entertainment
By Nakeisha Campbell
•
Published Feb 9, 2024
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
David Giesbrecht/USA Network/Getty Images
When Suits dropped on Netflix in June 2023, practically everyone hopped aboard the Harvey Specter train. Per Deadline, the glossy legal drama dominated Nielsen's streaming charts and broke records, drawing 3.7 billion viewing minutes in just one week. But the show’s sudden resurgence isn’t too surprising, given Netflix's popularity and, of course, the involvement of former cast member turned Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.
Aside from getting to revisit Markle during her pre-royal era—courtesy of Netflix, Peacock and Prime Video—fans were also treated to a surprise Suits reunion at the 2024 Golden Globes, which included Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty. While discussing the show's newfound fame on the red carpet, Macht said, "It's an amazing thing. We had some great success when the show was on...and then at a certain point, Netflix came in. It's just gotten incredible eyes, and we're very grateful for it."
As for what fans can expect from the upcoming Suits reboot, Macht said,"It's all in [the] early stages. It's a show in theSuitsuniverse, like aSuits LA. If I get the phone call, I'm ready to suit up again."
Sounds like fans will have to wait a while until the reboot premieres, but for now, we're rounding up 15 of the best shows like Suits, from White Collar to The Good Wife.
1. Billions
- Cast: Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Åkerman
- Seasons: 7
If you're looking for a show that's more hard-hitting and sinister, but has the same elements as Suits, you have to see Billions. It follows Bobby Axelrod, an ambitious hedge fund manager, and Chuck Rhoades, a savvy U.S. attorney, as they try to outsmart each other in the world of high finance in New York. The series does an incredible job of tackling power, greed and wealth, but Suits fans will appreciate the cat-and-mouse game between the two compelling leads. (Oh, and did we mention that Suits star alum Rick Hoffman joins the show in season five?)
2. White Collar
- Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson, Marsha Thomason
- Seasons: 6
While Collar may not be a legal drama, but it follows the same formula as Suits. Like Mike and Harvey, FBI Agent Peter Burke and con man Neal Caffrey become unlikely partners when the latter agrees to work as a criminal informant and consultant for the FBI. However, viewers (and Peter) are never quite sure if they can trust Neal, given that he’s an exceptional con artist. From Neal’s crisp suits and effortless charm to Mozzie’s tidbits of wisdom (“Paranoia is a skill, the secret to longevity”), you’ll enjoy this fun procedural drama.
3. Mad Men
- Cast: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones
- Seasons: 7
Meet Donald Draper, a hard-drinking, chain-smoking creative director at Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. Set during the ’60s, the series follows Donald’s personal and professional life. He isn’t the most likable character, thanks to his arrogance, manipulative tactics and womanizing tendencies, but he also has quite a bit in common with Harvey Specter—the charismatic sharp dresser who also has an arrogant streak. The level of trust between Don and the office manager, Joan Holloway, will definitely remind you of Harvey and Donna.
4. The Good Wife
- Cast: Julianna Margulies, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Graham Phillips
- Seasons: 7
The Emmy-winning drama centers on Alicia Florrick, who’s determined to reestablish her law career after her husband, Peter Florrick, gets involved in a political scandal. When she lands a job as a junior litigator at Stern, Lockhart & Gardner, alongside her old pal Will Gardner, she has to balance motherhood and her professional life with the explosive scandal surrounding her husband. Compared to Suits, The Good Wife has a more serious tone and tackles each case with more detail, but Suits fans will enjoy the humorous moments and courtroom drama.
5. The Good Fight
- Cast: Christine Baranski, Rose Leslie, Erica Tazel, Cush Jumbo
- Seasons: 6
In this spin-off of The Good Wife, Maia Rindell and her mentor, Diane Lockhart, are forced out of their old firm due to a major financial scam. Fortunately, they’re able to get a fresh start at a prestigious Black-owned firm that specializes in police brutality cases. Witty dialogue, memorable characters and edge-of-your-seat plot twists are just a few things that will appeal to Suits fans.
6. The Lincoln Lawyer
- Cast: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson
- Seasons: 2
Based on Michael Connelly’s book series of the same name, The Lincoln Lawyer follows Mickey Haller, an L.A.-based defense attorney who takes on new cases…from the back of his Lincoln Navigator. Like Suits, the show centers on an extremely skilled character who takes an unconventional path in the legal field. Not only that, but both characters score pretty high in the charm and charisma department. (Who can forget about Mickey’s adorable run-in with Lisa?)
7. Your Honor
- Cast: Yoon Shi-yoon, Lee Yoo-young, Park Byung-eun
- Seasons: 1
Calling all K-drama fans! This series follows identical twins Han Soo Ho and Han Kang Ho, who lead completely different lives. Kang Ho is a convicted criminal and Soo Ho works as a successful judge. However, when the latter suddenly disappears, Kang Ho assumes the identity of his brother and takes over his career as a judge. Yes, we know the storyline is far-fetched, but Kang Ho’s natural ability to blend into the world of courtrooms and legal cases—with zero training, we should add—has Mike Ross written all over it.
