10 Best Shows Like Prison Break

Aug. 6, 2024, 10 p.m.

Movies

10 Best Shows Like Prison Break

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Summary Prison Break depicts one man's complex plan to break his brother out of prison.

After finishing the Fox crime drama, viewers can check out similar TV shows.

Many series have similar themes, characters, or vibes to Prison Break, such as Breaking Bad, White Collar, Prodigal Son, and more.

Prison Break ran for five seasons (and one TV film), and following its conclusion, viewers might be craving more. Unfortunately, Fox does not plan to reboot the crime drama series or bring the Prison Break characters back (again) for a possible season 6 anytime soon. However, the good news is that plenty of other TV shows contain similar themes, characters, or overall vibes when compared to Prison Break. Whether they are also set in a prison, feature geniuses committing crimes, or incorporate intense and thrilling storylines, many series are seemingly like the Fox drama.

Although it's not similar in any way to Prison Break, DC's Legends of Tomorrow reunites Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell on the small screen, making the CW superhero show an interesting watch after the Fox crime drama. Miller and Purcell star as Leonard Snart/Captain Cold and Mick Rory/Heat Wave, roles that they previously originated on The Flash.

Prison Break follows two brothers — Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) — one of whom, Lincoln, is sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit. Consequently, Michael devises a complicated plan to break his brother out of prison, which includes getting himself in prison. Over the course of Prison Break's five seasons, the crime drama series had great ratings and the first season received rave reviews from critics, with its quality waning as the years went on. Nevertheless, Prison Break has come to an end, leaving fans to search for similar TV shows.

Related Prison Break’s Best Cast Reunion Happened 3 Years Before The Show’s Divisive Revival Prison Break's Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell had a better reunion on The Flash, 3 years before Prison Break's divisive season 5 revival.

10 Breaking Bad

2008–2013

Breaking Bad 5.0 Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg. Release Date January 20, 2008 Seasons 5 Network AMC Showrunner Vince Gilligan

Breaking Bad is often considered one of the best TV shows of all time and for a good reason. The AMC crime drama, created by Vince Gilligan, features a talented cast (led by Emmy winners Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul), interesting character development (or regression), thrilling storylines, excellent direction, and impressive cinematography. Consequently, Breaking Bad is a great watch for those who enjoyed Prison Break. It has a crime element, complicated characters, and shocking twists.

Breaking Bad Cast Role Bryan Cranston Walter White Aaron Paul Jesse Pinkman Anna Gunn Skylar White Dean Norris Hank Schrader Betsy Brandt Marie Schrader RJ Mitte Walter White Jr. Giancarlo Esposito Gus Fring Bob Odenkirk Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman Jonathan Banks Mike Ehrmantraut Laura Fraser Lydia Rodarte-Quayle Jesse Plemons Todd Alquist

After watching all five seasons and 62 episodes of Breaking Bad, viewers are in luck because the stories don't end there. A spinoff, Better Call Saul, premiered in 2015 and ran for six seasons, and Netflix released a sequel/epilogue, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, in 2019. So, there is plenty of Breaking Bad to go around, and unlike Prison Break, most of the content in the franchise is critically acclaimed and maintains its quality from beginning to end.

Breaking Bad won multiple Emmys over the course of its five-season run, including two Outstanding Drama Series awards, four Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nods for Bryan Cranston, three Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series awards for Aaron Paul, and two Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nods for Anna Gunn.

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9 Mayor Of Kingstown

2021–Present

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Mayor of Kingstown is a drama-thriller series starring Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky, who takes over for his brother as the head of the family. The McLusky family are power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan, where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption, and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither. Cast Pha'rez Lass , Jeremy Renner , Derek Webster , Hamish Allan-Headley , Hugh Dillon , Dianne Wiest , Aiden Gillen , Taylor Handley , Kyle Chandler , Tobi Bamtefa , Emma Laird Release Date November 14, 2021 Creator(s) Hugh Dillon , Taylor Sheridan

The theme of incarceration is strong in Mayor of Kingstown, similar to how Prison Break is structured around the prison system. The Paramount+ crime thriller TV series stars Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky, the "Mayor" of Kingstown, Michigan, a company town. The McLusky family has served as the mediators between several factions (prison guards, prisoners, police officers, street gangs, etc.) for decades. So, Renner's Mike isn't really the mayor, but he might as well be in the Taylor Sheridan TV show, given his influence in Kingstown and his attempts to maintain peace in the turbulent town.

Paramount+ hasn't renewed Mayor of Kingstown for season 4 (yet), but the likelihood of more episodes is high given the season 3 finale and the show's success.

