The Best TV Series About Gangsters

Key Takeaways

Gangsters draw in audiences due to fear and allure, becoming charismatic villains in iconic movies.
TV shows about gangsters blend real-life events with other genres, providing an immersive experience.
The Sopranos
revitalized the industry, showcasing the rise of Tony Soprano as a criminal in therapy sessions.

As a connoisseur of the criminal underworld and its silver-screen counterparts, I must say that these shows are nothing short of captivating! Each one offers a unique perspective on the lives of notorious gangsters, their rise to power, and the impact they had on society.

The blend of apprehension and fascination that captivates audiences in crime dramas is similarly responsible for the widespread appeal of television series centered around gangsters. This trend can be traced back to timeless films such as “Chinatown” and “The Godfather,” and has been carried forward by various media platforms, including subscription and streaming services.

Most TV series portraying gangsters draw inspiration from true stories and real individuals, and frequently blend with other types of programming such as historical dramas, suspenseful tales, or action-packed films. This fusion results in a captivating and engaging viewing experience for the audience.

6 The Sopranos

The Second Golden Age Of Television

Created By: David Chase
Starring: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli
Produced By: Chase Films, Brad Grey Television, HBO Entertainment
Original Release: January 10, 1999 – June 10, 2007

This critically acclaimed show about gangsters was so good, and so universally loved, that it’s credited with breathing new life into the whole TV industry, spurring the rise of “prestige” television, and its effects still reverberate in the present. A prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark, was released in 2021 and starred Micheal Gandolfini, the son of The Sopranos star James Gandolfini, as a young version of Tony Soprano in 1970s New Jersey. The show’s depictions of mob life were so genuine that real-life Mafiosos were convinced that the writers had a “made guy” feeding them information.

The TV series, titled after Tony Soprano’s family, focuses on Tony, who serves as a criminal under the DiMeo family. Across six seasons, viewers witness Tony’s journey from a lower-tier boss to becoming the principal capo. Interestingly, much of his story unfolds during his weekly therapy sessions, where he grapples with stress, guilt, and moral dilemmas associated with being a gangster.

5 The Penguin

Spinoff-Sequel To Matt Reeves’ The Batman

Created By: Lauren LeFranc
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell
Produced By: DC Studios, Warner Bros. Television, Zobot Projects, and others
Original Release: September 19 – November 10, 2024

As a diehard fan, I can’t help but express my excitement over the upcoming project following Matt Reeves’ exceptional movie, “The Batman,” featuring Robert Pattinson as our caped crusader. This new venture, titled “The Penguin,” is set to continue the storyline while also branching off, promising a thrilling sequel and spinoff experience. Remarkably, Colin Farrell reprises his impressive role from the film, portraying a low-level thug for the Maroni crime family in Gotham City. The series will chronicle Farrell’s character’s rise to power within the city’s criminal underworld, offering fans an intriguing look at the darker side of Gotham.

Lately, the Batman series has shifted focus from traditional superheroes towards portraying crime bosses, and The Penguin aligns with this gritty, realistic style that mirrors its source material. Today’s audiences seem to prefer such darker themes over the cheerful superhero films of yesteryears. This show beautifully blends the world of comic books with the narrative of gangsters.

4 Breaking Bad

Neo-Western Black Comedy Gangsters

Created By: Vince Gilligan
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris
Produced By: High Bridge Entertainment, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Original Release: January 20, 2008 – September 29, 2013

The show, “Breaking Bad,” is not only recognized as one of the top-rated and widely admired series that portrays a life of crime, but it’s also considered a contender for the best television production ever made. Each season of this acclaimed show resonates with both viewers and critics, and it has left an indelible mark on popular culture with phrases like “I am the one who knocks” and the highly successful spinoff series, “Better Call Saul.

In the initial stages, Walter White isn’t a gangster; instead, he is portrayed as a high school chemistry teacher grappling with a heart-wrenching predicament – terminal lung cancer. Upon learning this grim prognosis, he concocts an unusual scheme with a former pupil to establish a methamphetamine laboratory and generate substantial income. As the story unfolds across the early seasons, Walter transforms into one of the deadliest gangsters in existence, and his transformation from an ordinary individual to a merciless drug lord is spine-tinglingly dramatic.

3 Peaky Blinders

British Period Crime Drama

Created By: Steven Knight
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle
Produced By: Caryn Mandabach Productions, Tiger Aspect Productions, Screen Yorkshire
Original Release: September 12, 2013 – April 3, 2022

Peaky Blinders is a compelling choice for viewers seeking a non-American perspective on the world of organized crime. It’s not just a hit crime thriller; it’s also a period drama set in England after World War I. The series centers around the gang led by Tommy Shelby, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, whose name the show bears. Each season unfolds another tale about their efforts to expand their criminal influence beyond Birmingham.

1) In this tale, you’ll find authentic historical characters that enhance the engaging feel, like a young Winston Churchill in the role of a law enforcer who commands Major Chester Campbell to dismantle some crime syndicate linked with the IRA. The series has even sparked the creation of a feature-length film spinoff titled “The Immortal Man“, which Netflix is currently producing.

2 Narcos

The King Of Cocaine

Created By: Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro
Starring: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Damián Alcázar
Produced By: Gaumont International Television
Original Release: August 28, 2015 – September 1, 2017

Pablo Escobar’s name is famously recognized, even to the extent that he might be considered a star, but the intricate details of his rise to power in the cocaine trade and subsequent notice by U.S. authorities, including the CIA, are far more complex. He ascended as the leader of a criminal organization in Medellín, Colombia, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest and most infamous gangsters globally within a short span of time.

Narcos recounts the transformation of Escobar from a common drug courier to a powerful criminal figure, leveraging America’s cocaine craving. He not only amassed power as a gangster but also gained political influence and public acclaim. This largely factual yet dramatized account sparked numerous news headlines in the 1980s and served as the basis for this series, as well as its spin-off, Narcos: Mexico, which premiered in 2018.

1 Boardwalk Empire

American Historical Drama

Created By: Terence Winter
Starring: Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon
Produced By: HBO Entertainment, Leverage Entertainment, Cold Front Productions, and others
Original Release: September 19, 2010 – October 26, 2014

The 1920s represented an epoch where illicit earnings from Prohibition were wielded to exert influence over various tiers of government, as well as manage street-level crime. “Boardwalk Empire” is a drama set in this period, unfolding along the Eastern coast of America in locales like New Jersey and Atlantic City.

In its debut, Martin Scorsese took the helm, a costly endeavor at nearly 20 million dollars – an expense HBO doesn’t usually shoulder. From the get-go, this series represented a significant financial commitment. The show features numerous real individuals as characters, delving into their lives and environments, even when it spotlights the morally ambiguous life of “Nucky” Thompson, a gangster. This isn’t just another drama about crime; it’s a historically rooted exploration, appealing to history enthusiasts rather than mere drama seekers.

2024-11-29 10:34