Narcos (2015)

Kernel Score: 89% · 3,196 ratings

Genres: Crime, Drama

First aired: 2015-08-28

Seasons: 3 · 30 episodes

Is Narcos worth watching?

Worth watching. A fast, well-acted dramatisation of the hunt for Pablo Escobar, mixing real events with fiction. Part crime thriller and part history lesson, it does drag in places, but it's strong, violent television.

Watch it if you

  • like true-crime stories about cartels and the people hunting them
  • are fine with subtitles and a lot of Spanish

Skip it if you

  • dislike graphic violence
  • want a purely factual documentary

Best for: Binge weekend

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Narcos

US availability, updated 2026-10-22.

Overview

A gritty chronicle of the war against Colombia's infamously violent and powerful drug cartels.

Narcos parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Narcos is a TV-MA crime drama chronicling the violent drug wars against Colombia's cartels.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — Gritty depiction of cartel conflict, drug trafficking, and violent crime.
  • Drinking, drugs & smoking: Intense — Centers heavily on cocaine trafficking and the drug cartel trade.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-MA rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Shows like Narcos

If you liked Narcos, these are the shows we'd watch next.

  • Narcos: Mexico (2018) — 88%: The follow-up, set in the Mexican cartel world
  • Snowfall (2017) — 91%: Crime drama about the drug trade and its human cost
  • ZeroZeroZero (2020) — 88%: Global drug-trade thriller with serious scale
  • Breaking Bad (2008) — 99%: The great drug-empire story of modern TV
  • Better Call Saul (2015) — 92%: Smart, patient crime drama about the criminal world
  • The Wire (2002) — 92%: Landmark crime drama about drugs, police and the city

Cast

  • Pedro Pascal as Javier Peña
  • Matias Varela as Jorge Salcedo
  • Damián Alcázar as Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela
  • Francisco Denis as Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela
  • Alberto Ammann as Pacho Herrera
  • Pêpê Rapazote as Chepe Santacruz Londoño
  • Arturo Castro as David Rodriguez
  • Michael Stahl-David as Chris Feistl
  • Matt Whelan as Daniel Van Ness
  • Andrea Londo as Maria Salazar

Narcos FAQ

Is Narcos worth watching?

Worth watching. A fast, well-acted dramatisation of the hunt for Pablo Escobar, mixing real events with fiction. Part crime thriller and part history lesson, it does drag in places, but it's strong, violent television.

Where can I watch Narcos?

In the US you can stream Narcos on Netflix.

Is Narcos OK for kids?

Narcos is rated TV-MA. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Narcos is a TV-MA crime drama chronicling the violent drug wars against Colombia's cartels.

What shows are like Narcos?

If you liked Narcos, try Narcos: Mexico, Snowfall, ZeroZeroZero and Breaking Bad.