Top 10 Shows Like Breaking Bad That Are Worth Watching in 2025
If you’ve recently finished Breaking Bad and found yourself staring at your screen, mourning the end of Walter White’s dark journey, you’re not alone. Millions of viewers across the United States experienced that same post-binge emptiness when the credits rolled on one of television’s greatest dramas. The good news? The golden age of television has blessed us with numerous shows that capture that same addictive blend of moral complexity, intense character development, and edge-of-your-seat storytelling that made Breaking Bad a cultural phenomenon.
Whether you’re craving more antiheroes spiraling into darkness, intricate plots that reward close attention, or simply that feeling of “just one more episode” at 2 AM, this comprehensive guide will introduce you to ten exceptional series that deserve a spot on your watchlist. These aren’t just random crime dramas; each show on this list shares DNA with Vince Gilligan’s masterpiece while offering something uniquely compelling. From the boardrooms of corporate America to the backwoods of the Ozarks, this series proves that prestige television is alive and thriving in 2025.
Let’s dive into the shows that will fill that Breaking Bad-shaped hole in your viewing schedule.
Why Breaking Bad Set the Gold Standard for Modern Television
Before we explore our recommendations, it’s worth understanding what made Breaking Bad so special. The AMC series didn’t just tell the story of a high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine kingpin; it explored the transformation of a man who “broke bad,” examining themes of pride, family, mortality, and the American Dream gone wrong.
The show’s meticulous attention to detail, cinematic visuals, patient storytelling, and willingness to let characters face real consequences created a blueprint that countless series have since attempted to follow. Each show on our list captures at least several of these elements while carving out its own identity.
1. Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
Available on: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 6
The Perfect Successor
If you loved Breaking Bad, starting with Better Call Saul is almost mandatory. This prequel series, also created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, follows the transformation of Jimmy McGill into the morally flexible lawyer Saul Goodman we met in Breaking Bad. But calling it simply a prequel doesn’t do justice to what many critics consider an equal or even superior achievement to its predecessor.
Better Call Saul takes the deliberate pacing that Breaking Bad perfected and pushes it even further, crafting a slow-burning character study that’s absolutely mesmerizing. Bob Odenkirk delivers a career-defining performance as Jimmy, a man whose good intentions consistently collide with his shortcuts and schemes. The show explores how small compromises gradually erode our moral foundations, a theme that resonates deeply with anyone who watched Walter White’s descent.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
The series brilliantly balances multiple storylines, including Mike Ehrmantraut’s journey deeper into the criminal underworld and the tragic relationship between Jimmy and his brother Chuck. The black-and-white flash-forwards showing Saul’s post-Breaking Bad life as “Gene” add another layer of intrigue that pays off spectacularly in the final season.
US viewers discovered this gem primarily through Netflix, where it became one of the platform’s most critically acclaimed original series. The show aired its finale in 2022 to universal praise, cementing the Breaking Bad universe as one of television’s greatest achievements.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Same universe, same attention to detail, same moral complexity, and cinematography that’s arguably even better.
2. Ozark (2017-2022)
Available on: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 4
Breaking Bad Meets Lake Living
When Netflix launched Ozark in 2017, critics immediately drew comparisons to Breaking Bad—and for good reason. The series follows financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), who relocates his family to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong, forcing him to launder $500 million for a Mexican drug cartel to keep his family alive.
Like Walter White, Marty is an ordinary professional who finds himself in extraordinary criminal circumstances. The show explores how decent people rationalize increasingly terrible decisions when survival is on the line. Laura Linney’s performance as Wendy Byrde is particularly stunning; her character’s transformation rivals Walter’s in its complexity and moral ambiguity.
The Midwestern Setting Makes It Uniquely American
While Breaking Bad used the stark beauty of New Mexico, Ozark employs the moody blue-gray palette of the Missouri lake country to create an atmosphere of constant dread. The show captures a specific slice of American life, including casino boats, local politics, hillbilly heroin, and struggling rural communities, making it feel distinctly relevant to US viewers in 2025.
