10 Best TV Shows Like How to Get Away with Murder to Watch Next

You finish How to Get Away with Murder with a very specific kind of television hangover: you miss Annalise Keating’s ferocious courtroom presence, the students whose secrets keep changing the story, and the sense that one bad decision can turn a legal case into a personal catastrophe. A standard procedural may give you a clever argument and a verdict, but the next binge needs more than a case file. It needs characters who are complicated enough to make you argue with the screen.

That is the test for this countdown. These ten series share at least one important pleasure with How to Get Away with Murder: morally messy lawyers, ambitious young professionals, murder investigations, political crises, family loyalties, or the suspense of watching a secret become harder to contain. Some are courtroom dramas first. Others spend more time in a prosecutor’s office, a crisis-management firm, or the private lives of people who know how the system works and still find themselves trapped by it.

The ranking weighs how closely each show matches the original’s mix of legal stakes and character pressure, how confidently it builds its central conflict, and how rewarding it is to keep watching. A familiar genre alone is not enough. We give extra credit to stories with vivid leads, relationships that change under pressure, and a season-long question that keeps pulling the next episode into view. Lighter picks earn a place when they offer a useful change of pace; the top choices deliver the strongest combination of suspense, personality and legal drama. The best selections also balance courtroom stakes with characters whose private choices make each case matter.

The order below follows the sequence supplied for this list: #10 starts the countdown, and #1 is the final recommendation. You will find full story setups without major spoilers, a reason for every ranking position, and a note on the audience most likely to enjoy each series. The goal is to help you choose between a twisty case-of-the-week show, a slow moral spiral, or a sprawling ensemble where the personal plot can be just as dangerous as the courtroom one.

Where to watch changes by country and can change over time. The links at the end of each entry lead to current United States availability listings checked on November 2, 2026; use them to confirm your own region and plan before subscribing. Goliath currently has conflicting US listing pages, so we flag that uncertainty instead of pretending the answer is settled. If you want the closest match to Annalise’s world, keep reading through the final pick. Let’s get into it 👇

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#10. For the People (2018–2019)

Britt Robertson as Sandra Bell in a courtroom still from For the People. — Image credit: ABC Studios / Shondaland. Source: AlloCiné photo gallery.

For the People begins at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, where a new generation of lawyers takes on high-profile federal cases from opposite sides of the courtroom. Prosecutors and public defenders arrive with confidence, ambition and very different ideas about what justice should look like. Each case puts their arguments and judgment under pressure, while their personal lives keep crossing the professional lines they would prefer to keep tidy. The show’s young attorneys are not simply solving puzzles: they are learning how much the system asks them to compromise, and how difficult it can be to separate a legal win from a fair outcome.

The Shondaland connection is part of the appeal. Like How to Get Away with Murder, it gives its young ensemble room to clash, flirt and revise loyalties after a day in court. Its lighter tone and conventional case structure distinguish it: there is no central murder-box mystery driving every episode.

Why it ranks at #10: It has the young-lawyer ensemble and ethical arguments, but fewer deep-running secrets and reversals than How to Get Away with Murder. It is a solid starting point, not the closest replacement. Who should watch: Viewers after an upbeat courthouse ensemble, workplace rivalries and cases worth debating.

Where to watch: The current U.S. listing shows For the People on Hulu; check the JustWatch availability page for your region.

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#9. The Good Wife (2009–2016)

Alicia Florrick navigating a Chicago law firm in The Good Wife

When a public scandal devastates her husband’s political career, Alicia Florrick has to rebuild her life and professional identity in front of a city that already thinks it knows her story. She returns to legal work, joins a Chicago firm and handles cases while competing with younger colleagues in a workplace that rewards skill and strategy. Her children and her husband’s political ambitions keep affecting her choices, so professional victories never arrive in a vacuum. The series follows Alicia as she tries to reclaim independence while the past keeps changing the terms of the present.

Julianna Margulies gives Alicia guarded intelligence, making changes in trust feel as important as courtroom wins. The weekly cases sit alongside relationships with Diane Lockhart, Will Gardner and Kalinda Sharma, deepening a story about ambition, loyalty and reinvention. The tone is more patient and less sensational than How to Get Away with Murder, but both understand that law gets personal well before trial.

