8 Shows Like Fugue State 1986 You Must See

Netflix’s ‘Fugue State 1986’ or ‘Estado de Fuga 1986’ delves into a troubling tale of two men, which becomes dangerous to the world around them. Camilo León (José Restrepo), an aspiring writer and literature student, forms an unlikely bond with Jeremías Salgado (Andrés Parra), a distraught individual who has recently committed a horrifying mass killing in a Bogotá restaurant. Their common passion for writing and literature forms the basis of their friendship, but it also leads them towards darker thoughts. As the relationship evolves, it births a sinister psychological reality within their minds, which makes them develop morally questionable fantasies.

Jumping between the past and present, the Colombian crime drama series is a layered and complex commentary on the origins of a killer, his beliefs, and the social conditions around him. Written by Ana María Parra, Antonina Kerguelen, and others, the show is inspired by the real story of Vietnam War veteran Campo Elías Delgado. Directed by Carlos Moreno and Claudia Pedraza, it is a haunting navigation of violence. These shows, similar to ‘Fugue State 1986,’ will take you into the minds of killers and the events that shaped them.

8. Crime Diaries: The Candidate (2019)

‘Crime Diaries: The Candidate’ or ‘Historia de un Crimen: Colosio’ chronicles the shocking assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta (Jorge A. Jimenez), a man running for Mexico’s presidency in 1994. This leads to shockwaves throughout the nation, even driving law enforcement into a state of chaos. Amidst the tragedy, Luis’s widow, Diana Laura Riojas de Colosio (Ilse Salas), intends to find the one responsible for the death of her husband.

As the cops apprehend and question various suspects, the journey to uncover the identity of the killer takes them on an arduous manhunt. Netflix’s Mexican biographical crime miniseries, akin to ‘Fugue State 1986,’ is inspired by real happenings. Written by Alejandro Gerber and Bicecci, the series, directed by Natalia Beristain and Hiromi Kamata, reflects the psychological realities depicted in the José Restrepo starrer.

7. Homecoming (2018–2020)

Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Homecoming,’ based on Gimlet Media’s eponymous podcast, is about a caseworker named Heidi Bergman (Julia Roberts). She works at a facility that helps soldiers get back to the norms of civilian life after experiencing the stresses of combat and war. She quits her position at the Homecoming facility, but years later, she may discover troubling truths about the corporate angles behind it. As the Department of Defense questions her about her past, she has to confront harsh realities about herself and her work. Created by Eli Horowitz, Sam Esmail, and Micah Bloomberg, the psychological thriller series reflects the element of mystery and the commentary on violence seen in ‘Fugue State 1986.’

6. The Dead Girls (2025)

‘The Dead Girls‘ or ‘Las Muertas’, centers on the lives of sisters Serafina (Paulina Gaitan) and Arcángela Baladro (Arcelia Ramírez) in the 1950s and 1960s. They build and manage a brothel empire in Mexico that leads to chaos in the region, as the siblings frequently interact with powerful figures, including politicians and military men, to achieve dominance in the criminal world. Based on Jorge Ibargüengoitia’s novel of the same name, Netflix’s Mexican crime thriller drama series follows the sisters as they hide dangerous secrets that may have a deeper impact on the girls and women they control in the brothels. Directed by Luis Estrada, the show, akin to ‘Fugue State 1986,’ is inspired by actual events and delves deeply into the reality of violence and the factors that enable it.

5. Manhunt: Unabomber (2017)

‘Manhunt: Unabomber’ depicts the actions of the enigmatic “Unabomber,” an individual wanted by law enforcement. FBI agent Jim Fitzgerald (Sam Worthington) tries to hunt down the elusive criminal before it is too late, even as he seeks sufficient government support to do the same. The heart of this first season of the crime drama anthology series ‘Manhunt’ lies in the ways in which the FBI uses a handful of clues to come up with sketches and profiles of the individual they are hunting. Created by Andrew Sodroski, Jim Clemente, and Tony Gittelson, the Discovery Channel’s show reflects the psychological profiling, criminal behavior, and the brutality of violence seen in ‘Fugue State 1986.’ Both stories draw inspiration from real-life events that led to a massive uproar.

4. Wild District (2018–2019)

Netflix’s ‘Wild District’ or ‘Distrito Salvaje’ deals with the evolution of a dangerous guerrilla fighter named Jhon Jeiver (Juan Pablo Raba). He struggles to make sense of civilian life and his morality after returning to Bogotá from the jungle areas after the signing of the peace accords. As he looks to reconnect with his estranged family, he finds himself amidst the chaos of crime in society. His most difficult battle is to choose his side in a city that appears to be enigmatic. Created by Cristian Conti, the Colombian action drama series explores the male psyche in ways similar to ‘Fugue State 1986.’ The main characters in both stories deal with the challenges of urban realities. Despite the differences in the plot elements, both stories navigate how a troubled mind can perceive certain social attitudes.

3. Waco (2018)

Created by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, ‘Waco’ is the tale of David Koresh (Taylor Kitsch), a deeply religious man who preaches seemingly extraordinary tales to his followers. He promises them the kingdom of heaven on Earth, as he discreetly seeks to gain control over them. His facility is seized by the FBI and the ATF when they perceive that he poses a major threat due to his sinister personality. This leads to a violent 51-day tension and standoff between the law enforcement agencies and the religious leader’s Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.

Set in the 1990s and created by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, Paramount’s crime drama series dramatizes real events, just like ‘Fugue State 1986.’ Based on ‘A Place Called Waco’ by David Thibodeau and Leon Whiteson, and Gary Noesner’s ‘Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator,’ it examines the themes of a massacre and its origins in ways similar to the José Restrepo starrer.

2. Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

FX’s ‘Under the Banner of Heaven,’ created by Dustin Lance Black and based on Jon Krakauer’s eponymous book, is a crime drama series that delves into the life of police detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield). His deeply held religious values are severely tested when he investigates the brutal murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her child. When he goes deeper into the secrets behind the brutality, he uncovers a more sinister motivation behind it, which leads him towards a horrifying religious group that hides disturbing secrets. On the lines of ‘Fugue State 1986,’ it explores the origins of killers and the beliefs that shaped them. Both shows feature characters whose minds are troubled by disturbing observations of the world around them.

1. The Monster of Florence (2025)

‘The Monster of Florence’ or ‘Il mostro’ deals with the enigmatic killer dubbed “The Monster” by the media. For nearly two decades, the nameless and faceless criminal brutally kills and assaults several couples in vulnerable moments in Italy. The Italian crime drama series follows the cops as they become entangled in a complicated investigation with varying truths. Created by Leonardo Fasoli and Stefano Sollima, the series explores the killer’s motives and the targeting of women. The lives of Barbara Locci (Francesca Olia) and others are intricately connected to the world of the killer. The show shares similarities with ‘Fugue State 1986,’ as it is inspired by real murders and focuses on the twisted mindset of the killer. Both shows feature depictions of the origins of crime and the social conditions around it.