7 Crime Shows To Watch If You Like The Penguin

Key Takeaways

• The Penguin is a spin-off series of The Batman featuring Colin Farrell as the iconic villain Oswald Cobblepot.
• The show explores Oswald’s rise to prominence in Gotham’s criminal underworld through a gritty depiction.
• The Penguin aims for action set pieces similar to Gangs of London, highlighting turf wars and gang warfare.

The highly anticipated HBO show, The Penguin, is a spin-off series of The Batman, which featured Robert Pattinson as a dark and mysterious Bruce Wayne and Batman. In The Penguin, Colin Farrell reprises his acclaimed role of Oswald Cobb, the famed Batman villain often known as the Penguin.

The crime drama taking place in the underbelly of Gotham sees Oswald transform into a full-fledged gangster as the show explores his rise to prominence. Even in its first episode, The Penguin is shown to be a quintessential crime drama, with its gritty depiction of a criminal underworld being reminiscent of other crime shows that share similar qualities.

7 Gangs Of London

Action Filled Crime Drama Set In London

Set in London, Gangs of London is a crime show that sees Britain’s capital city become the location of a massive turf war involving numerous gangs after the death of one of the most powerful criminal bosses. After the sudden death of his legendary father, Sean Wallace has to deal with the rising tensions and rivals that seek to gain power in his father’s absence.

In a show depicting the criminal underworld, Gangs of London offers a more action-oriented portrayal of criminal organizations battling it out for power, with The Penguin looking to have action set pieces that rival the British drama.

6 Gotham

Explored Gotham City And A Young Bruce Wayne

Despite its popularity, The Penguin is not the first television show to explore Gotham City, with Gotham following James Gordon, a good-hearted detective who investigates the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne.

In the wild chaos of Gotham, Gordon comes into contact with famed comic book characters such as Bruce Wayne, the Joker, Penguin, and Catwoman, giving DC fans plenty of iconic figures to marvel at. Similar to The Penguin, Gotham provides more depth to Batman villains, depicting their rise and how they operate in a cold and callous city that has become famed for being the home to a slew of superheroes.

5 Gomorrah

Italian Crime Epic That Sees Gangsters Run Rife With Power

In the Italian heartland, where mobsters and the mafia originated, the crime drama Gomorrah takes place following the rise of Ciro di Marzio as he becomes more influential within the Savastano clan. Amidst a civil war in the heart of Naples, di Marzio maneuvers his way through criminal warfare that brings heightened tension and drama to viewers, with betrayal, deceit, and corruption playing its part in the Italian show.

For fans of The Penguin and its turf war, which acts as a core aspect of the show, Gomorrah is a crime drama whose depiction of gang warfare stands at the height of television.

4 Peaky Blinders

British Gangsters Led By Cillian Murphy

One of British television’s best offerings, Peaky Blinders, introduced viewers to a period drama revolving around a gang based in Birmingham, England. The Peaky Blinders gang that makes up much of the series is held up by Tommy Shelby, a wild maverick played by Cillian Murphy.

Set in the early 20th century, the ferocious Shelby leads his crew as they engage in criminal activities that capture the attention of the authorities. The resulting premise led to an enthralling drama that sees the Peaky Blinders gang controlling their turf amidst the constant chaos in their lives.

3 Boardwalk Empire

Influential Socialite Who Engages In Mafia Business

The HBO show Boardwalk Empire saw Steve Buscemi as the incomparable Enoch Thompson, a political leader who manages relationships with gangsters and other influential figures in Atlantic City. While engaging with high-profile individuals, Thompson manages to balance illegal activities with his extravagant lifestyle.

Basing many of the characters off historical figures, Boardwalk Empire explores famed gangsters of the past, such as Al Capone and Charles Luciano, making for riveting television in typical HBO fashion. Despite not reaching the heights of mob shows such as The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire became a beacon for HBO in the 2010s, with the show being sure to have influenced The Penguin in certain ways.

2 Sons Of Anarchy

Member Of A Biker Gang Trying To Find Balance In His Complicated Life

While not focusing on the mafia, the FX show Sons of Anarchy concentrates on the lives of the outlaw biker gang SAMCRO in California, with the main protagonist, Jax Teller, tangling with themes of loss, love, and criminality throughout the show.

With the founder of SAMCRO being his father, Jax has to deal with his death and how to navigate the group while dealing with criminal endeavors alongside figures such as his difficult stepfather, Clay, and best friend, Opie. Through the course of seven seasons, Sons of Anarchy delves into the criminal underworld from the viewpoint of bikers, serving as a refreshing perspective that still fits the billing of a thrilling crime drama.

1 The Sopranos

A Mafia Masterpiece That Altered The Course Of Television

Throughout television history, no show changed the landscape more than The Sopranos, a mafia tale that tells the story of Tony Soprano and his exploits as a mob boss in New Jersey. As TV’s original antihero, Tony was a flawed but highly entertaining character who carried viewers into the mob life, with the show showing his criminal pursuits, mental health troubles, and family issues, making him an iconic character in television history.

The HBO show has been regarded as a hallmark of the crime genre, with The Penguin most certainly trying to reach a similar peak with its storytelling and portrayal of crime.