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| Loved Lucky? Here Are 20 Crime Thriller Series That Feel Just Like It. (Photo: Apple TV) |
Apple TV+'s Lucky has quickly become one of those series viewers struggle to move on from. The slick crime thriller throws together a former con artist, a winning lottery ticket worth $390 million, relentless federal agents and dangerous criminals into one relentless chase where every decision could end everything. Led by Anya Taylor-Joy, the limited series keeps the tension high while giving its central character enough emotional depth to make every escape feel personal rather than just another action sequence. Naturally, once the credits roll, many viewers immediately begin searching for another series that delivers the same blend of deception, suspense and clever storytelling.
The reaction from fans has been remarkably varied. Some praise Lucky for putting a smart, flawed woman at the centre of a gripping crime story without relying on predictable twists. Others have compared its fast-moving pace to modern classics like Ozark and Sneaky Pete, while plenty of viewers say the psychological pressure is what truly keeps them watching.
There is also a growing group convinced that stories about professional grifters are having a well-earned comeback. Apparently watching someone lie their way through impossible situations is far less stressful when it is happening to somebody else.
Shows Like LUCKY
1. Sneaky Pete (2015–2019)
If Lucky had a television sibling, Sneaky Pete would probably be first in line. The series follows con artist Marius Josipović, who steals the identity of his former cellmate to escape a ruthless gangster hunting him down.
Every episode becomes a balancing act between maintaining the deception and surviving people determined to uncover the truth. Like Lucky Armstrong, Marius constantly thinks several steps ahead because one mistake could destroy everything. Clever scams, layered lies and mounting paranoia make this one of the closest matches available.
2. Good Behavior (2016–2017)
Michelle Dockery delivers an outstanding performance as Letty Raines, a thief and grifter whose already complicated life becomes even messier after overhearing a murder-for-hire plot.
Rather than staying out of trouble, she somehow manages to dive directly into it. Much like Lucky, the series focuses on a resourceful woman trying to stay alive while making impossible choices and constantly improvising her next move.
3. Ozark (2017–2022)
Money laundering, organised crime and the FBI create enough pressure to break almost anyone. Ozark follows financial adviser Marty Byrde, whose family is forced into increasingly dangerous situations after a business deal collapses spectacularly.
While the setting differs from Lucky, both series thrive on desperate survival, impossible odds and characters forced to outthink enemies on every side. Relaxing family holidays are definitely not part of the itinerary.
4. Your Friends & Neighbors (2025– )
Created by Jonathan Tropper, the same creative mind behind Lucky, this Apple TV+ drama stars Jon Hamm as a disgraced hedge fund manager who begins stealing from wealthy neighbours after losing everything.
Instead of elaborate heists, the suspense comes from ordinary people making increasingly reckless decisions. Fans of Lucky's polished storytelling and morally grey characters will immediately recognise the shared DNA.
5. Killing Eve (2018–2022)
Although centred around an intelligence officer and an assassin rather than a con artist, Killing Eve shares the same addictive cat-and-mouse formula.
Eve Polastri and Villanelle continually outsmart one another while forming an unexpectedly fascinating connection. Stylish, witty and unpredictable, it offers the same thrilling uncertainty that keeps Lucky moving at full speed.
6. The Flight Attendant (2020–2022)
One terrible decision turns an ordinary flight attendant into the prime suspect in an international murder investigation.
Cassie Bowden spends much of the series trying to uncover the truth while avoiding prison and confronting her own troubled past. Like Lucky, the story combines suspense, humour and emotional drama without ever slowing the pace.
7. Queen of the South (2016–2021)
After tragedy forces her to flee, Teresa Mendoza builds an empire while constantly staying one step ahead of dangerous rivals. The series delivers relentless tension, strategic thinking and survival against overwhelming odds.
Viewers who enjoyed watching Lucky Armstrong refuse to surrender despite impossible circumstances will likely find themselves hooked here too.
8. Animal Kingdom (2016–2022)
Crime is simply part of everyday family life in Animal Kingdom. After moving in with his criminal relatives, teenager Joshua Cody becomes involved in elaborate robberies and dangerous power struggles.
