Franklin Saint did not just rise to power, he turned the streets into his personal chessboard, one risky move at a time. Shows like Snowfall do not just tell crime stories, they throw you into the flames, where power shifts instantly, and the streets decide who rises and who falls. From cartel battles in Narcos to hiding money trails gone wrong in Ozark, these series deliver the same tension, betrayals, and shocking twists that make each episode impossible to look away from. 

Some build fortunes, others flee from their past, but the game is never easy. Claws hide crime behind a nail salon, while Ozark turns a quiet lakeside town into a battlefield. Every show on this list delivers high-stakes drama, power plays, and characters who will keep you on edge!

Here are 15 gripping shows like Snowfall, where antiheroes navigate complex worlds, blurring the lines between good and bad.

Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn  

Release Date: January 20, 2008  

Genre: Crime Drama, Thriller  

Where to watch: Netflix  

Breaking Bad transforms Walter White from a desperate chemistry teacher to a brutal cartel lord, mirroring Franklin Saint’s own fall in Snowfall. Every choice takes him further into a cycle of power and destruction, making this one of the most gripping series ever. Much like Snowfall, it will pull into the world of high-stakes cartel empires, where staying alive means outsmarting everyone.  

Just as Snowfall lays out the rise of an empire built on crack cocaine, Breaking Bad does the same with meth. From the iconic Breaking Bad house to the desert deals gone wrong, the series brings home the dark details of the cartel underworld. The suspense, the betrayals, and the transformation of its lead character make it a perfect show like Snowfall for fans who crave a good high-stakes drama.  

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Cast: Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes  

Release Date: June 11, 2017  

Genre: Crime, Comedy-Drama  

Where to Watch: Prime Video, Hulu  

Who says crime cannot be fabulous? Claws brings a fresh, daring take to the crime genre, mixing some nail salon glam with high-stakes funds washing. Led by the fierce Niecy Nash as Desna Simms, this show like Snowfall is all about power, survival, and the fine line between ambition and danger. But instead of the streets of 1980s LA, you are in Florida, where these manicurists turn into power players in a world ruled by crime lords and corruption.  

Much like Franklin Saint, Desna starts with dreams of something bigger but gets pulled deeper into the underworld with every step. The show is full of sharp humor, rivalries, and a crazy mix of chaos and sisterhood. If you loved Snowfall for its suspenseful power play and moral dilemmas, Claws gives you all that with an extra splash of sass and neon drama.  

Cast: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner  

Release Date: July 21, 2017  

Genre: Crime Drama, Thriller  

Where to watch: Netflix  

Ozark throws a regular family into the deep underworld of cartel business, much like Franklin Saint’s sudden rise in Snowfall. Jason Bateman’s Marty Byrde is no narcotics dealer at heart, but he becomes one when survival is on the line. And not to forget Ozark’s cartel lady boss, Janet McTeer, whose scheming nature rivals any kingpin, proving that power in the underworld is not just a man’s game. 

  Every decision carries deadly consequences, making this a suspenseful series similar to Snowfall in its intense ways of crime and power struggles. What makes Ozark so gripping is the speed at which morality breaks down under pressure, just like in Snowfall. One wrong step could mean death, and much like Franklin, the Byrdes must play a dangerous game to survive. 

Cast: Ellen Barkin, Shawn Hatosy, Finn Cole  

Release Date: June 14, 2016  

Genre: Crime Drama  

Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video  

If you think Franklin Saint had a complicated family in Snowfall, just wait until you meet the Codys. Animal Kingdom drops you into the adrenaline-fueled world of a Southern California crime family where trust is a currency and betrayal is always around the corner. When teenager J Cody is forced to live with his criminal relatives, he soon learns that survival is about playing by their rules or making his own.  

Just like Franklin, J is thrown into a violent world and is forced to grow up fast, making impossible choices to prove he belongs. But here, the greatest danger is not the cops—it is each other. If you enjoy shows like Snowfall that mix power-packed action with complex family relations, Animal Kingdom is a show you do not want to miss.  

Cast: Alice Braga, Hemky Madera, Peter Gadiot  

Release Date: June 23, 2016  

Genre: Action, Crime Drama, Thriller  

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix  

Want to see a rags-to-riches tale of a cartel empire that can easily rival Franklin Saint’s rise in Snowfall? Queen of the South delivers in every way. Teresa Mendoza’s path from an ordinary woman to the ruthless queenpin of a global cartel is gripping, intense, and riddled with shocking twists. Like Franklin, she does not start out as a criminal; circumstances force her to fight for survival, and in doing so, she rises to become more powerful than anyone ever expected.  

Both Snowfall and Queen of the South go all into the dangers of ambition, revealing the sacrifices, the betrayals, and risks of building a narcotics empire. But while Franklin fights in the streets of LA, Teresa is taking over the world, proving that power is not just for the men.

Cast: Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Naturi Naughton  

Release Date: June 7, 2014  

Genre: Crime Drama  

Where to Watch: Starz, Hulu  

If Snowfall got you addicted to its tale of power and crime, then Power is your next obsession. James Ghost St. Patrick is the king of New York’s underbelly, but unlike Franklin Saint, he has got one foot in the criminal game and the other in the official game of business. 

His ultimate goal? To get out of the game while keeping his empire intact. But as Franklin, he learned that leaving the narcotics game is not easy, and the deeper you go, the harder it is to come up alive. Ghost’s world is full of deception, intense rivalries, and the ever-present question of whether he can truly have it all. 

Cast: Michael Chiklis, Michael Jace, Jay Karnes

Release Date: March 12, 2002  

Genre: Crime Drama, Thriller  

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu  

The Shield flips the script on the usual crime drama by placing you inside the mind of a corrupt cop. Vic Mackey is not just enforcing the moral code—he is breaking it at every turn, much like the dirty powers that Franklin Saint faces in Snowfall. This show does not give you clear heroes and villains but throws you into a morally grey world where survival means bending every rule.  