Why it ranks at #9: Alicia’s growth and the legal work are strong, but the show is more measured and less twist-driven than its source. It ranks above For the People for deeper character writing and a richer world. Who should watch: Fans of smart cases, tangled work relationships and a lead whose strength grows quietly.

Where to watch: The current U.S. listing includes Paramount+ and The Roku Channel. Confirm options on JustWatch before watching.

#8. The Lincoln Lawyer (2022–present)

Mickey Haller is a Los Angeles defense attorney who works from the back seat of his Lincoln Navigator. When a period away from the law leaves him needing to restart his practice, a high-profile case gives him a path back into the courtroom—and a fresh set of dangers to manage. He has to build a defense, read the people around him and decide how much he can trust the version of events he has been handed. The legal problem is only one part of the story: Mickey’s former relationships, family responsibilities and team of investigators and associates all affect how he approaches each case.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo makes Mickey charming without turning him into an unbeatable hero. Preparation and setbacks keep his wins satisfying. The recurring case gives the season momentum, while the supporting cast keeps scenes alive away from court. Its brighter rhythm and lower interest in corrosive choices make it a lighter binge than Annalise’s story.

Why it ranks at #8: The defense strategy and murder cases are an easy recommendation, but Mickey is more openly likable and less morally compromised than Annalise. It outruns The Good Wife on pace and cliffhangers, while its lighter tone keeps it below darker picks. Who should watch: Viewers after a charismatic lead, clever defense work and brisk suspense.

Where to watch: The U.S. listing shows four seasons on Netflix. Check JustWatch’s current listing for the latest options.

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#7. Scandal (2012–2018)

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope with the Scandal ensemble in a promotional still. — Image credit: ABC / ABC Studios / Shondaland. Source: Romper article.

Olivia Pope is a Washington, D.C. crisis fixer whose team is called when powerful people need a scandal contained before it becomes a public disaster. A former White House communications director, Olivia knows the machinery of politics and the value of controlling the story. Her associates are skilled at handling other people’s emergencies, yet their own private loyalties and past decisions steadily complicate the work. Each new crisis opens another layer of the political world around them, turning professional cleanup into a test of how much damage they are willing to excuse in order to protect a client—or one another.

Created by Shonda Rhimes, Scandal shares How to Get Away with Murder’s sharp dialogue, big ensemble, powerful women and appetite for reversals. Kerry Washington makes Olivia commanding yet vulnerable. The key difference is subject: this series fights political crises through negotiation, information and public perception, not criminal law.

Why it ranks at #7: The secrets and Shondaland energy make it one of the strongest tonal matches, but courtroom strategy is not its central pleasure. It sits above conventional legal dramas for plot momentum and below the legal thrillers for legal stakes. Who should watch: Viewers who want alliances, confessions and reversals in Washington instead of a law school.

Where to watch: Current U.S. listings show Netflix and Hulu. See JustWatch for current availability.

#6. Goliath (2016–2021)

Billy McBride used to be a formidable lawyer and partner in a powerful firm. By the time Goliath begins, he is burned out, isolated and spending too much time at a bar. He reluctantly takes on a wrongful-death case against a client of the firm he helped build, putting him on the opposite side of a legal machine with more money, influence and resources than he can match. As Billy and a small team investigate the case, they uncover a wider conspiracy and have to decide how much danger they are willing to face to bring it into court.

Billy Bob Thornton plays Billy with a battered, dry wit; he is neither polished genius nor uncomplicated hero. The series tracks the cost of fighting institutions built to outlast individuals, reaching into corporate power, local politics and the people caught underneath. That differs from Annalise’s law-school circle, but shares the pleasure of a lawyer taking on a case bigger than it first appeared.

Why it ranks at #6: The legal fight, fallible lead and corruption suspense make it a close genre match. It sits above Scandal for courtroom stakes and The Night Of for its long lawyer-versus-institution arc, but uneven tone keeps it out of the top five. Who should watch: Fans of underdog litigation and slower, morally bruised thrillers.

