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TV series “Breaking badbecame a real phenomenon, becoming for the crime drama genre what Game of Thrones was for fantasy.
The standard, it is almost impossible to surpass. Unfortunately, like all good things, this show ended, but besides it, there are other quite worthy TV projects of a similar theme.
We have collected 10 films and series similar to Breaking Bad, many of which you have probably seen, and something will be a pleasant discovery that will brighten up an evening or even several.
10 Sons of Anarchy (2008)
The series in the genre of crime drama told about the biker club “Sons of Anarchy”, which are engaged not only in riding motorcycles, but also in turning illegal cases.
The main thing that attracts in the series is the chic visuals: biker clothes, “iron horses” of the main and secondary characters, stunning landscapes of California (the show takes place in the California town of Charming) – all this looks bewitching.
Throw in some well-written dialogue, interesting plot twists, and charismatic characters, and we’ve got the highest rated TV series in Fox history.
9. Cocaine (2001)
2001 biographical crime film about American cocaine smuggler George Jung directed by Ted Demme.
David McKenna and Nick Cassavetes adapted Bruce Porter’s 1993 book “Blow: How a Small Town Boy Made $100 Million from the Medellin Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All.
This is based on the true stories of George Jung, Pablo Escobar, Carlos Leder Rivas (portrayed as Diego Delgado in the film), and the Medellin Cartel in general.
In addition to the interesting story that formed the basis of the film, “Cocaine“Boasts an excellent cast: Johnny Depp, Ray Liotta, Penelope Cruz and others.
The main events unfold against the backdrop of noisy parties filled with sex and drugs, but human vices are in no way encouraged by the creators, nor are they condemned: the viewer is simply shown a real story, and he must draw conclusions for himself.
8. Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Pilot episode “Underground empire” was directed by Martin Scorsese, who spent $ 18 million on it and set the tone for all subsequent series.
The series has received widespread critical acclaim, especially for its visual style and its reliance on real historical figures, as well as for the amazing acting by Steve Buscemi.
The series received 57 Primetime Emmy nominations, including two for Outstanding Drama Series, winning 20.
Boardwalk Empire also won a Golden Globe for Best TV Drama Series in 2011 and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2011 and 2012.
The events of the show begin a few hours before the “dry law” is adopted in the United States, which will begin the prosperity of the underworld.
“Dirty” money, the mafia, alcohol smuggling – everything is shown almost as it really was, and it is extremely interesting to watch this.
7. Scarface (1983)
The film was released on December 9, 1983 and grossed $44 million in the United States and $65,9 million worldwide. The initial critical reception was negative due to excessive violence, an abundance of profanity, and scenes of drug use, which were too many.
Against the movieScarfaceeven some Cuban expatriates in Miami objected to its portrayal of Cubans as criminals and drug dealers.
In later years it was overrated by critics and is now considered by some to be one of the best crime films and one of the greatest remakes of all time (the original was directed by Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson in 1932).
Writers and directors such as Martin Scorsese have praised the film, and it has had a huge impact on pop culture, hip-hop in particular. Now it is a recognized classic that almost every movie fan has seen.
6. The Sopranos (1999)
The story revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini): an Italian-American mobster from New Jersey.
The series explores the difficulties he faces in trying to balance his family life with his role as the leader of a criminal organization. His problems are explored during therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco).
In “The Soprano Massacrefeatures members of Tony’s family, mob colleagues and rivals in prominent positions, notably his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and his protégé/distant relative Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli).
Even now, 20 years after the release of the first series, the show looks amazing: the dialogues on which the plot is built are relevant and interesting, and the action scenes are at least here, and they are not needed.
5. Narco (2015)
In the first season “narco” chronicles the life of Pablo Escobar from the late 1970s, when he first started producing cocaine, until July 1992.
The show tells about the main events that took place in Colombia during this period, and about the participation of Escobar in them. This is told by Steve Murphy, an American DEA (Drug Enforcement Department) agent working in Colombia.
From the series, you can learn how Escobar first got involved in the cocaine trade in Colombia and how he became recognized “black marketer” in Medellin, transporting truckloads of illegal goods (alcohol, cigarettes and household appliances) to Colombia at a time when it was strictly prohibited.
It is noteworthy that subsequent seasons (there are 3 of them at the moment) do not “sag” and are not inferior to the pilot.
4. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
The Oscar-winning film for Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto is about a typical mid-80s Texas cowboy who leads a wild life and has unprotected sex with girls with “low social responsibility.”
One day he finds out that he has HIV infection and this event radically changes his life. He, an ardent homophobe, gradually becomes close friends with the transvestite Rayon, losing almost all of his old friends, who turned away from him in an instant.
Doctors predicted that he would die in a month, but he manages to last 7 years, during which he helps other patients by selling them contraband medicines (opening “Dallas Buyers Club“).
3. Dope (2005)
In the center of the plot of the comedy series “Datura» is single mother Nancy Botwin, who lives with two children in a wealthy California suburb.
Experiencing constant problems with money, she, a respectable American, decides to take a desperate step and becomes a marijuana dealer.
Throughout all 8 seasons (102 episodes), the viewer is waiting for jokes mixed with quite vital problems that the main character is trying to solve with varying degrees of success.
2. Richard Says Goodbye (2018)
The protagonist of the movieRichard says goodbye“- a quiet, respected by colleagues and friends teacher at the university, who tries to live right, but does not feel happy.
The situation is aggravated on the day when the doctor tells him a terrible diagnosis and confronts him with the fact that he will die soon.
Richard decides that since he has to say goodbye to life, then in the end it’s worth it to break away properly, having tried everything that he previously considered unworthy or wrong. There are no more boundaries or restrictions for him.
1. Better Call Saul (2015)
Let’s finish with the story of Jimmy McGill, the very lawyer from Breaking Bad.
The events of the seriesYou better call Saul“take place 6 years before the main character met Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, although some events take place at the same time and even after.
Of course, this spin-off cannot be compared with the original show, but it still turned out to be successful: interesting characters, an intricate plot full of unpredictable twists and much more.