What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTulsa King
Taylor Sheridan · Series · 2022
If you loved Tulsa King, start with King of New York (Abel Ferrara, 1990) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Tulsa King across media.
What hooked you in Tulsa King is the grit of an exiled criminal attempting to assert authority in unfamiliar territory.
Books on the same thread
Crook Manifesto
Colson Whitehead · Book
Explores: systemic corruption, 1970s urban decay, criminal underworld.
Like Tulsa King, this story captures the tension of a veteran criminal navigating a shifting urban landscape where old-school power dynamics are constantly challenged by new and violent forces.
City on Fire
Don Winslow · Book
Explores: loyalty and betrayal, intergenerational conflict, criminal empire.
Fans of Tulsa King will appreciate the high-stakes power struggles and the focus on building a criminal empire against the backdrop of deep-seated loyalty and inevitable betrayal between rival factions.
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
If you enjoyed the fish-out-of-water humor in Tulsa King, you will recognize that same cynical charm as a seasoned mobster attempts to navigate a completely different industry and lifestyle.
King of Ashes
S. A. Cosby · Book · 2025
Explores: generational trauma, systemic injustice, redemption arc.
Much like Dwight Manfredi's journey in Tulsa King, this narrative explores the complexities of redemption and small-town secrets, offering a grounded look at the consequences of a life in crime.
Films on the same thread
King of New York
Abel Ferrara · Film · 1990
Shares a thread with Tulsa King: Redemption.
This film echoes the core appeal of Tulsa King by following a former mob boss returning from prison to reclaim power and reshape his world on his own uncompromising terms.
The Shawshank Redemption
Frank Darabont · Film · 1994
Shares a thread with Tulsa King: redemption.
While Tulsa King focuses on the aftermath of prison, this story shares that deep fascination with the personal evolution of a man forced to build a new life behind walls.
Wasteman
Cal McMau · Film · 2026
Explores: Recidivism, Toxic mentorship, Moral compromise.
This film mirrors the post-parole struggle seen in Tulsa King, focusing on the moral compromises and loyalty tests that define a criminal attempting to survive after serving his time.
The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie · Film · 2020
Explores: Criminal Underworld, Power Struggle, Blackmail.
The interplay of criminal ambition and comedic misadventure that drives Tulsa King is fully present here, as a powerful expatriate struggles to protect his established empire from encroaching outside threats.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
If the unique culture clash of Tulsa King intrigued you, this investigation of a man at odds with his isolated small town offers a similar exploration of outsider perspectives.
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
This podcast provides the same moral ambiguity found in Tulsa King, exploring the lives of people caught in the gray areas of the law and the consequences of their choices.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Tulsa King based on a true story?
Tulsa King is a fictional television series created by Taylor Sheridan. It follows the story of Dwight Manfredi, a New York mafia capo who is exiled to Oklahoma after serving a 25-year prison sentence. There is no indication that the plot is based on actual historical events.
What is the main premise of Tulsa King?
Tulsa King follows Dwight Manfredi, a mob capo released from prison after 25 years. Upon his release, his mafia family exiles him to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Realizing his former associates do not have his best interests in mind, he begins the process of building his own new criminal crew.
Who created the show Tulsa King?
Tulsa King was created by Taylor Sheridan. The series premiered in 2022 and focuses on the character of Dwight Manfredi, a New York mafia capo who is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to establish a new operation after being released from a 25-year prison term.
Does Tulsa King feature a New York mobster?
Yes, the protagonist of Tulsa King is Dwight Manfredi, a New York mafia capo. After spending 25 years in prison, he is exiled by his crime family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he decides to build his own crew rather than continue serving the interests of his former associates.