Saagar Kote
Set in an alternate universe within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, Prime Video and MGM+’s ‘Spider-Noir’ takes place in 1930s NYC and follows Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), a weary private investigator. His life has fallen apart years after he left behind his identity as the city’s masked vigilante, The Spider. Once transformed by a radioactive spider bite and gifted with extraordinary abilities of flight, strength, and web-slinging, Ben now lives in isolation while struggling with the emotional weight of his past. His quiet existence is interrupted after nightclub singer Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li) approaches him with a missing persons case that gradually reveals something far more dangerous beneath the surface.
As the investigation pulls him deeper into conspiracies, violence, and strange mutations spreading across the city, Ben is forced to return to the role he thought he had abandoned forever and face mobsters, others with supernatural abilities, and unforeseen threats. Developed for television by Oren Uziel, the superhero series is based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man Noir, an alternate version of Spider-Man. Looking for gritty and engaging shows like ‘Spider-Noir’ set in dangerous worlds and featuring morally complex characters? You can check out this list.
12. Constantine (2014-2015)
‘Constantine’ revolves around John Constantine (Matt Ryan), a cynical English occult detective and exorcist who possesses deep knowledge of dark magic and the supernatural world. Haunted by past mistakes and burdened by guilt, he spends his life battling demonic entities and other terrifying forces threatening humanity. As a growing supernatural threat spreads across the world, John travels to various places to investigate paranormal incidents and help people tormented by unexplained horrors.
Using occult rituals and his supernatural abilities, Constantine walks a dangerous line between good and evil as he desperately searches for justice. Shaped by the creative vision of Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer, the NBC supernatural detective drama series is based on the eponymous DC Comics character. Akin to ‘Spider-Noir,’ the show is a dark and haunting exploration of a hero in crisis, facing inexplicable threats, second chances, and a seemingly impossible path towards redemption.
11. Moon Knight (2022)
With Jeremy Slater at the creative helm, ‘Moon Knight’ is a superhero series set in the MCU and based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The show centers on Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a socially awkward man whose life begins to unravel after he experiences disturbing memories that seem connected to another identity. Steven eventually discovers that he shares his body with Marc Spector, a former mercenary with dissociative identity disorder. As the boundaries between their identities become increasingly unstable, the two are pulled into a dangerous conflict involving powerful Egyptian gods and supernatural forces.
While serving as the avatar of the moon god Khonshu, Marc and Steven must navigate violent enemies as they attempt to understand the mysterious powers and responsibilities tied to the entity known as Moon Knight. While ‘Spider-Noir’ is about a superhero who comes back from a retired life to face dangers again, ‘Moon Knight’ is about a superhero coming to terms with the cost of having abilities that are both a blessing and a curse.
10. Pennyworth (2019-2022)
‘Pennyworth’ is a DC television series that depicts the early life of Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), long before he became the loyal butler of the Wayne family. In an alternate version of 1960s London, Alfred is a former British soldier attempting to build a future for himself. While establishing his own security company, Alfred becomes connected to Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), a wealthy American operating in London who would later become Bruce Wayne’s father.
As political unrest and extremist movements begin spreading through the country, Alfred is drawn into dangerous conspiracies involving the fascist Raven Society and covert organizations working against them. Balancing violence, espionage, and his own ambitions, Alfred gradually finds himself drawn deeper into a conflict shaping the city around him. Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon steer this show based on the DC Comics character Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred’s trials and tribulations, his conflict against criminals, and his fighting abilities will remind you of the struggles and challenges faced by Ben in ‘Spider-Noir.’
9. The Alienist (2018-2020)
Based on the eponymous novel by Caleb Carr, TNT’s ‘The Alienist’ is a crime thriller series set in 1896 NYC, marked by social change and violence. The narrative centers on criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl), whose unconventional methods and interest in criminal behavior earn him the title of “alienist.” After a series of brutal murders, police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) secretly assembles a small investigative team to identify the killer.