The series became one of Netflix’s flagship dramas, earning multiple Emmy nominations and creating watercooler moments with each season release. Julia Garner’s portrayal of Ruth Langmore earned her three Emmy Awards and created one of television’s most memorable characters.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Similar premise of a family man turned criminal, escalating stakes, complicated family dynamics, and superb acting across the board.
3. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
Available on: Max (formerly HBO Max)
Number of Seasons: 6
The Godfather of Modern Prestige TV
Many argue that without The Sopranos, there would be no Breaking Bad. David Chase’s groundbreaking HBO series about New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano revolutionized television by proving that antiheroes could carry an entire series and that TV could be just as artistically ambitious as cinema.
Tony Soprano, brilliantly portrayed by the late James Gandolfini, is a murderous criminal who also struggles with anxiety, depression, and the challenges of modern family life. The show’s willingness to spend time on therapy sessions, dream sequences, and character development over action set the template that Breaking Bad would later perfect.
Still Relevant Nearly Two Decades After Its Finale
For US viewers discovering The Sopranos for the first time in 2025, the show remains shockingly contemporary. Its exploration of masculinity, mental health, American capitalism, and the gap between our idealized self-image and reality feels more relevant than ever. The series also captures a specific moment in American suburban life, the late 1990s and early 2000s, with incredible authenticity.
The controversial finale remains one of the most discussed endings in television history, proving the show’s lasting cultural impact. Available on Max, The Sopranos is essential viewing for anyone serious about understanding prestige television.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: The original antihero protagonist, complex character psychology, darkly comic moments, and the pioneering show that made Breaking Bad possible.
4. Succession (2018-2023)
Available on: Max
Number of Seasons: 4
Breaking Bad in the Boardroom
At first glance, HBO’s Succession might seem like an odd choice for Breaking Bad fans; there are no drugs, no violence, no desperate scrambles in the desert. But this darkly satirical drama about the Roy family, owners of a conservative media conglomerate, shares Breaking Bad’s DNA in crucial ways: the corruption of power, family dysfunction, and watching characters make increasingly destructive choices.
The series follows Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) adult children as they vie for control of the family empire, betraying each other and themselves in pursuit of power they may not actually want. Like Walter White, these characters are driven by ego, pride, and a toxic need to prove themselves, even as it destroys everything they claim to care about.
Sharp Writing and Performances That Cut Deep
Creator Jesse Armstrong‘s razor-sharp dialogue and the ensemble cast’s performances (particularly Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin) create television that’s simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking. The show satirizes the ultra-wealthy while also creating genuinely tragic characters, no easy feat.
For US viewers, Succession offers pointed commentary on American media, politics, and capitalism that feels urgently relevant. The show concluded in 2023 with a finale that, like Breaking Bad, delivered a satisfying yet devastating conclusion to its character arcs.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Moral degradation, family dysfunction, pride before the fall, and watching characters choose their worst impulses repeatedly.
5. The Wire (2002-2008)
Available on: Max
Number of Seasons: 5
The Most Ambitious Show on This List
David Simon’s The Wire is frequently cited alongside Breaking Bad and The Sopranos in discussions of television’s greatest achievements. This Baltimore-set crime drama operates on a scale that dwarfs most series, examining not just criminals and cops but the entire ecosystem of an American city, schools, newspapers, unions, politics, and how they all interconnect.
While Breaking Bad focused intensely on a few characters, The Wire takes a panoramic approach, creating dozens of fully realized characters across different institutions. The show argues that systemic problems, not individual morality, drive much of urban America’s dysfunction, a more sociological approach than Breaking Bad’s individual character study, but equally compelling.
Required Patience, But Worth Every Minute
The Wire demands more from viewers than most series. The show’s deliberate pacing, large cast, and refusal to explain everything immediately can feel challenging initially. But US viewers who commit to the journey consistently describe it as one of television’s most rewarding experiences.
Each season focuses on a different aspect of Baltimore life, from the drug trade (Season 1) to the education system (Season 4, often considered the best). The show’s realistic portrayal of urban America, institutional failure, and the war on drugs remains deeply relevant in 2025.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Complex characters on both sides of the law, consequences matter, patient storytelling, and a willingness to tell difficult truths about American society.
