The wait for Sicario 3 just got a little more bearable—and a lot more exciting. Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the long-rumored threequel is officially moving forward, with Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin all set to reprise their roles. Padraic McKinley, who made waves at Sundance with The Weight, is attached to direct, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will pen the script. That means the franchise is stepping away from Taylor Sheridan, the writer behind the first two films, who is now heading to NBCUniversal in a massive five-year deal reportedly worth up to a billion dollars, starting in 2029.
Sheridan's departure raises a big question: can Sicario survive without its original voice? His writing was the glue that held Denis Villeneuve's stark visuals and the story's institutional cynicism together. But Knight's pedigree—especially his knack for morally tangled characters and atmospheric tension—suggests the franchise is in good hands. Production is eyeing an early 2027 start, so there's still time to catch up on the shows that scratch the same itch.
If you're counting down the days, these five series deliver the same blend of drug-war politics, moral gray zones, and psychological toll that made Sicario a modern classic. Each one brings its own twist, but they all share that signature unease.
Dope Thief (2025)
Peter Craig's adaptation of Dennis Tafoya's novel starts with a deceptively simple premise: two guys impersonating DEA agents rob what they think are low-level dealers—only to discover they've stumbled into a cartel's stash. What begins as a caper quickly spirals into something far darker, and the show's tone shifts from darkly comic to genuinely harrowing. Wagner Moura and David Tyree Henry anchor it with performances full of inner conflict, and Ridley Scott's executive-producing hand is felt in the pilot's gritty, precise direction.
Set in Philadelphia rather than the usual borderlands, Dope Thief offers a fresh perspective on institutional corruption and the cost of playing both sides. It was one of 2025's most underrated releases, and its bleak, grounded energy will resonate with anyone who loved Sicario's unflinching look at the drug war.
Ozark (2017–2022)
Few shows have charted moral decay as relentlessly as Ozark. The Byrde family's slide into money laundering for a Mexican cartel is a masterclass in consequence, with Jason Bateman and Laura Linney delivering career-best work as Marty and Wendy. What sets it apart is how it treats every decision as a weight that drags the characters further into the abyss—violence and corruption escalate with every episode.
The show's Missouri setting gives it a specific, almost claustrophobic sense of economic desperation, and the cartel's presence looms like an institutional force rather than a typical TV villain. By the final season, the narrative risks feel earned, and the show's willingness to make its protagonists increasingly unsympathetic is a bold choice that pays off. It's a slow-burn thriller that rewards patience.
Narcos: Mexico (2018–2021)
Diego Luna's portrayal of Félix Gallardo is the best performance in the entire Narcos franchise—charming, calculating, and ultimately tragic. The show shifts the focus from Colombia to Mexico, allowing it to become more than a retelling of well-known events. It treats the drug war as a political story first, exposing the collusion between cartels and government officials on both sides of the border with equal scrutiny.
That critical eye is what connects it most directly to Sicario. The third season, without Luna, loses some steam, but the first two are essential viewing. If you want a series that understands the systemic rot at the heart of the conflict, this is it.
ZeroZeroZero (2019–2020)
Based on Roberto Saviano's novel, ZeroZeroZero traces a single cocaine shipment from Mexico to Italy, following the buyers, sellers, and the middlemen who make it all happen. It's a sprawling, international epic that captures the global scale of the drug trade, with each storyline intersecting in ways that feel both inevitable and devastating. The show's cold, procedural approach mirrors Sicario's clinical violence, and its willingness to show the human cost on every side is unflinching.
With a stellar cast including Andrea Riseborough and Gabriel Byrne, ZeroZeroZero is a slow-burn that builds to a harrowing climax. It's a must-watch for anyone who appreciates the intricate, morally ambiguous storytelling that made Sicario so compelling.
Top Boy (2011–2023)
While Top Boy is set in London's housing estates rather than the Mexican border, it shares Sicario's fascination with the intersection of crime, poverty, and institutional failure. The show follows the lives of drug dealers and the communities they operate in, offering a gritty, authentic look at the ripple effects of the drug trade. Its final season, which aired in 2023, brought the story to a powerful close, cementing its place as one of the best crime dramas of the decade.
If you're looking for a series that explores the human cost of the drug war from a different angle, Top Boy is a worthy addition to your watchlist. And for more recommendations, check out our list of thriller series that nail it in eight episodes or less or near-perfect thrillers on Paramount+.
While we wait for Sicario 3, these shows offer a satisfying dose of tension, moral complexity, and the kind of storytelling that doesn't flinch from the darkness. And if you're in the mood for more high-stakes drama, The Diplomat's fourth season is another political thriller that delivers.