8. The Practice
- Cast: Dylan McDermott, LisaGay Hamilton, Steve Harris, Camryn Manheim
- Seasons: 8
If you’re up for a thought-provoking legal drama that’s a bit more grounded in reality when it comes to legal ethics, then you ought to check out The Practice, which follows the cases of criminal defense attorneys at a Boston law firm. Similar to Suits, the lawyers constantly deal with the conflict between their moral and legal principles, but the series is much more nuanced in how it tackles the messiest cases. For one, there isn’t always a clear winner, and the series doesn’t shy away from themes like violence, drugs and murder. Still, there’s just enough humor to add some balance.
9. Pearson
- Cast: Gina Torres, Bethany Joy Lenz, Simon Kassianides, Eli Goree
- Seasons: 1
Though it’s the official spinoff of Suits, it’s certainly not a carbon copy of the series. The series follows Jessica Pearson after her exit in season seven, where she leaves her white-collar career to deal with the corrupt world of Chicago politics as part of the mayor’s administration. The show’s dark, gritty tone is a stark contrast to the sleek, upscale vibe at Pearson Hardman (don’t even get us started on the name changes), but it’s packed with plenty of drama and sure to entertain fans who are curious about Jessica’s backstory.
10. Psych
- Cast: James Roday, Dulé Hill, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson
- Seasons: 8
Yes, we know. Psych isn’t exactly like Suits, but it does revolve around a brilliant guy who relies on his photographic memory to commit fraud, which sounds quite familiar. While Mike uses his skills to illegally practice law, Shawn uses his attention to detail to pose as a psychic. And though this comedy series is much more lighthearted and silly, Sean and Gus’s bromance will win you over in no time.
11. Boston Legal
- Cast: James Spader, Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra, Lake Bell
- Seasons: 5
If you crave a thoughtful legal drama that centers on two brilliant male leads with the best chemistry, then allow us to introduce Boston Legal. In this spin-off of The Practice, Alan Shore is a middle-aged lawyer at Crane, Poole, & Schmidtwry, and he happens to be close friends with Denny Crane, an eccentric, veteran attorney. Shore enlists the help of his pal and goes to great lengths to win his cases, which is always a thrill ride. But perhaps the most satisfying part is watching these two bond as they smoke cigars.
12. Scandal
- Cast: Kerry Washington, Henry Ian Cusick, Columbus Short, Darby Stanchfield
- Seasons: 7
On Scandal, Olivia Pope and her loyal team of fixers—or shall we say, gladiators in suits—work hard to avoid political crises, from secret White House affairs to murders. The show doesn’t revolve around attorneys in sleek, high-rise buildings, and the tone is quite different. You can expect soapy plotlines, passionate monologues and edge-of-your-seat suspense. But if you’re especially drawn to Harvey’s personality (including his willingness to get his hands dirty to get the job done), then you just might take a liking to Olivia.
13. Damages
- Cast: Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Ryan Phillippe
- Seasons: 5
Damages follows a whip-smart, hot-shot lawyer named Patty Hewes and her trainee, Ellen Parsons, as they tackle challenging new cases. Since Patty is a ruthless manipulator with little to no redeeming qualities, we’d say this series is like the edgy big brother of Suits. Still, it seems like she and Harvey are cut from the same cloth, and the main characters share a similar, mentor-mentee relationship to Harvey and Mike.
14. All Rise
- Cast: Simone Missick, Wilson Bethel, Marg Helgenberger
- Seasons: 3
Fans of Suits will appreciate the balance between drama and lighthearted humor in this courtroom drama. You’ll spot a few Harvey Specter-like characters throughout the series, but the show mainly revolves around Lola, a former prosecutor who becomes a judge and goes to great lengths to change a broken system. Lola’s confidence, drive and solid work ethic are sure to remind you of Rachel Zane, who, if you recall, works hard to get noticed at her firm and successfully climbs her way up the corporate ladder.
15. Goliath
- Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, Maria Bello
- Seasons: 4
Thornton stars as Billy McBride, a brilliant but down-on-his-luck attorney who falls from grace after a case goes south. Years later, however, he takes on a wrongful death lawsuit against his old firm (which he helped create), hoping that this is his chance at both redemption and revenge. Although the show carries a much darker tone, it’s hard to miss the parallels between Billy and Mike Ross. Both are extremely clever and tend to get involved in high-stakes situations (like Billy’s intense trial against his firm), but perhaps the most obvious similarity is their strong sense of morals.
Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here.
RELATED
Major ‘Suits’ Spinoff Update Revealed—and It Seems We’re Headed to L.A.
Nakeisha Campbell
Associate Editor, News and Entertainment
- Writes celebrity news, TV/movie reviews and SEO-focused entertainment articles
- Interviews celebrities and covers red carpet events
- Has 8+ years of experience covering entertainment topics
read full bio