Summary
- Daredevil: Born Again brings intense legal drama and brutal action, exploring the moral struggles of a conflicted hero.
- Similar shows like Watchmen and Jessica Jones delve into morally ambiguous characters and dark themes.
- The Penguin and Iron Fist offer grounded crime dramas with protagonists facing inner conflict and murky morality.
Daredevil: Born Again has brought back the intense, dark energy of its predecessor, delivering an intense mix of legal drama, brutal action, and a hero torn between justice and his own fractured morals. As Matt Murdock goes head-to-head with the newly appointed mayor, Wilson Fisk, the show continues to explore the complex, street-level struggles that have captivated audiences for years.
But for fans who can’t get enough of Daredevil: Born Again, there’s plenty more to explore. Shows like Watchmen, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage delve into similar territory, featuring morally ambiguous characters, high stakes, and a murky line between heroism and vigilantism. These series may not follow the exact same formula, but they often tap into the same dark themes that make Daredevil: Born Again so compelling, making these shows a must-watch.
6 Best Daredevil Live-Action Suits, Ranked
Daredevil has had quite a selection of suits to choose from during his vigilante days in Hell's Kitchen, but here are some of his best looks.
10 The Penguin
Power Grabs & Betrayal In Gotham's Underworld
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Showrunner
- Lauren LeFranc
- Directors
- Craig Zobel
- Writers
- Lauren LeFranc
- Franchise(s)
- Batman, DC Elseworlds
Cast
-
Colin FarrellOz Cobb -
Cristin MiliotiSofia Falcone
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
Spinning out of The Batman (2022), The Penguin follows Oz Cobb’s ruthless ascent through Gotham’s criminal ranks, amidst blood and betrayal. Much like Daredevil: Born Again, it explores that street-level grime. Law and order are more of a suggestion than a structure, and the line between antihero and outright villain gets murkier by the minute.
Gotham’s seemingly perpetual gloom mirrors Hell’s Kitchen's atmosphere, with emphasis on morally gray characters trying to survive systems rigged against them. While Matt fights corruption in court and in combat, Penguin manipulates, schemes, and seizes control by any means necessary, much like Fisk. It’s an excellent crime drama at its most grounded, perfect for fans of brooding narratives and flawed figures controlling dangerous cities.
9 Iron Fist
Legacy Struggles Collide With Mystical Destiny And Inner Conflict
- Release Date
- March 17, 2017
- Network
- Disney Channel
- Showrunner
- Scott Buck
- Directors
- Scott Buck
- Writers
- Jessica Henwick
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
-
Ludovic Coutaud -
Donté Grey
-
Alberto Bonilla
-
Craig Geraghty
- Seasons
- 2
Iron Fist may not wear its ruggedness on its sleeve like Daredevil: Born Again, but beneath the martial arts flair lies a story about legacy, identity, and inner conflict. After vanishing for 15 years, Danny Rand resurfaces in New York to reclaim not just his family's empire, but also his place in a world that barely remembers him. Torn between corporate responsibility and mystical destiny, Rand’s struggle mirrors the duality that defines Matt, as the latter is often caught between the courtroom and the shadows.
Season two ups the ante as Rand steps into the void left by Daredevil, facing enemies who blur the lines between friend and foe. For viewers who appreciate the personal sacrifices behind the mask and the chaos that comes with protecting a city, Iron Fist delivers familiar themes with a spiritual twist.
8 Peacemaker
A Messed-Up Hero Torn Between Doing Good Or Violent Things
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- HBO Max, Max
- Showrunner
- James Gunn
Cast
-
John CenaChristopher Smith / Peacemaker -
Danielle BrooksLeota Adebayo
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
Peacemaker might be way more irreverent than Daredevil, but it’s still a show about a morally torn vigilante trying to do good. Beneath the explosive humor and wild antics lies a surprisingly layered vigilante story. Christopher Smith, a.k.a. Peacemaker, is a man who claims he'll kill for peace, a contradiction he wears like a badge.
9 Best Characters In Peacemaker, Ranked
Peacemaker features a great cast of characters, but the following ones definitely left a lasting impression in the show's first season.
Like Daredevil, Peacemaker is a walking paradox: torn between his ideals and the wreckage of his past, desperate to do good but unsure what that looks like anymore. While the tone of Peacemaker is admittedly more blasé than Daredevil: Born Again, both series explore the cost of violence, the weight of legacy, and the psychological toll of living behind a mask. And add some razor-sharp writing and thrilling action into the mix, and Peacemaker becomes a standout.
