Published Feb 5, 2026, 9:50 AM EST
Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.
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A Sons of Anarchy-style show is back on top of the streaming world.
A six-part Sons of Anarchy replacement series is once again climbing the global charts on Netflix after a major run of success in 2025. TV shows about crime families, whether found or by blood, are popular, from period pieces like Peaky Blinders to more moderns takes like Paramount+'s MobLand.
One such series is Animal Kingdom. Premiering on TNT in 2016, the show filled the void for primetime cable crime dramas after Sons of Anarchy ended in 2014. It follows the dysfunctional Cody family as they run a varied criminal enterprise while committing dangerous heists for money. The show lasted for six seasons, ending in 2022.
Now, FlixPatrol reports the series is a worldwide hit on Netflix, following its massive streaming success back in 2025. As of February 5, 2026, Animal Kingdom is the Number 4 show in the world on the streaming platform. Although it's not Number 1 in any country, it's Number 2 in dozens of locations around the world, including Mexico and France.
Every season of Animal Kingdom was added to Netflix in the summer of 2025, where it remains viewable in the United States as of writing. However, much of the show's reignited interest appears to originate from international locations. It signals a more global interest in the series, which is bolstered by just how well-received it was throughout its run.
Its core stars have since moved on to larger projects as well. Scott Speedman, who played the Cody's adopted son Baz Blackwell, will be leading his own ABC crime drama, RJ Decker, set to premiere on March 3, 2026. Shawn Hatosy, who played Pope, has guest roles in The Pitt and Fire Country, and will appear in the comedy horror movie Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.
While there are no plans in place as of writing for the show to return in any capacity, ideas about a potential spinoff were tossed around during its broader days of streaming success. Star Jake Weary expressed interest in coming back for a follow-up about his character, should the story ever continue.
For now, it seems the show's re-run of success on Netflix is going to keep it afloat as a widely-recognized show for quite some time. Although Animal Kingdom stands on its own, its similarities in tone and feel to Sons of Anarchy make it a perfect replacement series as well, for anyone seeking a similar experience.
Release Date 2016 - 2022
Network TNT
Showrunner Jonathan Lisco
Directors John Wells, Nick Copus, Christopher Chulack, David Rodriguez, Shawn Hatosy, Larry Teng, Cherie Nowlan, Loren Yaconelli, Janice Cooke, Megan Griffiths, Mark Strand, Alex Zakrzewski, Batan Silva, Emmy Rossum, James Hanlon, J. Michael Muro, Karen Gaviola, Laura Belsey, Laura Innes, Regina King, Thomas Carter, Tim Southam, Michael Morris, Slick Naim
Writers Eliza Clark, Jonathan Lisco, Daniele Nathanson, Bradley Paul, Megan Martin, Etan Frankel, Addison McQuigg, Bill Balas, Vanessa Baden Kelly, Shukree Hassan Tilghman, T.J. Brady, Heath Corson
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Shawn Hatosy
Andrew "Pope" Cody
English (US) ·