21 Shows and Movies to Watch After You Finish 'Bridgerton'

Movies and TV shows so good even Eloise would approve.

21 Shows and Movies to Watch After You Finish 'Bridgerton'

So you're looking for more TV shows like Bridgerton on Netflix, eh? You've come to the expert. A more generic guide might point you to the best Jane Austen-adapted films and call it a day. While I can recommend those—and will—there's so much more to explore within the world of Lady Whistledown including, but not limited to, sweeping period dramas about women bucking society's rules, soft core porn starring men in cravats, and hot rich people being messy.

Here, find 21 TV shows and movies like Bridgerton on Netflix that you can watch now. Enjoy.

First, let's get those Austen adaptations out of the way…

With its Regency-era setting and a plot centered around the marriage market in Britain's high society, Bridgerton (and the novels the series is based on) is most obviously inspired by Jane Austen's timeless work. Of course, Austen isn't the only source material for a period piece romance—and that's a good thing. Diversity in casting remains an issue in the genre at large, with only more modern interpretations like Sanditon and Clueless including any significant characters of color. While Bridgerton moves the needle forward slightly, there's still so much more that can be done. But it's a testament to Austen's writing that the on-screen adaptations of her books have heavily influenced pop culture in their own significant ways. Here are some of the best.

Sanditon (2019)

We've told you about this one before. Like Bridgerton, this series delivers a romantic lead with a strong moral code and an even stronger jawline. And unlike the G-rated hand holding of other Austen adaptations, there are some actual sex scenes here. Available to stream on PBS Masterpiece

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

If watching the Duke and Daphne make love during a storm in Bridgerton inspired some big feelings, don't sleep on watching Mr. Darcy proclaim his love for Elizabeth Bennet in the rain. Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Bridgerton is very horny for the Duke, which is not unlike the reaction in 1995 to this beloved six-episode miniseries. The BBC hit basically invented the thirst trap thanks to a much-discussed scene of Darcy (hello, Colin Firth) enjoying a swim. Available to stream on Hulu

Bridget Jone's Diary (2001)

In fact that lake scene above was so iconic that it made Firth the obvious and only casting choice to play Mark Darcy in this modern-day version of Pride & Prejudice. Available to stream on Starz

Clueless (1995)

Another updated take on a classic Austen novel. This time, Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, and Brittany Murphy star in a '90s teen comedy inspired by Emma. Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video

Emma (2020)

Love Clueless but aren't familiar with its source material? It's time to check out Emma. There's a 1996 adaptation with Gwyneth Paltrow that's good, but I much prefer the whimsical, visually stunning version with The Queen's Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy. Available to stream on HBO Max

Sense and Sensibility (1995)

With Ang Lee directing and a screenplay written by Emma Thompson, this is considered by many critics to be the best of the best when it comes to Austen adaptations. Available to stream on Hulu

Love & Friendship (2016)

Love & Friendship was fairly overlooked when it came out in 2016, but Kate Beckinsale is wildly funny as a widow scheming to find a wealthy match for herself and her daughter. Take notes, Lady Featherington. Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video

If you're just in it for the sex scenes…

Be honest: How many times did you watch that “Wildest Dreams” montage in Bridgerton on repeat? Yeah, I see you. Add these to your queue next.

Scandal (2012-2018)

Created by Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes, Scandal stars Kerry Washington as a crisis manager having a passionate affair with the President of the United States. Available to stream on Hulu

Ammonite (2020)

Warning: This film moves incredibly slow, and you'll spend a lot of time watching sad women stare at rocks by the sea. But it's worth it for the incredibly hot sex scene between Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet. Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video

Outlander (2014 - present)

All the chatter you've heard about the sex on Outlander is legit: The show has some of the steamiest love scenes on television. Available to stream on Netflix

Lady Macbeth (2016)

Florence Pugh plays a Victorian woman trapped in a loveless marriage to an older man. When he leaves to deal with a business matter, she starts an affair with one of the estate's workers. That said, I wouldn't exactly describe this film as sexy—there is a lot of hooking up, but it's all very dark and tragic. Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video

If you've already seen all of those…

As I said, Austen doesn't have to be the only source material for a great corseted drama. These historical series and films should all entertain.

The Spanish Princess (2019-2020)

This Starz series about Catherine of Aragon before her marriage to Henry VIII tends to favor sexiness over historical accuracy. What more could you want? Available to stream on Starz

Belle (2013)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as the real-life Dido Elizabeth Belle, a mixed-race British heiress, in this gorgeously shot romance helmed by director Amma Asante. Wealthy in her own right and yet not treated as an equal by the society around her, Belle is a necessary corrective to a genre that overwhelmingly prioritizes white narratives. Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video

Downton Abbey (2010-2015, 2019)

This historical series from PBS was a massive hit for a reason, much like Bridgerton—soapy drama, stirring romance, and a sassy older woman commenting on all the proceedings. The 2019 film makes for a satisfying conclusion. Available to stream on Peacock

Still Star-Crossed (2017)

Fun fact: Bridgerton isn't Shondaland's first go at historical romance. You might have missed this ABC series when it aired—it was canceled after one season—but it's worth watching for a pre-Captain Marvel Lashana Lynch in a standout performance. Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video

Jane Eyre (2011)

If you liked listening to angsty emo music back in the day and reading the Brontë sisters (just me?), consider Jane Eyre. A moody cousin of Pride & Prejudice, this beautiful adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel stars Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska and was directed by True Detective auteur Cary Fukunaga. Available to stream on HBO Max

The Great (2020)

The Great has all the gorgeous costumes and delicious antics one expects in a historical drama, but the dialogue and scenarios are significantly more R-rated than most. The intense love-hate chemistry between Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult in this Hulu series is unparalleled. Available to stream on Hulu

Mr. Malcolm's List (TBD)

OK, so: Mr. Malcolm's List isn't a full-length film…yet. An official release date hasn't even been announced! But you can view an early short that stars Gemma Chan and Freida Pinto via Refinery29 that will leave you very excited for the romantic comedy. Available to watch below.

If period dramas aren't really your thing…

Maybe Bridgerton is an outlier to your usual TV tastes. Maybe you watched all of the above and are ready to come back to present day. Whatever the case, the below touch on similar themes and plot points as the Netflix series without all the empire-waist dresses.

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

A snarky writer commenting on the every move and scandal of the city's elite? It's not Lady Whistledown—it's Gossip Girl, the omniscient blogger tracking a group of teens on the Upper East Side. Available to stream on HBO Max

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

A fake romance that leads to a friendship and then the real thing: To All the Boys I've Loved Before has a lot more in common with Bridgerton than you might think at first. Available to stream on Netflix