So, you’ve seen The Boys reveal the dark sides of being a superhero. You’ve laughed at the jokes, shuddered at the violence, and cheered as the members of TV Antiheroes stand up to big businesses and the rich and famous. If you miss superhero-satire movies, don’t be disheartened! There are many other shows in the world of streaming that have a similar style to The Boys.
From complex superhero narratives to anti-heroes with questionable morals, to biting social messages or just plain gory action that tips to the dark side, you’ll find that here. Are you ready for another unforgettable binge-watching series?
1. Gen V (Amazon Prime Video)
Let’s first look at the most vital and obvious type of watch: Gen V is a spin-off based in the same universe as The Boys that showcases the experiences of students at the elite college for supes, Godolkin University.
In this part of the game, contestants strive to rank highly and become part of The Seven.
Gen V follows a younger set of superheroes as they try to understand who they are, what is right and wrong, and face endless pressure from Vought. The story reflects the same trademarks seen in The Boys.
Aggressive violence, comic moments, surprising changes in the plot, and a jaded view on the sale of power. If you like the background and story behind The Boys, you’ll find this a natural fit.
Only two episodes into its first season, the show has been renewed for more college drama.
Why you’ll love it
Same Universe: Linked directly to the plot, personalities, and themes of The Boys stories.
Youthful Perspective: Examines the early days of supes and the impact Vought had on their lives.
Visceral and Funny: Continues to push the level of violence and humor.
2. Invincible (Amazon Prime Video)
Invincible is yet another great piece of animation on Amazon Prime Video that provides a fresh twist on the superhero story.
The story takes after Robert Kirkman’s comic book, and it centers on Mark Grayson, who happens to have the world’s mightiest hero as his dad.
It begins with a regular superhero origin but soon goes into a dark and violent place. It looks at ideas of what people leave behind, broken trust, and how having big powers can be intimidating.
Because of the animation, the fights are both intense and violent, just the way Boys fans want them. The show’s second season premiered in early 2024, and there are more coming up.
Why you’ll love it
Graphic Violence: Although he animates it so well, this story has a lot of bloody elements.
Deep Character Drama: Shows the struggles that families and individuals must deal with.
Deconstructs Archetypes: It takes traditional superhero stories and gives them a new and harsh treatment.
3. Peacemaker (Max)
If you enjoyed The Boys for its graphic comedy and its damaged characters, James Gunn’s Peacemaker should be on your list. This is a spin-off set after The Suicide Squad movie, with John Cena as a brutal, malicious character who also has a softer side.
The Peacemaker thinks that peace is important enough to warrant killing vast numbers of people. There are a lot of dirty jokes, brutal fights, and a truly amazing opening sequence in the show.
Still, hidden behind its rough look, Peacemaker tackles subjects like trauma, redemption, and searching for a sense of belonging with an amazing soundtrack. Another season of the series is in the works for late 2025 or early 2026.
Why you’ll love it
Hilarious and R-Rated: The movies also have a similar sense of humor and contain adult topics.
Anti-Hero Focus: A defective guy goes on a journey to find out how to live.
Explosive Action: Makes exciting, gory action sequences a regular part of its story.
4. Doom Patrol (Max)
If you want a unique and totally bizarre spin on superheroes, try Doom Patrol. The series focuses on superheroes who got their power from unfortunate accidents and are isolated by many people.
Under the lead of their enigmatic chief, they have adventures that can be quite strange and, at times, meta, taking place in their mansion.
Rather than relying on big fights and punching villains, Doom Patrol focuses on personal problems, mental health issues, and the odd moments of their lives.
The film is both funny and touching and always surprising with its twists. In 2023, the show came to an end, leaving behind a unique journey for its viewers.
Why you’ll love it
Eccentric Characters: A special group of characters who have become loved over the years.
Surreal and Bizarre: Let’s go with the quirky aspects of comics.
Focus on Trauma and Healing: Presents heavy topics in a very sensitive way.
5. Watchmen (Max)
Drawing on the original graphic novel, the HBO show Watchmen uses satire and social messages to great effect.
The movie focuses on a future where wearing masks for vigilantism is against the law, and serious friction over race divides Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The series explores topics of racial injustice, police roughness, and how trauma can keep happening to the same person. The movie captures the viewer with its beauty, makes you think, and delivers strong performances.
