If you haven't been aware of the two blockbuster film releases of summer, then we assume you've been living under a rock. Record-breaking crowds have been flocking to cinemas to see "Barbie" or "Oppenheimer" - or both in a mashup cinema day dubbed Barbenheimer. While Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" [1] has been celebrated for its strong portrayal of everyday feminism, "Oppenheimer" [2] is being recognised as director Christopher Nolan's magnum opus, with a career defining turn for Cillian Murphy [3].
However, "Oppenheimer" isn't the first morally ambiguous character Murphy has played who must deal with the life-altering repercussions of his actions. While the actor has starred in hit films including "Inception", "Batman Begins", and "Dunkirk", it was his leading role as Tommy Shelby on "Peaky Blinders" that made him a household name.
Across its six seasons [4], "Peaky Blinders" followed the eponymous gang, based in Birmingham and led by Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his brothers (Paul Anderson and Joe Cole). The show made for a thrilling political period drama that was a hit for the BBC.
Its success was unprecedented, inspiring men's fashion, and even gaining its own dance-show stage adaptation. "Peaky Blinders" was nominated for multiple awards over the course of its run and guest starred a host of famous faces including Tom Hardy, Sam Claflin, Anya-Taylor Joy, and Adrien Brody [5].
Fans were sad to say goodbye to the Peaky Blinders when the finale aired on BBC One last year, but rumours continue to swirl around a film version [6] of the TV series. But for those who can't wait for silver screen confirmation and still want to fill the gap left by "Peaky Blinders", here's 11 shows you should add to your TV watchlist . . . by order of the Peaky Blinders.
"Boardwalk Empire"
Arguably the blueprint for a show like "Peaky Blinders", "Boardwalk Empire" is an epic political drama starring Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson. Thompson, based on the real life criminal kingpin Enoch L. Johnson, is a political figure who rises to power in Atlantic City during the prohibition era. As it is set in a similar era to "Peaky Blinders", it offers a gritty and engaging look at what was happening on the other side of the pond.
It was nominated for nearly 60 Emmy Awards during its run, winning 20 of them. Its cast contains prolific names such as Kelly Macdonald, Jeffrey Wright, Stephen Graham, Bobby Cannavale, and Michael Shannon. Its pilot episode was even directed by the iconic Martin Scorsese [7].
Stream "Boardwalk Empire" on NowTV [8] now.
"Gangs of London"
"Gangs of London" is a recent crime show from the creative minds behind "The Raid" action movies, and loosely based on the video game with the same name. Having first aired on Sky Atlantic in 2020, the show is two seasons in, with a third one on the way.
Its exploration of gang activity and organised crime in London offers a modern-day alternative to the Shelby brothers' antics. However, so you don't miss "Peaky Blinders" too much, Joe Cole (John Shelby) is one of the leads in this series as well. It also offers a more diverse portrayal of the UK, representing the messiness of the melting pot that is London life.
Stream "Gangs of London" on NowTV [9] now.
"Taboo"
A war-torn adventurer played by Tom Hardy in Victorian England; what's not to love? A show from the mind of Hardy and "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight, "Taboo" follows Hardy's character as he returns to London to rebuild his late father's shipping company. Whilst billed as a thriller/drama, this show ventures into elements of mystery and the supernatural too.
Be warned though, it's not for the faint of heart, as this drama goes to some dark and brutal places. Its period setting allows for an insight into an England rife with criminal activity, political turmoil, and colonialist visions. "Taboo" has been renewed for a second season, but with Hardy's busy schedule, it is still unknown when it will be released.
Stream "Taboo" on Netflix [10] now.
"Ozark"
The Netflix hit crime drama "Ozark" stars Jason Bateman [11] and Laura Linney [12] as a family caught up in a money laundering scheme gone wrong. With a huge debt owed to a Mexican drug cartel, Marty Byrde (Bateman) moves his family to the remote Lake of the Ozarks. However, once there, their descent into the world of crime gets more and more intense.
With an 82 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a hefty pile of Emmys to its name, it's one of Netflix's most beloved shows. This is one to watch for anyone looking for an engaging and entertaining series that will keep them on their toes.
Stream "Ozark" on Netflix [13] now.
"SAS: Rogue Heroes"
The latest historical drama from "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight is "SAS: Rogue Heroes", which charts the creation of the British Army Special Air Service, best known as the SAS. While its subject matter is vastly different to that of "Peaky Blinders", the BBC show has been celebrated for much of the same elements: namely its heart, its performances, and its utterly engaging storytelling.
