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7 Netflix Shows To Watch If You Like ‘The Crown’

"Babylon Berlin" on Netflix.

The fifth season of “The Crown” just debuted on Netflix. With a massive budget, an Academy Award-winning actress as the royal protagonist and its story of global importance, “The Crown” is very much its own thing. Comparing any show to “The Crown” is a foolhardy task.

But, with the acknowledgement you may want some related shows to watch after bingeing through the episodes of Season 5, I have compiled a list of recommendations anyway.

The below list includes Netflix Original shows that have some similarity to “The Crown,” whether that be their expensive, period piece sets or simply delightful British accents.

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“Babylon Berlin”

"Babylon Berlin" on Netflix.

Details: This is a German neo-noir show (with English overdub or subtitles) about cops in Berlin during the decadent 1920s. The cops investigate day-to-day cases while more existential problems occur in the country, such as uprisings by Trotskyites.

“Babylon Berlin” runs 16 episodes of roughly 45 minutes over two seasons.

“Crown” comp:The splendor of the period piece sets.Variety reported that the first two seasons cost about $47 million, making it the most expensive show ever created in continental Europe. Back in 2016 for comparison, “The Crown” briefly had the title of most expensive show ever made (by disputedestimates), with a budget of around $130 million.

Trailer: 

“The Great British Baking Show”

Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig in
Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig in

Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig in "The Great British Baking Show."

Details: In this baking competition, British hosts encourage and coach amateur bakers on their progressing skills. The most recent season features Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig as hosts, while Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judge. This is the same thing as “The Great British Bake-Off” ― the name change for the United States came about because Pillsbury owns the rights to the name “Bake Off.”

“The Great British Baking Show” runs 70 episodes of roughly 55 minutes over seven seasons. The show also has other special collections, such as a holiday special.

“Crown” comp:The cheery Britishness. “The Crown” often offers a “delightful” viewing experiences, as the British characters make not-that-outrageous jokes with British accents. “The Great British Baking Show” does the same.

Trailer: 

“Interior Design Masters”

"Interior Design Masters" on Netflix.

Details: In this British reality competition, interior designers compete to design the best space, whether that be a restaurant or a shop. The winner earns a large contract to design a hotel bar.

“Interior Design Masters” runs eight episodes of roughly 45 minutes over one season.

“Crown” comp:The beautiful interiors. This show can’t match the palatial rooms featured in “The Crown.” But if you want to see British people occupying impressive spaces in general, this might be worth a try.

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“Peaky Blinders”

Cillian Murphy in
Cillian Murphy in

Cillian Murphy in "Peaky Blinders."

Details: This is a period drama about Birmingham, England, in the late 1910s and 1920s. Cillian Murphy plays the boss of a violent gang. The character has grand ambitions for the expansion of his power through any means necessary.

“Peaky Blinders” runs 30 episodes of roughly 55 minutes over five seasons.

“Crown” comp:The well-written script about a time in English history. This show has far more violence than “The Crown,” but similarly offers some context to England’s past.

Trailer: 

“Designated Survivor”

Kal Penn and Kiefer Sutherland in
Kal Penn and Kiefer Sutherland in

Kal Penn and Kiefer Sutherland in "Designated Survivor" on Netflix.

Details: In this American thriller, an attack on the United States Capitol Building kills the president and all politicians in line for succession, except the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. This character, played by Kiefer Sutherland, had been named the “designated survivor” the night of the attack and subsequently becomes president. Kal Penn also stars as the White House Communications Director and an adviser to the new president.

“Designated Survivor,” which became a Netflix Original after its initial run on ABC, runs 53 episodes of roughly 45 minutes each over three seasons.

“Crown” comp:The isolated figurehead. Although this focuses on the American president, both shows feature leaders who assume power without getting elected and subsequently express doubts about their leadership abilities.

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“The Politician”

Ben Platt in
Ben Platt in

Ben Platt in "The Politician."

Details: This political comedy focuses on rich high school students in California vying for more power at school in the hopes of boosting their resumes for college. These characters already have enough wealth to be rulers of the universe, but crave recognition of their prowess from peers. Ryan Murphy co-created the show. The cast includes Zoey Deutch, Jessica Lange, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Platt.

“The Politician” runs eight episodes of roughly 50 minutes over one season.

“Crown” comp:The palace intrigue of politically motivated rich people. Like “Designated Survivor,” this focuses on American politics instead of the British monarchy. But both “The Politician” and “The Crown” feature obscene wealth and characters with sky-high ambition.

Trailer: 

“Alias Grace”

"Alias Grace" on Netflix

Details: This period piece is based on a Margaret Atwood novel that fictionalized real-life murders in Canadian territory during 1843. The show focuses on an Irish immigrant who has been in jail for 15 years due to a murder she doesn’t remember committing.

“Alias Grace” runs six episodes of roughly 45 minutes over one season.

“Crown” comp:The sensibility. This period piece may have the most crossover fans with “The Crown” of any recommendation on the list. Both shows rely on a high level of period piece-based storytelling craft rather than particularly outrageous plotting.

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This article has been updated throughout with recommendations for fans of “The Crown” Season 3. 

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