It may not be as outright sarcastic as The Boys, but like it, it focuses on serious and true-to-life effects of what it means to live with super-powered people. The show won several Emmys for how well its stories were told.
Why you’ll love it
Profound Social Commentary: Deals with issues people face by retelling them through superheroes.
Intelligent and Layered: You’ll be rewarded for paying close attention to all the details in the film.
Dark and Gritty Tone: The series takes a realistic view of superheroes, as shown by The Boys.
6. Preacher (AMC+)
The founder of The Boys comic, Garth Ennis, is also the creator of Preacher. Like The Boys, this series has been adapted from the notorious and irreverent comic books by Garth Ennis.
The story centers on Jesse Custer, a preacher from Texas struggling with his morals, who has the power to make people obey him.
Joining forces with Tulip and Cassidy, Jesse heads on a unique, brutal, and sometimes sacrilegious adventure across America in search of God. The show offers a brutally violent and humorous take on religion and society. The series was ended in 2019, covering a total of four seasons.
Why you’ll love it
Garth Ennis’s Influence: Features the same essayist’s writing style and common themes.
Blasphemous & Violent: Crosses new lines when it comes to its humor and what it includes.
Unique Road Trip Story: An experience I’ll never forget and one I never saw coming.
7. Happy! (Peacock/Hulu)
Happy! should be one of your go-to picks if you like the wild action and black comedy of The Boys. The show stars Christopher Meloni as Nick Sax, a former hitman who drinks too much.
He gets a chance in life when he meets an imaginary best friend—Happy, a cute, small, blue unicorn voiced by Patton Oswalt.
Together, they face the dangers of a colorful, violent Christmas world, all to find and rescue an abducted girl. Happy! blends blood and gore with dark humor and once in a while becomes surprisingly sweet.
The comic was written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Darick Robertson, who also drew the comic The Boys. In 2019, after finishing two seasons, the series was brought to an end.
Why you’ll love it
Anarchic & Hilarious: One big, wild, and hilariously dark show.
Over-the-Top Violence: Creates battles that are very impressionistic and full of violence.
Unique Premise: Do you need anything else than a hitman and an imaginary unicorn?
8. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
Even though the atmosphere is lighter in The Umbrella Academy, its plot is comparable to that of The Boys because of its dysfunctional super-powered characters and a damaged family past.
According to Gerard Way’s comic, the story follows siblings who are strangers to each other and each has special abilities, coming together after the eccentric billionaire father dies.
The series brings together action, interesting jokes, dramatic moments, and amazing songs. It touches on the subjects of trauma, broken families, and the never-ending danger of global destruction.
You should try it if you like large casts and finding out what makes heroes in this universe flawed. The last installment of the show will be released in 2024.
Why you’ll love it
Dysfunctional Family: A group of people with superpowers who have significant problems.
Quirky Humor: Most episodes have moments of darkness broken up by comedic moments.
Time Travel & Mysteries has a strong plot that holds your attention.
9. Titans (Max)
Titans gives a more serious and adult-like approach to the regular Teen Titans characters.
The Robins series follows the characters of Dick Grayson (Robin), Rachel Roth (Raven), Kory Anders (Starfire), and Gar Logan (Beast Boy) in their struggles to use their powers and to survive in the dangerous part of the superhero world.
While there are scenes of superhero fighting, Titans tends to focus on the emotional and mental pressures the team faces and the cost of using their powers.
Unlike most DC shows, this gives viewers a more serious look at DC heroes by showing how they cope with their darker emotions and suffer from real-life complications. The series concluded in 2023.
Why you’ll love it
Darker DC Heroes: A different look at characters we have seen before.
Gritty Action: Contains lots of action and is told in a serious manner.
Character-Driven: Shows the way the team members evolved over the season.
10. Powers (PlayStation Network/Peacock)
Despite only running from 2015 to 2016, Powers is worth remembering by fans of The Boys, as it too examined and criticized the superhero genre using crime TV style.
The show is based on the comic books by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming and features detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim working in a task force for crimes involving people with superpowers.
The series is set in a world where having superpowers is normal, though not all are always heroic. It looks into the corrupt side of wealth and fame while also following a detective and a similar tone to The Boys.
It captures the resulting drama when the world of crime intersects with the day-to-day, tough role of law enforcement.