10 Gritty, Villain-Centric Crime Dramas To Watch While Waiting For The Penguin
The wait is finally over, or at least, the end is in sight. As of late 2025, anticipation for HBO's *The Penguin* is reaching a fever pitch, promising a dark, gritty, and unflinching dive into the criminal underworld of Gotham City, following Oswald "Oz" Cobb's brutal ascent to power. Based on the character from DC Comics and spun off from Matt Reeves' 2022 film *The Batman*, the series is a full-blown gangster drama, focusing on the anti-hero's perspective rather than the caped crusader's. The eight-episode miniseries, developed by showrunner Lauren LeFranc, is set to be a heavy, super-dark, and cinematic experience, making it the perfect bridge to *The Batman Part II*.
If you're craving more shows that explore the complex psychology of a criminal mastermind, the intense power struggles of a corrupt city, and the moral ambiguity of a true anti-hero, you're in the right place. We've compiled a list of the best, most tonally similar crime dramas—from modern 2024 hits to undisputed classics—that capture the essence of what makes Oz Cobb's story so compelling.
The Essential Anti-Hero Trilogy: The Godfather of Gritty TV
The core appeal of *The Penguin* is its focus on a mid-level gangster with limitless ambition, a theme that has defined the most celebrated crime dramas in television history. These three shows are the undisputed kings of the genre and are the most tonally similar to what Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb is bringing to the screen.
1. The Sopranos (1999–2007)
If any show is the spiritual predecessor to *The Penguin*, it is *The Sopranos*. The series follows Tony Soprano (played by the late, great James Gandolfini), a New Jersey mob boss struggling to balance his criminal empire with his family life, all while attending therapy. The show masterfully blends dark humor with brutal violence and deep psychological analysis. It is the definitive anti-hero narrative and a mandatory watch for anyone who appreciates the character complexities promised by Oz Cobb.
2. Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014)
Set during the Prohibition era, *Boardwalk Empire* chronicles the rise and fall of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who controls Atlantic City. This series is a perfect match for *The Penguin*'s focus on a character building a criminal empire from the ground up within a specific, corrupt urban landscape. The show features a sprawling cast of historical and fictional gangsters, including a young Al Capone, and is renowned for its cinematic quality and period detail.
3. Better Call Saul (2015–2022)
A prequel and sequel to *Breaking Bad*, *Better Call Saul* is a masterclass in the anti-hero's transformation. It follows the moral and professional descent of Jimmy McGill into the morally compromised lawyer Saul Goodman. The series is slower, more character-driven, and focused on the small, incremental decisions that lead a man down a criminal path—a narrative arc that parallels Oz Cobb’s journey from a low-level thug to Gotham’s new crime boss.
Recent and International Gangster Dramas (2024 & Beyond)
To keep your binge-list fresh and current, look to these recent hits and intense international series that capture the same high-stakes, ruthless environment as *The Penguin*'s Gotham City underworld. These shows prove that the gangster drama genre is thriving in the 2020s.
4. Griselda (2024)
This Netflix limited series stars Sofía Vergara as Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. As a recent series focused entirely on a real-life villain's brutal rise to power, *Griselda* shares a direct, thematic kinship with *The Penguin*. It’s a compelling, intense portrayal of a criminal who is both a ruthless boss and a complicated figure, echoing the ambition and violence of Oz Cobb.
5. The Gentlemen (2024)
Guy Ritchie's spin-off series from his 2019 film is a fast-paced, stylish, and often darkly comedic take on the British criminal underworld. The show follows Eddie Halstead, who inherits his family's estate only to discover it's the front for a massive cannabis empire. Like *The Penguin*, it deals with a character reluctantly—or sometimes eagerly—stepping into a pre-existing criminal structure and attempting to navigate the power vacuum.
6. Gomorrah (2014–2021)
Considered one of the best Italian crime dramas of all time, *Gomorrah* is based on Roberto Saviano’s non-fiction book about the Camorra crime syndicate in Naples. The show is unflinching, hyper-realistic, and tonally very dark, making it a perfect, gritty analogue to *The Penguin*. It focuses heavily on the internal power struggles, betrayals, and the cyclical nature of violence within the crime family, which is exactly the kind of atmosphere the HBO series aims to capture.
7. Ripley (2024)
Andrew Scott stars as Tom Ripley in this sleek, black-and-white adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novels. While not a traditional gangster show, *Ripley* is a pure, unadulterated anti-hero story centered on a con man and serial killer. It’s a psychological thriller about a man driven by ambition and a desire to escape his past, using charm and violence to climb the social ladder—themes that are central to Oz Cobb's character.
The Best of the Criminal Underworld Genre
These acclaimed series offer different lenses on organized crime, corruption, and the fight for control, all of which will resonate strongly with fans of *The Penguin* and its deep dive into Gotham City's criminal hierarchy. The focus here is on world-building and the systemic nature of crime.
8. Ozark (2017–2022)
*Ozark* follows financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) who must launder money for a Mexican drug cartel in the Ozarks. The series is a tense, high-stakes drama about a family being pulled deeper and deeper into a criminal life. It’s a modern example of how an ordinary person can become a criminal mastermind, mirroring the unexpected rise of the Penguin from a low-level associate to a major player.
9. Gangs of London (2020–Present)
If you want pure, over-the-top, and incredibly choreographed violence with a focus on a city's criminal ecosystem, *Gangs of London* is the choice. Following the power vacuum created by the assassination of a crime boss, the series explores the various international gangs fighting for control of the city. It’s a non-stop action-packed look at a power struggle, which is the very premise of *The Penguin* following the events of *The Batman*.
10. Narcos & Narcos: Mexico (2015–2020)
These two series provide a detailed, historical look at the rise of the drug cartels in Colombia and Mexico, respectively. They are excellent examples of the "rise to power" narrative, showing how ambitious, ruthless individuals like Pablo Escobar and Félix Gallardo built their empires. The documentary-style narration and intense, realistic portrayal of corruption and violence make them essential viewing for fans of gritty, large-scale crime sagas.
11. Power (2014–2020)
Set in New York City, *Power* tells the story of James "Ghost" St. Patrick, a wealthy nightclub owner who is also a major player in the city's drug network. The show focuses on the duality of the anti-hero—the public face versus the criminal reality—a theme that is certainly present in Oz Cobb's attempts to legitimize his status in Gotham while still operating in the shadows.
12. The Wire (2002–2008)
While not strictly an anti-hero show, *The Wire* is arguably the most comprehensive and realistic crime drama ever made. Set in Baltimore, it explores the drug trade from the perspective of both the police and the drug dealers. Its deep, layered exploration of systemic corruption, the failure of institutions, and the complex lives of its criminal characters provides a rich, intellectual foundation for understanding the world *The Penguin* inhabits.
The Definitive Binge-List for Fans of Oz Cobb
The upcoming *The Penguin* miniseries, starring Colin Farrell, is poised to be a landmark addition to the modern gangster drama genre, continuing the dark, grounded tone established in *The Batman*.
Whether you prefer the psychological depth of *The Sopranos* and *Better Call Saul*, the brutal realism of *Gomorrah* and *Narcos*, or the modern, ruthless ambition of 2024’s *Griselda* and *The Gentlemen*, this list provides over a hundred hours of high-quality, anti-hero-driven crime content. Dive into these shows to fully appreciate the complex narrative of a villain's rise as we await the return of Oz Cobb to Gotham City's criminal underworld.
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