"SAS: Rogue Heroes" stars Connor Swindells ("Sex Education", "Barbie"), Jack O'Connell ("Skins", "Lady Chatterley's Lover"), Alfie Allen ("Game of Thrones"), Sofia Boutella ("Kingsman") and Dominic West ("The Crown"). While only one season has been aired, a second has been commissioned, and will be set in Europe during the second World War.
Stream "SAS:Rogue Heroes" on BBC iPlayer [14] now.
"Ripper Street"
Another Victorian mystery series is "Ripper Street", starring Matthew MacFadyen ("Succession"; "Pride and Prejudice") and Jerome Flynn ("Game of Thrones") as the Detectives charged with trying to find Jack the Ripper.
Set on the streets of Whitechapel, the show's vision of East London feels similarly gritty to the streets of Birmingham in "Peaky Blinders". The chase to find Jack the Ripper haunts the audience, as well as the lead characters as they grow more desperate over the course of the show's four seasons. Balancing a 'crime of the week'-style format with deeper character-driven storytelling, "Ripper Street" is a critically-acclaimed BBC drama that is well worth your time.
Stream "Ripper Street" on Prime Video [15] now.
"The Sopranos"
Arguably the definitive gangster television series, "The Sopranos" revolutionised the genre over the course of its run between 1999 and 2007. Moving away from stereotypical portrayals of mobsters, many credit the show with offering a more simple, everyday, human approach to gangster stories. At its heart, "The Sopranos" is a family drama, setting a precedent for shows like "Peaky Blinders" to explore the intimate dynamics between these crime families.
Starring James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, and Michael Imperioli in the lead roles, the show garnered multiple awards, and is considered one of the best television series of all time. It also had a prequel movie, "The Many Saints of Newark", which was released in 2021.
Stream "The Sopranos" on NowTV [16] now.
"Sons of Anarchy"
While a motorcycle gang in California's Central Valley seems like a far cry from the gang portrayed in "Peaky Blinders", "Sons of Anarchy [17]" is another show that offers a nuanced look at the brotherhood formed between gang members.
Starring Charlie Hunnam [18] as Jax Teller, the show's seven seasons wrestle with the lead character's attempts to balance his life in the gang (based on the real life Hell's Angels), and the responsibilities he holds within his family.
If this doesn't quite fit the bill for you, at least there's lots of cool shots of motorcycles traversing long roads, and Hunnam looking pretty damn good.
Stream "Sons of Anarchy" on Disney+ [19] now.
"Penny Dreadful"
Somewhat darker than other offerings on this list, "Penny Dreadful" is a Sky horror-drama series, which utilises characters from classic Victorian literature to paint its supernatural stories.
Josh Hartnett [20] (who stars alongside Cillian Murphy in "Oppenheimer"), ex-James Bond Timothy Dalton, and Eva Green ("Casino Royale") star as the central players in this dark, twisty, drama series. The latter was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on the show.
Like "Peaky Blinders", it is a distinctly British period drama that isn't afraid to reckon with its gothic elements. But unlike "Peaky Blinders", it goes far beyond what we know, as it ventures into a world unlike our own.
Stream "Penny Dreadful" on NowTV [21] now.
"The Alienist"
Set in New York City in the late 1800s, "The Alienist" follows a criminal psychologist (Daniel Bruhl), a newspaper illustrator (Luke Evans), and a police department secretary (Dakota Fanning [22]) as they secretly conduct an investigation into the gruesome murders by a serial killer.
Like "Peaky Blinders", it is a gritty psychological crime drama that seeks to get into the minds of those involved in criminal activity. Its star-studded central cast turn in stellar performances in a show that has been lauded for its ability to capture its period setting, whilst remaining timely and contemporary in its tone.
It was followed by a second season, dubbed "The Alienist: Angel of Darkness".
Stream "The Alienist" on Netflix [23] now.
"True Detective"
An anthology series in the vein of shows such as "American Horror Story [24]", each season of "True Detective" follows a different crime story, with a new cast and a fresh team of detectives.
Its first season saw Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey [25] as a pair of Louisiana State Detectives in a decades-long pursuit of a serial killer. The second season, starring the likes of Colin Farrell [26], Rachel McAdams [27], and Vince Vaughn [28], sees a multi-departmental police investigation of a corrupt politician's murder. The third season heads to the Ozarks with Mahershala Ali leading a mystery set across three different time periods. The fourth season, which stars Jodie Foster [29], wrapped earlier this year.
Stream "True Detective" on NowTV [30] now.