If you loved
Boardwalk Empire
Terence Winter · Series · 2010
You loved Boardwalk Empire because you are fascinated by the brutal interplay between political ambition and the corrupting nature of power.
Books on the same thread
Low Life
Luc Sante · Book · 2003
Just as Boardwalk Empire captured the lawless grit of Atlantic City, this book provides the historical foundation for the anarchic poverty and greed that defined the era's urban landscape.
Homicide
David Simon · Book · 2007
If you appreciated the systemic corruption and moral ambiguity found in Boardwalk Empire, this exploration of homicide investigation offers a similar, unflinching look at the decay of urban institutions.
Largo Desolato
Václav Havel · Book · 1987
Boardwalk Empire excelled at showing how political structures erode personal morality, a theme this play masterfully examines through the lens of a subversive life within a strict police state.
The Glass Hotel
Emily St. John Mandel · Book · 2020
Much like the financial schemes and moral compromises that defined Nucky Thompson’s life in Boardwalk Empire, this novel dissects the devastating personal consequences of greed and high-stakes white-collar crime.
Films on the same thread
Gangster Squad
Film · 2013
If the rise of mob kingpins in Boardwalk Empire held your attention, you will recognize the same ruthless struggle for criminal control amidst the corruption of 1940s Los Angeles.
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Brandon Vietti · Film · 2010
This film mirrors the complex moral ambiguity of Boardwalk Empire by presenting a protagonist who operates as a criminal kingpin while attempting to impose his own brand of justice.
Lawless
John Hillcoat · Film · 2012
This film captures the same Prohibition-era atmosphere found in Boardwalk Empire, focusing on the tension between bootlegging operations and the corrupt authorities determined to dismantle their backwoods criminal empire.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Fans of the moral gray areas in Boardwalk Empire will appreciate these investigations into the human condition, where the line between doing wrong and being wronged is perpetually blurred.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
Boardwalk Empire explored how power influences history, and this podcast offers a similarly deep, provocative analysis of human nature and the shifting tides of power throughout our civilization.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Boardwalk Empire set during the Prohibition era?
Yes, Boardwalk Empire is set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition. The series focuses on the town treasurer, Enoch Nucky Thompson, as he navigates the complex intersection of local politics and criminal activities during this specific period of American history.
What is the primary role of Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire?
In Boardwalk Empire, Enoch Nucky Thompson serves as the treasurer of Atlantic City. He functions as the central figure who runs the town by operating simultaneously as a politician and a gangster, existing in a place where standard rules do not apply.
Who created the television series Boardwalk Empire?
The television series Boardwalk Empire was created by Terence Winter. The show premiered in 2010 and follows the life and operations of the Atlantic City treasurer Enoch Nucky Thompson during the start of the Prohibition era.
Where does the story of Boardwalk Empire take place?
Boardwalk Empire takes place in Atlantic City during the dawn of Prohibition. The setting is characterized as a place where the rules do not apply, providing the backdrop for the political and illegal dealings of the town treasurer, Enoch Nucky Thompson.