6. Fargo (2014-Present)
Available on: Hulu
Number of Seasons: 5 (with Season 6 anticipated)
Anthology Crime Drama Excellence
Inspired by the Coen Brothers’ 1996 film, FX’s Fargo takes the movie’s darkly comic tone and Midwestern setting and expands it into an anthology series where each season tells a new story with new characters (though connections exist between seasons). The result is consistently excellent television that captures the bizarre intersection of ordinary people and extraordinary violence.
Like Breaking Bad, Fargo excels at showing how small decisions cascade into disasters. The show’s characters, from insurance salesman Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) in Season 1 to salon owner Dot Lyon (Juno Temple) in Season 5, find themselves in situations that spiral wildly beyond their control, often due to their own poor choices mixed with bad luck.
Each Season Stands Alone
One advantage of Fargo’s anthology format is that you can start with any season (though Season 1 is an excellent entry point). Each story is self-contained, making it perfect for viewers who want that Breaking Bad feel without a multi-year commitment.
The series features incredible performances from top-tier actors who relish the opportunity to play quirky, morally complex characters. Billy Bob Thornton’s hitman Lorne Malvo (Season 1) and Ewan McGregor’s dual role as twin brothers (Season 3) are particular standouts.
For US viewers, Fargo captures something uniquely American: the Midwest’s peculiar culture, where “Minnesota nice” masks dark undercurrents, and violence erupts in the most unexpected places.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, dark comedy mixed with violence, consequences snowball, and superb cinematography.
7. Narcos (2015-2017) / Narcos: Mexico (2018-2021)
Available on: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 3 (Narcos) + 3 (Narcos: Mexico)
The Real-Life Breaking Bad
While Breaking Bad was fiction, Netflix’s Narcos tells the true story of the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the DEA agents who pursued him. The show later expanded with Narcos: Mexico, exploring the origins of the modern drug war through the Guadalajara Cartel.
What makes Narcos compelling for Breaking Bad fans is its exploration of how the drug trade actually works, the business decisions, political corruption, and violence required to build and maintain a narcotics empire. Pablo Escobar, portrayed brilliantly by Wagner Moura, is both monster and family man, echoing Walter White’s duality.
Educational and Entertaining
The series provides context that enriches understanding of America’s ongoing drug crisis and complicated relationship with Latin America. For US viewers, the show illuminates why immigration, border security, and drug policy remain contentious political issues in 2025.
The documentary-style narration by DEA agent Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) grounds the sometimes-unbelievable true events, while the action and character drama keep viewers hooked. Both series feature exceptional production values, filmed on location in Colombia and Mexico.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Drug empire building, cat-and-mouse games between criminals and law enforcement, family complications, and the seductive danger of the drug trade.
8. Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
Available on: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 6
Stylish Period Crime Drama
This British gangster epic follows the Shelby crime family in post-World War I Birmingham, England. Led by the calculating Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy, later the star of Oppenheimer), the Peaky Blinders gang builds a criminal empire through violence, political maneuvering, and business savvy.
While the period setting differs from Breaking Bad’s contemporary world, the themes align closely: a protagonist willing to sacrifice his humanity for power, family loyalty tested by ambition, and the psychological toll of violence. Tommy Shelby, like Walter White, is a man of intelligence and strategic thinking who uses those gifts for increasingly dark purposes.
Unique Style and Atmosphere
Creator Steven Knight gives Peaky Blinders a distinctive look and feel, with its slow-motion violence, anachronistic soundtrack (featuring modern rock and indie music), and gorgeous cinematography. The show became a phenomenon on Netflix in the US, where its stylish approach to crime drama found a devoted audience.
The series examines British class structure, the aftermath of World War I, and the rise of fascism in Europe, a historical context that resonates with contemporary political tensions. Cillian Murphy’s magnetic performance anchors the show, supported by an outstanding ensemble cast including Helen McCrory (in her final role) and Paul Anderson.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Intelligent protagonist descending into darkness, strategic criminal thinking, family as both strength and weakness, and stunning visual storytelling.
