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15 TV Shows like The Boys for Fans of Unhinged Entertainment

June 27, 2023
Shows like The Boys

Since it began streaming in July 2019, The Boys has garnered a dedicated following who consider it one of the most unique and unconventional superhero shows out there.The Boys is a subversion of traditional superhero tropes and explores the far from heroic side of what it means to have superhuman abilities. For your consideration we have curated a list of 15 shows like The Boys that offer similar levels of outrageousness and boundary-pushing entertainment.

In this alternate world, Vought International, an evil conglomerate, creates and controls superheroes, most of whom are corrupt, arrogant and sometimes downright dangerous psychopaths. It’s a given that there are people whose personal lives have been negatively impacted by these “Supes”, these group of individuals are bent on exposing their true nature to the world.The Boys, known for its graphic violence and dark humor, doesn’t take itself too seriously. The shows below are perfect for anyone looking for the same unhinged and thrilling experience. So, check out our list and get ready to indulge in some wild and wacky entertainment!

List of Shows Like The Boys

  1. The Boys Presents: Diabolical
  2. The Umbrella Academy
  3. Titans
  4. Jessica Jones
  5. Happy!
  6. Legion
  7. Invincible
  8. Jupiter’s Legacy
  9. Powers
  10. Preacher
  11. Peacemaker
  12. Watchmen
  13. Doom Patrol
  14. Marvel’s Daredevil
  15. Marvel’s The Defenders

1. The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)

If you are a devoted follower of shows like The Boys, you may not have heard of Diabolical. This animated anthology spinoff takes place in the same universe as The Boys and is probably the ultimate starting point for any avid fan on the hunt for their next The Boys fix.

With eight episodes, each rendered in distinct animation styles, some episodes involve the characters we’re already familiar with, such as The Deep and Homelander, and the Compound V also makes an appearance. The spinoff also introduces some new, hilariously dark characters that explore the same themes that we’ve come to expect from The Boys’ unique brand of storytelling.
 

2. The Umbrella Academy (2019)

The Umbrella Academy‘s premise is unrivaled in the superhero genre. The Netflix adaptation offers an excellent entry point to complex and dark lives of super-powered individuals, making it a great choice for those with unorthodox sensibilities. The story begins with the sudden birth of seven children to women without any pregnancy signs, who are then adopted by a quirky billionaire to form “The Umbrella Academy.”

Though their clashing personalities make it hard to work together, they must reunite to uncover their past and save the world from an impending apocalypse. While less cynical than shows similar to The Boys, The Umbrella Academy offers tongue-in-cheek humor, a playful attitude, and an expansive universe, perfect for those who enjoy extravagant violence.

3. Titans (2018)

Titans is a show that shares similarities with shows like The Boys, but it also establishes its own distinct identity, which is crucial. Both shows feature a group of heroes who prefer to work independently rather than as a team. Titans can be just as gruesome and cringe-worthy as The Boys, with bone-crunching moments that’ll make you wince.

Additionally, these young heroes carry a chip on their shoulders as they strive to break free from the shadows of more prominent superheroes in the same universe, similar to The Boys‘ caped crusaders, who don’t always prioritize honesty and justice. Titans is set in the DC Universe and has occasional references to it. Like The Boys, Titans is gritty and will satisfy your craving for its trademark unhinged delights.

4. Marvel’s Jessica Jones (2015)

Despite its early demise from its host streaming platform, leaving a lot of disappointed fans in its wake. The Marvel series Jessica Jones was a great show while it was on. The title character is played by Krysten Ritter, it revolves around the life of its sardonic protagonist, who runs her own detective agency and suffers from PTSD from her time as a superhero. The show handles a mature topic that Marvel has also explored with Tony Stark.

The show follows Jessica’s attempt to rebuild her life and confront her past while investigating cases in New York City. Her path crosses with Kilgrave, a manipulative man with mind control abilities, leading to a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. If you’re a fan of this one, Jessica Jones also appears in The Defenders which pops up later on in this list. Check this one out if you like the abrasive tone of shows like The Boys.

5. Happy! (2017)

Happy! is perhaps the closest TV series to match the satirical and anarchic tone of The Boys. This eccentric show revolves around Nick Sax, an ex-cop who’s both corrupt and self-destructive, making his new career as a hitman a precarious one. After a life-threatening medical incident, he teams up with an imaginary animated alicorn, visible only to him.

Together, they set out to rescue Nick’s estranged daughter, who’s been kidnapped. Happy!, also an adaptation of a comic, delivers the same level of insanity and absurdity as shows like The Boys, making it a must-watch for fans who enjoy over-the-top moments in their TV shows.

6. Legion (2017)

This one is for the X-Men and mutant fans. Legion, a Marvel show that aligns with the X-Men film timeline, follows Dan Stevens as David Haller, Professor X’s son. David, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and institutionalized, suspects he may possess superpowers.

Alongside a group of similarly gifted individuals, he aims to thwart the Shadow King’s plan to end the world by infecting people’s minds. The show offers a fresh take on typical superhero tropes while addressing real-world issues, including mental health. Legion‘s unique approach makes it a perfect choice for fans of shows like The Boys.