Like Franklin’s fight against judicial enforcement in Snowfall, The Shield explores what happens when those in power use the system for their own gain. It is intense, unpredictable, and full of explosive action, making it a must-watch for anyone who is into shows like Snowfall, with that depth and edge!

Cast: Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, Regina King  

Release Date: March 5, 2015  

Genre: Anthology Crime Drama  

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Hulu  

If Snowfall had a cousin that took on the justice system instead of the substance trade, it would be American Crime. It is a gripping new crime story each season, stripping away layers of race, class, and corruption with the same heat that made Snowfall a must-watch. If you are a fan of TV series like Snowfall that gets deep into society's underbelly, put this one on your watchlist.

What makes American Crime stand out is its sharp storytelling and raw, emotional performances. Regina King and Felicity Huffman bring a level of depth that will keep you glued to the screen. 

Cast: Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon

Release Date: November 14, 2021  

Genre: Crime Thriller  

Where to Watch: Paramount+  

If Snowfall showed you the power struggles on the streets, Mayor of Kingstown drags you into the gritty, violent world of the game behind bars. Jeremy Renner plays a man trying to maintain order in a city where imprisonment is the biggest business—and everyone wants a piece of the power. 

Both Mayor of Kingstown and Snowfall excel at painting how crime, power, and survival intertwine. The tension does not let up the stakes feel impossibly high, and every episode leaves you desperate for more. If Snowfall kept you on edge, this series like Snowfall will keep you there from episode one.

Cast: Forest Whitaker, Nigel Thatch, Ilfenesh Hadera  

Release Date: September 29, 2019  

Genre: Crime Drama  

Where to Watch: Prime Video, Disney+ 

Starring Forest Whitaker as the iconic Bumpy Johnson, this series shows how the narcotics game shaped communities long before Snowfall's crack epidemic. The combination of street politics, high-stakes deals, and alliances with figures like Malcolm X make this show an exciting one to watch. 

Snowfall fans will love the power plays, sharp drama, and ruthless ambition that fuels every episode. If Snowfall left you craving more of that raw, street-level crime storytelling, this show like Snowfall, is an excellent choice.  

Cast: Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon  

Release Date: September 19, 2010  

Genre: Period Crime Drama  

Where to Watch: HBO Max , Prime Video

If Snowfall were to have a Prohibition-era prequel, it would be the Boardwalk Empire. Instead of 1980s Los Angeles, it transports you back to the 1920s, where Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson builds his empire on unlicensed liquor, politics, and ruthless power moves. If you are after series like Snowfall, this one offers the same addictive mix of crime, ambition, and the dark side of the American Dream.  

Much like Franklin Saint, Nucky Thompson starts with nothing and rises to power through sheer intelligence and risk-taking. But as both men learn, the game is never just about making money—it is about surviving long enough to enjoy it!

Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould  

Release Date: August 7, 2005  

Genre: Dark Comedy-Drama  

Where to Watch: Netflix  

Picture Snowfall, but with a suburban mom in place of Franklin Saint. Weeds follows Nancy Botwin, a widowed mother who finds herself succumbing to bad ways to provide for her family. It is not as dark as Snowfall, but if you enjoy shows similar to Snowfall that explore the consequences of getting into the substance trade, then you will love this.  

Nancy’s journey is just as unpredictable as Franklin’s—poor decisions pile up, alliances shift, and the deeper she gets, the more difficult it is to escape. The humor makes it different from Snowfall, but the ambition, survival, and crime themes are just as compelling.

Cast: Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn  

Release Date: June 2, 2002  

Genre: Crime Drama  

Where to Watch: HBO, HBO Max  

If you absolutely loved Snowfall, The Wire is not just a recommendation—it is a must-watch. This show is the template for dark, realistic crime dramas. Set in Baltimore, it follows substance dealers, cops, and everyone caught in between. 

Both The Wire and Snowfall go beyond the surface, revealing how crime, corruption, and poverty infect whole communities. Each character feels real, every decision has consequences, and no one is truly safe. The Wire will satisfy every thriller fan’s craving with its raw narration and gripping realism.

Cast: Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Ethan Herisse

Release Date: May 31, 2019  

Genre: Crime Drama  

Where to watch: Netflix  

Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us is more than a crime drama—it is a hard-hitting story that exposes the harsh realities of the justice system. Following the lives of the Central Park Five, the show immerses you into a world where power and prejudice rule. 

Both When They See Us and Snowfall capture the devastating outcomes of the 1980s—one through the crack epidemic, the other through false convictions. The storytelling in this series is raw, much like Franklin Saint’s rise in Snowfall. 

Cast: Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, Boyd Holbrook  

Release Date: August 28, 2015  

Genre: Crime Drama

Where to Watch: Netflix  

If Snowfall got you hooked on the rise of the crack trade, Narcos will take you straight to the source. This show follows the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, one of history's most infamous cartel lords, with a level of tension and drama that keeps you guessing. Fans searching for shows like Snowfall will find this just as addictive.

Both Narcos and Snowfall explore how narcotics shape economies, politics, and entire communities. The shootouts, betrayals, and high-stakes deals will feel all too familiar and thrilling to Snowfall fans!

If Snowfall had you glued to your screen, these shows will do the same—maybe even keep you up at night. Crime, chaos, and power struggles? Check. Complicated characters walking a thin line between survival and destruction? Check. From the dark streets of The Wire to the power moves in Breaking Bad, these shows like Snowfall deliver non-stop tension and exciting drama!

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Which one are you watching next? Or did we miss a show that should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!