9. Yellowstone (2018-Present)
Available on: Peacock, Paramount+
Number of Seasons: 5 (with spin-offs)
Modern Western Epic
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone has become one of America’s most-watched shows, following the Dutton family as they fight to protect their massive Montana ranch from land developers, Native American reservation expansion, and their own internal conflicts. Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton, the family patriarch willing to bend or break any rule to preserve his legacy.
The show captures Breaking Bad’s exploration of how far someone will go to protect what they consider theirs. The Duttons operate in moral gray areas, using violence and political manipulation while genuinely believing they’re protecting something valuable—both the land and a way of life.
Peak Popularity in Red State America
Yellowstone has achieved something rare: massive popularity in parts of America often underserved by coastal-centric television. The show’s themes of land rights, traditional values versus progress, and rural American life resonate powerfully with viewers in 2025’s polarized cultural landscape.
The series has spawned a franchise, including prequel series 1883 and 1923, all exploring different eras of the Dutton family history. While not as cinematically refined as Breaking Bad, Yellowstone delivers addictive drama, complex family dynamics, and gorgeous Montana scenery.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Family patriarch making terrible choices to protect his empire, moral ambiguity, escalating conflicts, and characters who can’t escape the consequences of violence.
10. The Shield (2002-2008)
Available on: Hulu
Number of Seasons: 7
The Corrupt Cop Classic
Before Breaking Bad made antiheroes mainstream, FX’s The Shield told the story of Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), a Los Angeles police detective who leads a corrupt unit stealing from drug dealers and criminals. The show’s pilot features a shocking act of violence that sets up years of consequences, much like Walter White’s initial choice to cook meth.
The Shield pioneered many techniques that Breaking Bad would later use: showing a protagonist making increasingly terrible choices, exploring the collateral damage on family and colleagues, and building toward an inevitable reckoning. The series finale is considered one of television’s best, delivering justice without redemption.
Gritty and Uncompromising
Set in the fictional Farmington district of LA, the show captures the grittiness of urban policing while examining institutional corruption and personal morality. For US viewers interested in the ongoing debate about police reform, The Shield offers complex, uncomfortable perspectives that avoid easy answers.
The handheld camera work and raw performances create a documentary-like feel that makes the drama more immediate and uncomfortable. Michael Chiklis won an Emmy for his portrayal of Vic Mackey, a character as charismatic as he is monstrous.
Why fans of Breaking Bad will love it: Antihero protagonist, consequences built over seasons, shocking violence, and a finale that delivers emotional devastation.
What Makes These Shows Essential Viewing in 2025?
As we navigate the streaming wars and endless content options available to US viewers, quality curation matters more than ever. Each show on this list represents a peak television series that respects viewers’ intelligence, trusts in long-form storytelling, and isn’t afraid to take creative risks.
These aren’t shows you passively watch while scrolling your phone. They demand attention and reward it with rich character development, intricate plotting, and themes that linger long after the credits roll. In an era of algorithm-driven content and franchise extensions, these series prove that original, character-driven drama still resonates powerfully.
For anyone who appreciated Breaking Bad’s refusal to provide easy answers or comfortable villains, these shows offer similar moral complexity. They explore the American experience from suburban drug labs to corporate boardrooms to Montana ranches with honesty and ambition.
Where to Watch: Streaming Platform Guide for US Viewers
Netflix: Better Call Saul, Ozark, Narcos, Narcos: Mexico, Peaky Blinders
Max (HBO Max): The Sopranos, Succession, The Wire
Hulu: Fargo, The Shield
Peacock/Paramount+: Yellowstone
Most of these platforms offer free trials for new subscribers, and many include these series in their base subscription tiers. For the best viewing experience, we recommend watching in order rather than jumping around, as the cumulative effect of character development is crucial to appreciating these shows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What show should I watch first after finishing Breaking Bad?
Start with Better Call Saul. As a direct prequel/sequel to Breaking Bad, it’s the most natural continuation and maintains the same creative team, visual style, and moral complexity. Additionally, seeing the backstories of familiar characters enriches your appreciation of Breaking Bad.
