What happens when ambition meets a ticking clock and cutthroat competition? For the young graduates at Pierpoint & Co. in HBO's Industry, it means doing whatever it takes to secure a coveted full-time position. This gripping drama, renewed for its fifth and final season, offers a potent, often brutal, look at the world of high finance and the relentless pressure on white-collar workers. If you're captivated by this intense portrayal of career climbing and the human cost of success, you're in luck. We've curated a list of 10 compelling shows like 'Industry' you should watch next, exploring similar themes of ambition, stress, and the quest for power across different industries.
The Pressure Cooker Environment
The allure of Industry lies in its unflinching depiction of a high-stakes environment where careers are forged and broken daily. The recent grads are thrown into the deep end, forced to prove their worth in a system that offers few guarantees. This intense atmosphere, where personal lives often crumble under professional demands, is a common thread in many captivating series.
More Shows Like 'Industry' You Should Watch
Sweetbitter (2018 - 2019)
Trading the trading floor for the restaurant industry, Sweetbitter dives deep into the chaotic world of fine dining. Based on Stephanie Danler's novel, the series mirrors Industry's intensity and competitiveness. Ella Purnell stars as Tess, a young woman who lands a job at a prestigious NYC restaurant, only to find that the drama--fueled by drugs, alcohol, and sex--is just as intense as any corporate boardroom. It's a visceral look at service industry life (Danler, 2018).
Sweetbitter is available on Prime Video.
Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014)
This critically acclaimed South Korean drama offers a remarkably realistic and stressful portrayal of white-collar work. Im Si-wan plays Jang Geu-rae, a former professional Baduk (Go) player who, after his dreams fall apart, takes an internship at a global trading company. As an outsider in a high-stress world where work-life balance is a distant fantasy, Geu-rae navigates corporate politics and intense competition. Its relatable struggles and underlying hope make it one of the most compelling shows like 'Industry' you'll find (Kim, 2014).
Misaeng: Incomplete Life is available on Netflix and Tubi.
Billions (2016 - 2023)
For those who love the financial intrigue of Industry, Billions is a must-watch. This darkly satirical series pits a ruthless U.S. attorney, Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti), against a cunning hedge fund manager, Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). The show excels in its seven-season run by exploring the morally gray tactics employed by both sides in their relentless pursuit of power and wealth. It's a masterclass in corporate warfare (Giamatti & Lewis, 2023).
Billions is available on Paramount+.
How to Make It in America (2010 - 2011)
This dramedy offers a different flavor of ambition, focusing on two ambitious friends in New York City trying to build a streetwear brand. Ben Epstein (Bryan Greenberg) and Cam Calderon (Victor Rasuk) hustle with big ideas but little experience, embodying the drive for success that can lead to spectacular falls. While less cutthroat than Industry, it captures the relentless pursuit of a dream against the odds (Greenberg & Rasuk, 2011).
How to Make It in America is available on HBO Max and Netflix.
The Dropout (2022)
Amanda Seyfried delivers a compelling performance as Elizabeth Holmes, the infamous founder of Theranos, in this series chronicling her meteoric rise and dramatic fall. The show details how Holmes dropped out of Stanford to build a revolutionary blood-testing machine, duping investors with elaborate lies and fabricated results. It's a stark reminder of the ethical compromises made in the pursuit of Silicon Valley success (Seyfried, 2022).
The Dropout is available on Hulu.
WeCrashed (2022)
Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway star as Adam and Rebekah Neumann, the charismatic but delusional co-founders of WeWork. This series explores their journey from a billion-dollar co-working empire to a spectacular public failure, highlighting how a cult-like atmosphere and questionable financial practices can mask deep-seated instability. It's a fascinating, albeit cautionary, tale of entrepreneurial hubris (Leto & Hathaway, 2022).
WeCrashed is available on Apple TV.
Mad Men (2007 - 2015)
Often cited as a precursor to Industry, Mad Men offers a nuanced look at the advertising world of the 1960s. The show masterfully crafts complex characters like Don Draper (Jon Hamm) within a pressure-cooker environment filled with ambition, excess, and moral ambiguity. Its exploration of personal demons clashing with professional demands makes it a foundational series for anyone interested in shows like 'Industry' you might appreciate (Hamm, 2015).
Mad Men is available on HBO Max.
Boiling Point (2023)
This British series, a continuation of the 2021 film, plunges viewers into the high-octane world of a new restaurant startup. Led by Carly (Vinette Robinson), the show balances the intense demands of running a business with the personal lives of its staff. Stephen Graham reprises his role as Andy Jones, whose past struggles offer a poignant counterpoint to the relentless drive of the new venture. The pressure cooker environment is palpable (Robinson & Graham, 2023).
Boiling Point is available on Prime Video.
Skins (2007 - 2013)
While set in a high school environment, Skins captures the raw intensity and competitive spirit that can mirror the pressures found in adult workplaces. This popular British series explored adolescent life with unflinching honesty, tackling issues like mental health, substance abuse, and bullying. Notably, Kaya Scodelario's character, Effy Stonem, eventually enters the finance world, offering a glimpse into how these intense youthful experiences can translate into adult ambition, making it an interesting precursor to shows like 'Industry' you might enjoy (Scodelario, 2013).
Skins is available on Hulu.
Halt and Catch Fire (2014 - 2017)
This under-the-radar gem chronicles the personal computer revolution of the 1980s and early '90s. Lee Pace stars as Joe MacMillan, a charismatic but manipulative ex-IBM executive aiming to build the next big tech innovation. The series delves into the rivalries, ethical compromises, and sheer ambition required to disrupt established industries. Its sharp writing and compelling characters make it a standout for anyone drawn to the cutthroat dynamics seen in Industry (Pace, 2017).
Halt and Catch Fire is available on Prime Video.
The Bold Type (2017 - 2021)
Set in the competitive world of women's magazine publishing, The Bold Type follows three ambitious young women navigating their careers at a New York City-based fashion publication. Jane Sloan (Katie Stevens), Kat Edison (Aisha Dee), and Sutton Brady (Meghann Fahy) juggle demanding jobs, complex relationships, and personal growth, facing ethical dilemmas and career setbacks. It captures the hustle and drive required to succeed in the media industry, offering a vibrant, if less cutthroat, look at ambition (Stevens, Dee & Fahy, 2021).
Suits (2011 - 2019)
If you appreciate the sharp dialogue and high-stakes maneuvering in Industry, Suits offers a similar thrill within the legal profession. The series centers on Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a brilliant young man with a photographic memory who cons his way into a top law firm. Alongside Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), he navigates complex cases, corporate politics, and the constant threat of exposure. The show's blend of legal strategy, personal drama, and unwavering ambition makes it a compelling watch (Adams & Macht, 2019).
Silicon Valley (2014 - 2019)
For a comedic take on the tech industry's cutthroat nature, Silicon Valley is unparalleled. This HBO series follows a group of awkward programmers trying to make it big with their revolutionary compression algorithm. The show brilliantly satirizes the absurdities of startup culture, venture capital, and the constant battle for dominance in the tech world. While humorous, it doesn't shy away from depicting the intense pressure and high stakes involved in disruptive innovation (Berg, 2019).
