8 Shows Like Ozark You Love to Watch
If you’re a fan of Ozark and are looking for something new to watch, you’ve come to the right place! Here are eight shows similar to Ozark that are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. So, without further ado, grab some popcorn and get ready to binge!
Each of these shows has a unique but similar element that will captivate you, along with their compelling plotlines and characters that you’ll soon fall in love with, despite how scary some of them may be.
8 Shows Like Ozark:
1. Money Heist
If you’re looking for a show that is fascinating, thrilling, and thought-provoking, then look no further than Money Heist (also known as “La Casa de Papel”). This show has captivated audiences worldwide with its incredible, engaging characters and an unconventional plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing.
The show follows a mysterious protagonist known as “The Professor” who recruits a group of eight criminals, each with a specific talent, to help him carry out a massive plan to facilitate the robbery of the Royal Mint in Spain and the issued currency.
Each criminal is given a city name as a code name. While the Professor and his crew induce a lockdown of the Mint and assist in producing the currency, the show peels back the layers on each criminal to help the audience understand them and their actions, while also creating a more compelling plot.
The writing in Money Heist is exceptional. Álex Pina intentionally plans his plot structure to keep viewers engaged and on the edge of their seats. Each episode is exciting and keeps you guessing with unexpected plot twists. The Professor and Raquel Murillo, the determined police officer, play a game of cat and mouse throughout the show, adding another layer of danger to the already hazardous heist.
Another standout aspect of Money Heist is its ensemble cast. From Álvaro Morte’s portrayal of the enigmatic Professor to Úrsula Corberó’s performance as Tokyo, each character adds something memorable to the show. The palpable chemistry between the characters adds a sense of friendship and unity to the cast, somewhat justifying their vices, even if they are criminals.
2. The Good Girls
If you’re a fan of dark crime shows, then “The Good Girls” is a thriller you won’t want to miss. This show has gained popularity for its captivating plot, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists. We’ll discuss “The Good Girls” and add it to your must-see list.
From Beth to Ruby to Annie, three suburban moms, The Good Girls follows them as they get into tricky situations and turn to crime to survive. What began as a plan to rob a grocery store quickly escalates to involve complex criminal networks, money laundering, and bizarre relationships.
The Good Girls’ strong, varied characters make the show great. Beth, a determined and resourceful mother, leads the family’s criminal activities and is played by Christina Hendricks. Ruby, played by Retta, is a kind, loyal friend willing to do whatever it takes to keep her family safe. Annie, played by Mae Whitman, is a quirky, reckless character who adds much-needed comedy to the show.
The three lead characters have great chemistry, and each actor’s performance gives their characters great depth and complexity. Each woman has different issues,d problems, and goals, which creates even more drama in the show. The audience starts to question who the ‘good girls’ are as the show progresses because it begins to blur the moral grey area.
The Good Girls has a great cast and a great story, and it balances drama with plenty of comedy. The show explores gender equality and money issues, as well as the difficulties of motherhood. Still, it does so in an entertaining way that keeps the audience engaged in the characters’ stories.
3. Peaky Blinders
Since its initial release in 2013, this British drama has gained an international following and is now one of the most acclaimed series of all time. Peaky Blinders tells a gripping story, features great characters, and showcases amazing cinematography.
The series follows the Shelby family, who run a gang called the Peaky Blinders, in post-WWI Birmingham, England. The family engages in many illegal activities, including gambling and violent crime, and is led by the charismatic and intelligent Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy. The Peaky Blinders navigate the government, the police,ce and other gangs as they operate in the criminal underworld.
One of Peaky Blinders’ strongest suits is its writing. Steven Knight writes complicated characters and plots that keep the audience guessing. The show’s writing and cinematography pull the audience into the rough-and-tumble world of the Shelby family. Peaky Blinders’ strength lies in its ability to incorporate real-world events and historical figures into its plot.
The cast as a whole raises the standard of every other show, and Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of Tommy Shelby is one of the best performances of our generation. Murphy adds vulnerability to the character and makes him fascinating in a world full of complex, three-dimensional characters, further deepened by the supporting actors Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, and Tom Hardy.
4. Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul is the prequel to Breaking Bad and has earned plenty of accolades of its own. Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould created it, and it premiered in 2015. It has since amassed a devoted worldwide following and won several awards.
Better Call Saul follows Jimmy McGill, a laconic lawyer from Albuquerque, New Mexico, as he tries to build a career in law. The show traces Jimmy’s transformation into Saul Goodman, a fictitious lawyer who employs underhanded methods to defend his clients.
A major appeal of Better Call Saul is that it can be enjoyed as a standalone story, separate from Breaking Bad. While both shows inhabit the same universe, Better Call Saul uses its characters’ backstories to great effect, justifying their actions and making them more compelling.
Jimmy’s transformation is not the only major storyline in the show. Mike Ehrmantraut, a former cop turned fixer, and Kim Wexler, Jimmy’s love interest and fellow lawyer, are two other major characters. Every major character in Better Call Saul has their own storyline and conflict.
