There is no shortage of entertaining content on Netflix, which is why it is considered the best streaming service. The must-watch Netflix titles can keep the users entertained for years.
When it comes to drug lords and cartels, people are fascinated by how these work and how they survive in such a world. In our list of best 32 cartel shows on Netflix, there’s plenty of blood, corruption, betrayals, and suspense found throughout these series.
Watching shows about cartels can be a little shady. Not because the subject matter is taboo, but because it’s hard to find great ones that are worth your time. So instead of getting sucked of subpar thrillers, we’ve compiled a list of the best 32 cartel shows on Netflix you can stream right now.
1. Narcos (2015-2017)
The show “Narcos” is based on the life of Pablo Escobar and his drug cartel. It highlights the realities of living in Colombia during the 1980s. The series is full of violence, shock, and thrill, and follows an idealistic Colombian detective’s journey as he takes on a drug lord as his primary enemy. It delves into how America contributed to the escalation of drugs entering their country.
Creators: Carlo Bernard, Chris Brancato, Doug Miro.
Director: Andres Baiz, Josef Kubota, Fernando Coimbra.
Writers: Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro, Andrew Black.
Cast: Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, Alberto Ammann, Boyd Holbrook, Paulina Gaitan.
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
2. Narcos: Mexico (2018-2021)
Narcos: Mexico takes viewers back to the origins of the modern drug war, showing how the cartel has evolved into an industrial organization. The story begins with Pablo Escobar, the man responsible for turning the Colombian city of Medellin into a narco-state. This event led to an influx of drugs and drug lords into Mexico, where they found a haven. Among these drug lords were the Arellano-Felix brothers, who rose to power in the Mexican cartel.
Narcos: Mexico explores how the drug war has changed in recent years, and how the cartel has adapted to stay in power. It is a fascinating look at the origins of the modern drug trade, and how it has come to dominate the Mexican landscape.
- Creators: Carlo Bernard, Chris Brancato, Doug Miro.
- Directors: Andres Baiz, Amat Escalante, Alonso Ruizpalacios.
- Writers: Carlo Bernard, Chris Brancato, Doug Miro
- Cast: Alejandro Edda, Scoot McNairy, Jose Maria Yazp, Alfanso Dosal, Diego Luna.
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
3. Queen of the South (2016-2021)
Azteca and the Calí are more than a good tequila; they’re lawless, which is why Teresa Mendoza is running for her life. Queen of the South tells the story of a young woman who becomes a rising star in the world of drug trafficking. After landing a spot at the helm of an operation over her dead boyfriend’s drug cartel, Teresa will do to get what she wants.
- Creator: M.A, Fortin, Joshua John Miller
- Director: Eduardo Sanchez, David Boyd, Ben Hernandez Bray.
- Writers: M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller, Arturo Perez-Reverte
- Cast: Veronica Falcon, Alice Braga, Hemky Madera, Peter Gadiot, Molly Burnett.
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
4. Ozark (2017-2022)
When the Byrde family uproots their lives from the bustling city of Chicago to the small town life of the Ozarks, they’re in for a culture shock. They have to start from scratch, making all new connections and dealing with the challenges that come with entering the drug cartel. Each member of the Byrde family has their own demons to face, and the show does a fantastic job of incorporating humor to keep audiences engaged.
- Director: Jason Bateman, Alik Sakharov, Andrew Bernstein.
- Writers: Whit Anderson, Michael M. Chang, Laura Deeley.
- Cast: Laura Linney, Jason Bateman, Skylar Gaertner, Sofia Hublitz, Lisa Emery, Julia Garner.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
5. Drug Lords (2018-)
This show is a must-watch for anyone interested in the drug world. It gives an in-depth look at the lives of six different drug lords, each with their own unique story. You’ll see how they rose to power and what led to their downfall.
- Director: Marc Tiley, Mike Welsh.
- Writers: Maximo Pain
- Cast: Maximo Pain, Carlo Alvarez, Winter Dunn, Quinn Dalton, Jordan Lawson.
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
6. El Cartel De Los Sapos (2008)
When young friends in a middle-class neighborhood decide to start selling drugs, they quickly discover the perks of a life of money, ***, and violence. However, it isn’t long before their illegal activity starts attracting attention from some unsavory characters.
El Cartel De Los Sapos is a story of friendship put to the test when a job goes wrong and Jose must choose between his own fate or that of his buddy.
- Creator: Andres Lopez
- Director: Luis Alberto Restrepo.
- Writers: Andres Lopez, Juan Camil Ferrand.
- Cast: Neal Kodinsky, Robinson Diaz, Manolo Cardona, Vivian Ossa, Jesus Chaver.
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
7. El Chapo (2017-2018)
The Netflix series El Chapo is based on the life of the Mexican drug lord. This is the story of how a high school dropout rose to become one of the richest and most powerful criminals in world history.
El Chapo’s story begins in the 1990s when he took charge of the Sinaloa Cartel. He quickly rose to power and became one of the most wealthy and influential criminals ever. However, his empire eventually crumbled and led to his downfall.
- Creator: Silvana Aguirre, Carlos Contreras.
- Director: Ernesto Contreras, Hammudi Al-Rahmoun Font, Carlos Moreno.
- Writers: Silvana Aguirre, Esteban Orozco, Diego Vega Vidal.
- Cast: Humberto Busto, Marco de la O, Lura Osma, Alejandro Aguilar, Juan Carlos Cruz.
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
8. Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami (2021)
Cocaine Cowboys is a true story of crime and the quest for riches that created Miami. From the 1970s until the mid-1980s, Miami was a hotbed of drug smugglers and gangsters.
This documentary tells the story of that time through interviews with locals, expert testimony, and cinematic storytelling. It’s a gripping tale of greed and violence set against the backdrop of Miami’s rough, lawless streets.
- Director: Billy Corben
- Cast: Alexia Echevarria, Ralph Linero, Pedro Rosello, Marilyn Bonachea, Jim DeFede.
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
9. Surviving Escobar: Alias JJ (2017-)
Alias JJ, one of Pablo Escobar’s fiercest rivals and a former cartel assassin, takes on his most dangerous job yet when he must protect the only witness to the mob’s crimes. Now a wily phantom whose reputation for vengeance terrorizes all who cross him, Alias JJ is an action-packed thriller that will bring you the right flavor of the cartel show.
- Director: Luis Alberto Restrepo, Jorge Sandoval, Juan Carlos.
- Writers: Johny A. Ortiz, Gerardo Pinzon.
- Cast: Nicole Santamaria, Roberto Mateos, Juan Pablo Urrego, Ampara Grisales, Natasha Klauss.
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
10. El Senor de los Cielos (2013-)
This non-stop action series tells the story of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, who became the head of the Juárez cartel in the 1990s. A man known for his fleet of airplanes he used to transport drugs and wash more than $200 million through Colombia, he was one of the most powerful drug traffickers in Mexican history.
- Creator: Mariana Calasso, Luis Zelkowicz
- Director: Jaime Segura, Victor Herrera McNaught, Danny Gavidia.
- Writers: Juan Manuel Andrade, Juan Manuel, Mariano Calasso
- Cast: Carmen Aub, Rafael Amaya, Lisa Owen, Alejandro Lopez, Fernanda Castillo.
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
