While Breaking Bad is the ultimate crime drama, these other shows are equally incredible. No matter how many years have passed since we said goodbye to Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), we’ll never get over the dark and surprising story of the teacher turned meth dealer and his accomplice.
Rewatching the original AMC drama is always a treat, especially since we can find new details after knowing how it all ends, and because there’s no one like Walt. But there are a lot of other excellent shows in the same genre that have characters who are just as mesmerizing and feature similarly grim journeys and dangerous situations.
Animal Kingdom (2016-2022)
Just like Walter White brings his family into a terrifying new world, the Cody family on Animal Kingdom makes a living by committing crimes. As you get to know the various sons, you’ll find all the tension and drama you expect. But what sets this show apart is their brash grandmother, Janine Cody (Ellen Barkin), who goes by Smurf.
It’s a great story if you’re a Breaking Bad fan, as the Codys are constantly getting into trouble. And, as is the case with Walt’s journey, the more dangerous things become, the harder it is for them to live regular lives. Several episodes address difficult subjects, as many of the characters struggle with mental health.
The show is so beloved because of the conflict between the family members, which ensures every episode is just as dramatic as you want it to be. It’s easy to become frustrated with many of the Cody sons, but that gives the series some realism since no one on it is perfect.
Sons Of Anarchy (2008-2014)
Sons of Anarchy offers up an immersive story about the members of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. Walt isn’t a character you will ever forget, and the same praise could be given to Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), who always thinks about his late dad, who started SAMCRO.
The series is non-stop action, but Sons of Anarchy is grounded by its strong characters who manage to be likable. Like Breaking Bad, it has unexpected twists and deaths. But after reaching the end, you’ll likely come away feeling you know more about Jax and those in his world than some of your own friends and family.
In The Dark (2019-2022)
In the Dark is much less popular than Breaking Bad, but this underrated CW drama has four excellent seasons. Protagonist Murphy (Perry Mattfeld) is incredibly similar to Walter White in that she starts the show as a regular person with relatable problems, but descends further into becoming a worse person as her story unfolds.
From the pilot episode, you hope Murphy can find out who killed one of her friends while also wanting her to be happier than she has been. It’s worth watching to get to the series finale, which is as bleak as Breaking Bad’s ending, and just as unforgettable. While a bit more melodramatic than Walt’s story, it hits similar notes.
Good Girls (2018-2021)
If you want a binge-worthy show with confident yet relatable female characters, a compelling premise, and some humor, then Good Girls is a flawless choice. A more unique crime drama than most, the show asks what would happen if three women in a tough spot in life decided to rob a grocery store.
The result? Four excellent seasons of high stakes, heavy emotions, and friendship. Like Breaking Bad, Good Girls focuses on characters committing a crime and shows how their lives completely change in the process. Beth Boland (Christina Hendricks) goes on a similar journey to Walter White, as she’s the one in charge.
Both Breaking Bad and Good Girls feature moral dilemmas in most episodes. The show also features a tragic illness storyline as Ruby Hill (Retta) needs money to help her child, who has kidney disease. And you’ll be drawn in by the dynamic between Beth and Rio (Manny Montana), a criminal/villain whom she falls for.
True Detective (2014-Present)
Impressive cast and new storylines and settings each season set True Detective apart from others in the genre, and these changes keep things fresh and exciting. Season 1 sees some incredible acting work from Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, and their performances are definitely on the same level as Bryan Cranston’s.
From a grim murder in season 1 to a strange disappearance in Alaska in season 4, the show is as unapologetically dark as Breaking Bad. Marty Hart’s (Harrelson) complex relationship with his wife Maggie (Michelle Monaghan) is just as fascinating as Walt’s challenging marriage to Skyler (Anna Gunn).
Ozark (2017-2022)
The beloved Netflix crime drama tells a gripping story of money laundering, and the main characters, Wendy (Laura Linney) and Marty Bryde (Jason Bateman), are the unlikely criminals. Like Walt, who taught high school chemistry before taking on a life of crime, you wouldn’t expect a seemingly regular couple to go down this path.
Ozark and Breaking Bad lean heavily into their bleak tones and have a strong sense of place, with the former’s lakefront location feeling like every bit as much a main character as the latter’s desolate desert landscapes. The couples on each show are in deep financial trouble, and you really understand their plight.
Just like on Breaking Bad, you’ll also become invested in the other well-crafted people in this world, including the incredibly perceptive Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner). Ruth is as clever and easy to like as Jesse.
The Wire (2002-2008)
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed 2000s dramas, sitting down to watch The Wire is a dark, intense, all-encompassing experience. As the world of Baltimore, Maryland is explored, you’ll watch characters who deal drugs and police officers, with great performances from Lance Reddick and Idris Elba.
While it has a huge ensemble cast, most episodes allow you to get intimately familiar with Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), who is arguably as much of an anti-hero as Walter White. Neither character does the right thing often, but that makes them more compelling than they would be otherwise.
Mindhunter (2017-2019)
If Breaking Bad is the definitive crime drama of the 2000s, Mindhunter can be considered the same for the 2010s. One of the most popular, and definitely the darkest Netflix crime series, it asks unnerving questions about why serial killers behave the way they do.
Whether it’s David Fincher’s masterful direction or the fact that the show teaches you about the psychology of crime,
Mindhunter can’t be missed. Some crime dramas want you to like the main character and flesh out their world with love interests, friends, and family. This one is about how scary a killer’s mindset is, and it’s a compelling history lesson, too.
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
There are endless reasons why The Sopranos remains one of the greatest crime dramas today, from the controversial but unforgettable series finale to Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) himself. There’s no doubt that Tony is one of the best, most complex characters on any drama, and Galdofini is backed by a stellar supporting cast that includes Edie Falco and Tony Sirico.
Before this iconic show, it might not have seemed possible to care about a mob boss so much, as you would wonder why he chose a life of crime. But even when you can’t agree with Tony’s actions, you understand him.
The show goes one step further by showing Tony’s mental health struggles, which was groundbreaking. It wasn’t common at the time to see such a realistic depiction of therapy on TV, let alone a tough, “macho” character talking about his feelings. While he’s a very different character from Walter White, Tony had to exist before Bryan Cranston’s complicated role.
Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
It’s not every day that you would say a prequel or spinoff is more exciting, but most can’t say enough positive things about Better Call Saul. Once you watch the pilot about Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) rebranding himself as Saul Goodman, a lawyer, you’ll be sold. A captivating character and a career-making performance from Odenkirk make the series sing.
While Breaking Bad asks how far someone would go when they’re broke and desperate, and charts one character becoming completely unrecognizable from their old self, Better Call Saul goes one step further. Jimmy/Saul makes tough decisions as he always looks out for himself first.