10 Best Mafia TV Shows: From The Sopranos to Gomorrah

Mafia stories on screen have long moved beyond suits, cigars, and shootouts. The best crime dramas show the underworld from the inside: power struggles, family conflicts, betrayals, vast sums of money, and the consequences of choices that are impossible to simply walk away from.

We’ve picked 10 essential shows about the mafia and organized crime, from iconic American classics to gritty Italian dramas. Our list weighs viewer ratings, each show’s influence on the genre, and how well it holds up today.

IMDb ratings verified on August 13, 2026, and may change over time.

1. The Sopranos

IMDb: 9.2/10
Years: 1999–2007
Genre: Crime, Drama

Any list like this has to start with The Sopranos. David Chase’s series follows Tony Soprano, the head of a New Jersey mob family, as he juggles the problems of his criminal enterprise, tries to keep his own family together, and sees a therapist. The show still holds an impressive 9.2/10 on IMDb.

The Sopranos’ greatest strength is that it doesn’t portray the mafia as a romantic club of charismatic gangsters. Characters can discuss a murder and then, minutes later, argue about the kids or what’s in the fridge. It’s this blend of crime story with family and psychological drama that made the show unique.

Why watch: James Gandolfini’s brilliant performance, dark humor, complex characters, and a script that has barely aged.

Best for: those who care most about characters and dialogue rather than constant action.

2. Gomorrah

IMDb: 8.6/10
Years: 2014–2021
Genre: Crime, Drama

If The Sopranos occasionally lets you laugh at mobsters, the Italian series Gomorrah is almost entirely devoid of romance. At its center is the criminal underworld of Naples and the internal struggle within a crime syndicate for money, territory, and power. The show currently holds an 8.6/10 on IMDb.

Gomorrah feels dirty, dangerous, and deliberately uncomfortable. There are rarely clear-cut heroes, and a high status doesn’t grant a character any plot immunity. The series perfectly illustrates the underworld’s core rule: today you’re in charge, tomorrow you’re the problem everyone wants to get rid of.

Why watch: realistic atmosphere, unpredictable plot, and almost no Hollywood glamorization of the mafia.

Best for: fans of the grittiest, darkest crime dramas.

3. Peaky Blinders

IMDb: 8.7/10
Years: 2013–2022
Genre: Crime, Historical Drama

Birmingham after World War I. The Shelby family, led by Thomas Shelby, gradually turns a small gang into a serious criminal empire. Peaky Blinders holds an 8.7/10 on IMDb.

In terms of realism, it doesn’t match Gomorrah, but it makes up for it with style. Cillian Murphy, gorgeous cinematography, modern music against historical backdrops, and Tommy’s constant battles with his enemies have made the show one of the most recognizable crime projects of the 21st century.

Beneath the polished surface, though, lies the story of a man gradually consumed by power and ambition.

Why watch: Cillian Murphy, style, soundtrack, and intense character rivalries.

Best for: those who want both a crime drama and a spectacular, large-scale show.

4. Boardwalk Empire

IMDb: 8.5/10
Years: 2010–2014
Genre: Crime, Historical Drama

Prohibition-era America was the perfect breeding ground for a massive underground business. The show’s protagonist, Nucky Thompson, is a powerful Atlantic City politician who simultaneously works with criminals and uses his official position to run illegal schemes. IMDb rates it 8.5/10.

Boardwalk Empire impresses with its scale. Politics mixes with corruption, bootlegging, and the mafia, and fictional characters share the screen with figures inspired by real criminals of the era.

It’s a lavish, deliberate series that doesn’t try to wow you with a shootout every minute. Instead, the world of the 1920s gradually pulls you in so deeply that the crime story starts to feel almost like a historical chronicle.

Why watch: the Prohibition atmosphere, Steve Buscemi, and a sweeping period reconstruction.

5. Romanzo Criminale

IMDb: 8.5/10
Years: 2008–2010
Genre: Crime, Drama

Another Italian series that often stays in the shadow of the more famous Gomorrah. Set in 1970s Rome, it follows a group of criminals trying to take over the city’s underworld. IMDb rates it 8.5/10.

The gradual escalation of stakes works particularly well here. The story starts with ambitious young criminals, but the more influence they gain, the more complicated their internal relationships become.

