The 40 Best TV Shows About Gangsters and The Mafia, Ranked

There’s something strangely comforting about watching fictional criminals make worse life choices than we do.
Gangster and mafia TV shows let us peek into backroom deals, family dynasties, and double-crosses from the safety
of our couch, snacks in hand, law-abiding record intact. From classic mob sagas to modern cartel dramas, these
series mix crime, family, and power in ways that keep us saying, “Okay, just one more episode” until 3 a.m.

This ranked list of the 40 best TV shows about gangsters and the mafia pulls from critics’ favorites, fan
favorites, and streaming hits highlighted by major U.S. outlets like Looper, Screen Rant, Collider, and others.
Whether you love Italian mobsters, British street gangs, biker outlaws, or cartel kingpins, consider this your
guided tour through TV’s underworld.

How We Ranked the Best Mafia and Gangster TV Shows

To rank the best gangster TV shows and mafia series, four big factors did the heavy lifting:

• Story and writing: Multi-layered plots, memorable dialogue, and long-term character arcs.
• Characters and performances: Charismatic antiheroes, terrifying villains, and complex families.
• Cultural impact: Shows that shaped prestige TV, spawned memes, or influenced later crime dramas.
• Rewatch value: The ability to hold up years later (and still spoil your sleep schedule).

You’ll see everything from prestige HBO classics to gritty international imports and modern streaming hits.
A few series stretch beyond “traditional” mafia into cartels, biker gangs, and organized crime families, but all
are driven by crews, codes, and criminal empires.

The 40 Best Gangster and Mafia TV Shows, Ranked

1. 1. The Sopranos (1999–2007)

   The undisputed boss of gangster TV, The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he juggles
   panic attacks, family drama, and running a crime family. Critics routinely rank it as the greatest mob series
   ever made thanks to its layered writing, moral ambiguity, and James Gandolfini’s legendary performance.
   It’s less about hits and more about midlife crisiswith bodies.

2. 2. The Wire (2002–2008)

   While The Wire doesn’t focus on one mafia family, it’s one of the most realistic portraits of organized
   crime ever put on TV. Each season explores a different layer of Baltimore’s ecosystemdrug crews, police, unions,
   politicians, schools, and mediashowing how institutions can be just as corrupt as any mob boss.
   It’s patient, complex, and brutally honest.

3. 3. Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

   Chemistry teacher Walter White doesn’t start as a gangster, but he definitely finishes as one.
   Breaking Bad tracks his transformation from mild-mannered dad into ruthless meth kingpin, building an
   empire with his former student Jesse Pinkman. Tight plotting, unforgettable villains, and moral decay make it
   one of TV’s great crime sagasand a must for any organized crime watchlist.

4. 4. Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)

   Set in post–World War I Birmingham, Peaky Blinders follows the razor-cap-wearing Shelby family as they
   climb from backstreet bookies to political power players. Stylish direction, a rock-and-roll soundtrack, and
   Cillian Murphy’s icy performance as Tommy Shelby turn this British gangster show into a modern classic.

5. 5. Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014)

   If you like your gangster stories with vintage suits and Prohibition-era bootlegging, Boardwalk Empire
   delivers. Centered on Atlantic City fixer Nucky Thompson, the show weaves real historical figures like Al Capone
   into intricate plots about politics, money, and loyalty. It’s basically a 1920s mob epic stretched across five
   luxurious seasons.

6. 6. Narcos (2015–2017)

   Narcos dramatizes the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the Medellín and Cali cartels.
   Mixing archival footage with scripted drama, it shows how cartel violence, U.S. drug policy, and local politics
   collide. It’s less “family Sunday dinner” mafia and more “don’t open that duffel bag” cartel grit.

7. 7. Gomorrah (2014–2021)

   Italian series Gomorrah might be the bleakest mafia show on this listand that’s a compliment. Based on
   Roberto Saviano’s book, it plunges into the Neapolitan Camorra, following foot soldiers and bosses alike. Critics
   praise its realism and refusal to glamorize the life: this is organized crime stripped of romance and full of
   consequences.

8. 8. Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

   Technically a legal drama, Better Call Saul is also a slow-burn gangster story. We watch Jimmy McGill
   drift into Saul Goodman, lawyer-for-hire to cartel players like Gus Fring. The show expands the Breaking Bad
   universe with meticulous storytelling, giving us a front-row seat to how someone becomes “the guy you call”
   when bad things happen.

9. 9. Ozark (2017–2022)

   In Ozark, a financial planner drags his family to the Missouri lake region to launder money for a Mexican
   cartel. What could go wrong? A lot, as it turns out. The show combines small-town politics, local crime clans,
   and cartel pressure into a tense tale of survival that feels like a modern spin on classic mob paranoia.

