HBO has often been at the forefront of making great dramatic television, as shows likeOzandThe Sopranosproved that the medium could be just as exciting as cinema. While many of HBO’s greatest dramasare praised among the best of all-time,there has never been an achievement in television quite likeThe Wire.David Simon’s multifaceted crime series explored the multiple levels of infrastructure involved in the drug trading scene in Baltimore, and often exposed frightening truths about the reality of America’s policing.
Praised by real law enforcement officersand educators for its amazing accuracy,The Wireis easily one of the most cinematic television shows ever made.In fact, it may be easier to compareThe Wireto works of great cinema, as it has very little in common with the procedural cops shows that tend to dominate network television. Here are ten great movies to watch if you likedThe Wire.
10‘White Boy Rick’ (2018)
Directed by Yann Demange
One of the most defining aspects ofThe Wirewas its ability to empathize with those who were forced to take part in the criminal lifestyle; while it is easy to paint all criminals as the same,The Wireshowed that the real issue was far less black and white than it was often made to seem. The excellent 2018 crime dramaWhite Boy Ricktold an incredible true story about one of the youngest gangsters in history.After becoming a drug dealer when he was a teeanger, Rick Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt)became an undercover informant for the FBI.
LikeThe Wire,White Boy Rickintertwines exciting criminal action with a deeply emotional story about family and loyalty.Many of the most powerful moments inWhite Boy Rickare those between Wershe and his father (Matthew McConaighey), who is desperate to protect his son from being taken advantage of.
White Boy Rick
Rent on Amazon
9‘Serpico’ (1973)
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Compared to the more crowd pleasing procedural cop shows of the late 1990s,The Wireoffered a far grittier depiction of law enforcement, and often took the entire justice system to task for its corrupt practices. It’s unfortunately a story that isn’t new, asSidney Lumet’s classic 1973 crime dramaSerpicoexplored the systematic corruption within the New York City Police Department. LikeThe Wire,Serpicoexamined how racial tension had resulted in many tragic instances of violence.
The Wirewas well-known for giving breakout roles to many great actors, includingIdris Elba, Dominic West, Michael B. Jordan,andLance Reddickamong others.Serpicois bestremembered for giving Al Pacino his first great roleafterThe Godfather. It’s the performance that solidified him as one of the great actors of the 1970s, and earned him an Academy Award nomination.
Based on a true story, a principled police officer navigates the treacherous waters of corruption within his department. His commitment to honesty and integrity leads him on a perilous journey as he becomes an informant for the authorities, risking his career and life to expose the deep corruption embedded in law enforcement.
Watch on Prime Video
8‘Shot Caller’ (1973)
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh
Although the series addresses such critical topics as journalism, trade, drug addiction, political corruption, and social inequity,The Wirewas particularly acclaimed for its in depth examination of the flaws in the prison system.Those looking for a gritty prison drama should look no further thanShot Caller, an inventive crime thriller that explores the ability incarceration has to transform someone’s personality.Nikolaj Coster-Waldaustars as a mild-mannered businessman who is locked up in jail for a drunk driving incident; to survive, he must transform himself into a violent brawler.
Unlike other great crime movies,Shot Callerdoes not sensationalize the criminal lifestyle,nor does it go out of its way to make its lead characters seem “heroic.”The Wirecontained many shocking instances of violence, butShot Callercertainly features some brutal moments that may force even the most desensitized viewers to look away.
Shot Caller
Watch on Netflix
7‘Dog Day Afternoon’ (1975)
The Wirewas successful because it managed to empathize with both the cops and criminals on an individual level; it’s perhaps the overarching point of Simon’s entire filmography is that systems are to blame for infrastructural issues, and not people. After the success ofSerpico,Pacino and Lumet teamed up for another gritty crime thriller withDog Day Afternoon.Loosely based on a wild true story,Dog Day Afternooncenters on a bank robber (Pacino) who holds hostages while trying to pull off an elaborate heist.
Dog Day Afternoonexamined how sexuality, social inequity, over policing, and a loss of civic values result in a tragic situation,making it a relevant film today. This is a quality shared byThe Wire, which contains so much insight on the way that America’s neighborhoods have changed that it is more instructive than many non-fiction works about the same subject material.
Watch on Paramount Plus
6‘End of Watch’ (2012)
Directed by David Ayer
Although it’s a series that has many great characters with various loyalties,The Wireis certainly one of the best cop shows ever made; despite being highly critical of the corruption involved in the justice system,The Wiredid a great job at exploring the bond between cops formed in the line of duty.David Ayer’s gritty crime dramaEnd of Watchwas a powerful tribute to law enforcement officers who became a “family” over the course of their service. Jake GyllenhaalandMichael Penastar as partners who are forced into a dangerous situation when gang violence escalates in Los Angeles.
