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Looking for more TV shows like Queen Charlotte and Bridgerton on Netflix? 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. Though 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 34 TV shows and movies like Bridgerton that you can watch while you wait for season three. 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 Julia Quinn 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 onscreen adaptations of her books have heavily influenced pop culture in their own significant ways and continue to inspire new creators. Here are some of the best.
Sanditon (2019–2023)
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. The show became so popular with Bridgerton fans, in fact, that they saved it from cancellation for a second season. The third, and final, season premiered in March 2023. 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 Prime Video
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Bridgerton is very horny for its male leads, 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. Look for a nod to the moment in Bridgerton season two, courtesy of Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony. Available to stream on Hulu
Bridget Jones’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 rent on Prime Video
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 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 IMDB TV
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
With Ang Lee directing and a screenplay written by Emma Thompson, this is considered by many to be the best of the best when it comes to Austen adaptations. Available to rent on Prime Video
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 Prime Video
Persuasion (2022)
This Dakota Johnson–led adaptation of Jane Austen's most underrated novel definitely had its naysayers when it premiered in 2022, while others found it clever and subversive. Watch and decide where you stand for yourself. Available to stream on Netflix
If you’re just in it for the sex scenes…
Be honest: How many times did you watch that “Wildest Dreams” montage in Bridgerton season one? Yeah, I see you. Add these to your queue next.
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. Things get even hotter in the magnificent season two. Available to stream on Hulu
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 Prime Video
Outlander (2014–)
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 Starz
The Tudors (2007–2010)
While the musical Six is actually my favorite take on Henry VIII and his six wives, it’s not available to stream. So let’s go with my second: The Tudors, which stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the volatile king. Read any review from the show’s run and you’ll see a lot of words like sexy, erotic, and sensual. Available to stream on Hulu
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 describe this film as sexy—there is a lot of hooking up, but it’s all very dark and tragic. Available to stream on 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 Gilded Age (2021—)
There's a lot of reasons to love this lush HBO drama from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. The show’s entertaining social schemers and gorgeous costumes are enough to hook you, but best of all is resident Hot Couple Bertha and George Russell (played by Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector). Available to stream on HBO Max.
Dickinson (2019–2021)
If one of your favorite parts about Bridgerton is the soundtrack filled with Vitamin String Quartet covers, here’s another show that mixes a more modern sensibility with corsets and carriage rides. Hailee Steinfeld is brilliant as the aspiring poet, in love with her best friend Sue. Available to stream on Apple TV+
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’s story is a necessary corrective to a genre that overwhelmingly prioritizes white narratives. Available to rent on Prime Video
Downton Abbey (2010–2015, 2019, 2022)
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 story continues in two films, one of which hit theaters in May 2022. 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 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 rent on Prime Video
Emily (2023)
After Jane Eyre, go for a double feature and watch this biopic about Wuthering Heights author (and Charlotte's sister) Emily Brontë. It's an entertaining—and sexy—watch; just know going in that the film takes some creative liberties with Brontë's life. Available to rent on Prime Video
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
I recommend this French historical romance only if you’re in the mood to have your heart ripped in two—but, oh, is it worth it. Available to stream on Hulu
Little Women (2019)
Don’t you think Jo March, Eloise Bridgerton, and Penelope Featherington would have been great friends, had they ever met? Available to buy on Prime Video
Harlots (2017–2019)
The show has an impressive 92% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, and the site’s description explains why in one short sentence: “Harlots uses its titillating subject matter to draw the viewer into a deeper drama about the intersection of survival, business, and family.” Available to stream on Hulu
Belgravia (2020)
Another drama about the scandals of the upper crust from Julian Fellowes—this time set in an affluent district of London on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. The show essentially explores what might have happened if Miss Marina Thompson hadn't married. Available to stream on Epix
Vanity Fair (2018)
An excellent adaptation of the William Makepeace Thackeray novel, made all the better by an appearance from Claudia Jessie, a.k.a. Eloise Bridgerton. Available to stream on Prime Video
Gentleman Jack (2019—)
The real-life Anne Lister, the inspiration for this HBO series, kept a diary that has been referred to as the Rosetta Stone of lesbian life in the 19th century. “Onscreen, Lister translates as both intense and persuasive,” writes Jill Gutowitz in her review for Glamour. “At first I found that maddening, but eventually my attraction to her crept up like a schoolgirl crush. She’s intoxicating and sexy in ways that are totally unconventional for a TV lead.” Available to stream on HBO
Mr. Malcolm’s List (2022)
Freida Pinto and Zawe Ashton star as two childhood friends who scheme to put an overly picky bachelor in his place in this charming period romance. And the movie is not without its handsome leads, here played by Sope Dirisu, Theo James, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Available to stream on Hulu
Austenland (2013)
A film about people so obsessed with Jane Austen they pay major money to attend an immersive theme resort where guests are given the full Regency romance experience. No, it's not a documentary—it's a surprisingly moving rom-com starring Keri Russell with a memorable supporting performance by White Lotus favorite Jennifer Coolidge. Available to rent on Prime Video
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, 2021–2022)
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. The 2021 continuation is worth a watch as well, if only for the polyamorous relationship between Audrey (Emily Alyn Lind), Aki (Evan Mock), and Max (Thomas Doherty). 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
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
The book that Bridgerton season two is based on, The Viscount Who Loved Me, seems to draw some inspiration from The Taming of the Shrew. Another excellent retelling of Shakespeare’s work is teen classic 10 Things I Hate About You.Available to rent on Prime Video
Anna Moeslein is the deputy editor at Glamour. Find her@annamoesleinon Instagram for even more recommendations and read her cover story withSimone Ashley.