Like Lucky, loyalty becomes increasingly complicated when survival depends on knowing exactly who can—and absolutely cannot—be trusted.
9. Imposters (2017–2018)
Romance becomes considerably less romantic when your partner disappears after stealing your money. Imposters follows several victims joining forces to track down charismatic con artist Maddie, who has perfected the art of deception. Identity games, manipulation and unexpected twists make it an excellent companion to Lucky.
10. Berlin Station (2016–2019)
Espionage replaces financial scams, but the constant deception feels remarkably familiar. CIA officer Daniel Miller investigates intelligence leaks while navigating shifting alliances and dangerous conspiracies.
Fans drawn to Lucky's strategic storytelling and psychological tension should appreciate this underrated thriller.
11. The Blacklist (2013–2023)
Master criminal Raymond Reddington voluntarily surrenders to the FBI—but only on his own terms. Every episode introduces elaborate schemes, dangerous fugitives and carefully hidden motives.
Like Lucky, nobody is exactly who they first appear to be, which keeps viewers constantly guessing.
12. Goliath (2016–2021)
Billy Bob Thornton stars as a washed-up lawyer who stumbles into increasingly dangerous legal battles involving corruption and organised crime.
Although more grounded than Lucky, both series revolve around flawed individuals fighting powerful enemies while trying to stay alive long enough to expose the truth.
13. Ray Donovan (2013–2020)
Professional fixer Ray Donovan specialises in solving impossible problems for wealthy clients, but his own personal life remains spectacularly chaotic.
Criminal organisations, family conflicts and endless moral compromises create a gripping drama where every solution somehow creates two brand-new disasters.
14. Banshee (2013–2016)
An ex-con assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff in a small Pennsylvania town, creating one of television's boldest identity-switch thrillers.
Like Lucky, survival depends on maintaining an elaborate lie while staying ahead of dangerous people determined to expose the truth.
15. The Americans (2013–2018)
Two Soviet intelligence officers pose as an ordinary American married couple during the Cold War. Beneath the suburban lifestyle lies a constant struggle between duty, identity and survival.
Fans who enjoyed Lucky's secret identities and psychological pressure will appreciate this slow-burning masterpiece.
16. Money Heist (2017–2021)
One of the biggest crime series of recent years, Money Heist follows a carefully planned robbery that gradually spirals into complete chaos.
Strategic thinking, shifting loyalties and relentless pressure make it an obvious recommendation for anyone fascinated by high-risk operations and desperate escape plans.
17. Ginny & Georgia (2021– )
At first glance, this may seem like an unusual recommendation, but beneath its family drama sits a clever story about hidden identities, dark secrets and a woman constantly outrunning her past.
Georgia Miller survives through intelligence, manipulation and quick thinking, qualities that also define Lucky Armstrong.
18. Ride or Die (2026– )
Premiering alongside Lucky, this fast-paced thriller stars Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer as lifelong friends whose European holiday becomes a desperate escape after one shocking revelation changes everything.
Packed with conspiracies, organised crime and relentless pursuits, it delivers the same adrenaline-fuelled momentum and female-led suspense.
19. Absentia (2017–2020)
After being presumed dead for years, FBI agent Emily Byrne unexpectedly returns home only to become the prime suspect in a string of crimes.
The series constantly blurs the line between hunter and hunted, creating the same uneasy atmosphere that makes Lucky so compelling.
20. Reacher (2022– )
While Jack Reacher is certainly not a con artist, his adventures revolve around uncovering conspiracies, staying ahead of dangerous opponents and solving impossible situations through intelligence as much as physical ability. Every season throws him into another tightly woven mystery where trust is a luxury few can afford.
Whether it is brilliant con artists, desperate fugitives, elaborate heists or relentless games of deception that pulled you into Lucky, these twenty series deliver plenty of the same tension while offering their own unique twists.
Some lean further into psychological suspense, others embrace large-scale criminal operations, but all understand that the most gripping thrillers are driven by clever characters forced to make impossible decisions. If you've already finished Lucky, which show would you start next? Or have we missed another hidden gem that deserves a place alongside these crime thrillers?