7 Watchmen
An Enticing Story Of Political Conspiracies And The Cost Of Vigilantism
- Release Date
- 2019 - 2019-00-00
- Network
- HBO
- Directors
- David Semel, Fred Toye
- Writers
- Nick Cuse, Carly Wray
Cast
-
Regina KingRed Scare -
Don JohnsonAngela Abar / Sister Night -
Tim Blake NelsonLady Trieu -
Yahya Abdul-Mateen IIMr. Phillips / Game Warden
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
With a haunting atmosphere and an unflinching look at society’s dark underbelly, Watchmen delivers the kind of psychological impact that fans of Daredevil: Born Again will love. Set in a reality where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, this HBO series explores moral chaos, political conspiracies, and the cost of justice.
It follows Detective Angela Abar as she unearths a web of secrets tied to a radical group inspired by the infamous Rorschach. Much like Daredevil: Born Again, it navigates the thin, bloody line between heroism and vigilantism. The grim tone, layered characters, and commentary on justice echo the internal battles Matt Murdock faces, especially when the law fails and fists take over.
6 Arrow
Billionaire Turned Vigilante Navigates Corruption & Redemption
- Release Date
- 2013 - 2020-00-00
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- Andrew Kreisberg
- Directors
- James Bamford, John Behring, Glen Winter, Michael Schultz, Wendey Stanzler, Laura Belsey, Gregory Smith, Guy Norman Bee, Nick Copus, Jesse Warn, Gordon Verheul, Antonio Negret, Kristin Windell, Thor Freudenthal, Rob Hardy, Eagle Egilsson, Dermott Downs, Joel Novoa, Kevin Tancharoen, Tara Miele, Ben Hernandez Bray, Mairzee Almas, Alexandra La Roche, Andi Armaganian
- Writers
- Oscar Balderrama, Sarah Tarkoff, Speed Weed, Keto Shimizu, Rebecca Bellotto, Drew Z. Greenberg, Jill Blankenship, Deric A. Hughes, Benjamin Raab, Erik Oleson, Lana Cho, Tonya Kong, Moira Kirland, Rebecca Rosenberg, Bryan Q. Miller, Jenny Lynn, Maya Houston, A.C. Bradley, Barbara Bloom, Mark Bemesderfer, Nolan Dunbar, Gabrielle Stanton, Elisa Delson, Marv Wolfman
- Franchise(s)
- Arrowverse
Cast
-
Stephen AmellOliver Queen / Green Arrow -
David RamseyJohn Diggle / Spartan -
Emily Bett RickardsFelicity Smoak -
Katie CassidyLaurel Lance / Black Siren
- Seasons
- 8
Arrow launched the modern wave of TV vigilantes, and it shares more DNA with Daredevil: Born Again than just its love for nighttime justice. Centered on Oliver Queen, a former billionaire who reinvents himself as a hooded archer after five brutal years in exile, the show portrays the grime of urban corruption, moral compromise, and personal demons. Like Matt, Oliver walks the tightrope between man and beast, caught in a tug-of-war between saving his city and losing himself.
The show artfully combines mystery, high-stakes action, and emotional fallout, delivering a bleak superhero narrative where every move carries weight and every decision has consequences.
5 Moon Knight
Vigilante Action, A Fractured Mind, & Supernatural Chaos
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- Disney Channel
- Showrunner
- Jeremy Slater
- Directors
- Steven Grant
- Writers
- Danielle Iman, Jeremy Slater
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel
Cast
-
May Calamawy -
F. Murray Abraham
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
While Moon Knight veers into mythological territory, its gritty tone and broken protagonist echo the emotional weight and internal conflict that define Daredevil: Born Again. Anchored by Oscar Isaac’s phenomenal performance, the show follows Marc Spector, a mercenary with dissociative identity disorder who becomes the earthly avatar of an Egyptian god.
Marvel Rivals: Best Characters To Counter Moon Knight
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Suffice it to say, Moon Knight is a mind-bending journey through shifting realities, buried trauma, and violent vigilante justice. But beneath that supernatural chaos lies a character just as fractured as Matt. He's haunted by the past and blurred moral lines, trying to define what it means to be a hero when the mind itself is a battlefield.
