8 Mob Shows Better Than The Sopranos

When The Sopranos first aired on HBO in 1999, it revolutionized television. David Chase’s story of Tony Soprano, a mob boss struggling with his emotional well-being and declining morals, set a new standard by combining the excitement of crime dramas with realistic psychological depth. It wasn’t simply a show about the mafia; it was a work of art. With its grand scale and honest portrayal of human flaws, The Sopranos opened the door for the complex, high-quality television we enjoy today. Although Tony Soprano’s story remains incredibly influential, several other shows have since offered equally captivating looks into the world of crime.

These shows, ranging from the dark streets of London to the bright lights of Tokyo, offer new takes on themes of loyalty, power, and corruption. Some delve into the complex characters first seen in shows like The Sopranos, while others embrace the classic, fast-paced energy of older crime stories. From historical gangs to modern criminal organizations, each series proves that there are still compelling stories to be told about the world of organized crime.

Gomorrah Is a Raw, Gripping Portrait of the Italian Mafia

While it hasn’t reached the same level of widespread recognition as The Sopranos, Italy’s Gomorrah is just as captivating, and even more brutal. The series, adapted from Roberto Saviano’s popular book, dives into the world of the Camorra, a notoriously dangerous mafia organization based in Naples. Filmed with a realistic, documentary-like style, Gomorrah feels intensely raw and authentic, presenting a stark and unglamorized look at organized crime.

As much as I love how The Sopranos made its criminals feel human, Gomorrah takes a completely different approach – it doesn’t pull any punches. It’s a really tough watch because everyone is caught in this endless loop of loyalty and payback, and honestly, no one is safe. The way it looks is striking too – it feels less like a typical gangster show and more like a gritty war movie. But it’s not just about the violence; it’s a really smart take on power, corruption, and how crime can destroy entire communities. For me, Gomorrah doesn’t just compare to The Sopranos; it actually feels more realistic and delivers one of the most disturbing and believable portrayals of organized crime I’ve ever seen.

Tokyo Vice Explores an American Journalist’s Descent Into Japan’s Underbelly

If you’re looking for a new twist on classic gangster stories, Tokyo Vice delivers. This crime drama is a stylish and captivating neo-noir set in the complex world of the Japanese Yakuza. Inspired by the true experiences of journalist Jake Adelstein, the show centers on an American reporter (Ansel Elgort) and a veteran detective (Ken Watanabe) as they unravel corruption and violence within Tokyo’s criminal network. It’s a compelling blend of investigative journalism and classic mob storytelling.

What sets Tokyo Vice apart as one of today’s best crime dramas, much like The Sopranos before it, is its unique, international focus. The show shares The Sopranos’ compelling look at power, hidden worlds, and difficult choices, but it does so within the rarely-seen, authentic world of the Japanese Yakuza. By exploring the Yakuza’s strict codes of honor, Tokyo Vice offers a fresh cultural take on the classic gangster story. With its atmospheric visuals, compelling acting, and building suspense, the series feels like a natural progression of the genre, demonstrating that the spirit of The Sopranos continues to thrive in new and global settings.

Sons of Anarchy Follows Biker Outlaws As they Balance Family, Brotherhood and Crime

While The Sopranos explored the lives of mobsters who were also family men, Sons of Anarchy took a similar idea and applied it to a dangerous biker gang. Created by Kurt Sutter, the show centers on Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), a troubled man who is next in line to lead an outlaw motorcycle club in California. Similar to Tony Soprano, Jax wrestles with wanting a normal life but feeling bound by his loyalty to a criminal organization.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this show reimagines biker life as a distinctly American tragedy. The characters grapple with loyalty to their families, the weight of their history, and the bonds of blood. With its powerful combination of action and raw emotion, it achieves a dramatic intensity that at times feels even grander than The Sopranos. While it’s certainly more over-the-top, it’s also more intensely felt. Like Tony Soprano, the main character, Jax Teller, spirals into violence, and by the series’ end, Sons of Anarchy is as epic and heartbreaking as any classic myth.

Animal Kingdom Sees a Manipulative Matriarch Run a Criminal Empire

Based on the 2010 Australian movie, Animal Kingdom follows a Southern California family involved in crime, led by the powerful and controlling Smurf Cody (Ellen Barkin). When her teenage grandson gets caught up in their illegal activities, he’s thrown into a dangerous world of theft, lies, and fighting to stay alive. Like The Sopranos, the show blends the drama of family life with the planning of criminal schemes, but with a grittier, more sun-soaked feel.