Where to watch: U.S. reports conflict: one JustWatch listing shows Prime Video, while another marks it unavailable; check both before planning a binge.

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#5. The Night Of (2016)

Riz Ahmed as Nasir Khan at the defense table in The Night Of. — Image credit: HBO / HBO Entertainment. Source: Esquire review.

Nasir “Naz” Khan is a Pakistani-American college student in Queens who borrows his father’s taxi to get to a party in Manhattan. After a night that begins with a chance encounter, he wakes to a nightmare: he is arrested for the murder of a young woman he has just met. The story follows the investigation and legal proceedings that follow, including the work of attorney John Stone, as Naz moves through a criminal justice system that can shape a person’s life before a verdict is reached. The question is not simply whether the case can be tried; it is what the process does to everyone forced to live inside it.

Riz Ahmed gives Naz a watchful presence, while John Turturro makes attorney John Stone vulnerable rather than stock. The limited series is deliberate and atmospheric, spending time on police work, legal delays, prison routines and public assumptions instead of relying on courtroom speeches. The result is serious, patient suspense.

Why it ranks at #5: Its focused case and controlled performances earn it a place above Goliath, but it offers less ensemble interplay and twist energy than the top four. Who should watch: Viewers ready for a serious, patient limited series rather than a breezy procedural.

Where to watch: Current U.S. listings include HBO Max. Check JustWatch for availability.

#4. Reasonable Doubt (2022–present)

Promotional image for the legal drama Reasonable Doubt

Jax Stewart is a brilliant Los Angeles defense attorney with a sharp mind, a full personal life and an approach to ethics that does not always fit neatly inside the rules. Her cases put her ability to read people and build an argument under intense scrutiny, while the pressures outside work test the choices she makes in court. She is capable of defending clients whose situations are difficult to untangle, but her own relationships and past decisions are no less complicated. The show places a lawyer’s professional judgment beside the private life she is trying to hold together.

Emayatzy Corinealdi gives Jax confidence without making her invulnerable. The series explores how a high-achieving Black woman is judged inside and outside the courtroom, letting that tension shape the character. Legal cases share the screen with romance, family responsibilities and shifting alliances. Unlike Annalise’s class, Jax’s story centers on one adult attorney.

Why it ranks at #4: Jax’s complicated ethics, personal stakes and strong lead make this a close match. It ranks above The Night Of for its ongoing character ensemble, but its legal mysteries are less tightly wound than the top three. Who should watch: Fans of modern legal drama led by a smart woman who refuses the safe choice.

Where to watch: Current U.S. listings show Hulu. Check JustWatch for current service details.

#3. Your Honor (2020–2023)

Bryan Cranston as Judge Michael Desiato outside a cemetery in Your Honor. — Image credit: Showtime. Source: Terra entertainment article.

Michael Desiato is a respected New Orleans judge whose carefully ordered life collapses after his son is involved in a hit-and-run that kills the child of a powerful crime-family leader. Michael’s first instinct is to protect his son, but every attempt to control what happens next pulls him further from the principles that once defined his career. The family connected to the victim is searching for answers, the legal system is closing in, and Michael has to choose between the public role he has always played and the private loyalty that now threatens to destroy it.

Bryan Cranston makes Michael’s turn painful because he begins believing rules matter. Each compromise solves one immediate problem and creates another. The family and crime story carries the suspense beyond the courtroom, giving it a different rhythm from How to Get Away with Murder but a similar question: what happens when secrecy becomes a way to control a case?

Why it ranks at #3: Its moral spiral, family stakes and lead performance place it near the top. The central crisis is tighter and more inevitable than Reasonable Doubt, but the judge-and-family focus is less rooted in legal-office dynamics than Presumed Innocent and Damages. Who should watch: Viewers who like crime stories where desperation changes someone one choice at a time.

Where to watch: The current U.S. listing includes Paramount+ and fuboTV. Confirm the options on JustWatch before watching.

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#2. Presumed Innocent (2024–present)

Presumed Innocent, a legal thriller included among crime and detective dramas

When a colleague is murdered inside the Chicago prosecutor’s office, chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich becomes the person under suspicion. He is pulled into a criminal case that puts his marriage, family and professional reputation under the same harsh light. Rusty wants to clear his name, but the investigation keeps forcing the people around him to reconsider what they know about the victim, the office and the man they thought they understood. The series builds its central mystery around one damaging question: can a prosecutor who has spent his career pursuing cases trust the system to treat him fairly now?