Are these shows appropriate for family viewing?
Most shows on this list contain mature content, including violence, drug use, profanity, and sexual situations. They’re generally rated TV-MA (mature audiences). Breaking Bad fans will find similar content levels, though shows like The Shield and The Sopranos feature more explicit violence. Always check parental guides if watching with younger viewers.
How do these shows compare in terms of violence to Breaking Bad?
Breaking Bad had moments of intense violence, but used it strategically for maximum impact. The Wire and Succession are generally less violent, focusing more on institutional and psychological conflicts. Narcos, The Shield, and Peaky Blinders feature more frequent violence. The Sopranos balances brutal violence with domestic drama.
Which show has the best finale?
This is subjective, but Better Call Saul, The Shield, and Breaking Bad itself are frequently cited as having the best series finales in television history. The Sopranos’ ending remains the most debated, while Succession delivered a widely praised conclusion in 2023.
Are any of these shows still producing new episodes in 2025?
As of 2025, Fargo is expected to continue with new anthology seasons, and Yellowstone’s various spin-offs are ongoing. Most other shows on this list have completed their runs, which actually enhances the viewing experience, as you can binge without waiting for new seasons.
What’s the total time commitment for each series?
- Better Call Saul: ~60 hours
- Ozark: ~40 hours
- The Sopranos: ~86 hours
- Succession: ~39 hours
- The Wire: ~60 hours
- Fargo: ~50 hours (all seasons)
- Narcos franchise: ~60 hours
- Peaky Blinders: ~36 hours
- Yellowstone: ~50+ hours (ongoing)
- The Shield: ~88 hours
Do I need to watch these shows in any particular order?
No required viewing order exists, though watching Better Call Saul immediately after Breaking Bad maximizes the enjoyment of callbacks and references. Fargo’s anthology format allows starting with any season. Otherwise, choose based on your mood and interests.
Which streaming service offers the most shows from this list?
Netflix and Max each host three shows from this list, making them the best options if you’re choosing a single service. However, content availability changes, so verify current streaming homes before subscribing.
The Evolution of Prestige Television: From Breaking Bad to 2025
Breaking Bad didn’t just entertain; it changed television. When the show premiered in 2008, the TV landscape looked dramatically different than today. Major networks still dominated, streaming was nascent, and “prestige TV” was primarily an HBO phenomenon.
Breaking Bad’s success on basic cable (AMC) proved that great television could emerge from anywhere, helping pave the way for the streaming revolution. The show’s patient storytelling, cinematic visuals, and willingness to let characters fail badly influenced a generation of creators.
By 2025, the shows on this list represent television’s golden age, a period from roughly 2000 to 2025 where unprecedented creative freedom, massive budgets, and top-tier talent converged to create the most ambitious television in history. While the streaming model faces economic pressures and content quality concerns, these series prove that exceptional storytelling endures.
Conclusion: Your Next Binge Awaits
The end of Breaking Bad doesn’t mean the end of gripping, morally complex television. Each show on this list offers its own unique take on the themes that made Vince Gilligan’s masterpiece so compelling: the corruption of power, the complexity of family, the consequences of our choices, and the darkness lurking beneath civilized surfaces.
Whether you’re drawn to the corporate Shakespearean tragedy of Succession, the true crime scope of Narcos, or the slow-burning brilliance of Better Call Saul, these series will satisfy your craving for television that challenges, entertains, and refuses to provide easy answers.
The beauty of 2025’s streaming landscape is that all these shows are available right now, waiting for you to discover them. No week-long waits between episodes, no years between seasons, just hundreds of hours of the finest television ever produced, ready for your viewing pleasure.
What’s your pick? Have you already watched some of these shows? Which one are you planning to start next? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let us know if we missed any shows that deserve a spot on this list. And if you found this guide helpful, check out our other articles, including our [latest movies in USA guide] and [2025 entertainment guide] for more recommendations tailored to American viewers.
Happy watching, and remember, you don’t need to cook meth to enjoy incredible television. These ten shows prove that point brilliantly.
