If you loved
The Outlaws
Kang Yun-sung · Film · 2017
You crave the gritty tension that emerges when law enforcement and underworld forces collide in desperate, high-stakes power struggles.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Outlaws
Stephen Merchant · Series · 2021
Books on the same thread
The Outsiders
S. E. Hinton · Book · 1967
Explores: Social Class, Teenage Angst, Violence.
If the territorial conflict in The Outlaws kept you glued to the screen, you will recognize that same volatile energy in the intense rivalry between the greasers and socs.
Down the River unto the Sea
Walter Mosley · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with The Outlaws: Corruption.
Much like the police procedural elements of The Outlaws, this story features a dedicated investigator navigating the complex, often corrupt layers of the justice system to find the truth.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
David Grann · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with The Outlaws: Corruption.
The Outlaws mirrors the real-world stakes found here, where systemic corruption and greed demand a relentless pursuit of justice against those who exploit the vulnerable for power.
The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey · Book
Explores: Redemption, Unlikely Heroes, Friendship.
If you enjoyed the unlikely alliance between local gangsters and police in The Outlaws, you will appreciate this story of tough characters teaming up to dismantle criminal villains.
Series on the same thread
Bloodhounds
Jason Kim · Series · 2023
Shares 2 threads with The Outlaws: Good vs Evil, Korean Noir.
This series captures the same Korean noir intensity found in The Outlaws, pitting honorable underdogs against ruthless criminal forces in a brutal battle for control and survival.
My Name
Kim Jin-min · Series · 2021
Shares 2 threads with The Outlaws: Action Thriller, Korean Noir.
The blur between law enforcement and organized crime that defined The Outlaws is central here, creating a high-stakes revenge drama fueled by betrayal and deep underworld ties.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
Just as The Outlaws explores the moral ambiguity of the underworld, this podcast dives into the complex human stories of those caught in the middle of legal anomalies.
Bad Money
Kindling Media & Vespucci · Podcast · 2023
If the criminal masterminds of The Outlaws intrigued you, this investigation into a daring figure taking on powerful institutions will satisfy your interest in high-stakes underworld conflict.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Outlaws based on a true story?
Yes, the 2017 movie The Outlaws is based on a true story. It depicts the arrival of a trio of Chinese gangsters in Chinatown and the subsequent efforts of local police and gangsters to restore order to the territory.
What order should I watch The Outlaws in?
You should start with the 2017 movie The Outlaws directed by Kang Yun-sung. Following the film, you can watch the 2021 television adaptation of The Outlaws to further explore the narrative established in the original source material.
Does The Outlaws feature Ma Seok-do as a lead character?
Yes, Ma Seok-do serves as the lead character in The Outlaws. He is portrayed as a badass loose cannon who heads the police team working alongside local gangsters to take down the trio of feral criminals terrorizing the Chinatown district.
Is the 2021 TV show The Outlaws a continuation of the 2017 movie?
The 2021 television series The Outlaws is an adaptation of the original 2017 movie. Both titles share the same source material and focus on the conflict between the police, local gangsters, and the trio of feral Chinese gangsters invading the territory.