While Tony Soprano controlled people through fear, Smurf uses a motherly facade and emotional games. The show is visually striking and features complex characters, creating a uniquely Californian atmosphere of danger and beauty. Animal Kingdom stands out by examining family problems across multiple generations, telling a story of both loyalty and defiance. It blends the fast pace of a heist movie with the personal feel of a family drama. Though it might not be as deeply philosophical as The Sopranos, it compensates with intense suspense and a stylish presentation.

Breaking Bad Is a Quintessential Modern Depiction of Organized Crime

Although it features a criminal underworld, Breaking Bad is a deeply insightful show about crime, the pursuit of power, and how people define themselves. The series follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he changes from a mild-mannered teacher into a heartless drug kingpin. Similar to The Sopranos, it’s a look at a man whose ambition leads to his downfall, but unlike Tony, who already has power, Walter has to build his criminal empire from the ground up, making increasingly difficult and unethical choices along the way.

While The Sopranos was groundbreaking, Breaking Bad takes things even further with its carefully planned plot and steadily increasing suspense. Every decision Walter makes has significant, yet surprisingly unpredictable, results. The show’s writing is incredibly focused, building tension expertly, and Bryan Cranston delivers an exceptional performance as a man slowly descending into madness. Just as Tony Soprano redefined the antihero, Walter White perfected the character – becoming a more ruthless and calculating version. Ultimately, Breaking Bad didn’t just live up to the shows that inspired it, it surpassed them, changing what long-form television could be.

The Wire Presents a Raw and Realistic Depiction of Organized Crime and Systemic Corruption

As a total cinema fan, I’ve always felt that while people often call it a mob show, The Wire is so much more. It really goes beyond any single genre to give us the most complete look at crime in a city I’ve ever seen. David Simon’s creation, set in Baltimore, brilliantly connects the lives of the police, drug dealers, politicians, and even the journalists reporting on it all. It’s like a huge, sweeping painting of a city where corruption is just built into the system. If The Sopranos focused on the downfall of one man, The Wire shows us how an entire society can be broken down.

What truly sets The Wire apart is its incredibly realistic and detailed portrayal of life. Each season focuses on a different part of the city – from the police and drug trade to the schools and politics – and reveals how corruption spreads from the streets all the way to those in power. Characters like Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell, much like Tony Soprano, grapple with the conflict between running a business and using violence, but The Wire presents this struggle in a harsher, more detached way. It’s a show that argues organized crime isn’t just about loyalty and tradition; it’s a sign of deeper problems within society.

Boardwalk Empire Offers a Peek Into the Original American Gangsters

While The Sopranos explored the minds of modern gangsters, Boardwalk Empire looked back to the very beginning of organized crime. Created by Terence Winter, who also worked on The Sopranos, the HBO series follows Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Steve Buscemi), a crooked politician in Atlantic City during Prohibition. The show, with its stunning attention to historical detail and a fantastic cast including Michael Shannon, Kelly Macdonald, and Michael Kenneth Williams, vividly portrays the lavish and brutal origins of American crime.

Boardwalk Empire isn’t just a gangster story; it’s also about America’s growth as an economic power. The show examines the price of ambition, much like Tony Soprano’s struggles, but with a broader historical perspective. Like Tony, Nucky is a complex character—a businessman with a violent side—but his eventual fate feels larger, more heartbreaking, and more epic. With Martin Scorsese as an executive producer, Boardwalk Empire is high-quality television that’s comparable to The Sopranos in its ambition, production value, and depth.

Peaky Blinders Is a Genre-Bending Epic Crime Story

Over six captivating seasons, Peaky Blinders uniquely blended striking visuals with brutal intensity. The series, set in Birmingham after World War I, centers on Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the cunning head of a criminal family determined to build an empire amidst the turmoil of a changing Britain. Creator Steven Knight brought a fresh, contemporary feel to the show through its stylish filming, dynamic soundtrack, and overall energy, making early 20th-century England feel surprisingly modern and vibrant.

One reason many consider Peaky Blinders better than The Sopranos is its grand, almost legendary scope. Unlike the often confined feel of Tony Soprano’s world, Peaky Blinders feels like a sprawling historical drama – a blend of crime story and political thriller. Cillian Murphy delivers a captivating performance, portraying a character who is both ruthless and deeply wounded by his past and driven by his goals. The show is also visually stunning, with a cinematic quality in every shot. While The Sopranos offered an intimate look inside the mob, Peaky Blinders elevates it to the level of myth and legend.

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2025-11-02 22:09