If you loved
We Own This City
George Pelecanos · Series · 2022
What hooked you in We Own This City was the way institutional rot transforms the badge into a predatory weapon.
Books on the same thread
Homicide
David Simon · Book · 2007
Much like We Own This City, this foundational text strips away the polished veneer of police work to expose the raw, systemic decay inherent in urban homicide investigations.
Largo Desolato
Václav Havel · Book · 1987
If the moral bankruptcy in We Own This City resonated with you, this absurdist play offers a sharp, philosophical look at how police states erode individual integrity and truth.
Low Life
Luc Sante · Book · 2003
This historical portrait mirrors the gritty atmosphere of We Own This City by documenting how poverty and systemic neglect create the breeding grounds for the crime you witnessed.
Films on the same thread
Serpico
Sidney Lumet · Film · 1973
You will recognize the internal struggle against institutional corruption seen in We Own This City, as this film tracks one officer's isolated battle for honesty within a compromised department.
Babylon
Damien Chazelle · Film · 2022
The cycle of unchecked ambition and inevitable collapse found in We Own This City finds a visually explosive parallel in this tale of decadence during a transformative historical era.
Traffic
Steven Soderbergh · Film · 2000
This film expands the scope of the drug war depicted in We Own This City, illustrating how institutional failure and moral ambiguity permeate every level of the legal system.
Touch of Evil
Orson Welles · Film · 1958
The battle between justice and unchecked power in We Own This City is mirrored here as a corrupt captain abuses his authority in a tense, atmospheric crime investigation.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
This podcast captures the same nuance of human behavior and legal complexity that defined We Own This City, highlighting how individuals become caught in the gears of the system.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Following the character-driven descent seen in We Own This City, this investigative journey uncovers the dark truths hidden within a small town, revealing layers of deep-seated social decay.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is We Own This City based on a true story?
Yes, We Own This City depicts the factual rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force. The series documents the systemic corruption and moral collapse that occurred in Baltimore as a direct result of drug prohibition policies and mass arrest strategies.
What is the primary focus of We Own This City?
We Own This City explores how a focus on drug prohibition and mass arrest tactics replaced effective police work within the Baltimore Police Department. It specifically details the criminal activities of the Gun Trace Task Force and the resulting impact on the city.
How does We Own This City portray the Baltimore Police Department?
We Own This City portrays the Baltimore Police Department through the lens of the Gun Trace Task Force scandal. The series highlights how institutional corruption and the prioritization of specific policing policies led to a significant moral collapse within the organization and the city itself.
Who created the television series We Own This City?
We Own This City was created by George Pelecanos. The 2022 series examines the corruption within the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force and the broader consequences of the department's reliance on mass arrest and drug prohibition strategies.