If You Love Peaky Blinders, Give These 10 Other Period Crime Dramas A Try

The British crime drama Peaky Blinders was among the greatest BBC series ever created, and many viewers will be searching for something similar to check out next. While the long-awaited upcoming Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Manwill soon fill a Thomas Shelby-sized hole in audiences' lives, there were also plenty more fantastic period shows to catch up with in the meantime. From thrilling police series of Victorian officers on the trail of notorious serial killers to exciting explorations of the Colombian cocaine trade, there’s been no shortage of excellent crime dramas in recent years.

While Peaky Blinders featured some all-time great TV characters, it was not the only show Steven Knight created that explored crime in a historical setting. Plenty of fantastic British crime dramas also included Peaky Blinders actors who brought the same level of commitment to their new shows, while some of the very best HBO series can also live up to the lofty expectations set by Birmingham’s most notorious street gang. Although Peaky Blinders was one of the best shows of all time, it was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to compelling period crime dramas.

10 Ripper Street (2012 - 2016)

5 Seasons

While the real Peaky Blinders was a notorious criminal gang running amok in Birmingham since the late 1880s, this period also housed a killer far more infamous than those working-class thieves. This was because, during the same time, Jack the Ripper was active in Whitechapel, London, and to this day, this serial killer has remained a fascinating figure. The search for this heinous lady killer informed the BBC series Ripper Street, which explored the police force tasked with bringing him down.

While the crimes of Jack the Ripper were central to Ripper Street, the show also explored the factories, rookeries, chop shops, brothels, and pubs affected by his shocking crimes. With sharp dialogue, a Dickensian style, and dark undertones, Ripper Street brought Victorian London to life in a way few series achieve. Featuring five fantastic seasons to catch up on, Ripper Street was the perfect Peaky Blinders replacement show.

9 Narcos (2015 - 2017)

3 Seasons

One thing that the Shelby family had in common with the brutal criminal underworld of the cartel was their ruthless ambition and willingness to embrace crime in the pursuit of power. This was as true for Thomas Shelby as it was for Pablo Escobar in Narcos. As a genuine historical figure and one of the most notorious drug kingpins who ever lived, the way that Escobar (Wagner Moura) oversaw the Medellín Cartel in Colombia was every bit as thrilling as Shelby’s rise in the criminal underworld of Birmingham.

Peaky Blinders and Narcos both feature cunning and dangerous protagonists who use their sharp minds to expertly strategize their every move. Add to this the political undertones of their criminal endeavors, and it's fascinating to see how the post-WWI economic struggles of Peaky Blinders juxtapose with the rise of the cocaine trade in Columbia in Narcos. While they may look like very different shows at first glance, upon further inspection, they had a lot in common.

8 The Alienist (2018 - 2020)

2 Seasons

Much like Peaky Blinders, the period crime drama The Alienist blends fact and fiction in a way that allows for a gritty sense of historical intrigue while not being pigeonholed by the expectations of genuine biographical drama. Set in mid-1890s New York City, The Alienist starred Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, and Dakota Fanning investigating a child-murdering serial killer. With stylish cinematography and a noir atmosphere, the sense of danger underpinning this period series made for thrilling viewing.

While Peaky Blinders focused more on providing viewers an insider's glimpse into the world of organized crime, The Alienist differentiated itself by examining the psychology of criminality. With an ensemble cast that mainly focused on the side of the law, The Alienist explored those trying to expose and disrupt the criminal underbelly of New York society that plagued its citizens during this time.

7 Godfather Of Harlem (2019 - Present)

3 Seasons

Those who have caught up on Peaky Blinders and are craving another cunning and engaging criminal protagonist to latch onto look no further than Godfather of Harlem. With Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, Godfather of Harlem told a fictionalized account of this Harlem crime boss’s battle to reclaim control of the streets from the Italian mafia. Having returned from prison after ten years, Bumpy was forced to reckon with the changes that had occurred in his community and form new alliances to take back control.

Godfather of Harlem explored not just the criminal underworld of Harlem but also the social, political, and civil rights issues of Black Americans during this time. With the civil rights leader Malcolm X (Nigél Thatch) as a major character, Godfather of Harlem highlighted the social upheavals and complexities that threatened to tear Harlem communities apart. As a thrilling series filled with great performances, Godfather of Harlem deserves far more credit as one of the best shows to come out in recent years.

6 Babylon Berlin (2017 - Present)

4 Seasons

While Babylon Berlin and Peaky Blinders each focus on the aftermath of the First World War, they showcase this era from two very different perspectives. While Thomas Shelby suffered from PTSD from his time as a sergeant major in the war, Babylon Berlin transported viewers to the Weimar Republic to depict Berlin during the 1920s. With Volker Bruch as Inspector Gereon Rath, a former combat veteran of the Imperial German Army, he must adapt to the world of policing as he’s transferred from his hometown of Cologne to Berlin.

In the same way that the war changed Thomas Shelby forever, Inspector Gereon returned from the battlefield with a morphine addiction and survivor’s guilt following the loss of his brother. With a focus on crime and corruption, Inspector Gereon uncovered a society plagued by corruption as he interacted with the gangsters and criminals he was tasked with bringing down. As a series led by a flawed but compelling protagonist, Peaky Blinders fans will find a lot to love in Babylon Berlin.

