Looking for the best twisty, thrilling TV shows like Ozark? We’ve got you covered!
Below, you’ll find 10 stellar dark crime dramas that are anything but the everyday police procedural. We’ll check them out in a second, but first, for those who haven’t seen the show, let’s quickly learn more about Ozark.
What is Ozark About?
Ozark is a crime, drama, thriller television that has aired for 2 seasons, so far, with season 1 premiering on July 21, 2017 and season 2 premiering on August 31, 2018.
Filming for season 3 began in May 2019 and will conclude in October 2019, with the season premiering in 2020.
Ozark follows the Byrde family, who seem to be an ordinary family that is living an ordinary life.
However, there is one problem- the Byrde patriarch, Marty, is in a bit of a pickle.
Marty (Jason Bateman), who worked as a financial advisor, as well as a top money launderer for Mexico’s 2nd largest drug cartel.
After a money laundering scheme goes awry, Marty must make amends to the cartel. How? By setting up an even larger laundering operation.
Marty, along with his wife Wendy (Laura Linney), their 15-year-old daughter Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and their 13-year-old son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) move from the suburbs of Chicago to the lake region community of the Missouri Ozarks.
That, of course, is where things get really interesting! I’m not telling you any more, though. I don’t want to spoil the surprises!
I can tell you that once you finish, you’ll definitely be craving more shows like Ozark, so let’s check out a few!
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Ten Awesome Shows Like Ozark
1. Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is a crime, drama television series based on the 2010 movie, of the same name.
It has aired for 4 seasons, so far, premiering on June 14, 2016. The series was renewed for a 5th season on July 24, 2019.
Animal Kingdom follows a 17-year-old boy, Joshua “J” Cody (Finn Cole), who moves in with his estranged family after the death of his mother.
The Cody family, from Southern California, lives an elaborate lifestyle that’s fueled by their criminal activities.
Joshua’s grandmother, Janine “Smurf” (Ellen Barkin), is the matriarch of the Cody family.
2. Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul is a crime, drama television series that is a spin-off prequel to Breaking Bad (See Below).
It has aired for 4 seasons, so far, premiering on February 8, 2015. Season 5 is set to air in 2020.
Taking place 6 years before the events of Breaking Bad, the series follows the trials and tribulations of James Morgan “Jimmy” McGill, who later becomes Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk).
It showcases his transformation from legitimate small-time lawyer to con artist.
3. Bloodline
Bloodline is a drama, thriller television series that aired for 3 seasons, from March 20, 2015 to May 26, 2017.
The series follows the Rayburn family, who is forced to face the dark secrets from their past and keep them from becoming public knowledge, when the black sheep of the family returns home.
Danny (Ben Mendelsohn) is the oldest child, and black sheep of the family, of Robert (Sam Shepard) and Sally (Sissy Spacek).
Being the black sheep, Danny has a bad reputation with his 3 younger siblings- John (Kyle Chandler), Kevin (Nobert Leo Butz) and Meg (Linda Cardellini).
4. Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is a crime, drama, thriller television series that aired for 5 seasons, from January 20, 2008 to September 29, 2013.
The series follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher.
When he is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he and his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), resort to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine to ensure that White’s family is provided for after he is gone.
5. Narcos
Narcos is a biographical, crime, drama television series that aired for 3 seasons, from August 28, 2015 to September 1, 2017.
Seasons 1 and 2 of the series chronicles the criminal exploits of Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), who was a well-known Colombian drug lord.
After Escobar’s fall, Season 3 follows Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents as they try to shutdown an infamous cartel based in Southern Colombia, the Cali Cartel, led by Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela (Damian Alcazar).
6. Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is a crime, drama television series that takes place in 1919, in the aftermath of World War 1, in Birmingham, England.
The series has aired for 4 seasons, so far, premiering on September 12, 2013.
Season 5’s grand premiere was held on July 18, 2019 and speculation is that the season will premiere in mid-late August.
Peaky Blinders follows “Peaky Blinders,” a group of gangster led by Thomas “Tommy” Shelby (Cillian Murphy).
7. Power
Power is a crime, drama television series that has aired for 5 seasons, so far, premiering on June 7, 2014.
Season 6 will premiere on August 25, 2019 and it will be the final season. Power follows James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), a ruthless drug
kingpin who wants to leave that life behind him and instead focus on a life as a legitimate New York nightclub owner.
8. Queen of the South
Queen of the South is a crime, drama television series that is based on La Reina del Sur, a Spanish-language telenovela that premiered on February 28, 2011.
After the murder of her drug runner boyfriend, Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga), flees Mexico and settles down in Dallas, Texas.
In Dallas, she becomes wealthy by building a vast drug empire, while also trying to avenge her boyfriend’s murder.
9. Sneaky Pete
Sneaky Pete is a crime, drama television series that aired for 3 seasons, from August 7, 2015 to May 10, 2019.
The series follows Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi), a con artist, who was recently released from prison, on the run from a vicious gangster that he previously robbed.
To take cover, he assumes the identity of Pete Murphy (Ethan Embry), his former prison cellmate and enters a life that is just as dangerous as the life he is running from.
10. The Wire
The Wire is a crime, drama, thriller television series that aired for 5 seasons, from June 2, 2002 to March 9, 2008.
The series looks at the illegal drug scene of Baltimore, Maryland, as seen through the eyes of law enforcement, drug dealers, dock workers, politicians, public school employees and students, as well as journalists.
The Wire features a large cast, of 57+ actors/actresses, including Dominic West, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick and Sonja Sohn.
While there are certainly other great twisty crime drama TV shows like Ozark, these should keep you busy for a while!