Mayor of Kingstown premiered in November 2021 and has since released three seasons consisting of 10 episodes. So, it would be a relatively quick binge. Since the Mayor of Kingstown season 3 finale aired on August 2, 2024, it might be a year or so before season 4 (which has not been confirmed) comes around. Nevertheless, the crime thriller's high stakes and gritty setting are reminiscent of Prison Break, making it one of the best shows to watch for fans.

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8 24

2001–2010, 2014

24 4.0 Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US 24 follows CTU (Counter-Terrorism Unit) agent Jack Bauer as he contends with various threats to national and international security by any means necessary. With each season comprised of 24 episodes telling Bauer's story in real-time, 24 brings the action to life one day at a time. Racing against the clock, Bauer is forced to make impossible decisions in the name of public service, bending his personal morals to get the job done. Cast Kiefer Sutherland , Carlos Bernard , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Elisha Cuthbert , Dennis Haysbert Release Date November 6, 2001 Creator(s) Robert Cochran , Joel Surnow

24 might not be set in a prison, but its high stakes and thrilling twists certainly make it a worthy follow-up to Prison Break. The Fox action drama TV series, created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, has a compelling and unique premise (similar to Prison Break). 24 follows Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer, a federal agent with the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), who thwarts different terrorist or other threats every season. Each episode encompasses an hour in the show (which adds up to one day a season), depicting Bauer and his allies' pursuits in 24 in real-time.

24 shares Prison Break's complicated release schedule alongside its intense themes and dynamic characters.

Fox's 24 contains nine seasons (and one TV film, just like Prison Break), with its initial run ending after season 8 in May 2010. However, Fox brought it back for a limited series event — 24: Live Another Day, or 24 season 9. So, 24 shares Prison Break's complicated release schedule alongside its intense themes and dynamic characters.

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7 Chicago PD

2014–Present

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US A spinoff of Chicago Fire, this police procedural drama follows the detectives and the uniformed patrol officers of the Chicago Police Department as they work to crack cases and put criminals behind bars. Cast Jason Beghe , Marina Squerciati , Patrick John Flueger , LaRoyce Hawkins , Amy Morton , Jesse Lee Soffer , Tracy Spiridakos , Jon Seda Release Date January 8, 2014 Network NBC Creator(s) Michael Brandt , Derek Haas , Matt Olmstead

Even though Chicago PD shines a spotlight on law enforcement agents while Prison Break revolves around convicts, the two shows have more in common than meets the eye. First of all, Matt Olmstead, who served as an executive producer on Prison Break, co-created Chicago PD alongside TV legend Dick Wolf. Olmstead was even a showrunner on the NBC police procedural series during its early seasons. So, both shows were partly crafted by the same hand. Additionally, Chicago PD (the second show in the One Chicago franchise) is much darker than other crime dramas and its themes resemble the ones in Prison Break.

Chicago PD Cast Role Jason Beghe Hank Voight Jon Seda Antonio Dawson Sophia Bush Erin Lindsay Jesse Lee Soffer Jay Halstead Patrick John Flueger Adam Ruzek Marina Squerciati Kim Burgess LaRoyce Hawkins Kevin Atwater Archie Kao Sheldon Jin Elias Koteas Alvin Olinsky Amy Morton Trudy Platt Brian Geraghty Sean Roman Tracy Spiridakos Hailey Upton Lisseth Chavez Vanessa Rojas Benjamin Levy Aguilar Dante Torres Toya Turner Kiana Cook

The character at the center of the cast of Chicago PD is Sergeant Hank Voight, who is a dirty cop, something that has driven the storyline since season 1. Voight's methods are wholly illegal and controversial, often causing tension between him and his team in the Intelligence Unit. Chicago PD's episodes are brutal and its characters are complex, and given that it has 11 seasons under its belt with the twelfth coming in the fall of 2024, the NBC series is an exciting and lengthy watch after Prison Break.

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6 White Collar

2009–2014

White Collar Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US White Collar is a Comedy, Drama, and Police Investigative show starring Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer. The series ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2014 and saw DeKay starring as an FBI Special Agent who enlists the help of a former criminal and con artist to help solve white collar crimes. Cast Matt Bomer Release Date October 23, 2009 Seasons 6 Network USA

White Collar is another police procedural TV series that draws connections to Prison Break. For starters, the man at the center of the USA Network show is a convict and quite intelligent, similar to Michael in Prison Break. Matt Bomer stars as Neal Caffrey, a con man, forger, and a thief, in White Collar. The series begins with the FBI capturing Neal after a three-year chase. He is convicted and sentenced to four years in prison. With only a few months remaining in his sentence, though, Neal breaks out of prison (another tie to the Fox crime drama).

