The BBC's 6-Part Gangster Series Makes Even The Sopranos Look Small

Published Jul 25, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1. The Sopranos made an immediate impact when it hit screens in the late 90s and continued to dominate the 2000s, becoming one of the biggest TV shows of all time. It remains a classic to this day and is often cited as the best TV series of all time, emphasizing just how much HBO's hit crime series changed the industry. Countless attempts have been made to try and replicate this level of success, yet only a few have come close to matching The Sopranos' quality, and BBC's Peaky Blinders is among its best competitors. Despite being set in completely different locations and time periods, both projects follow charismatic gangsters with huge ambitions leading a life of crime. While the tones and themes do overlap, Peaky Blinders and The Sopranos are largely different in terms of presentation, with the British series having a far bigger scope. Based on the real-life gang, Peaky Blinders rewrote the rules of historical dramas, as Tommy Shelby went from a local outlaw to a political figure with significant influence. Against the odds, Tommy managed to expand his criminal empire way beyond Birmingham, even having a presence in America by the time he was done. In contrast, The Sopranos is far more localized, as despite being a mob boss, Tony Soprano's influence is largely restricted to New Jersey, making Peaky Blinders a larger-scale show in this regard. The size doesn't necessarily impact the quality, as many still see The Sopranos as the greatest gangster show of all time ahead of Peaky Blinders. However, when it comes to the power Thomas Shelby holds and the heights his criminal career took him, it's hard to argue that The Sopranos doesn't look small compared to the British drama. Tommy Shelby's Wealth & Power Are Much Greater Than Tony Soprano's Image via MovieStillsDB Although both protagonists are great leaders that managed to inspire loyal followers, Tommy was able to take his success much further, acquiring more wealth and power. Sure, Tony Soprano was well off and had plenty of sway in his surrounding neighborhoods, but Tommy was a national powerhouse that accumulated generational wealth. Through his various business ventures, the Peaky Blinders leader turned Shelby Company Limited into a multimillion-dollar company, which, based on today's value, would make him potentially worth hundreds of millions, if not more. If this isn't a reflection of his empire, perhaps the people he rubbed shoulders with will paint a clearer picture. Having conducted business with wealthy businessmen and dangerous outlaws, Tommy also had connections to the likes of Jessie Eden, Oswald Mosley, and even Winston Churchill, who personally contacted the protagonist. The fact that a known criminal eventually became an MP shows just how far he came, especially since he never truly went legit. Tommy didn't just have ties in Birmingham, but across large parts of the UK, proving he was a very big deal. That also put a target on his back, yet he was always one step ahead of his adversaries, allowing him to retire to his private estate until eventually coming back into the criminal underworld in the Peaky Blinders movie. Reaching this status took a massive toll on Tommy mentally, hence why he was relieved by the end of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, where he finally got to rest. However, throughout his life, it's clear Tommy gained a substantial amount of money and had plenty of influence, way more than Tony Soprano could ever dream of. The Sopranos Was Trying To Tell A More Ground-Level Gangster Story Than Peaky Blinders As fun as it was watching Tommy's journey to the top, Peaky Blinders definitely overplays how much authority the gang had in real-life, opting to tell an entertaining story rather than a realistic one. On the other hand, The Sopranos was much more grounded, making Tony feel like a believable mafia figure with a quantifiable level of success. Rather than conversing with political figures, Tony and his men wanted to stay off the radar as much as possible while taking control of his district. Sure, he attempted to expand his territory, but it was obvious he was never going to try and take over the entire US or go global, with the drama being more contained. Focusing on specific characters, the impact of family, and the local consequences is what made The Sopranos one of a kind, and while Peaky Blinders shared many of these attributes, it didn't hit the same way. Many of the Peaky Blinders crew felt dispensable since the group became so large, but this was never the case in The Sopranos. The Sopranos ran for six seasons spanning 86 episodes and also had a prequel movie that came out over a decade after the HBO show concluded. Every death felt big and had ramifications for the rest of the cast, but the series also focused on personal issues, rather than being all-out action. At times, it was gritty and violent, but the story also focused on Tony's problems at home, providing a strong blueprint that explains why so many shows tried to copy The Sopranos. Both Peaky Blinders and The Sopranos were excellent in their own right, but while the British drama focused on constantly rising stakes and never-ending tension, The Sopranos made us laugh, cry, and feel genuine fear. Ultimately, it managed to be relatable despite the characters being so lively, which is why it's still the gold standard of the crime genre on TV. Peaky Blinders 9/10 Release Date 2013 - 2022-00-00 Network BBC One, BBC Two Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. The television show is based on the gang, Peaky Blinders, a group that banded together after the end of World War I. The Sopranos 10/10 Release Date 1999 - 2007 Network HBO The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he navigates the challenges of managing his family and criminal enterprise. He seeks guidance from psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi while dealing with complex dynamics involving his wife Carmela, cousin Christopher Moltisanti, and other Mafia associates.