Joining Kreizler in the team are newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans), determined secretary Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), and detective brothers Marcus and Lucius Isaacson. As the group pushes deeper into the disturbing case, they face resistance from powerful figures hiding secrets. The gritty, grounded, noir-like, crime-ridden, and brutal NYC comes alive in this show, much like it does in ‘Spider-Noir’ and its haunting world.
8. Agent Carter (2015-2016)
ABC’s ‘Marvel’s Agent Carter’ or ‘Agent Carter’ is a crime drama series set within the MCU and picks up after the end of the Second World War. Brought to life by the seasoned vision of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, it is the story of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). She battles to prove herself while working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve in 1946 NYC. Peggy secretly becomes involved in a dangerous investigation after Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) is accused of selling powerful weapons to America’s enemies. Assisted by Stark’s loyal butler Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy), Peggy begins tracking down those responsible while attempting to clear Howard’s name and prevent the weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
The show is based on the Marvel Comics character Peggy Carter and follows the events of ‘Captain America: The First Avenger.’ Peggy’s experiences with the criminal underbelly of NYC and the visual styles of the show complement Ben’s journey in ‘Spider-Noir’ and its darker imagination of NYC. Both shows center on individuals who are pushed into risky situations and must use their fighting skills and smarts to survive.
7. Watchmen (2019)
‘Watchmen’ unfolds in an alternate version of 2019 Tulsa, Oklahoma, and picks up decades after masked vigilantes are outlawed. In this fractured society, historical wounds continue to shape political and social tensions. Detective Angela Abar (Regina King) becomes involved in investigating the resurgence of a white supremacist extremist group. As the investigation deepens, long-buried secrets connected to the catastrophic events of 1985 gradually resurface, including the massive conspiracy orchestrated by Adrian Veidt.
While truths from the past begin colliding with the present, Angela finds herself caught in a mystery greater than anything she has ever seen. Created by Damon Lindelof, the HBO superhero drama series serves as a continuation of the DC Comics series of the same name by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Conflicted characters, brutal worlds, criminals, unlikely heroes, and the element of unpredictability are some of the many commonalities between ‘Spider-Noir’ and ‘Watchmen.’
6. The Punisher (2017-2019)
Netflix’s ‘The Punisher’ is an action drama series crafted by the ideas of Steve Lightfoot and based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Set within the MCU, it follows Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), a former Marine whose life is shattered after the murder of his wife and children. Consumed by grief and vengeance, Frank wages a brutal one-man war against criminals throughout NYC, earning the feared reputation of “The Punisher.” While pursuing those responsible for his family’s deaths, Frank gradually uncovers a much larger conspiracy tied to hidden forces operating beyond the city’s criminal underworld.
As the investigation deepens and powerful enemies close in, Frank is forced into increasingly dangerous confrontations while struggling to uncover the truth. While ‘The Punisher’ is about personally motivated justice and vendetta carried out by a skilled man, ‘Spider-Noir’ centers on the idea of ensuring justice for others. Both Frank and Ben are men struggling to find meaning in life, and they try to achieve this by choosing to fight against the odds.
5. Gotham (2014-2019)
‘Gotham’ follows detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie), an honest officer within a deeply corrupt police department. Alongside his cynical partner Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), Gordon investigates the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, a case that leaves young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) traumatized and obsessed with understanding the violence surrounding the city. As Gordon digs deeper into Gotham’s criminal underworld, he becomes entangled in a growing power struggle involving dangerous crime figures such as Carmine Falcone and Oswald Cobblepot. While corruption, gang wars, and crime consume the city, Bruce quietly witnesses the chaos around him and embarks on a transformative journey.
Based on characters from DC Comics, the Fox superhero crime drama series from the creative mind of Bruno Heller is an engaging watch. The show shares a strong connection with ‘Spider-Noir’ as it explores the criminal elements of a major city, while also exploring the moral conundrums of characters willing to fight for moral values, but challenged by extraordinary threats. While the Marvel show enhances the storyline of the web-slinging hero, the DC show examines the early stages of the Caped Crusader.