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Rusty is intense and hard to read, letting suspicion shift between sympathy and doubt. The prosecutor’s office adds a useful complication: the people who normally build cases are managing their own loyalties and reputations. Adapted from Scott Turow’s novel, the series centers on the Sabich family and knows when a pause says more than exposition.

Why it ranks at #2: This is the closest procedural bridge to How to Get Away with Murder: a murder mystery inside the legal world, private life complicating evidence and suspicion shifting by the episode. It misses #1 because Damages makes its mentor relationship and long-game structure even more central. Who should watch: Viewers after an elegant legal thriller with family consequences.

Where to watch: The current U.S. listing shows season one on Apple TV. Season two is listed as coming soon, so confirm details on JustWatch before you start.

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#1. Damages (2007–2012)

Promotional image for the legal thriller Damages

Patty Hewes is a celebrated New York litigator with a reputation for winning high-stakes cases, and Ellen Parsons is the ambitious young lawyer who joins her firm. Their relationship begins as mentor and protégé, but a case involving a powerful corporate figure tests the boundaries of trust, loyalty and ambition almost immediately. The series moves between the investigation, the legal fight and glimpses of consequences that make viewers question what has already happened. As Ellen learns how Patty operates, she also has to work out whether the woman opening doors for her is teaching her to succeed or drawing her into a more dangerous game.

Glenn Close makes Patty magnetic and frighteningly controlled; Rose Byrne lets Ellen’s confidence and uncertainty evolve. The nonlinear structure shows consequences before fully explaining how they happened, then reshapes earlier scenes with new information. Cases vary by season, but the changing relationship between Patty and Ellen is the real through-line: mentorship here is also a power struggle.

Why it ranks at #1: Damages brings together a formidable woman lawyer, young protégé, consequential case, moral compromises and a twisty structure. Presumed Innocent has the sharper murder hook, and Your Honor the more immediate family crisis, but neither matches the long push-and-pull between Patty and Ellen. Who should watch: Viewers who want character-led legal suspense where allies inside the firm can be as dangerous as opponents in court.

Where to watch: Current U.S. listings show Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and The CW. Confirm current availability at JustWatch or through FX’s series page.

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Conclusion

A good next watch after How to Get Away with Murder depends on which part of the show you miss most. If you want the working-lawyer ensemble without the constant storm clouds, start with The Good Wife or For the People. For a slick case and a charismatic defense attorney, The Lincoln Lawyer is an easy entry point. If the combination you want is legal strategy, family pressure and a secret that keeps changing shape, move up the list to Your Honor or Presumed Innocent.

Damages takes the top place because it gives the legal world a vivid centre in Patty Hewes, then makes her relationship with Ellen Parsons the story’s most gripping case. Its structure rewards attention, its lead performances give every alliance a cost, and its season-long conflicts make it natural to watch one more episode. That is the closest match here to Annalise’s force of personality and the student-lawyer stories orbiting her.

Have you watched any of these series already? Tell us which one you would rank first, or share a legal thriller we have missed. If you enjoyed this guide, support That Love Podcast and listen to more episodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I watch after How to Get Away with Murder?

Start with Damages if you want a morally complicated woman lawyer, an ambitious younger colleague and a case that changes as you learn more. Presumed Innocent is the closest pick for a murder mystery inside a prosecutor’s office, while Scandal suits viewers who mainly miss Shonda Rhimes’ fast dialogue and high-stakes secrets. If you want a lighter legal binge, try The Lincoln Lawyer. The best choice depends on which part of Annalise Keating’s story you want to revisit.

Which show on this list is most similar to How to Get Away with Murder?

Damages is our closest overall match because it combines a formidable woman attorney, a younger professional drawn into her orbit, legal cases and a story structure built around shifting information. Presumed Innocent is a close alternative if the murder investigation and legal-office setting matter most to you. Scandal shares the Shondaland energy and appetite for dramatic turns, though its focus is political crisis management rather than criminal defense.