As of June 2024, a White Collar reboot is in the works featuring several of the original cast members, including [Matt] Bomer.

However, unlike Prison Break, Neal has a bit more luck when striving to obtain his freedom in White Collar. After he is caught the second time, Neal strikes a deal with the FBI — he will help Special Agent in Charge Peter Burke apprehend other white-collar criminals (hence the show's title) in exchange for early release from prison. White Collar lasted for six seasons before airing its finale in December 2014. However, as of June 2024, a White Collar reboot is in the works featuring several of the original cast members, including Bomer.

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5 Money Heist

2017–2021

Money Heist Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US The Spanish heist drama Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), transformed into a global phenomenon by Netflix in 2017, follows a group of criminals as they execute a complex plan to rob the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain. Created by Locked Up director Alex Pina, Money Heist is one of Netflix's biggest international hits that influenced pop culture with its iconic Salvador Dalí masks and Bella Ciao hymn. Cast Álvaro Morte , Darko Perić , Fernando Cayo , Maria Pedraza , Paco Tous , Rodrigo De la Serna , Enrique Arce , Belén Cuesta , Pedro Alonso , Hovik Keuchkerian , Jaime Lorente , Esther Acebo Release Date May 2, 2017 Seasons 5 Showrunner Álex Pina

Money Heist shares many similarities with Prison Break as both TV shows revolve around intricate criminal plans. While the Fox series follows a man trying to break his brother out of prison, Money Heist chronicles two complex and thoroughly planned heists, one on the Royal Mint of Spain and the other on the Bank of Spain. The Netflix heist crime drama, created by Álex Pina, is presented in real-time (similar to 24) and its story is told by an unreliable narrator (one of the bank robbers).

Money Heist was critically acclaimed and one of the most popular shows on Netflix as of the time of its airing. Consequently, its planned limited, two-part series run was lengthened to five parts when the global streaming rights to the Spanish series were acquired by Netflix. The streaming service also ordered a spinoff, Berlin, right before the Money Heist series finale aired in late 2021. Berlin season 1 was released on Netflix in December 2023, and even though the spinoff didn't live up to the original show, it still received a second season order.

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4 The Blacklist

2013–2023

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US The Blacklist is an action/thriller crime-drama TV series on NBC from creator Jon Bokenkamp. The show follows former intelligence officer turned master criminal Raymond Reddington (James Spader) and FBI agent Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone.) Red, one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives, known as “The Concierge of Crime,” mysteriously surrenders to the FBI and offers to help them catch a deadly terrorist, with the condition that he only speaks to Elizabeth- who just so happens to be starting her first day on the job. The two continue to partner to tackle Red's "Blacklist," which he offers in exchange for immunity for his past crimes. Cast Harry Lennix , Megan Boone , James Spader , Diego Klattenhoff , Ryan Eggold , Parminder Nagra Release Date September 23, 2013 Seasons 10 Network NBC Showrunner Jon Bokenkamp

Similar to Prison Break, a criminal leads the cast of The Blacklist — Raymond "Red" Reddington, played by James Spader. Red was on the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives List before turning himself in during the premiere of the NBC crime thriller series. He makes a deal with the FBI, though. In exchange for his freedom, Red will help the government track down the criminals he has associated with over the course of the past two decades. Red entices the agents by claiming that the people he worked with are so dangerous that the FBI isn't even aware of their existence.

NBC developed and released a spinoff, The Blacklist: Redemption, which aired for only one season in 2017 before the network canceled it due to low ratings.

The Blacklist was one of NBC's most successful TV shows for a long time as it ran for 10 seasons and 218 episodes, giving Prison Break fans a lot of content to consume. Of course, like many series, the quality of The Blacklist's episodes declined over time. But it had at least six intriguing seasons before the crime thriller began to lose the plot, which is a lot more than many TV shows can say.

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3 Oz

1997–2003

Oz Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Oz was a crime-drama series from HBO created by Tom Fontana. The series focuses on the inmates and officers of the fictional experimental Oswald State Correctional Facility. The prison, prioritizing rehabilitation instead of corrective punishment, navigates the fragile social cliques within its halls, where tensions never relent. Cast Ernie Hudson , Terry Kinney , Harold Perrineau , Eamonn Walker , Kirk Acevedo , Rita Moreno , J. K. Simmons , Lee Tergesen , Dean Winters , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Release Date February 23, 1997 Seasons 6 Showrunner Tom Fontana

Oz is a bit of an obvious answer when debating which TV shows are most like Prison Break. Similar to the Fox crime drama, Oz takes place in a prison — the Oswald State Correctional Facility in New York, which is a fictional level 4 maximum-security state facility. The series focuses on an experimental unit that stresses the importance of rehabilitation rather than punishment in prison, run by unit manager Tim McManus and Warden Leo Glynn. Oz is arguably the best TV show about prison, thanks to its brutal and graphic nature and thrilling storylines, making it the perfect watch after Prison Break.

