What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedPeaky Blinders
Steven Knight · Series · 2013
If you loved Peaky Blinders, start with BlacKkKlansman (Spike Lee, 2018) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Peaky Blinders across media.
What hooked you in Peaky Blinders was the way the weight of history collides with the ruthless, often violent, pursuit of personal power.
Books on the same thread
Sharp Objects
Gillian Flynn · Book · 2018
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Small Town Secrets, Trauma.
Much like the internal battles of Tommy Shelby, this story delves into the corrosive nature of family trauma and the dark secrets that define one's fractured identity after Peaky Blinders.
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book
Explores: sectarian violence, radicalization, conspiracy.
If the political maneuvering and sectarian tension of Peaky Blinders kept you riveted, you will find this investigative deep dive into the Troubles equally essential and historically gripping.
The Black Dahlia
James Ellroy · Book · 2014
Explores: Obsession, Police Corruption, Murder Investigation.
This hardboiled narrative captures the same obsession and systemic corruption that defined the criminal underworld of Peaky Blinders, grounding its atmosphere in a visceral, post-war sense of moral decay.
Dubliners
James Joyce · Book · 1992
Explores: Paralysis, Epiphany, Irish Identity.
These stories reflect the same preoccupation with Irish identity and urban atmosphere found in Peaky Blinders, offering a more literary, modernist look at the soul of a changing city.
Films on the same thread
BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee · Film · 2018
Explores: Racial Injustice, Undercover Operation, Identity.
The high-stakes infiltration and racial tension echo the dangerous undercover dynamics seen throughout Peaky Blinders, focusing on the precarious nature of identity when you are operating behind enemy lines.
Miller's Crossing
Joel Coen · Film · 1990
Shares a thread with Peaky Blinders: Moral Ambiguity.
This film mirrors the loyalty conflicts and Irish-American gangster roots of Peaky Blinders, exploring the brutal consequences of power struggles when personal ambition clashes with rigid criminal codes of honor.
GoodFellas
Martin Scorsese · Film · 1990
Shares 2 threads with Peaky Blinders: Organized Crime, Moral Ambiguity.
The rise and fall trajectory of the central characters in this mob epic parallels the Shelby family's ascent, capturing the same intoxicating blend of loyalty, betrayal, and American dream corruption.
Blade Runner
Ridley Scott · Film · 1982
Shares a thread with Peaky Blinders: Moral Ambiguity.
While set in a dystopian future, the existential weight and moral ambiguity of the protagonist recall Tommy Shelby's detached, cold-blooded approach to navigating a world that demands constant, violent survival.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Peaky Blinders: moral ambiguity.
This podcast explores the same fascination with moral gray areas and human behavior under pressure that made the criminal world of Peaky Blinders feel so complex and deeply compelling.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
While far less violent, the intricate, long-form family dynamics and community focus here provide the same sense of continuity and deep-seated history that defined the Shelby family's life.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the setting of Peaky Blinders?
Peaky Blinders is a gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England. The series focuses on a criminal gang known for sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps as they attempt to move up in the world under the leadership of Tommy Shelby.
Who is the main character in Peaky Blinders?
The central figure in Peaky Blinders is Tommy Shelby. As the fierce boss of the gang, he leads his family through various criminal endeavors in Birmingham while striving to improve their social and economic standing during the post-war era of 1919.
Is Peaky Blinders based on a specific historical group?
Yes, Peaky Blinders centers on a historical gang operating in 1919 Birmingham, England. The show dramatizes the lives of this family as they navigate their criminal environment, specifically highlighting their signature practice of sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps.
How would you describe the premise of Peaky Blinders?
Peaky Blinders is a gangster family epic created by Steven Knight. The narrative follows a notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, England, led by Tommy Shelby, as they utilize violence and strategy to advance their position in society while maintaining control over their criminal operations.