Best Gangster Series On Netflix: Dirtier Than You Imagined
- 01. Best Gangster Series on Netflix That Makes Peaky Blinders Look Soft
- 02. Top 5 Gangster Series on Netflix Ranked by Intensity
- 03. 1. Gangs of London: The Most Violent Crime Drama on Netflix
- 04. 2. Narcos: The True Story of Pablo Escobar's Drug Empire
- 05. 3. Griselda: Sofía Vergara's Transformative Drug Lord Performance
- 06. 4. Ozark: Family Money-Laundering in the Missouri Ozarks
- 07. 5. The Gentlemen: Guy Ritchie's Stylish Crime Comedy Series
- 08. Which Gangster Series Should You Watch First?
Best Gangster Series on Netflix That Makes Peaky Blinders Look Soft
The best gangster series on Netflix that delivers harder-hitting violence and grittier crime drama than Peaky Blinders is Gangs of London, a brutally violent British crime thriller created by Gareth Evans (known for The Raid franchise) that premiered on Sky Atlantic in 2020 and is now streaming on Netflix. This series features extreme choreographed violence that critics have labeled "too violent" even for crime drama fans, with brutal fight scenes that make Peaky Blinders' stylized violence appear tame by comparison.
Top 5 Gangster Series on Netflix Ranked by Intensity
| Series Title | Release Year | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb Rating | Violence Level | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gangs of London | 2020-present | 91% | 8.0/10 | Extreme | 2+ (3 in pipeline) |
| Peaky Blinders | 2013-2022 | 93% | 8.8/10 | High | 6 |
| Narcos | 2015-2017 | 89% | 8.7/10 | Very High | 3 |
| Ozark | 2017-2022 | 70% | 8.5/10 | High | 4 |
| Griselda | 2024 | 86% | 7.2/10 | Very High | 1 (miniseries) |
1. Gangs of London: The Most Violent Crime Drama on Netflix
Gangs of London follows the underground criminal world of London after the assassination of crime family head Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney), triggering a brutal turf war among international gangs. His son Sean Wallace (Joe Cole, also from Peaky Blinders) attempts to avenge his father's death while power-hungry rivals try to eliminate him. The series features brutally choreographed fight sequences that critics describe as "brilliantly choreographed barbarity" with significantly more firepower than Peaky Blinders.
The show was created by Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery, both renowned for The Raid franchise, bringing martial arts-level fight choreography to television crime drama. With 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.0 IMDb rating, fans have explicitly called it "a better gangster series than Peaky Blinders". Both seasons are available on Netflix as of 2024, with season 3 confirmed in development.
2. Narcos: The True Story of Pablo Escobar's Drug Empire
Narcos chronicles the real-life events of Pablo Escobar, the billionaire King of Cocaine and leader of the Medellín Cartel, from the late 1970s through his July 1992 death. Created by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro, the series premiered on August 28, 2015, with all 10 episodes available globally on day one. Wagner Moura stars as Escobar alongside Boyd Holbrook and Pedro Pascal as DEA agents hunting him.
Season 1 covers Escobar's rise from manufacturing cocaine in the late 1970s, while Season 3 follows the DEA's pursuit of the infamous Cali Cartel after Escobar's fall. The show achieved 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.7/10 on IMDb, spawning the spinoff Narcos: Mexico in 2018. This true-to-life crime story delivers larger-than-life gravitas with authentic historical consequences that fictional dramas struggle to match.
3. Griselda: Sofía Vergara's Transformative Drug Lord Performance
Griselda is a biographical crime drama miniseries starring Sofía Vergara as Griselda Blanco, the notorious Colombian drug lord who dominated Miami's drug scene. Directed by Andrés Baiz and produced by Eric Newman and Vergara herself, the miniseries premiered on January 25, 2024, debuting at #1 on Netflix's Global Top 10 in 90 countries.