10. 10. Snowfall (2017–2023)

    Created in part by John Singleton, Snowfall explores the crack epidemic in 1980s Los Angeles through
    young dealer Franklin Saint, a CIA operative, and Mexican organized crime.
    It’s a grim, gripping look at how policy, profit, and poverty intertwineand how quickly a rising kingpin can
    lose control of his empire.

11. 11. Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)

    Swap suits for leather jackets and you get Sons of Anarchy, a biker-gang drama about a California motorcycle
    club involved in gun-running, turf wars, and family betrayals. It’s practically a Shakespearean tragedy on two
    wheels, with rival gangs and cartels filling the “mob rival” role.

12. 12. Fargo (2014– )

    Each season of Fargo tells a different crime story set in the upper Midwest, juggling hitmen, mob
    families, and unfortunate civilians who get in over their heads. Inspired by the Coen brothers movie, the show
    blends dark humor with bursts of violence and organized crime plotting.

13. 13. Godfather of Harlem (2019– )

    Forest Whitaker stars as real-life mob boss Bumpy Johnson, who returns from prison to reclaim his Harlem territory
    in the 1960s. Godfather of Harlem mixes Italian mafia, Black organized crime, and civil rights politics,
    giving the gangster genre a rich historical twist.

14. 14. Gangs of London (2020– )

    Brutal, stylish, and not for the squeamish, Gangs of London turns the city into a battleground where
    multiple criminal families fight for control. The action scenes feel almost cinematic, while the story dives
    into loyalties and betrayals between British and international crime syndicates.

15. 15. Power (2014–2020)

    In Power, New York nightclub owner James “Ghost” St. Patrick tries to go legit while still running a drug
    operation. Spoiler: it does not go smoothly. Romantic entanglements, law enforcement pressure, and partner
    rivalries make this a modern urban mob saga with soap-level twists and serious stakes.

16. 16. Top Boy (2011–2023)

    Set on London estates, Top Boy follows drug dealers, rival crews, and the communities caught in the crossfire.
    The show combines street-level realism with deep character work, offering a grounded look at how power and survival
    shape life inside a modern gang hierarchy.

17. 17. Queen of the South (2016–2021)

    Based on a novel and telenovela, Queen of the South charts Teresa Mendoza’s rise from desperate survivor to
    cartel queenpin. It puts a woman at the center of the action, navigating alliances, betrayals, and cross-border
    operations in a world usually dominated by men.

18. 18. Animal Kingdom (2016–2022)

    This series follows a Southern California crime family that treats armed robberies like a family business.
    Grandma is the mastermind, the sons are the muscle, and tensions simmer beneath every heist. It’s basically
    “mob family drama,” but with surfboards and ski masks.

19. 19. Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017–2020)

    Suburra focuses on Roman gangsters, corrupt politicians, and Vatican intrigue, all fighting over lucrative
    coastal land. If you like your mafia shows with political corruption and neo-noir vibes, this Italian series hits
    the sweet spot.

20. 20. The Gentlemen (2024– )

    Inspired by Guy Ritchie’s film, Netflix’s The Gentlemen follows an aristocrat who inherits a countryside
    estateand discovers it’s sitting on top of a cannabis empire. The show leans into quirky gangsters, dry humor,
    and flashy crime, making it a lighter but still very criminal entry on this list.

21. 21. Tokyo Vice (2022– )

    Based loosely on a journalist’s memoir, Tokyo Vice explores the Japanese underworld through a young American
    reporter and a veteran detective. Yakuza clans, nightclub politics, and newsroom pressures collide in a stylish,
    slow-burn series about organized crime and the people trying to expose it.

22. 22. BMF (2021– )

    BMF dramatizes the true story of the Black Mafia Family, a Detroit crew that expanded into a national drug
    empire. It mixes family, ambition, and hip-hop culture, examining how two brothers built an organization big
    enough to attract federal attention and pop-culture fascination.

23. 23. ZeroZeroZero (2020)

    A limited series about a single cocaine shipment traveling from Mexico to Italy via a U.S. shipping family,
    ZeroZeroZero shows how globalized the drug trade really is. Cartels, Italian mafia clans, and business elites
    all claw for their slice, making this one of the most globe-trotting gangster stories around.

24. 24. Mayans M.C. (2018–2023)

    A spin-off of Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C. follows a Latino outlaw motorcycle club on the U.S.–Mexico
    border. Cartel ties, family secrets, and shifting loyalties keep the stakes high, expanding the biker-gang corner
    of TV’s organized crime universe.

25. 25. Tulsa King (2022– )

    Sylvester Stallone plays a New York mob capo exiled to Oklahoma in Tulsa King. Watching a seasoned gangster
    adapt to cowboy countryand build a new crew from misfitsis half fish-out-of-water comedy, half classic mob
    story about loyalty and reinvention.