4. Daredevil: Born Again (2025-)
Disney+’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ is based on the Marvel Comics character Daredevil and continues the story established in ‘Daredevil’. A part of the MCU, the superhero crime drama series deals with Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) during a period when he has stepped away from his masked vigilante identity. However, as violence and instability begin spreading across Hell’s Kitchen and the rest of New York City, Matt finds it increasingly difficult to remain detached from the chaos around him. At the same time, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) starts pursuing greater political influence while secretly advancing dangerous plans from behind the scenes.
With tensions escalating and the city’s future increasingly threatened, Matt is forced to confront his past once again and return as Daredevil to challenge Fisk’s growing power. The creative team of Dario Scardapane, Matt Corman, and Chris Ord steers this show, which is riveting and unpredictable. In both ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and ‘Spider-Noir,’ we see a superhero forced to put his suit back on as unforeseen threats emerge in NYC. Matt, like Ben, faces moral questions, deadly enemies, and an unforgiving city that hides secrets in every corner.
3. Perry Mason (2020-2023)
Set in LA during 1932, HBO’s ‘Perry Mason’ reimagines the early years of Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys) before he becomes a celebrated defense attorney. Perry works as a struggling private investigator living through financial hardship while carrying emotional scars from his wartime experiences and failed marriage. His life changes after he becomes interested in a child kidnapping case. As Perry investigates the crime, he uncovers corruption and hidden agendas.
The deeper he goes into the case, the more dangerous the consequences become for both him and the powerful figures connected to the investigation. With Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald at the creative helm, the historical drama series is based on the character of the same name by Erle Stanley Gardner. Akin to how ‘Spider-Noir’ explores the charms and horrors of NYC in the 1930s through the trials and tribulations of Ben Reilly and his war against criminals, ‘Perry Mason’ does the same in LA during the same period.
2. Jessica Jones (2015-2019)
‘Jessica Jones’ or ‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’ is a Netflix superhero drama series that centers on the life of the titular character (Krysten Ritter), a former superhero who abandons her costumed past and begins working as a private investigator in NYC. Haunted by traumatic experiences, Jessica struggles to maintain control while handling dangerous and deeply personal cases through her detective agency. Much of her trauma is tied to Kilgrave (David Tennant), a manipulative man with the terrifying ability to control people’s minds. After resurfacing in Jessica’s life, Kilgrave forces her to confront painful memories and the consequences of a past encounter that destroyed her brief superhero career.
As Jessica attempts to stop him and protect others from his influence, she is drawn into increasingly intense confrontations that test her resolve. Created by Melissa Rosenberg, the show is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and unfolds in the MCU. Much like Ben Reilly in ‘Spider-Noir,’ Jessica is a superpowered PI operating in a gritty urban landscape, forced to step back into a hero’s role to face an unexpected, dangerous threat. Both Jessica and Ben must come to terms with the psychological and physical costs of their powers and the role they play in the lives of ordinary people.
1. Daredevil (2015-2018)
With Drew Goddard as the creative force, ‘Daredevil’ or ‘Marvel’s Daredevil’ is the tale of Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer living in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. Blinded as a child in a chemical accident, Matt develops extraordinarily heightened senses that allow him to experience the world in ways far beyond ordinary human ability. By day, Matt works as an attorney determined to fight injustice through the legal system, but at night, he secretly becomes the masked vigilante Daredevil, taking on violent criminals. As he battles criminal organizations, Matt gradually uncovers a much larger conspiracy tied to Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), a powerful and ruthless figure attempting to reshape the city.
This leads to a clash between Matt and Wilson, who leave no stone unturned to cause each other damage. The superhero crime drama series is based on the Marvel Comics character Daredevil and is a part of the MCU. The show, akin to ‘Spider-Noir,’ is a quintessential Marvel offering that explores themes of morality and justice in a broken city where empathy is in short supply. While the web-slinger fights to redeem himself as an aging man, Matt fights to save the soul of the city and prevent it from getting corrupted. The visual elements and the character dynamics in the shows connect them on a greater level.
Read More: Where is Spider-Noir Filmed?
