12 Shows Like The Gentlemen You Must See

Created by Guy Ritchie, Netflix’s ‘The Gentlemen’ is a crime comedy-drama series and a spin-off of his film of the same name. The story follows Edward Horniman, AKA Eddie (Theo James), a former army captain who unexpectedly inherits his father’s sprawling estate. What initially appears to be a straightforward inheritance quickly takes a strange turn when Eddie discovers that the property is being used as the base for a massive cannabis operation. Thrust into a criminal world he knows little about, Eddie soon finds himself dealing with dangerous competitors and the powerful crime boss Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone), who controls the business.

Eddie’s situation becomes even more complicated when he encounters Bobby’s daughter, Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), who is deeply involved in the family’s operations. Once Eddie and Susie start working together to protect and grow the enterprise, Eddie must navigate shifting alliances, escalating threats, and difficult choices about how far he is willing to go to keep his newfound empire. If the premise of the narrative appealed to you, these shows, similar to ‘The Gentlemen,’ include layered character arcs, unpredictable threats, and questions of legacy that will entertain you.

12. White Gold (2017-2019)

‘White Gold’ is a British sitcom set in 1980s Essex that centers on Vincent Swan (Ed Westwick). He is a morally flexible salesman determined to make a fortune selling double-glazed windows. Working at Cachet Windows, Vincent leads a team that includes Brian Fitzpatrick (James Buckley) and Martin Lavender (Joe Thomas). For Vincent, every customer is an opportunity and every sale is worth bending a few rules. While the team members compete for money, they are caught between Vincent’s appetite for success and the complications created by his methods.

Away from the showroom, his professional ambitions collide with problems in his personal life, leading to inner turmoil. The Damon Beesley creation revolves around ambitious men building a lucrative business, with questionable ethics becoming an essential part of their success, akin to ‘The Gentlemen.’ Eddie Horniman and Vincent Swan are charismatic operators who inherit or enter worlds where influence matters, but both quickly learn that controlling their businesses is easier said than done.

11. The Responder (2022-2024)

Set in Liverpool, ‘The Responder’ is a British police procedural series that revolves around Chris Carson (Martin Freeman). He is a troubled police officer who has been demoted and now works exhausting night shifts across the city. Already struggling with the emotional scars of his past, Chris finds himself pulled into an increasingly complicated situation when Casey (Emily Fairn), a young drug addict, steals cocaine belonging to dealer Carl Sweeney (Ian Hart). Chris attempts to protect Casey, but his intervention puts him directly in Carl’s path and draws him deeper into Liverpool’s criminal underworld.

Alongside Chris is Rachel Hargreaves (Adelayo Adedayo), an inexperienced partner whose beliefs clash with the realities of police work. Amidst all the chaos, Chris must decide how much of himself he is willing to sacrifice to do what he believes is right. With Tony Schumacher providing the creative vision, the narrative, similar to ‘The Gentlemen,’ explores morally complicated characters as they navigate the complexities of the criminal underworld and unexpected dangers.

10. The Gold (2023-2025)

Created by Neil Forsyth, ‘The Gold’ is a British crime drama series inspired by the real-life Brink’s-Mat robbery of 1983. The show begins with what appears to be a straightforward armed raid near Heathrow Airport, when a gang led by Micky McAvoy (Adam Nagaitis) breaks into a security depot expecting to steal cash. Instead, they discover and steal gold worth £26 million. The sheer scale of the theft creates a far bigger problem, as the stolen gold must be converted into usable wealth without exposing those involved.

While detectives begin investigating, the trail leads into a complex web of dangerous players. Over the following years, the consequences spread far beyond the original thieves, with the stolen fortune becoming connected to organized crime and much more. ‘The Gentlemen’ and ‘The Gold’ both explore Britain’s criminal underworld and the enormous amounts of money generated through illicit activity. The shows feature multiple characters pursuing their own interests and forming alliances that can shift.

9. McMafia (2018)

‘McMafia’ is the tale of Alex Godman (James Norton), the English-raised son of Russian crime-family exiles, who has deliberately built a life far removed from his family’s criminal history. Running a legitimate business and planning a future with his girlfriend Rebecca (Juliet Rylance), Alex believes he can keep that past behind him. However, a murder brings his family’s connections back into his life, forcing him to confront the world he has spent years avoiding. Alex becomes increasingly entangled in international organized crime and drawn into a vast criminal network spanning continents. What begins as an attempt to protect his family gradually pulls Alex deeper into a world where legitimate business and organized crime are often impossible to separate.

