What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime
Letizia Paoli · Book · 2014
If you loved The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime, start with Law & Order: Organized Crime (Dick Wolf, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime across media.
What hooked you in The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime was the interplay between systemic criminal structures and the individuals operating within them.
Films on the same thread

The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1972
Shares a thread with The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime: Corruption.
After exploring the academic definitions in The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime, you will appreciate how this film humanizes the cold mechanics of family-based criminal organizations and power.

The Wolf of Wall Street
Film · 2013
Shares a thread with The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime: Corruption.
The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime analyzes criminal activities for monetary gain, and this film provides a visceral look at the corruption and systemic greed fueling such enterprises.

The Godfather Part II
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1974
Explores: Family Legacy, Power and Corruption, Immigration and Assimilation.
Building on the structural analysis found in The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime, this sequel illustrates how legacy and assimilation influence the survival of long-standing criminal families.

The Departed
Martin Scorsese · Film · 2006
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Identity Crisis, Betrayal.
You examined the infiltration of illicit networks in The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime, and this thriller masterfully depicts the moral ambiguity inherent in undercover operations against syndicates.
Series on the same thread

Law & Order: Organized Crime
Dick Wolf · Series · 2021
Explores: Undercover Operations, Moral Ambiguity, Vigilante Justice.
While The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime defines the nature of these groups, this series offers a procedural perspective on the tactical work required to dismantle violent enterprises.

Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Series · 2014
Explores: organized crime, power struggles, betrayal.
This series brings the cold reality of organized crime described in The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime to life, focusing on the brutal power struggles within Neapolitan organizations.

ZeroZeroZero
Leonardo Fasoli · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime: Drug Trafficking.
The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime addresses the global reach of illicit networks, a theme this show explores through the complex, international logistics of the global cocaine trade.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Underworld Podcast
Podcast
Shares 2 threads with The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime: transnational crime, Criminal Justice.
This podcast mirrors the investigative rigor of The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime, offering a direct look into the transnational networks that facilitate global criminal activity today.

Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
Complementing the theoretical framework of The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime, this podcast humanizes the legal and ethical gray areas involving people caught within criminal systems.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What core concepts does The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime explore?
The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime examines two primary definitions of organized crime. It analyzes stable organizations that are inherently illegal or systematically criminal, alongside serious criminal activities performed primarily for monetary gain. The text provides a comprehensive academic framework for understanding these distinct criminal structures and behaviors.
Is The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime focused on specific criminal activities?
Yes, The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime covers serious criminal activities conducted for profit. It categorizes these actions as one of the two main concepts of organized crime, exploring how such activities are carried out within the broader scope of illegal markets and systematic criminal enterprise.
Does The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime define what constitutes a criminal organization?
The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime defines criminal organizations as groups that are illegal by their nature or whose members engage in systematic criminal activity. This classification serves as one of the two central pillars of the book, helping readers distinguish between organizational structures and specific illegal acts.
How does The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime categorize organized crime?
The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime organizes the subject into two main types. It distinguishes between stable entities that are inherently illegal or systematically criminal and the various serious criminal activities that are pursued by individuals or groups for the purpose of achieving monetary gain.