5 Miss Scarlet And The Duke (2020 - 2025)

5 Seasons

One of the most striking things about Peaky Blinders was its incredible visual style and the era-appropriate costumes of its characters. Those who enjoy the costume design and wardrobe side of period crime dramas should also check out Miss Scarlet and The Duke, a stunning Victorian mystery series as stylish as it was suspenseful. With Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin as the Victorian detective title characters, themes of class and social expectations were central to the appeal of this series.

While Miss Scarlet and The Duke was notably more lighthearted than Peaky Blinders, it still delivered carefully crafted mysteries with sharp dialogue, witty writing, and an engaging insight into a corrupt society. While Martin as The Duke sadly exited the show at the end of season 4, the show ran for one more season under a new title, Miss Scarlet, to account for his absence.

4 Copper (2012 - 2013)

2 Seasons

Copper

TV-MA

Action & Adventure

Drama

Crime

Release Date: 2012 - 2013-00-00
Network: BBC America
Directors: Kari Skogland

Cast

See All

Tom Weston-Jones
Kevin Corcoran
Anastasia Griffith
Elizabeth Haverford
Franka Potente
Eva Heissen
Kyle Schmid
Robert Morehouse

Copper follows Kevin Corcoran, a young Irish immigrant policeman in 1860s New York City, as he navigates the tumultuous Five Points neighborhood. Amidst his duties, he searches for answers regarding his wife's disappearance and his daughter's death.

Seasons: 2

As BBC America's first original scripted program, it was only appropriate that Copper leaned into the mythos of United States history. Set in 1860s New York, Copper starred Tom Weston-Jones as an Irish policeman patrolling the Five Points neighborhood and trying to keep the peace among all the immigrant groups that make up his community. While working on the streets as a “copper,” Officer Kevin "Corky" Corcoran is also searching for information on his missing wife and murdered daughter, who he was separated from while fighting for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Copper addressed the aftereffects of the Civil War on American society and the social friction between the aristocracy of New York and its African American population. With a morally complex protagonist trying to navigate his position with personal troubles, the social upheaval, corruption, and crime that make up Corcoran’s day-to-day life was almost like a mirrored reflection of Thomas Shelby’s criminal empire in Peaky Blinders.

3 Deadwood (2004 - 2006)

3 Seasons

One of the best things about period crime dramas like Peaky Blinders is that they give us insight into eras and lifestyles we will never experience. While criminals like Thomas Shelby made for fearsome protagonists, they were oddly charismatic and insanely watchable. The same can be said for the depiction of the Wild West in HBO’s Deadwood, a Western series that showcases the final days of the American frontier, as law and order slowly start to infringe on the chaotic encampment that is fast-growing into a genuine town.

At the center of Deadwood was Ian McShane as Al Swearengen, the notorious owner of The Gem Saloon, an establishment every bit as shady as The Garrison in Peaky Blinders. Deadwood was truly one of the greatest Western TV series of all time, as it showcased the complex social structures and underhanded politics that inform the criminal side of the Wild West. While Deadwood was sadly prematurely canceled after just three seasons, much like Peaky Blinders, it received a long-awaited conclusion years later with Deadwood: The Movie from 2019.

2 Boardwalk Empire (2010 - 2014)

5 Seasons

For those looking to fill a Peaky Blinders-shaped gap in their lives, look no further than HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. This thrilling period of crime drama was set in New Jersey during the Prohibition era and gave a unique insight into criminal behavior, shady practices, and constant bootlegging, which categorized this fascinating time in United States history. While the peaked caps of Birmingham’s most notorious gang were nowhere in sight, they were replaced by depictions of genuine criminals from the Prohibition era.

Boardwalk Empire boasted some serious talent as the pilot episode was directed by gangster movie legend Martin Scorsese, who set the tone for the entire series. With Steve Buscemi in the lead role as the corrupt treasurer Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the impressive ensemble cast also included the likes of Michael Shannon. Stephen Graham, who appeared as Hayden Stagg in the sixth season of Peaky Blinders, even had a significant role as Al Capone.

1 Taboo (2017)

1 Season

Peaky Blinders fans should feel very comfortable entering the world of Taboo, as it was not only co-created by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight but also starred Alfie Solomons’ actor Tom Hardy. Set in 1814, Taboo starred Hardy as James Delaney, a man returning to England after 12 years in Africa following his father's death. As a series exploring the dark side of 19th-century London amidst the end of Britain's 1812 War with the U.S., Taboo maintained the social, political, and economic intrigue that elevated Peaky Blinders.

With a focus on complex issues involving political corruption, criminal gangs, and the East India Trading Company, Taboo shone a light on the foes of both the wealthy and the working class. With stunning visuals, expert pacing, and a strong performance from Hardy, although it only ran for one season, Taboo was first-rate British television. Those with a love for Peaky Blinderswould be doing themselves a disservice if they didn’t check out Taboo.

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