26. 26. Magic City (2012–2013)

    Set in 1950s Miami, Magic City centers on a glamorous hotel owner entangled with the mob. Think vintage
    cars, nightclubs, and tuxedoed gangsters mixing with politicians and celebrities. It’s more of a stylish period
    mood piece, but the mob influence hums underneath every deal.

27. 27. McMafia (2018)

    Inspired by a non-fiction book, McMafia explores global organized crime through a British banker with
    Russian mob roots. From London to Dubai to Moscow, the series shows how modern crime syndicates operate like
    multinational corporationsonly with more bodyguards.

28. 28. Lilyhammer (2012–2014)

    What if a New York mobster entered witness protection in a small Norwegian town? Lilyhammer turns that
    premise into a fish-out-of-water dramedy starring Steven Van Zandt. It’s lighter than most shows here, but the
    main character still uses mob tactics to build his new “business.”

29. 29. Bad Blood (2017–2018)

    Canadian drama Bad Blood follows a Montreal mob family loosely based on real events. Internal betrayals,
    rival families, and shifting alliances drive the story, offering a colder, northern spin on the classic mafia
    template.

30. 30. Mob City (2013)

    Set in postwar Los Angeles, Mob City pits the LAPD against mobsters like Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen.
    It’s a noir-tinged look at early organized crime in Hollywood’s backyard, blending real gangsters with pulpy
    style and smoky jazz clubs.

31. 31. Romanzo Criminale: La serie (2008–2010)

    This Italian series follows a Roman gang rising in the 1970s and ’80s, inspired by the real Banda della Magliana.
    Politics, terrorism, and organized crime collide in a way that feels very different from U.S. mob stories but
    just as ruthless.

32. 32. Brotherhood (2006–2008)

    Brotherhood centers on two Rhode Island brothersone a politician, the other a gangsterwhose lives are
    hopelessly intertwined. It’s a slow-burn portrait of how criminal power and political power often speak the
    same language, just in nicer suits.

33. 33. El Chapo (2017–2018)

    This series dramatizes the life of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, charting his rise from low-level trafficker to
    infamous cartel boss. It blends prison breaks, political deals, and cartel wars into a story that feels ripped
    from headlinesbecause, well, it basically is.

34. 34. Griselda (2024– )

    A dramatization of Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco’s life, Griselda shows how she built a ruthless
    trafficking network between Colombia and Miami. As a rare female “godmother” figure in cartel history, her story
    adds a different angle to the usual mob-boss narrative.

35. 35. We Own This City (2022)

    From creators behind The Wire, We Own This City focuses on widespread corruption in the Baltimore
    Police’s Gun Trace Task Force. While it’s more about corrupt cops than a traditional mafia family, the show
    makes it clear that organized crime doesn’t always happen outside the law.

36. 36. Power Book II: Ghost (2020– )

    This spin-off follows Tariq St. Patrick juggling college, family obligations, and a growing drug operation.
    Power Book II: Ghost keeps the original show’s mix of legal drama, street hustle, and complex alliances
    while focusing on a new generation of would-be kingpins.

37. 37. Power Book IV: Force (2022– )

    Fan-favorite enforcer Tommy Egan heads to Chicago to build his own empire in Power Book IV: Force.
    Rival crews, new suppliers, and local politics give the show a fresh setting while delivering familiar
    “shoot first, negotiate later” energy.

38. 38. City on a Hill (2019–2022)

    Set in early-1990s Boston, City on a Hill follows an alliance between a corrupt FBI agent and an idealistic
    prosecutor taking on a crew of armored-car robbers. Mob connections, neighborhood loyalties, and systemic
    corruption weave a tapestry where crime and law enforcement blur together.

39. 39. The Black Donnellys (2007)

    Canceled too soon, The Black Donnellys focuses on four Irish-American brothers in New York whose lives
    spiral into organized crime. It’s raw, emotional, and full of poor decisions made in the name of family.

40. 40. Sexy Beast (2024– )

    The TV prequel to the cult film Sexy Beast explores how its main characters got pulled into London’s criminal
    underworld. While still new, it adds depth to an already iconic gangster story and shows how one “easy job”
    can turn into a lifetime of debt to dangerous people.

How to Watch Gangster TV Shows Without Burning Out

Here’s the thing about binge-watching mafia and gangster series: after your tenth episode of betrayals, funerals,
and “This is just business,” your brain starts to think everyone is running a secret operation. A few quick tips:

• Mix tones: Pair heavier shows like Gomorrah or The Wire with something lighter like Lilyhammer.
• Take breaks: Yes, even from prestige TV. Your sleep schedule will thank you.
• Change eras: Rotate between Prohibition-era Boardwalk Empire, modern shows like Ozark, and international series like Suburra.
• Talk about them: Half the fun of a great mob series is arguing about which season or crew is the best.