Also Read: Shows like Sense8

7. Invincible (2021)

If you’re a fan of adult-oriented animated superhero series and haven’t watched Invincible yet, you’re missing out. Created by Robert Kirkman, the acclaimed show is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, just like shows similar to The Boys. The plot revolves around Mark Grayson, a seemingly ordinary teenager whose father is the most powerful superhero of all time, Omni-Man.

Although he seems like an average teenager, Mark gains his own powers after a while, under the guidance of his father. However, things take a turn for the worse when the world’s greatest superhero team, the Guardians of the Globe, is brutally eliminated. With his father’s true nature coming to light, Mark realizes he may be the only one who can save the day.

Also Read: Shows like Invincible

8. Jupiter’s Legacy (2021)

Although Jupiter’s Legacy shares some similarities with shows like The Boys as both are adaptations of comic books and portray a world where superheroes are famous, it distinguishes itself in significant ways. The series follows the story of the first generation of superheroes, known as ‘The Union,’ who acquired their powers during the Great Depression.

As the present-day world faces new challenges, they struggle to pass on their legacy to their children and the next generation. The show jumps between timelines, contrasting the challenges and beliefs of the two generations as they confront the evolving dangers of a world vastly different from the one in which superheroes first appeared.

9. Powers (2015)

Yet another series based on popular comics that looks at a world full of superheroes from a more realistic and cynical point of view, Powers is a show that flew under the radar for most due to it being a PlayStation exclusive.

The main character is Christian Walker, a former superhero who lost his abilities and now uses his experience to help a special division of the police that deals with superhero crime. There’s also a Compound V-like substance that boosts superpowers and a darker take on what a world with superheroes would actually be like, making it one of the more gripping shows like The Boys.

10. Preacher (2016)

AMC’s Preacher is similar to shows like The Boys as it is equally based on a comic book by Garth Ennis, only instead of superheroes this time he focuses on a man of the cloth. Dominic Cooper plays Jesse Custer, who seems like your average small town preacher, but he is experiencing a crisis of faith and abusing alcohol and cigarettes to cope with his big secret.

He has developed supernatural powers that allow him to influence people around him to do what he wants. Jesse struggles to come to terms with his power in order to understand and keep from abusing it. With the same executive producers as The Boys, Preacher has enough blood and gore and depravity to satisfy fans of The Boys.

11. Peacemaker (2022)

Peacemaker is arguably the show on this list that is most similar to shows like The Boys in many ways. In fact, the former certainly shares the same anti-superhero sentiments of the latter. Set five months after the battle between the Suicide Squad and the parasite Starro, Peacemaker is finally discharged from being hospitalized.

John Cena reprises his role as the burly weapons expert who wants peace, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it. The show’s goofiness that easily suffuses each episode, are contrasted by the more serious, gory violence and silly conversations that will definitely give you The Boys flashbacks.

12. Watchmen (2019)

Similar to shows like The Boys that feature morally ambiguous characters who are neither entirely good or bad. Watchmen is a TV show based on a comic book series where superheroes, once celebrated as champions of justice, are now outlaws. It follows Detective Angela Abar, who patrols the streets as Sister Night, hiding her true identity as a police officer.

Angela uncovers a dangerous conspiracy that could upend the uneasy truce between vigilantes and law enforcement, putting the world at risk. Set three decades after the events of the comics, Watchmen remains a story about examining the fraught state of the real world today through the lens of superhero motifs, just as the original comic did.

13. Doom Patrol (2019)

If you enjoy following a team of brooding outcasts similar to TV shows like The Boys, you’ll find an abundance of that in Doom Patrol, with the added twist that these misfits also possess powers. This show follows the Doom Patrol, a group of superheroes who got their powers through terrible varying circumstances from toxic gas exposure, to being forcefully and cruelly experimented on, or suffering in car crashes.

The group is alienated and shunned by society and are forced to take refuge in a mansion owned by the enigmatic Dr. Niles Caulder. Struggling to deal with their issues and traumas, they must band together, not only to come to the aid of the doctor who has taken care of them, but also to help each other heal. Doom Patrol is another must-watch for devotees of tv shows like The Boys.

14. Marvel’s Daredevil (2015)

In a similar vein to shows like The Boys with flawed and complex characters that take justice into their own hands and fight against criminals and corrupt systems in their respective cities, Daredevil blurs the lines between hero and villain to protect his beloved city.

Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, Matt Murdock is both the law and order of this show. A blind lawyer, with an incredibly perceptive ability to tell when people are telling the truth who also doubles as a vigilante fighting crime. Set in New York, Matt ends up uncovering a criminal conspiracy led by gangster Wilson Fisk.

15. Marvel’s The Defenders (2017)

Similar to shows like The Boys with how everyone bands together to tackle a common problem, The Defenders is a show set a few months after the second season of Daredevil, and a month after the first season of Iron Fist.

Here, vigilantes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist come together to form a team to defend New York City and the entire neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, and take down a common enemy; The Hand. They must work together to stop the unleashing of a powerful weapon called the Black Sky all the while facing their own personal problems and challenges.

Honorable Mentions

Here are more shows like The Boys that didn’t make the list which you can watch regardless:

  1.  Powerless (2016)
  2. Wayne (2019)
  3. Frisky Dingo (2006)
  4. The Gifted (2017
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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