The Sopranos
The Sopranos belongs in any Greatest Crime TV Shows list because it basically invented the modern antihero playbook. Everything else on this page owes it money.
Here’s the real argument: is it still the best, or just the most important? Tony Soprano feels more human than Walter White, but Breaking Bad hits harder moment-to-moment. The Wire might be smarter, but Sopranos is more watchable. That matters.
And let’s be honest—no show here balances therapy sessions, mob hits, and dark humor like this. It’s messy. It drags at times. People complain about the ending. And yet… it still wins a lot of “Sopranos vs anyone” battles.
So what do you value more: influence or execution? Because this is where that debate starts.
The Sopranos's Rankings
Crime TV Shows
Rank: #1 (see rankings)
Win Rate: 70.4%
Streak: ❄️ 6-match losing streak
Best matchups (highest win rate)
- The Sopranos vs Narcos - Wins 100.0% of battles
- The Sopranos vs True Detective - Wins 100.0% of battles
- The Sopranos vs The Shield - Wins 85.7% of battles
Worst matchups (lowest win rate)
- The Sopranos vs Breaking Bad - Loses 47.8% of battles
- The Sopranos vs Peaky Blinders - Loses 38.5% of battles
- The Sopranos vs Law & Order - Loses 35.3% of battles