Experiences from Watching the Best Gangster and Mafia TV Shows

Watching the best gangster and mafia TV shows is a strangely immersive experience. After a few episodes of
The Sopranos, you start to feel like you know the layout of every diner in New Jersey. Spend a weekend with
Peaky Blinders, and suddenly you’re considering a flat cap and overcoat as a personality. These shows don’t
just entertain; they pull you into entire criminal ecosystems with their own rules, codes, and consequences.

One of the most striking things viewers notice is how quickly your sympathies shift. In Breaking Bad, many people
start out rooting hard for Walter Whitehe’s sick, he’s desperate, and he’s up against a broken system. By the later
seasons, you might find yourself quietly horrified by the same man you once defended. A similar thing happens with
Tony Soprano or Tommy Shelby: they’re charming enough that you forget, for a moment, they’re absolutely the sort of
people you’d cross the street to avoid in real life.

Another common experience is how binge-watching these series changes the way you see everyday systems. After
The Wire, police press conferences, city politics, and even public schools feel a little more complicated.
Shows like Narcos, Snowfall, and ZeroZeroZero make it clear that organized crime is rarely just about
“bad guys with guns.” It’s about supply chains, demand, poverty, corruption, and people rationalizing terrible
decisions one step at a time. You end up thinking more about cause and effect, not just “villains versus heroes.”

Viewers also talk about how these shows redefine “family drama.” In a traditional soap or domestic series,
a bad day might involve a tense dinner or a messy breakup. In a mafia show, a bad day can mean your cousin
flipped to the feds, your brother just provoked a rival crew, and your mother quietly knows all of it and judges
everyone from the kitchen table. Series like Animal Kingdom, Power, and Queen of the South do a great job
showing that the line between family loyalty and emotional blackmail is paper-thin when there are millions of
dollars and jail time on the line.

There’s also a certain thrill in recognizing patterns across different cultures and settings. Fans who move from
Boardwalk Empire to Gomorrah to Suburra and Tokyo Vice often notice that, regardless of language or country,
criminal organizations rely on similar tools: fear, favors, and family. The surface details changemaybe it’s
bootleg liquor, maybe it’s drugs, maybe it’s construction contractsbut the basic logic of power, territory, and
reputation stays eerily familiar.

Of course, there’s also the pure style factor. Even people who would never dream of breaking the law can’t resist
the aesthetics: sharp suits, dimly lit bars, vintage cars, neon-drenched cityscapes, and soundtracks that make every
walk to the fridge feel like a slow-motion entrance. Shows like Gangs of London, The Gentlemen, and
Magic City know exactly how to weaponize atmosphere. They make organized crime look coolright up until they
show the cost.

Finally, one of the most powerful experiences of watching mafia and gangster TV shows is the perspective shift they
offer. You see how characters justify each bad decisionthey’re doing it “for the family,” “just this once,” or
“because someone else would do it anyway.” Over time, you recognize the danger of that thinking in real life, too.
The best gangster shows don’t just glorify the life; they show the paranoia, the grief, and the emptiness that
come with building a kingdom on fear.

So if you’re diving into this list, expect more than just shootouts and one-liners. Expect to get attached, to argue
about endings, to replay favorite scenes, and to thinkat least for a momentabout how you’d respond if someone
slid an envelope across a table and said, “We have an opportunity.”

Conclusion

From New Jersey strip malls to Birmingham back alleys and Roman back rooms, the best gangster and mafia TV shows
tap into the same core ideas: ambition, loyalty, greed, and the fantasy of rewriting the rules. Whether you gravitate
toward grim realism like Gomorrah and The Wire or heightened, stylish crime sagas like Peaky Blinders and
The Gentlemen, this ranked list gives you enough mob drama to last many, many nights.

Just remember: hit “Next Episode” as often as you wantbut maybe don’t repeat anything you learn from these shows
in real life.

meta_title: The 40 Best Gangster & Mafia TV Shows, Ranked

meta_description: Discover the 40 best TV shows about gangsters and the mafia, rankedfrom
The Sopranos to Peaky Blinders, Narcos, and more.

sapo:
From New Jersey mob bosses to London crime families and global cartels, gangster and mafia TV shows deliver
some of the most gripping stories on television. This in-depth guide ranks the 40 best mob and organized crime
series of all time, explaining what makes each one unforgettablefrom iconic classics like The Sopranos and
The Wire to international hits like Gomorrah and Suburra and modern streaming favorites such as
Ozark and Narcos. Whether you’re planning your next big binge or just want to see where your favorites land,
this list breaks down the essential shows, their themes, and the unique flavors of underworld drama they bring to
the screen.

keywords: best gangster TV shows, mafia TV series, mob TV shows, organized crime dramas,
Peaky Blinders, The Sopranos