Upcoming · Showtime
On Chicago's south side, an average day finds kids prepping for school as their parents head off to work, young adults trying to make a living, and the elders keeping an eye on things from their front porches. But in this tough neighborhood, real dangers threaten daily to squelch dreams, and the simplest decisions can have life or death consequences. From Emmy® winner Lena Waithe, The Chi is a timely coming-of-age drama series centered on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.
maintains our strict 7.0+ IMDb rating threshold (currently 7.5/10)
features strong narrative storytelling
offers compelling Drama content
Every show here earned its place. We screen over 224 releases each cycle and list only scripted narrative programming that clears our quality bar.
Each pick includes a note on what connects it to this show — tone, structure, mood, or theme.
If you like The Chi’s intimate, character-first look at how violence and systemic injustice ripple through a neighborhood, The Red Line delivers a similarly grounded ensemble story about grief, accountability, and rebuilding after loss.
Follows three Chicago families as they journey toward hope and healing after an unarmed African American doctor is shot by a white cop.
For the same kind of slow-burn tension in The Chi—where institutions and family loyalty collide—Mayor of Kingstown turns that pressure into a gritty crime drama shaped by the prison economy and moral compromise.
The McLusky family are power brokers tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality in Kingstown, Michigan, where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry.
When The Chi’s warmth and relationship-building matter as much as its stakes, Zatima offers a grounded, Black-led romance dramedy that keeps emotional honesty and everyday life at the center.
Follow Zac and Fatima as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship.
