10 Best Shows Like Justified You Can Stream Right Now

Justified can be considered a modern classic. Starring Timothy Olyphant in the leading role of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens and Walton Goggins as local criminal Boyd Crowder, the series perfectly combines its crime drama aspects with the cowboy-like sensibilities of Raylan Givens. The successful series ran for six seasons, earning two Emmy Awards, a Critics’ Choice Award, and numerous nominations during that time.

With incredible performances and great writing, Justified is one of the best Western shows of all time. While Justified did spawn a well-received spinoff in 2023, Justified: City Primeval, that saw Olyphant reprise his role, the miniseries may not be enough to truly satisfy hardcore fans. Luckily, numerous great modern Westerns share similarities with Justified, whether they feature crime plots, classic Western traits, or familiar faces.

10

Animal Kingdom (Prime Video & Netflix)

The Series Focuses On An Entertaining Crime Family

For fans of Justified who enjoy the various crime families and organizations that Raylan goes up against throughout the seasons, Animal Kingdom is a great replacement. Where Justified takes place in Harlan County, Kentucky, Animal Kingdom takes place in Oceanside, California, creating a unique setting despite its similar themes. The series follows the Cody crime family, initially introduced through the perspective of Joshua “J” Cody, who joins the family after the loss of his mother.

Much like the squabbles between members of Justified‘s criminal families, including the Crowders, the Codys are prone to rash decisions and striking out on their own against the wishes of their matriarch, Janine “Smurf” Cody. Animal Kingdom is dramatic, violent, and often unpredictable, creating a great watch for fans of crime thrillers.

9

Banshee (HBO Max)

Banshee Features Another Unusual Law Enforcement Officer

Raylan Givens certainly has his own methods of getting to the bottom of many of his investigations, but Banshee takes that premise to another level. The series centers on a criminal recently released from prison who steals the identity of a man named Lucas Hood in order to become sheriff of a small fictional town called Banshee. In his new role, Lucas Hood struggles to keep his real identity secret, hoping to reconnect with a former girlfriend, committing crimes despite posing as a sheriff, and running afoul of both local criminals and those from his past.

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The Boys‘ Antony Starr is great in the leading role of the impostor Lucas Hood, and the series as a whole received positive reviews. Though some viewers criticized the amount of sex and violence in the series, it currently holds an average approval of 90% across its four seasons on Rotten Tomatoes, proving that most critics found it worthwhile.

8

Walker (HBO Max)

A Modern Reboot Of A Classic Western

The CW’s 2021 series, Walker, serves as a modern reboot of the classic 1990s series Walker, Texas Ranger. Walker sees Jared Padalecki take on the role of Cordell Walker and follows his life as a Texas Ranger, incorporating the action and intrigue of his professional life with the disconnect and struggle in his own personal life.

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Where Olyphant’s Raylan is more than happy to take his own approach to catching the bad guys, Walker and his partner, Micki Ramirez, feel much more like classic Western heroes. This gives the series a bit more lightness than Justified, and it is perfect for audiences who want a little more of a traditional Western lead but with some key modern updates.

7

Hell on Wheels (Hulu, Paramount+, & AMC+)

Hell On Wheels Is A Rough, Fun Western

AMC’s Western series Hell on Wheels takes viewers back to the 1860s to follow the construction of the transcontinental railroad. The show centers on Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), a man set on getting revenge for the death of his wife and son, who is looking for their killers while following the Union Pacific Railroad’s construction west. The revenge plot on its own is quite gripping, but the series is made even better by its encompassing world and atmosphere in the makeshift town.

Though their setting and time period are quite different, Hell on Wheels does pair well with Justified thanks to the complex characters in both shows. Just as Raylan has a very complicated relationship with many of the people in his hometown and often does things that are very morally gray, so too are Hell on Wheels‘ characters very imperfect. Cullen Bohannon’s revenge quest and the actions he justifies within it are complex, but he is still a character that audiences want to see grow.

6

Sons of Anarchy (Hulu)

The Neo-Western Focuses On Bikers

On its face, Sons of Anarchy may not seem like it should be that similar to Justified, but the two shows have a lot in common, both in their themes and their approach to action and crime drama. Sons of Anarchy follows Jax Teller as he attempts to balance the conflicting responsibilities of his life as a leader of the Sons and Anarchy Motorcycle Club (SAMCRO) and his personal life, which are deeply intertwined.

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Sons of Anarchy’s characters are often morally compromised, with few who are 100% good or bad. The show’s stellar writing has made them iconic.

Across its seven seasons, Sons of Anarchy is incredibly entertaining for its crime plotlines, but it is just as interesting to see how the characters change and develop over that time. SAMCRO faces a lot of dangerous adversaries, just as Raylan and the other U.S. Marshals do throughout Justified, though Sons of Anarchy‘s characters are even more willing to step outside the bounds of the law to solve their problems.

