After taking the world by storm, AMC's Better Call Saul will be coming to an end this year with its sixth season. Centering on the origin story of the infamous Saul Goodman, back when he was a hapless and struggling attorney named Jimmy McGill, Better Call Saul has been so highly praised that many believe it rivals Breaking Bad, the original show that spawned it. Needless to say, fans will be disappointed when they finally say goodbye to Saul Goodman after the finale.
That's why the people at Ranker have taken it upon themselves to recommend other television shows and films that share Better Call Saul's ingenious mix of dark tension, sharp writing, and unforgettable anti-heroes.
Note: Ranker listings are subject to change and could have shifted since the writing of this list.
Dexter (2006-2013)
Few shows have blended such macabre humor and such a compelling and haunted Dexter follows a forensic analyst who's secretly a serial killer that targets fellow criminals. Played with a deliciously sinister edge by Michael C. Hall, Dexter is one of the most morally complex and deeply tragic heroes on air, as he satisfies sadistic urges by using them for justice. At least, in his own mind.
For anyone who's been enamored with Saul Goodman and his twisted morality, Dexter is a hero for the ages. Not only that, but the show's infamous depictions of violence helped push the envelope for television as a whole and helped pave the way for other shows like Better Call Saul. The recent limited series, Dexter: New Blood, has no doubt re-invigorated interest in the series, helping its positioning in Ranker's fan-voted list.
True Detective (2014-2019)
One of the most disturbing yet compelling shows out of HBO's oeuvre, True Detective came storming out the gates when it premiered in 2014. An anthology crime drama following different sets of detectives hunting down sadistic killers, True Detective wasn't just an exceptionally well-crafted thriller, but a philosophical show that explored the darkest parts of the human psyche.
But more than just its technical merits (including an iconic one-take show in season 1), the show might be best remembered by fans on Ranker for Matthew McCoughnahey's haunted performance as one of True Detective's best characters, Detective "Rust" Cohle, a man who's constantly forced to stare into the abyss of the criminal mind and decide whether he's going to walk away or dive in. For fans that have watched Saul Goodman walk a similar path, True Detective will do just the job.
The Departed (2006)
The first feature film on Ranker's list, Martin Scorsese's The Departed isn't as macabre or gruesome as Better Call Saul. But its writing has surgical precision in its depiction of a cat-and-mouse game between the Boston Police Department and local mobster Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson.
A remake of a Japanese film, The Departed won Martin Scorsese his first (and very long overdue) Academy Award because he somehow manages to take a character of rats, thieves, and all-around scumbags and creates not just a compelling crime-thriller, but a compelling drama. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon deliver some of the most acclaimed performances of their career by playing two men on either side of the law trying to outsmart the other, but ultimately doomed by themselves. Perfect for any Saul Goodman fans.
Narcos (2015-2017)
For those who were totally invested in the cartel-drama of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Netflix's Narcos couldn't be a better fit. Based on the true criminal escapades of Pablo Escobar, Narcos follows the DEA's attempts to outmaneuver and ultimately capture one of the most notorious criminals in world history.
While there's so much to recommend Narcos, from its historical accuracy to its cold-blooded depictions of gang violence, its greatest achievement is Pedro Pascal's portrayal of Escobar. A man who saw himself as a hero of the common people, Escobar is a dastardly figure but all too human. He was a man of intense hubris and unbelievable arrogance, which Pascal plays to perfection.
Goodfellas (1990)
The second Martin Scorsese movie on the list, Goodfellas is one of the most iconic crime dramas of all time. But what makes it for Better Call Saul fans is how it makes the slimiest of characters into the most watchable and entertaining characters, a tradition that Vince Gilligan has proudly continued. Audiences can't watch one of Tuco's freakouts and not think about Joe Pesci's legendary performance in the "How am I funny" scene.
Vince Gilligan also takes great inspiration from Scorsese's camera work. Gilligan was known for his cinematic approach in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and Goodfellas is a master class in filmmaking. The one-take through the kitchen into the club is still evoked often to this very day.
Fargo (1996)
If you like dark humor for your crime dramas, there's not a better pick than Fargo. The movie that turned the Coen Brothers into superstar filmmakers, Fargo is a comedy of errors about a weaselly man who tries to come up with a scheme to start his small business by kidnapping his own wife. Only one cop, played by the ever-endearing Frances McDormand, can stop him.
Fargo is one of the few entries here to have a clear, morally upright protagonist, and that helps ground what's otherwise a totally off-the-wall and sardonic crime drama about some of the skeeziest criminals in movie history, something which Better Call Saul fans will surely appreciate.
Ozark (2017-2022)
Probably the most atmospheric entry on Ranker's list, Ozark follows a family man who's secretly a money launderer for the cartel after he's forced to flee out to the Ozarks with his dysfunctional family.
While there's a healthy dose of dark humor, aided by Jason Bateman's perfect timing, most of Ozark is plain dark. The Ozarks make for the perfect setting for this grisly scene and creates a true sense of dread. Any Better Call Saul fan knows how essential the desert landscapes of Santa Fe were to perfecting the show's look, and that's a lesson that Ozark definitely picked up.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Yet another Coen Brother's entry, No Country for Old Men is one of the finest thrillers that has ever been made. Set in South Texas, another dune-ish locale, No Country for Old Men follows a hunter whose being tracked by an assassin after stealing some drug money.
That description might make No Country sound like a standard cat-and-mouse game, but it's a fatalistic work that Better Call Saul fans will appreciate for its master writing, camera work, and for creating one of the most iconic and disturbing characters in Anton Chigurh, one of the most acclaimed villains this side of Heath Ledger's Joker.
Fargo (2014-)
For people who loved Fargo, the television show more than does it justice. This television adaption of the Coen Brother's iconic work ratchets up the surreal humor and creates a true ensemble cast of bizarro petty criminals that almost more resemble characters from a '50s sitcom.
Winning Emmys left and right, Fargo has become one of the most venerated shows of its generation, and Better Call Saul fans might prefer it over the original movie given its penchant for absurdist violence and clever approach to its multitude of crime stories.
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
It's no surprise that Better Call Saul fans recommend its parent show. Breaking Bad didn't just directly spawn Better Call Saul as a spin-off, it's where Vince Gilligan perfected his vision for the show.
Centered around a high-school chemistry teacher that sells meth with a former student after being diagnosed with cancer, Breaking Bad could be argued to be the single most acclaimed television show in American history. Everything, from Walter White's tragic but villainous character arc to the ingenuity of the writing, has elevated Breaking Bad into the pantheon of all-time greats and is required viewing for any Better Call Saul fan. Plus, Breaking Bad has Saul Goodman at his nastiest and sleaziest, but also his funniest. It leaves no wonder why the character was so popular that he got his own show.