According to Nielsen data, Griselda accumulated 1.6 billion minutes of viewing time during its first week (January 22-28, 2024), marking only the fifth time a streaming original series claimed Nielsen's top position since October 2023. The following week it increased to 1.73 billion minutes (+9%), maintaining #1 for two consecutive weeks. Despite taking liberties with factual biography, Vergara's performance represents one of her most impressive dramatic turns, showcasing abilities beyond her comedy reputation.
4. Ozark: Family Money-Laundering in the Missouri Ozarks
Ozark follows a family relocating to the Lake of the Ozarks region in central Missouri to establish a massive money-laundering operation, entangling them with local crime families, cops, and cartels. Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, the series premiered in 2017 and ran for four seasons through 2022, with the final season releasing in 2022.
Jason Bateman and Laura Linney lead the ensemble cast, with Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, and Julia Garner in crucial roles. The show won four Primetime Emmy Awards out of 24 nominations and remained one of Netflix's most acclaimed series throughout its run. With complex plots, enthralling performances, and powerful drama, Ozark represents classic crime show excellence with 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.5/10 on IMDb.
5. The Gentlemen: Guy Ritchie's Stylish Crime Comedy Series
The Gentlemen is a spinoff crime comedy series created by Guy Ritchie for Netflix, inspired by his 2019 film of the same name. The series follows young aristocrat Eddie Horniman (Theo James), Duke of Halstead, who inherits his family estate only to discover ancestral lands comprise a secret weed empire. Kaya Scodelario plays enigmatic criminal mastermind Susie Glass in this slick, zany thriller.
Premiering on March 7, 2024, The Gentlemen delivered 1.21 billion minutes of viewing in its first four days, ranking #2 among all streaming series that week behind Love Is Blind. In the UK, it premiered with more than 3.5 million viewers, performing strongly for Netflix in British TV ratings. The show boasts 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.0/10 on IMDb, with season 2 currently in development.
Which Gangster Series Should You Watch First?
- Gangs of London - If you want maximum violence and action that exceeds Peaky Blinders
- Narcos - For authentic historical true crime with real-world consequences
- Griselda - For biographical drama with transformative acting performances
- Ozark - For family drama meets crime with psychological tension
- The Gentlemen - For stylish crime comedy with Guy Ritchie's signature humor
What are the most common questions about Best Gangster Series On Netflix Dirtier Than You Imagined?
What makes Gangs of London more violent than Peaky Blinders?
Gangs of London features brutally choreographed fight sequences created by Gareth Evans from The Raid franchise, with critics describing "brilliantly choreographed barbarity" and "a lot more firepower" than Peaky Blinders. The show has received criticism for being "too violent" even for crime drama fans, while Peaky Blinders uses more stylized violence.
Are these gangster series based on true stories?
Narcos and Griselda are biographical series based on true events-Narcos chronicles Pablo Escobar's real life from the late 1970s to 1992, while Griselda tells Griselda Blanco's true story with some embellishments. Peaky Blinders, Gangs of London, Ozark, and The Gentlemen are fictional dramas inspired by real people and events but not direct biographies.
How many seasons of each gangster series are available?
Peaky Blinders has 6 seasons (2013-2022), Gangs of London has 2 seasons with season 3 in pipeline, Narcos has 3 seasons (2015-2017), Ozark has 4 seasons (2017-2022), Griselda is a 1-season miniseries, and The Gentlemen has 1 season with season 2 in development.
Which gangster series has the highest ratings?
Peaky Blinders leads with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.8/10 on IMDb, followed by Narcos at 89%/8.7, Gangs of London at 91%/8.0, Griselda at 86%/7.2, The Gentlemen at 75%/8.0, and Ozark at 70%/8.5.
What viewing equipment provides the best gangster series experience?
For optimal viewing, use a smart TV or streaming device for bigger screen and better sound, though the Netflix app works well on tablets and phones for mobility. Search "gangster" or related terms like "mafia" or "crime" to find options, as Netflix has a dedicated gangster TV category.