The Wirestood out compared to other drama shows because of its inventive filmmaking techniques, which contributed to the sense of realism. Similarly,End of Watchincorporated found footage elementsthat only heightened the suspense of the action.
End of Watch
Shot documentary-style, this film follows the daily grind of two young police officers in LA who are partners and friends and what happens when they meet criminal forces greater than themselves.
5‘Triple 9’ (2016)
Directed by John Hillcoat
The Wireis often acclaimed for having one of the greatest ensemble casts in the history of television; impressively, Simon was able to balance his extraordinary set of actors, giving them each room to grow and develop their characters over the course of five great seasons. Despitesadly underperforming at the box office, the heist thrillerTriple 9features one of the best casts of any modern crime movie.
LikeThe Wire,Triple 9succeeded by casting many recognizable actors against type.The film’s ensemble includedCasey Affleckas a good-hearted cop,Woody Harrelsonas his eccentric uncle,Kate Winsletas a Russian gangster,Chiwetel Ejioferas a serial bank robber, andAaron Paulas a low-level criminal. Side performances fromGal Gadot, Teresa Palmer, Anthony Mackie,andNorman Reedusamong others makeTriple 9one of the most underrated heist films within the last few decades.
4‘State of Grace’ (1990)
Directed by Phil Joanou
One of the key themes inThe Wireis loyalty; characters like Stringer Bell and Jimmy McNulty are forced to determine where they should pledge their fealty when caught within morally compromising situations. The excellent crime dramaState of Graceexplored how fungible the line between criminals and cops can be, creating a riveting and emotional character arc.Sean Penngives a terrific performance as a former gangster who becomes an undercover cop; he’s forced to inform on a dangerous mob boss (Ed Harris) after his superior officer (John Turturro) orders him to go to his old home in New York.
While it was sadlyovershadowed byGoodfellasat the box office,State of Graceis the type of old-fashioned crime epic that the industry doesn’t make anymore.Side performances byGary Oldmanas an eccentric gangster andRobin Wrightas the main love interest only complicate the nuanced interpersonal dynamics at the center ofState of Grace.
State of Grace
Terry Noonan comes back to Hell’s Kitchen, New York, after years away and reconnects with his old friend Jackie Flannery. However, Terry’s return has a hidden agenda—he is an undercover cop tasked with penetrating the Irish-American gang led by Jackie’s brother, Frankie. As Terry navigates the dangerous underworld, he finds himself torn between his allegiance to his past and his obligations as a law enforcement officer.
3‘State of Play’ (2009)
Directed by Kevin Macdonald
Although it was largely regarded as being the weakest installment of the series, the fifth season ofThe Wiredelved into the world of journalism, exploring how disinformation and deception could result in serious consequences. Based on the critically acclaimed BBC miniseries of the same name,State of Playoffereda powerful look at journalistic integrityand its effect on civil action. Russell Crowestars as a veteran journalist who works alongside a new partner (Rachel McAdam) to investigate the death of a young staffer who was sexually involved with a shamed politician (Ben Affleck).
LikeThe Wire,State of Playshows the power that great journalism can do to make a difference,and why the public should be entitled to an objective understanding of the truth. The film is also highly detailed in its depiction of city politics in the same way thatThe Wirewas.
State of Play
2‘Boyz n the Hood’ (1991)
Directed by John Singleton
The Wirewas seen as a breakthrough in the television landscape because it dared to focus on impoverished communities in a way that did not feel exploitative; it was evident that Simon and his collaborators had a genuine interest in spotlighting a diverse perspective.John Singleton changed the film industry forever with his classic crime dramaBoyz n the Hood, which examined a group of friends dealing with gang violence in their community. Singleton became one of the youngest Oscar nominees in history when he earned Academy Award recognition for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
The Wireis both a great work of entertainment and a politically relevant text, which is often cited as instructive when discussing issues about crime. Similarly,Boyz n the Hoodoffers crushing truths about the cycle of violencethat have made it just as important to watch todayas it was in 1991.
Boyz n the Hood
Watch on Tubi
1‘The Standoff at Sparrow Creek’ (2019)
Directed by Henry Dunham
The Wirestood out from other crime shows because of its inventive filmmaking techniques; episodes would often focus on close quarter brawls and standoffs, and only rarely developed large scale action sequences. Fans that enjoyed those idiosyncratic qualities may enjoy the underrated crime filmThe Standoff at Sparrow Creek, which turns the “claustrophobic thriller” genre on its head.The Standoff at Sparrow Creekfocuses on a group of cops and military membersthat attempt to solve a mysteryafter a mass shooting and police funeral.
LikeThe Wire,The Standoff at Sparrow Creekis quite unsparing in its depiction of law enforcement,as each of its characters are fundamentally flawed. While it’s certainly not for the faint of heart,The Standoff at Sparrow Creekhas all the suspense, double crossing, and intrigue that may appeal to fans ofThe Wire.
