The United Kingdom has once again produced a TV series that has conquered not only the domestic audience but also viewers internationally. Mobland, a Paramount+ production, exploded with record viewership in its premiere week.
Mobland is not just another gangster series — it is a monumental return to classic British crime storytelling, featuring stars rarely seen together on screen. Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren — such a cast alone guarantees that Mobland will occupy a special place in the world of modern TV series. However, the secret to its success lies much more in the excellent screenplay, breathtaking action scenes, and what might be most important today, the character-driven storytelling.
The series is visually stunning: the dark-toned imagery, almost cinematic cinematography, and dynamic editing all contribute to making Mobland feel not just like a TV show but more like a quasi-cinematic experience. Based on the online fan base and social media discourse, the series quickly rose to cult status — no wonder the second season is already in development.
Although Mobland may not be called a pioneer, several British gangster series in recent years have achieved outstanding success, laying the groundwork for a new renaissance of the genre. One of the most important forerunners is Gangs of London, directed by Gareth Evans, which debuted in 2020 on Sky Atlantic. This series also portrays the brutal world of the London underworld, featuring incredibly choreographed fight scenes and complex characters. Gangs of London stood out not only for its action sequences but also for its deeper layers of ethnic and political tensions. Similarly notable is Peaky Blinders (referred to here as the “Birmingham gang”), which, though a historical series, has had a serious impact on subsequent gangster-themed shows. The series set in the streets of Birmingham, with its sharp social criticism, stylish direction, and star-studded cast ranging from Tom Hardy to Cillian Murphy, has served as inspiration for modern gangster series creators. And then there is Top Boy, also an important piece: a series depicting drug wars in London’s ghettos, which conveys not only a realistic but also deeply human drama. Revived on Netflix, it has become cult among younger viewers.
Mobland is the freshest cornerstone of the new generation of British gangster drama, taking the genre to a new level. It contains the violent energy of Gangs of London, the stylistic sensibility and character focus of Peaky Blinders, and the social awareness of Top Boy — all reflected in it. Beyond combining these elements, Mobland surpasses its famous predecessors in acting presence and dramaturgical depth. This is not just a story of a gangster war — it is a series about how a social system collapses when the old rules no longer apply but new ones have yet to be established.
Mobland is the flag-bearer of a new era in British gangster drama, drawing on the genre’s traditions while refreshing it with new, contemporary elements — exciting characters, dark moral dilemmas, and tight storytelling.