“The Waterfront” is currently the number one show on Netflix—and for good reason. The gripping crime drama blends family dysfunction with high-stakes drug trafficking, all set against the hauntingly beautiful North Carolina coast. Created by Kevin Williamson (“Dawson’s Creek”, “The Vampire Diaries”), the series draws from real-life events and delivers a tense, emotional ride full of shifting loyalties, power struggles, and personal demons. If you’ve already binged it and are craving more gritty, character-driven stories, here are a few shows and films that should be next on your list.
1) “Your Friends & Neighbors” (watch on Apple TV+)
If you’re craving more morally gray characters and high-stakes secrets behind polished exteriors, “Your Friends and Neighbors” is your next must-watch. Jon Hamm stars as Coop, a recently divorced ex-hedge fund manager turned suburban cat burglar, trying to maintain his family’s lavish lifestyle by robbing the very people in his gated community. With slick direction from “I, Tonya’s” Craig Gillespie and darkly funny writing from Jonathan Tropper (“Banshee”), the show blends crime, suspense, and satire. Think “Desperate Housewives” meets “Ocean’s Eleven”, with a heavy dose of midlife crisis. The perfect neighborhood drama with bite—and the second season is already in production! It’s sharp, twisted, and endlessly bingeable.
2) “Bloodline” (watch on Netflix)
If you loved the coastal tension and dark family secrets in “The Waterfront”, “Bloodline” is a must. Set in the Florida Keys, this slow-burn thriller centers on the Rayburns, a respected family whose past sins resurface when the black sheep brother returns home. What starts as a story about loyalty quickly spirals into lies, cover-ups, and criminal choices that threaten to destroy everyone. The moody atmosphere and moral ambiguity echo what “The Waterfront” does best—making you wonder just how far a family will go to protect its name.
3. “Ozark” (watch on Netflix)
Money laundering, cartel threats, and a desperate family clinging to survival—”Ozark” checks every box for “The Waterfront” fans. Jason Bateman and Laura Linney deliver powerhouse performances as a couple forced into crime to save their family, all while balancing parenthood and betrayal. Set in the eerie quiet of the Ozarks, the show builds tension with each episode as their operation grows—and unravels. Like the Buckleys, the Byrdes are complex and constantly walking the line between victim and villain. It’s relentless, raw, and impossible to look away from.
4) “Yellowstone” (watch on Paramount+)
“Yellowstone” brings the same family-versus-world dynamic that powers “The Waterfront”, just with cowboy boots and a whole lot more land. Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton, the patriarch of a powerful ranching family fighting to hold onto their legacy amidst land developers, tribal politics, and internal betrayal. It’s sweeping, gritty, and unflinchingly brutal. What makes it hit hardest, like “The Waterfront”, is how deeply personal the battles are—fought not just for power, but for family pride and survival. If you’re craving more generational conflict and rural chaos, saddle up.
5) “The Family Business” (watch on BET+/Prime Video)
For a more fast-paced, stylish spin on crime family drama, check out “The Family Business”. The Duncans are a wealthy family running a luxury car dealership by day—and a high-powered crime syndicate by night. Led by Ernie Hudson, this series mixes sharp dialogue, intense action, and soap-worthy twists that keep the drama at a ten. If you liked how “The Waterfront” blended business with betrayal, this show dials it up with glamour and grit. It’s a different flavor, but the same addictive family-under-fire energy.
If you’re a fan of “The Waterfront’s” blend of family drama and gritty crime, these shows are sure to keep you hooked. Whether you’re drawn to morally complex characters, high-stakes criminal schemes, or the tension that comes with family dynamics, each of these series offers something unique while delivering that same intense, emotional ride. From the sun-soaked tension of “Bloodline” to the suspenseful suburban darkness of “Your Friends & Neighbors”, these picks will keep you on the edge of your seat. So grab the remote and dive into your next binge—you won’t regret it.
