Sons of Anarchy is a US action crime TV show developed by Kurt Sutter. The story revolves around the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in California's central valley. If you have missed watching Sons of Anarchy, you can explore these 9 TV shows that will ride right into that empty spot in your heart. From biker gangs to drug cartels, each series explores dangerous worlds where family ties clash with power, survival, and betrayal. Get ready for the gripping stories & unforgettable characters.
Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
The list of 9 shows like Sons of Anarchy is given below:
9. Animal Kingdom (2016)

Animal Kingdom is a US crime drama TV show produced by Jonathan Lisco. The show premiered on TNT on June 14, 2016. Viewers have seen Joshua Cody move in with his criminal relatives after his mother passed away. He currently resides with the Cody family, led by his tough grandmother, Smurf. Throughout six seasons, the show highlighted Cody's perilous surroundings. The family makes all of its members feel like blood, even if they are not.
Some of the scenes in this series have genuine effects. In Season 5, viewers might have noticed the Cody brothers experience chaos after Smurf dies. With no leader, old enemies return and trust breaks. Those who watched liked that it didn't hold back. The show's themes of loyalty, power struggles, and the cost of living illegally are comparable to those of Sons of Anarchy.
8. Boardwalk Empire (2010)

Boardwalk Empire is a TV series that centers on a city treasurer, Nucky Thompson. Nucky runs both legal and illegal businesses. The series shows us crime, power, and loyalty. As he attempts to preserve his position of control, Nucky's problems are exacerbated by rivals and the law. The main cast includes Steve Buscemi. It recounts the rise of organized crime across America. One IMDb user said,
"Boardwalk Empire is absolutely, without a doubt one the best gangster shows ever created."
The show aired for five seasons and was highly regarded for its acting and historical value. It makes clear how crime families fight battles within their own groups and outside them. Viewers of Sons of Anarchy will enjoy the drama, betrayal, and moral struggles of Boardwalk Empire.
7. Narcos (2015)

Narcos tells the compelling true stories of drug lords from the late 1980s and the emergence of the cocaine trade in Colombia. The series is intense and presents both criminals and the law. Viewers have seen Escobar extend his power by instilling fear and helping poor people. The series explains how his drug empire grew and how hard it was to bring him down. It portrays danger from both sides in this battle.
Narcos ran for three seasons and became one of Netflix's biggest hits. In season 1 episode 3, Netflix fans might have seen Murphy and Pena dig deep into the dirty side of politics. They work together to stop Escobar from gaining power. Sons of Anarchy and Narcos share two characteristics: crime and power. These are also about what people pay for their choices. The show is fast-paced and full of tension.
6. The Shield (2022)

The Shield is a TV show about crooked cops & the messy world they live in. The show's Strike team was inspired by the real incident of a police scandal in Los Angeles. In the show, viewers see that the team is led by Detective Vic Mackey, who often breaks the law to get results. Many actors from The Shield also appeared in Sons of Anarchy.
Both series have very dark stories where the characters conduct bad actions for what they perceive as right. The Shield was one of the first television series to air that showed raw police corruption. It also shared gangs with Sons of Anarchy, including the One-Niners.
5. Hells on Wheels (2011)

Hell on Wheels is a Western TV show about Cullen Bohannon. Cullen is a former soldier bent on revenge, working on building the first railroad across America. It's set just after the Civil War and features a world full of crime, violence, and impossible choices, much like Sons of Anarchy.
The railroad camp is filled with survivors, many involved with criminal activities and fighting for power. Anson Mount stars as Cullen, a man who only looks out for himself. The series is dark and full of action. It has run for five seasons and has portrayed the difficulties of life in that century. Viewers who loved Sons of Anarchy will appreciate the harsh atmosphere and the powerful leading characters.
4. Ozark (2017)

Ozark follows the Byrde family as they enter the criminal world after Jason Bateman's character Marty is forced to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel. This Netflix series introduces a family living dangerously and making impossible choices. As in Sons of Anarchy Ozark involves how crime tears through families and forces the characters to make choices that would always be wrong but necessary for survival. An IMDb user said,
"It was a very riveting series with lots of twists and turns throughout."
With every season change, there comes an increase in the tensions in this corrupt politician and rival gangsters vs. the law enforcers scenario. It is a show that presents a huge amount of drama whose storylines are carried out over more than one episode, leaving you wondering whether any of the characters is going to make it or not. The two series are also similar as to the fact that a criminal business organization ruins a family by deceiving it and using violence. Ozark ran for four seasons and offers dramatic crime without glamorizing it.
3. The Sopranos (1999)

The Sopranos altered the face of television with its unique premise. New Jersey mafia boss Tony Soprano juggles running his crime family and attending therapy sessions. It is an award-winning HBO series that explores the inner intricacy of organized crime through another in-depth character study. The Sopranos shows how one crime family can face power struggles & threats from rivals. James Gandolfini's performance as Tony became iconic in ways that revealed the brutal criminal leader who showed vulnerability to bouts of panic attacks.
The Sopranos was praised for its unpolished portrayal of organized crime. Both The Sopranos & Sons of Anarchy shows offer insight into ethically savvy individuals who act outside of social standards. This show received recognition for its uncompromising approach to combating organized crime.
2. Peaky Blinders (2013)

Peaky Blinders is a dramatization of a crime gang in post-World War I Birmingham. The leader of the gang in the show is ambitious Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy. This series and Sons of Anarchy have much in common. Crime narrative, family stories, violence, and characters with morally neutral values are among the details in the Peaky Blinders.
The period setting of the show gives it a touch of historical flavor and filming excellence, although the violence remains realistic, with its consequences being very harsh. Similar to Sons of Anarchy Peaky Blinders depicts brotherhood in trying to find a way to strike a balance between personal aspirations and commitments to the group. The series lasted six seasons with all the cliffhangers to entertain audiences.
1. Mayan M.C. (2018)

Mayans MC is a direct sequel to the Sons of Anarchy universe that was developed by Kurt Sutter and takes place two years after the first series ended. The FX spin-off takes place after Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes comes out of prison and joins the Mayans Motorcycle Club in Santo Padre California. In comparison with the story of Jax Teller EZ is an informant of the government who was compelled to act against his motorcycle club.
The characters and plots of Sons of Anarchy carry into the show, where the Mayan is further developed as an enemy and a friend to SAMCRO. Mayans MC gave as much violence familial intrigue and moral depth as Sons of Anarchy had achieved. The spin-off lasted five seasons and was cancelled in July 2023.
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