With Hossein Amini and James Watkins stepping in as creators, the British crime drama series is inspired by Misha Glenny’s book ‘McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld.’ Both ‘The Gentlemen’ and ‘McMafia’ explore how wealth and organized crime can become intertwined. Eddie Horniman and Alex Godman both enter criminal worlds they did not entirely choose, but Eddie inherits an empire while Alex is gradually pulled back toward his family’s buried history.

8. Top Boy (2011-2013 and 2019-2023)

‘Top Boy,’ created by Ronan Bennett, follows Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane Robinson) as they navigate the dangerous world of drug dealing in East London. Their desire to build power brings them into conflict with rival gangs, while changing alliances make their criminal ambitions increasingly difficult to pursue. When Dushane and Sully attempt to strengthen their position, the impact of their actions reaches far beyond the drug trade. The series also focuses on people living in the same housing estates, many of whom struggle with poverty, violence, and the difficult circumstances surrounding them.

Through the lives of both criminals and local residents, the British crime drama series examines how the environment can influence people’s choices and shape their attempts to escape a life connected to crime. Navigating such a world, Dushane and Sully realize that hard choices may have to be made to truly attain the meaning they are looking for. Akin to ‘The Gentlemen,’ the show explores the pursuit of power within Britain’s drug trade and legacies that people fight for in volatile spaces where friendship and enmity are not so easily defined.

7. Boat Story (2023)

‘Boat Story’ is a British comedy thriller series that throws two financially struggling strangers into an unexpectedly dangerous criminal mess. Janet (Daisy Haggard) and Samuel (Paterson Joseph) are leading difficult lives when they discover a boat containing a huge supply of cocaine. Seeing an opportunity to escape their financial problems, the pair agrees to sell the drugs and divide the money. Their seemingly simple plan quickly collapses when the cocaine’s owners come looking for it. Soon, Janet and Samuel are targeted by the gangster known as The Tailor (Tchéky Karyo). What begins as an attempt by two ordinary people to improve their circumstances turns into a desperate struggle to stay alive while holding on to their newfound fortune.

With the stakes rising, Janet and Samuel discover that getting rich may be considerably easier than escaping the criminal world they have accidentally entered. With Harry and Jack Williams providing their creative voice, the narrative revolves around the dangerous consequences of possessing something criminals desperately want, much like ‘The Gentlemen.’ Eddie enters organized crime to protect what belongs to his family, whereas Janet and Samuel become criminals by accident as they attempt to escape their financial struggles.

6. The Outlaws (2021-2024)

‘The Outlaws’ is a British crime thriller comedy series that brings seven very different offenders together for community service in Bristol. Among them are student Rani (Rhianne Barreto), Diane Pemberley (Jessica Gunning), and others. Their punishment involves renovating a building, but their routine changes dramatically when the group comes across a bag containing a large amount of cash. Seeing an opportunity to benefit from their discovery, they consider keeping the money for themselves without realizing the threats.

The cash, however, is connected to dangerous drug dealers and criminals who are determined to recover it. Suddenly, the seven offenders find themselves dealing with problems far more serious than their original crimes. The Elgin James and Stephen Merchant creation is a story of an accidental discovery that changes everything for the characters involved, similar to Eddie’s experiences in ‘The Gentlemen.’

5. Brassic (2019-2025)

‘Brassic’ is a British comedy-drama series set in the town of Hawley, where Vinnie O’Neill (Joe Gilgun) and his longtime friends have grown accustomed to getting by with very little. With legitimate opportunities scarce, Vinnie, Dylan (Damien Molony), Cardi, Ash, Tommo, and JJ turn to petty crimes and increasingly ridiculous schemes to make money. Their friendship has kept them together since childhood, but adulthood is beginning to pull them in different directions. Dylan finds himself caught between his loyalty to the group and his girlfriend Erin’s (Michelle Keegan) desire to leave Hawley.

