Breaking Bad is one of the leading shows when it comes to crime and action shows. Since it aired in 2008, it has received a cult following by fans. The twists and turns, along with the action-packed, high-tension scenes, really drew in viewers.
The corruption that slowly changed the main character led to a beautiful, yet terrifying character development that many shows don’t focus on. And if you want more shows like Breaking Bad that highlight these amazing ideas, then you need to check out some of these great suggestions.
You can watch Breaking Bad on Netflix.
7. Better Call Saul, Netflix (2015-2022)
An obvious choice when thinking of the best shows like Breaking Bad is Better Call Saul. The legal crime drama is a spin-off series from Breaking Bad that focuses on the titular character Saul, who has several appearances in the main show.
The show takes place during and after the events of the main show, set in the mid-2000s in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and follows the ethical decline of Jimmy McGill, an aspiring lawyer and former con artist who becomes the egocentric criminal defense attorney Saul Goodman.
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6. Peaky Blinders, Netflix (2013-2022)
Peaky Blinders is one of the top crime shows right now and is one of the best shows like Breaking Bad. The show is set in Birmingham and is loosely based on a real urban youth gang that was active from the 1880s to the 1920s in the aftermath of the First World War.
The ensemble cast features Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, and many more. This is a wonderful show that shows a leading role in crime organization in a whole new setting, with a lot of violence and action.
5. The Wire, Max (2002-2008)
One of the best shows like Breaking Bad is The Wire, a crime drama created by author and former police reporter David Simon. The idea was loosely based on the experience of Simon’s writing partner Ed Burns, a former homicide detective and public school teacher.
Set in Maryland, the series focuses on five subjects including the illegal drug trade, education and schools, and the city government. If you want another perspective on the world of crime, this is a great option.
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4. Sons of Anarchy, Hulu (2008-2014)
Sons of Anarchy is one of the best shows like Breaking Bad. The action crime drama stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, and many more who are part of an outlaw motorcycle club in the fictional town of California. The bike gang involves themselves in an abundance of crime like gun-running.
The main character, Jax, is having second thoughts about how the club is running however, and hopes to try new things, while the rest of the group, the older generation, is abhorrent to it. It’s a great show like Breaking Bad that follows themes of family tension, character development, and all surrounding crime.
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3. Orange is the New Black, Netflix (2013-2019)
We see a lot of crimes being committed in shows like Breaking Bad, but what about a show that revolves around a group of characters already in prison for being caught? A show doesn’t have to end just because they go to prison, in fact, some of the best stories can come from behind bars. Orange Is the New Black exhibits this.
The story is based on Piper Kerman’s memoir in 2010 and focuses on a women’s prison starring an ensemble cast featuring Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, and many more. The story focuses on Piper who is sent to jail, paying for a decade-old crime of transporting drug money, but is otherwise an ordinary law-abiding character, and must survive 18 months behind bars in a life-changing prison.
2. Fargo, Hulu (2014-2024)
Fargo is another one of the best shows like Breaking Bad and focuses on crime. The black comedy-crime drama has a changing cast with each season and is based on the 1996 film sharing the same name by the Coen Brothers.
Their other films are also the inspiration for the series. The anthology series consists of self-contained seasons, however, they share the same continuity with minor overlaps. The first season follows an insurance agent who is meek and powerless, trapped in an unhappy marriage. However, when he accidentally kills his wife during an argument, he has to call upon a hitman he meets by chance for help.
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1. Sopranos, Max (1999-2007)
One of the best shows like Breaking Bad has to be The Sopranos, the crime drama show starring James Gandolfini. The show centers around balancing the life of family and the crimes being committed, as well as diving into the mind of the main character and his motivations.
If you enjoy the themes of drama and tension in Breaking Bad, you’ll love this option. The story revolves around Tony Soprano, a New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster who struggles to balance his family life with his role as the leader of a criminal organization, which he reluctantly explores during therapy sessions with a psychiatrist.