Romanzo Criminale traces the classic arc of a criminal empire: unification, rapid rise, enormous ambitions, paranoia, and internal conflicts.

Why watch: strong characters, 1970s Italy, and a convincing portrayal of how a criminal organization takes shape.

Best for: those who liked Gomorrah and want something similar.

6. Il capo dei capi

IMDb: 8.5/10
Year: 2007
Format: Miniseries

If you’re looking for a show specifically about classic Sicilian mafia, Il capo dei capi is practically a must-watch. This six-episode Italian project tells the story of Salvatore Riina, one of Sicily’s most notorious mob bosses. IMDb rates the miniseries 8.5/10.

Instead of a sprawling, dozens-of-hours narrative, the creators show a rapid journey through several decades of mafia history. As a result, events unfold more densely than in most shows on our list.

It’s especially interesting to watch not just the main character, but also how the structure of the criminal world around him changes.

Why watch: real historical basis, Sicilian mafia, and just six intense episodes.

7. ZeroZeroZero

IMDb: 8.1/10
Years: 2019–2020
Format: Miniseries

ZeroZeroZero expands the usual notion of the mafia and shows global criminal business. Based on Roberto Saviano’s book of the same name, the plot connects drug producers, international intermediaries, and Italian organized crime. IMDb rates it 8.1/10.

The series has only eight episodes, but it feels like a sprawling crime film lasting several hours. The story constantly shifts between countries, demonstrating how enormous the chain of people connected to a single shipment can be.

Its main difference from most mafia shows is the absence of a single central boss. The real protagonist here is the international criminal business system itself.

Why watch: stunning visuals, fast pace, and an unusual take on modern organized crime.

8. Suburra: Blood on Rome

IMDb: 7.9/10
Years: 2017–2020
Genre: Crime, Thriller

Suburra brings together criminal clans, politicians, and other powerful forces in Rome. At the heart of the story is a struggle for money and power in which the legal and criminal worlds are almost impossible to separate. The show holds a 7.9/10 on IMDb.

In terms of atmosphere, it resembles a glossier version of Gomorrah. There’s more political intrigue and visual style, but still enough brutality and unexpected twists to keep it from becoming a run-of-the-mill corruption drama.

Why watch: modern Rome, mafia clans, and a successful blend of crime and political thriller.

9. Tulsa King

IMDb: 7.9/10
Years: 2022–
Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy

After a long prison sentence, New York mobster Dwight Manfredi ends up in Tulsa and starts building his own criminal operation there. Sylvester Stallone stars, and the show holds a 7.9/10 on IMDb.

Compared to the rest of the list, Tulsa King is the lightest. There’s plenty of violence and showdowns, but the creators regularly break it up with humor — especially when the old gangster tries to make sense of the modern world.

Stallone is a perfect fit for a man who lived by one criminal code for decades and suddenly discovers that the world around him has long since changed.

Why watch: Stallone’s charisma, humor, and a more relaxed vibe than most mafia dramas.

10. McMafia

IMDb: 7.6/10
Year: 2018
Genre: Crime, Thriller

Protagonist Alex Godman has spent his whole life trying to distance himself from his family’s criminal past. But after a murder, circumstances pull him back into the world of organized crime. IMDb rates McMafia 7.6/10.

Instead of a traditional story about an Italian family, the show depicts 21st-century international crime — a far more complex and global system where criminality exists alongside big business and outwardly respectable people.

The pace is slower than in Gomorrah or Peaky Blinders, but the series builds tension through the subtle way the protagonist crosses one moral line after another.

Why watch: international scope, serious tone, and an atmosphere that’s unusual for the genre.

Which mafia show should you watch first?

If you’re new to mafia shows, the best starting point is The Sopranos. It remains the genre’s benchmark and one of the highest-rated series in IMDb history.

For something more dynamic, go with Peaky Blinders. If you want a gritty, grounded story, start with Gomorrah.

Fans of classic Italian mafia should check out Il capo dei capi and Romanzo Criminale. For a modern international story, try ZeroZeroZero or McMafia.

Quick picks

Best overall: The Sopranos
Grittiest: Gomorrah
Most stylish: Peaky Blinders
Best historical: Boardwalk Empire
Classic Sicilian mafia: Il capo dei capi
Best miniseries: ZeroZeroZero
Easiest watch: Tulsa King

Enjoy the show!