Is Damages a good show to watch after How to Get Away with Murder?

Yes. Damages is a strong follow-up if you enjoy legal stories where the lawyers have complex motives and the personal relationships are as tense as the case. Patty Hewes is a commanding, often ruthless litigator, while Ellen Parsons enters her firm as an ambitious young associate. The series uses a nonlinear structure and gradually reveals how the case and the two women’s loyalties connect. Its five-season story gives you a substantial binge without relying on the same law-school setup.

Is The Good Wife similar to How to Get Away with Murder?

They share legal cases, complicated personal lives and women leads who must navigate power in a competitive professional world. The Good Wife is generally more measured and procedural, following Alicia Florrick as she returns to legal work after her husband’s public scandal. It spends more time on her career, family and colleagues than on a single murder mystery. Choose it if you want smart courtroom drama and character growth; choose a darker entry such as Damages if you want more sustained suspense.

Which series has the best courtroom drama?

That depends on the kind of courtroom story you prefer. The Good Wife offers a broad range of cases and a steady legal-work rhythm, while The Lincoln Lawyer makes defense strategy and its lead attorney’s preparation central to the suspense. Goliath leans into an underdog lawyer taking on powerful opponents. The Night Of is less a courtroom showcase than a careful look at how investigation and criminal proceedings affect an accused person.

Which show is best if I want a female lawyer lead?

Reasonable Doubt centers on Jax Stewart, a Los Angeles defense attorney balancing difficult cases with a complicated personal life. Damages gives you Patty Hewes, a powerful litigator whose mentorship of Ellen Parsons becomes its own power struggle. The Good Wife follows Alicia Florrick’s return to legal practice and her gradual professional reinvention. Each show treats its lead differently, so choose Jax for a contemporary, personal drama, Patty for a colder legal thriller or Alicia for a longer career story.

Is The Night Of a limited series?

Yes. The Night Of is an eight-part limited series based on the BBC drama Criminal Justice. It follows Naz Khan after he is arrested for murder, then broadens its focus to the investigation, legal proceedings and the justice system around him. The shorter run makes it a good choice if you want one complete, serious story rather than several seasons of ongoing cases. It is patient and atmospheric, so it suits viewers who enjoy character detail alongside the central mystery.

Where can I stream these legal dramas in the United States?

The US listings checked on November 2, 2026 show different services across the list: examples include Netflix for The Lincoln Lawyer, Hulu for For the People and Reasonable Doubt, Paramount+ for The Good Wife and Your Honor, and Apple TV for season one of Presumed Innocent. Rights can change, and Goliath has conflicting listings. Use the JustWatch link on each entry to confirm the current service in your area before subscribing.

Is Goliath available to stream right now?

Availability reports for Goliath conflict. One current US JustWatch page lists Amazon Prime Video, while another page says the show is unavailable and shows an older streaming history. Because those sources disagree, check the current Prime Video catalogue and both listing pages before planning a watch. The series itself is a legal thriller about Billy McBride, a burned-out former lawyer who takes on a powerful opponent in a wrongful-death case.

Which show is closest to Annalise Keating as a character?

Patty Hewes in Damages is the closest pick here for commanding presence, intelligence and a willingness to make morally uncomfortable decisions. She is different from Annalise—colder and more controlled—but both characters change the temperature of a room and draw younger lawyers into complicated relationships. Jax Stewart in Reasonable Doubt offers a more contemporary defense-attorney lead whose personal and professional decisions remain closely connected. Neither is a copy of Annalise, which is part of the fun.

More Places to Find Great Movies and TV Shows

Use these services to discover series, compare viewer and critic responses, and check where a title is streaming. Availability and ratings can vary by region and can change.

Rotten Tomatoes’ TV browse page — filter current series by genre and review scores.
JustWatch’s US TV guide — search series and compare current streaming, rental and purchase options.
HBO Max’s press-room page for The Night Of — read the official series premise and cast information.
Shondaland’s Scandal page — learn about Olivia Pope’s crisis-management team and the show’s creative background.
FX’s Damages page — browse the legal thriller’s seasons and official episode information.