The friends struggle with money, relationships, and the possibility of outgrowing their hometown. For Vinnie and Dylan, walking away from the only life they know may prove harder than anything else. With Joe Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst serving as creators, the story, much like ‘The Gentlemen,’ places strong emphasis on loyalty and responsibility in a world of crime and uncertainty. Eddie must decide how deeply he wants to embrace a life of crime, while Dylan questions whether he should remain with Vinnie and the gang.

4. Kin (2021-)

Peter McKenna and Ciaran Donnelly are the creative team behind ‘Kin,’ which centers on the Kinsella family. The death of a young boy pulls the family into a dangerous conflict that alters their lives in unimaginable ways. Led by Frank Kinsella (Aidan Gillen), the family finds itself locked in an increasingly violent struggle with Eamon Cunningham (Ciarán Hinds), a powerful figure whose influence extends far beyond Dublin. While threats against the Kinsellas intensify, their survival depends not only on how they respond to their enemies but also on how firmly they can stand together.

The Kinsellas draw strength from their shared history and their determination to protect one another, turning their family bond into a force that keeps them afloat in the criminal world. The Irish crime drama series reflects the spirit of ‘The Gentlemen’ through its nuanced examination of the intertwining of family and crime. The characters are forced into situations that compel them to make difficult choices to ensure the survival of their loved ones.

3. Gangs of London (2020-)

‘Gangs of London’ begins with a murder that destabilizes London’s entire criminal hierarchy. Finn Wallace, the head of the city’s most powerful crime family, is assassinated, leaving a dangerous vacuum. His son, Sean Wallace (Joe Cole), attempts to take control of the family’s vast criminal operation with the support of family members and trusted associates. But Finn’s death quickly draws rival groups into a struggle for territory, money, and influence. When tensions spread, an undercover police officer, Elliot Carter (Sope Dirisu), infiltrates the Wallace organization, hoping to exploit its moment of vulnerability. With alliances constantly shifting, Sean must prove he can hold his father’s empire together at a vulnerable, transformative phase.

Created by Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery, the British action crime drama series is based on the eponymous video game. ‘The Gentlemen’ and ‘Gangs of London’ both depict London’s criminal underworld as a network of competing players and uncertainty. Eddie Horniman and Sean Wallace both inherit powerful criminal operations after the previous generation, forcing them to establish authority while surrounded by people with their own agendas.

2. Snatch (2017-2018)

‘Snatch’ follows a group of young hustlers whose lives change after they stumble upon stolen gold bullion. At the center is Albert Hill (Luke Pasqualino), a small-time criminal trying to support his mother while dealing with debts. His fortunes become even more complicated when he joins forces with Charlie Cavendish-Scott (Rupert Grint), a wealthy man, and Billy Ayers (Lucien Laviscount), an aspiring boxer. Their discovery of gold suddenly puts them on the radar of people far more dangerous. The group attempts to profit from the stolen gold and becomes entangled with corrupt police officers and dangerous mobsters. The opportunity to escape their ordinary struggles soon becomes a frantic fight to stay ahead of London’s criminal underworld while trying to establish themselves within it.

The Alex De Rakoff creation is loosely based on director Guy Ritchie’s eponymous movie and is also inspired by a real heist. ‘The Gentlemen’ uses grand country estates and polished interiors to give its crime world a luxurious appearance, while ‘Snatch’ has a more chaotic urban aesthetic filled with London streets and rougher surroundings. The two shows also feature characters who deal with the consequences of discovering something of value.

1. Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

Creator Steven Knight’s ‘Peaky Blinders’ is a British historical crime drama series set in post-World War I Birmingham, where the Shelby family strives to establish itself as a formidable criminal force. Thomas Shelby, AKA Tommy (Cillian Murphy), is a former soldier whose ambitions stretch well beyond the streets controlled by his family’s gang. When a shipment of stolen guns falls into his hands, Tommy recognizes an opportunity to use the situation to expand the family’s influence and move into more powerful territory. His growing ambitions, however, attract the attention of Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill). Tommy begins challenging rival gangs, and the Shelbys become increasingly exposed to threats.

The story evolves into a much larger struggle for power, with Tommy repeatedly forced to keep his family’s legacy intact against seemingly insurmountable odds. ‘The Gentlemen’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’ both follow ambitious crime families expanding their influence. Eddie Horniman and Tommy Shelby are both well-dressed men who assume control of lucrative criminal operations and quickly discover that maintaining power requires more than simply defeating their immediate rivals.