Better Call Saul sets itself apart from other shows with a methodical approach to plot development and precise attention to thematic details. This slow burn draws back the curtain on characters’ motivations and the inner workings of the justice system, while keeping the audience on the edge of their seats with writing as incisive as it is clever.
Beautiful remains the best adjective to describe Better Call Saul. The show takes full advantage of Albuquerque’s unique landscapes and vibrant culture in its production design and cinematography. This attention to detail carries over to the show’s color palette. Each carefully choreographed scene moves the plot forward and supports the story’s overarching theme.
5. Breaking Bad
From 2008 to 2013, the critically acclaimed show Breaking Bad told the story of how a grasping, cancer-ridden high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, devolved into a ruthless and powerful drug kingpin.
The show is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and focuses on the aftermath of Walter’s decision to produce drugs. One of the most widely viewed and praised shows of all time, it features complex, morally ambiguous characters and uses long, uninterrupted takes to build tension in kinetic, fast-paced scenes that propel its singular, gripping plot.
Bryan Cranston plays Walter White, the main character and a former chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer. Knowing he will die and leave his family with mounting debts and no means of support, he decides to make and sell meth to provide for his family. Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul, is a meth maker and former student of Walter’s who helps him with his new venture.
The criminal underworld becomes more attractive to Walter as he justifies his actions by providing for his family. The show centers on Walter White’s transformation from a good person into an anti-hero with a shifting moral compass as he adopts the ruthless persona of Heisenberg, a drug boss.
Breaking Bad has characters that defy easy classification. Anna Gunn plays Skyler, Walter’s wife. Skyler has a hard time reconciling with the thieving criminal that her husband has become and the dangerous world that he has drawn her into. Another character that defies easy classification is Hank Schrader, Walter’s brother-in-law and a DEA agent, who becomes obsessed with capturing Heisenberg.
6. Narcos
Pablo Escobar, the notorious Colombian drug lord, is the central figure in Narcos, which is based on true events and focuses on the different drug dynasties in Latin America and their rise and fall. The show keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with a gripping storyline that blends real footage and interviews with fiction.
Seasons 1 and 2 focus on the brilliant portrayal of Pablo Escobar by Wagner Moura. The series portrays the environment that cultivated and sustained one of the most legendary kingpins, from his early days as a small-time smuggler to his meteoric rise to become the most extravagant and powerful criminal in the world. Escobar is an intriguing subject of study for his charm, ambition, and sadism.
The series also focuses on the DEA’s attempts to stop Escobar’s rise. Steve Murphy, played by Boyd Holbrook, gives the audience a look into the world of drug trafficking and the perpetual war between law enforcement and criminal syndicates.
7. Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is the American adaptation of the 2010 Australian film of the same name. It tells the story of the Cody family, headed by matriarch Janine “Smurf” Cody. Ellen Barkin portrays Smurf superbly as a manipulative and amoral woman who exploits her children for her criminal endeavors.
The series takes place in Oceanside, California, a picturesque and idyllic beach town—a stark contrast to the Cody family’s criminal enterprise and violence. Finn Cole’s character Joshua “J” Cody occupies the center of the show, and we meet him as he is being introduced to a new criminal family after the death of his mother.
Animal Kingdom is a crime drama with sharp humor and complex family dynamics. The Cody brothers’ relationship with Smurf is intriguing and keeps one guessing. The show explores power, loyalty, and how far one will go for family, while blurring the line between right and wrong.
8. Sopranos
One of the best television shows, in the eyes of many, is The Sopranos, created by David Chase. From 1999 to 2007, the show revolutionized the crime drama genre and set a new standard for characterization on television. Complex characters and compelling narratives drew viewers into the mob and other criminal syndicates’ dark worlds. The show left a lasting impression on television.
Set in New Jersey, the show focuses on Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a mob boss trying to juggle his illegal activities with his personal life. What differentiates The Sopranos from other mob dramas is its portrayal of Tony attending therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). This element gives the show an edge and adds a dimension that other gang/mafia narratives lack.
What sets The Sopranos apart from other shows is its ability to weave multiple plotlines and subplots. The show takes time to develop Tony’s crime family, including his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and children Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and Anthony Jr. (Robert Iler), as well as his friends and family, including his nephew Chris Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli). Each character is written in a way that lets audiences empathize with their flaws and challenges.
One of the show’s greatest strengths is its ability to blend drama with dark comedy. The Sopranos achieves a unique tone that keeps audiences engaged as it explores themes of family, loyalty, and morality.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for shows similar to Ozark that have engaging storylines, immoral characters, and leave you on the edge of your seat, these eight shows will satisfy your craving.
This list is great if you’re looking for shows similar to Ozark in terms of complexity, character depth, and mood. I’ve included options for different genres like crime, family, and psychological thrillers. I’ve also included shows for different age groups. Happy binging!
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