5

Godless (Netflix)

The Miniseries Is One Of The Best Modern Westerns

Godless

Release Date

2017 – 2017-00-00

Network

Netflix

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Netflix’s miniseries Godless is one of the best Western shows of recent years, winning three Emmy Awards from its 12 nominations. The series is set in 1884 and centers largely on the town of La Belle, New Mexico, where many of the town’s men were killed, leaving the women to forge ahead on their own. When a young outlaw comes into town with his former gang leader on his tail, everything changes for the small town.

The seven-episode miniseries is a quick watch, and it is well worth it. Godless is unique among many Westerns in that it centers on women, making them strong characters with agency where many traditional Westerns relegate women to the sidelines. Additionally, the show is great for fans of Justified because of how seamlessly it blends the stories of the townspeople of La Belle with its cowboy and outlaw storyline, which ensures there is plenty of drama and action.

4

Longmire (Paramount+)

The Neo-Western Crime Drama Has Plenty In Common With Justified

Longmire

Release Date

2017 – 2017-00-00

Network

Netflix

Like Justified, Longmire is one of the most well-loved Neo-Western series, and the premise of both shows is quite similar. Longmire follows the Wyoming sheriff, Walt Longmire, as he investigates different cases over the course of each season, with various throughlines concerning Walt’s personal life often leading to a larger reveal. Longmire functions well both as a police procedural and a great Western series, giving the show a rugged feel that will appeal to fans of Justified.

Walt Longmire is certainly more straight-laced than Raylan Givens, but both men do have a very cowboy-like edge to them. The two main characters are also imperfect in their own ways, with Walt hiding a big secret from his daughter in the first season. In general, the series received positive reviews, and with six seasons, there is plenty for fans to enjoy.

3

The Shield (Hulu)

The Crime Series Features An Excellent Performance By Walton Goggins

FX’s crime drama series The Shield ran from 2002 to 2008, and it has since been lauded as one of the best crime shows of all time. Taking inspiration from the Rampart Division of the LAPD and their highly publicized scandal, The Shield follows a group of detectives who head a special division that targets gang-related crimes. However, in bringing their targets to justice, the officers themselves often commit crimes and must cover them up, making their lives increasingly complicated.

The series is brilliantly acted all around, but fans of Justified will particularly appreciate Walton Goggins’ performance as Shane Vendrell, a key member of the division. Much like Boyd Crowder, Goggins’ Shane Vendrell is far from a good character. Though his behavior is often hard to watch, Goggins himself is a great actor and his commitment to the role is immediately clear. On the whole, the morally complex characters and crimes of The Shield create an interesting counterpart to those of Justified.

2

Deadwood (HBO Max)

Timothy Olyphant’s Older Show Is Another Great Western

Deadwood

Release Date

2004 – 2006-00-00

Network

HBO Max

Like Walton Goggins, Timothy Olyphant also has a great substitute series for Justified. Several years before Justified premiered, Olyphant starred in the critically acclaimed HBO series Deadwood. Deadwood is a great Western show set in Deadwood, South Dakota in the 1870s. Olyphant and Ian McShane play the main characters Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, who were two real residents of the town during that time period.

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This setting allows the series to explore some real historical figures and events while making the most of its Wild West setting. The series primarily explores the foundation of the town and the often violent events that come with settlements in that time period. While Olyphant’s Seth Bullock attempts to maintain some order as the sheriff, he too is caught up in irresponsible vices and violent encounters, creating a connection to his role as Raylan Givens.

1

Yellowstone (Peacock)

Taylor Sheridan’s Landmark Series Is Often Compared To Justified

Yellowstone

7/10

Release Date

2018 – 2024

Network

Paramount Network

It is nearly impossible to discuss great modern Westerns and shows like Justified without mentioning Yellowstone. Taylor Sheridan has become the undisputed king of Western TV, but, beyond the show’s popularity, there is a real reason to link Justified and Yellowstone together as both shows highlight the elusive lifestyle of a cowboy that each series’ main characters hope to retain. Just as Raylan Givens will do what it takes to catch those that he is after, the Dutton family is endlessly attempting to maintain their control.

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Yellowstone didn’t invent the Neo-Western genre, and as good as it is, it didn’t perfect it either.

Yellowstone‘s Montana setting does set it apart from Justified‘s Kentucky setting, and the types of people that the shows focus on are very different socially and economically. With that being said, though, both shows do a great job at capturing their imperfect characters, allowing audiences to sympathize with people who always seem to believe that the ends justify the extreme means, and that makes for truly great drama.

Justified

8/10

Release Date

2010 – 2015

Directors

Adam Arkin, Jon Avnet, Peter Werner, Bill Johnson, John Dahl, Michael W. Watkins, Dean Parisot, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Tony Goldwyn, Don Kurt, Michael Katleman, Billy Gierhart, Frederick King Keller, John David Coles, Lesli Linka Glatter