work together to solve the dark and puzzling crimes committed around the city. Sherlock has been both nominated for and awarded numerous Emmy and BAFTAs since its series premiere in 2010. The crimes are gritty and the criminals grittier, but Sherlock's wit and Dr. Watson's charisma make for a refreshingly endearing friendship rooted in London's dark side.

"Sherlock strikes a perfect — and delicious — balance among comedy, pathos, murder and mystery." — Tirdad Derakhshani, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Breaking Bad

Metascore: 87
Best for: Chemistry teachers, thrill seekers
Where to watch:

, , Google Play, iTunes, Netflix,
Seasons: 5

Breaking Bad follows high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston), who lives in New Mexico with his wife and teenage son and is suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Determined to leave his family in a stable financial situation, Walter teams up with his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to make and sell meth, creating a double life for himself in which he is more powerful and successful than he could have ever imagined. Similar to Peaky Blinders, the show grapples with themes of crime and hustle culture but instead of a gritty gangster is delivered in the package of a high school teacher.

"Breaking Bad is a radical type of television, and also a very strange kind of must-watch: a show that you dread and crave at the same time." — Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker

Boardwalk Empire

Metascore: 83
Best for: Fans of gangsters and Steve Buscemi
Where to watch:

, Google Play, , ,
Seasons: 5

Boardwalk Empire chronicles the navigation of the Prohibition in Atlantic City, N.J., during the early 20th century. More specifically, this gripping drama follows one well-connected man's rise to power. Starring Buscemi as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the series maps out Nucky's political and social climb in Atlantic City, a story largely based on real gangsters and politicians during the Prohibition era. Like Peaky Blinders, Boardwalk Empire is known to be pretty graphic, so if you are craving some more high and violent stakes, these American gangsters are just one hop across the pond away.

"Expectations were certainly sky-high for Boardwalk, but the producers have risen to meet them — in a series that grows richer, deeper and more absorbing with each of the six episodes previewed." — Brian Lowry, Variety

Narcos

Metascore: 77
Best for: Thrill seekers, gangster drama fans
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 3

Narcos is based on the true story of the growth of the cocaine drug cartel starting in the 1970s, chronicling the life of the infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who is played by Wagner Moura. The story is told from the perspective of American DEA agent Steve Murphy, played by Boyd Holbrook, who is determined to find Escobar and end the flow of cocaine into the United States. The series does a great job of depicting the formation and inner workings of the black market and its coexistence with law enforcement, playing to the fascination of the world of criminal businesses that Peaky Blinders fans are sure to appreciate.

"Catching Escobar then becomes an exciting and suspenseful story arc, and makes Narcos the first cool show of the new season." — Robert Rorke, New York Post

Sons of Anarchy

Metascore: 75
Best for: Leather jacket lovers, thrill seekers
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes, 
Seasons: 7

Sons of Anarchy follows the members of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club that operate in a fictional Californian Central Valley town called Charming. The club aims to protect the town and is respected by the people, but tensions rise within the club itself as the vice president Jackson "Jax" Teller (Charlie Hunnam) begins to question the way things are done, pushing back against the president Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman), who prefers to stick to the old school way of doing things. Of all of these recommendations, Sons of Anarchy may be the most similar to Peaky Blinders in that the show's essence grapples with parallel themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and betrayal.

"Few series have exploded onto the scene with such a rich array of potential stories and inherently interesting characters." — Tim Goodman, San Francisco Chronicle

The Sinner

Metascore: 73
Best for: Psychological thriller fans, wannabe detectives
Where to watch: 

, , Google Play, iTunes, Netflix, 
Seasons: 4

The Sinner follows the career of Detective Harry Ambrose, played by Bill Pullman, who investigates a new, disturbing case with each season. In a refreshingly complex way, The Sinner introduces each new crime with detailed clarity, establishing who committed the crime and by what means within the first episode. The grittiness and allure of the show lies in figuring out why. The Sinner takes you along for its twisted ride as Det. Ambrose works to uncover the dark mechanisms behind the mind of each criminal, allowing audiences a peek into the warped and dangerous realities of some of society's most unassuming.

"If the first few episodes are any indication, this is yet another disturbing/thought-provoking mystery worth unraveling." — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times

Westworld

Metascore: 72
Best for: Neo-Western fans, A.I. enthusiasts
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes, 
Seasons: 3 (so far)

Based on the 1973 film by Michael Crichton, Westworld tells the story of a limitless and highly exclusive theme park called Westworld, a technologically advanced Western-themed space that is populated by robots who play various Western archetypes from bartenders to prostitutes. The humans who visit this world pay exorbitant amounts of money to act out their own fantasies, with no repercussions for their actions — the robots can't hurt them back. When it's revealed that some of the robots possess their own consciousness, the ethics and mechanisms of Westworld come crashing down, leaving audiences to grapple with what it means to be human. With violence rampant throughout, Westworld can offer Peaky Blinders fans a more philosophical look at crime while still providing the heart of an action series.

"What will empower the show's longevity is its metaphysical theme, the exploration of the meaning and definition of human existence." — David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle

Ozark

Metascore: 69
Best for: Thrill seekers, financial advisors
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 4

Ozark tells the story of Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), a financial advisor caught in a money laundering scheme gone wrong. In order to save his life as well as his family's, Marty and his wife and children move from Chicago to Missouri, where he must work to pay back a Mexican drug cartel by starting operations in the Ozarks. The series is fast-paced and told from the perspective of Marty's highly analytical and practical mind, framing an interesting spin on the mechanics of money laundering. For those who love to root for the criminal, Marty and his family make an excellent case for the next team to root for.

"Ozark remains a show drenched in blue-gray darkness, its exterior iciness in tune with its subjects' internal frostiness. It continues to feature one of the best ensembles on TV." — Nick Schager, Daily Beast