Oz Cast Role Ernie Hudson Warden Leo Glynn Terry Kinney Tim McManus Harold Perrineau Augustus Hill Eamonn Walker Kareem Saïd Kirk Acevedo Miguel Alvarez Rita Moreno Sister Peter Marie Reimondo J.K. Simmons Vernon Schillinger Lee Tergesen Tobias Beecher Dean Winters Ryan O'Reily Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Simon Adebisi

Oz, which debuted in July 1997, ran for six seasons and helped put HBO on the map. It was praised for its performances, diversity, brutal but necessary plot, complex characters, and more during its time on TV. Oz was also nominated for and received several awards, including Primetime Emmy Award nominations, GLAAD Media Award nods, NAACP Image Award nominations, and much more.

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2 Prodigal Son

2019–2021

Prodigal Son Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Before becoming an FBI Profiler, Malcolm Bright turned in his father when he discovered he was an infamous serial killer called "the Surgeon." Despite having a strained relationship with his father, Malcolm must visit him to get insights on a copycat killer. Prodigal Son starred Tom Payne and Lou Diamond Phillips and aired for two seasons. Cast Tom Payne , Lou Diamond Phillips , Halston Sage , Aurora Perrineau , Frank Harts , Keiko Agena , Bellamy Young , Michael Sheen Release Date September 23, 2019 Seasons 2 Creator(s) Chris Fedak , Sam Sklaver

Prodigal Son is a compelling and unique TV show that was gone too soon as it only lasted for two seasons before Fox canceled it. Nevertheless, the Fox procedural drama series, created by Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver, premiered in 2019 and centers around the complicated relationship between a father and a son. The son — Malcolm Bright, played by Tom Payne in the Prodigal Son cast — is a former FBI profiler working with the NYPD. Meanwhile, the father — Martin Whitley, played by Michael Sheen — is a convicted serial killer who was caught when Malcolm turned him in when he was a child.

[Prodigal Son] deviates a bit from Prison Break due to the fact that Malcolm and Martin's relationship is much more complicated than Michael and Lincoln's, and Martin is actually guilty of his crimes.

Similar to Prison Break, Prodigal Son follows the relationship between two family members, one of whom is in prison. However, it deviates a bit from Prison Break due to the fact that Malcolm and Martin's relationship is much more complicated than Michael and Lincoln's, and Martin is actually guilty of his crimes. Prodigal Son still contains high stakes, exciting twists, and complex characters, so, fans of the older Fox crime drama should like the newer one.

1 Orange Is The New Black

2013–2019

Orange is The New Black (2013) Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, Orange Is the New Black follows Piper Champman (Taylor Schilling) after she turns herself in for a 15-month sentence in a minimum-security women's prison for aiding in a drug-smuggling operation run by her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). One of Netflix's most popular original series, the show explores the corruption inherent in the US prison system through the lens of Piper's experiences. Cast Taylor Schilling , Dascha Polanco , Natasha Lyonne , Samira Wiley , Kate Mulgrew , Danielle Brooks , Michael Harney , Uzo Aduba , Jason Biggs , Laura Prepon Release Date July 11, 2013 Seasons 7 Showrunner Jenji Kohan

Orange Is the New Black is another prison drama that mainly takes place in a prison setting just like Prison Break (at least the first season). The Netflix TV series leans a bit more into its comedic side than the Fox crime drama does, though. It follows Piper Chapman, played by Taylor Schilling in the cast of Orange Is the New Black, who is sentenced to 15 months in Litchfield Penitentiary, a fictional minimum-security women's federal prison in New York. Piper is in prison due to her ex-girlfriend, who she reunites with while at Litchfield Penitentiary.

Orange Is the New Black is based on Piper Kerman's memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison.

Over the course of Orange Is the New Black's six-year run, the comedy-drama received high praise from critics and audiences alike for humanizing prisoners, along with its diversity, writing, direction, and the cast's performances. Orange Is the New Black even received eight Emmy nominations, including one win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Uzo Aduba. Of course, many should watch Orange Is the New Black regardless of its similarities to Prison Break, but both are among the top prison TV shows of all time.