4 Luke Cage
Bulletproof Hero Fights Crime & Corruption In Harlem
- Release Date
- 2016 - 2018-00-00
- Showrunner
- Cheo Hodari Coker
- Writers
- Cheo Hodari Coker
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel
Cast
-
Frank Whaley -
Theo Rossi -
Mahershala Ali -
Justin Swain
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix, Disney+
Luke Cage brings street-level justice to Harlem with a bulletproof edge and a bluesy soul. Following a man gifted with unbreakable skin and haunted by a troubled past, the series leans into themes of power, community, and corruption, familiar territory to Daredevil fans. Luke isn’t a masked vigilante, but his fight is no less personal. His fights take place in barber shops, back alleys, and city halls, where crime wears suits and sermons alike.
The show thrives on complex villains and superb performances — especially from Mahershala Ali and Alfre Woodard. Like Matt Murdock, Luke grapples with the heavy burden of responsibility and the personal cost of doing what's right when the system lets him down, making it a sort of spiritual cousin to Daredevil: Born Again.
3 Jessica Jones
A Complex Heroine Battling Trauma
- Release Date
- November 20, 2015
- Showrunner
- Melissa Rosenberg
- Directors
- Melissa Rosenberg
- Writers
- Melissa Rosenberg
- Franchise(s)
- Jessica Jones
Cast
-
Eka Darville -
Mike Colter -
Susie Abromeit
-
David Tennant
- Seasons
- 3
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Jessica Jones operates in the same bleak corner of the Marvel universe as Daredevil, but trades legal briefs for psychological investigations. Set in a noir-tinted New York, the series follows Jessica, a superpowered private investigator battling trauma and trust issues. The first season, amplified by David Tennant’s haunting turn as Kilgrave, depicts a deeply personal story that blurs the line between justice and vengeance.
Like Daredevil, Jessica is haunted by the world around her, wrestling with her moral compass. While later seasons faltered slightly, the show’s debut was as gripping and emotionally raw as Daredevil: Born Again.
2 The Defenders
Vigilantes Team Up While Dealing With Their Pasts
- Release Date
- 2017 - 2017-00-00
- Showrunner
- Marco Ramirez, Douglas Petrie
- Writers
- Douglas Petrie, Marco Ramirez
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel
Cast
-
Finn Jones -
Mike Colter
-
Krysten Ritter -
Charlie Cox
WHERE TO WATCH
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix, Disney+
For Daredevil fans, The Defenders captures everything that makes the Netflix universe so gripping. The Defenders brings together four of Marvel's fan-favorite heroes for a team-up that’s just as rough as the streets they protect. Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist face off against the mystical Hand, but this isn’t a bland superhero crossover.
The show portrays a clash of fractured personalities, bruised egos, and conflicting moral codes; a perfect extension of the Daredevil ethos. Each hero battles their dark past, personal demons, and sense of justice, making the team dynamic all the more complicated. The action is intense, but it’s the exploration of their vulnerabilities, showing them at their most human, that sets the show apart.
1 The Punisher
Unapologetically Brutal Justice
- Release Date
- 2017 - 2019-00-00
- Network
- Disney Channel
- Showrunner
- John Romita Sr.
- Directors
- Mark Goldblatt, Lexi Alexander
- Writers
- Gerry Conway
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
-
Deborah Ann Woll -
Jon Bernthal
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
The Punisher exudes the same dark, brooding energy that defines Daredevil, minus the moral hesitation. After the brutal murder of his family, ex-Marine Frank Castle turns the streets into a battleground, hunting down those responsible with ruthless precision. Where Matt wrestles with the line between right and wrong, Frank bulldozes straight through his moral code.
Yet, both characters share a common thread besides sharing the screen: they're broken men navigating a broken system, driven by loss, and clinging to a warped sense of justice. Gritty, violent, and unapologetically raw, the show delivers a visceral exploration of trauma, revenge, and the price of taking the law into one's own hands. For people who are into emotionally scarred anti-heroes, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and justice served with a side of vengeance, The Punisher is the next stop.
Marvel: 10 Best MCU Sequel Movies, Ranked
Some sequels set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have become iconic modern films, such as Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 and Avengers: Infinity War.
- Release Date
- 2017 - 2019-00-00
- Network
- Disney Channel
- Showrunner
- John Romita Sr.
- Directors
- Mark Goldblatt, Lexi Alexander
- Writers
- Gerry Conway
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
-
Deborah Ann Woll
-
Jon Bernthal
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix