Presumed Innocent is the latest in a new trend branching from an age-old trend of TV shows based on movies. These days, limited series inspired by novels that were previously adapted for cinema are more popular, and the newest, most notable example is developer David E. Kelley's adaptation of Scott Turrow's novel, which is available with an Apple TV+ subscription.
The series stars Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal as a married lawyer suspected of murdering his lover — a role previously portrayed by Harrison Ford in Alan J. Pakula’s 1990 film. The show was well-received by critics and has been promoted from limited series to ongoing drama, having been renewed for a second season by Apple TV+. If you also plead guilty to wanting more sexy, suspenseful tales such as this while you await its return, take a look at these other shows like Presumed Innocent.
Fatal Attraction (2023)
Starring: Joshua Jackson, Lizzy Caplan
What it's about: Married lawyer Dan Gallagher's one-night fling with Alex Forrest, who also works in the legal system, comes back to haunt him in shocking ways.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: The Oscar-nominated 1987 film, Fatal Attraction, is another dark, sexy thriller detailing the consequences of an attorney's extramarital affair that was later reimagined as this miniseries from Alexandra Cunningham and Kevin J. Hynes and was originally exclusive with a Paramount+ subscription.
How to watch Fatal Attraction
Defending Jacob (2020)
Starring: Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell
What it's about: A successful district attorney struggles to keep his family and his career together when his latest client becomes his teenage son, who has been accused of murdering a classmate.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: From developer Mark Bomback, the Emmy-nominated Defending Jacob is another intense, star-studded, Apple TV+ original legal drama based on a novel (by William Landay) about a lawyer whose personal life is affected by a horrific case.
How to watch Defending Jacob
Your Honor (2020-2023)
Starring: Bryan Cranston
What it's about: New Orleans judge Michael Desiato is faced with the greatest challenge of his career when his son falls into trouble with a local mafia family after a hit-and-run accident.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on an Israeli series called Kvodo, developer Peter Moffat’s Your Honor — which is also a show like Breaking Bad in many ways — is another critically acclaimed legal drama involving a protagonist working in the legal system whose morality is put in question in light of a horrific event.
How to watch Your Honor
- Stream Your Honor on Netflix
- Stream Your Honor on Paramount+ with Showtime
- Buy Your Honor on Amazon
- Buy Your Honor on Blu-ray on DVD
Suspicion (2022)
Starring: Uma Thurman, Kunal Nayyar, Tom Rhys-Harries, Georgina Campbell, Elizabeth Henstridge
What it's about: When the son of a prominent, American public figure goes missing, a group of ordinary British people are forced to go on the run when they become prime suspects.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on an Israeli series called False Flag, developer Rob Williams’ Suspicion is yet another Apple TV+ original series that, in this case, follows a whole group of individuals struggling to prove their innocence in a shocking investigation.
How to watch Suspicion
The Night Of (2016)
Starring: Riz Ahmed, John Turturro
What it's about: A Pakistani-American student becomes a prime suspect after waking up to find a woman he picked up the night before brutally murdered.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: When it comes to miniseries courtroom dramas, among the absolute cream of the crop is The Night Of — Richard Price and Steve Zaillian’s addictive, Emmy-winning adaptation of the British series, Criminal Justice, that, like Presumed Innocent, involves a man accused of killing a woman he was romantically linked to.
How to watch The Night Of
Goliath (2016-2021)
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton
What it's about: Disgraced attorney Billy McBride takes on a case that could rejuvenate his career or, perhaps, allow him the opportunity to achieve vengeance on the firm that fired him in the first place.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: David E. Kelley was a perfect person to develop Presumed Innocent, given his reputation for creating great legal dramas, such as Goliath — another series about a lawyer whose personal demons affect his career and family.
How to watch Goliath
The Undoing (2020)
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant
What it's about: The lives of a wealthy New York therapist and her husband are thrown into upheaval when they become involved in a brutal murder case.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s novel, You Should Have Known, The Undoing an acclaimed, Emmy-nominated, HBO-original, whodunnit-style legal drama that was also developed by Kelley and features Lily Rabe in a supporting role.
How to watch The Undoing
Anatomy Of A Scandal (2022)
Starring: Sienna Miller, Rupert Friend
What it's about: A woman learns that her politician husband has had an affair with one of his aides but things get worse when the other woman accuses him of assault.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on the novel by Sarah Vaughn, Anatomy of a Scandal is a British legal drama available with a Netflix subscription developed by Kelley with Melissa James Gibson that, like Presumed Innocent, also involves the consequences of an extramarital affair.
How to watch Anatomy of a Scandal
Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Shailene Woodley
What it's about: The lives of a group of upper-class women are unexpectedly changed by the arrival of a single mother who moves into their California neighborhood.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on the novel by Liane Moriarty, the Emmy-winning Big Little Lies — which has yet to receive a third season — is one of the most acclaimed series to ever be developed by Kelley and, while not a legal drama, does deeply involve consequences of dark secrets affecting the lives of ordinary people.
How to watch Big Little Lies
Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn
What it's about: Struggling attorney Jimmy McGill plays loose with the rules in hopes of getting ahead.
Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Widely considered to be a spin-off series as good as its predecessor, Better Call Saul — Vince Gilligan’s prequel to Breaking Bad following the origins of “Saul Goodman” — is also, like Presumed Innocent, a legal drama following a morally questionable protagonist, but is far lighter in tone.
How to watch Better Call Saul
- Stream Better Call Saul on Netflix
- Buy Better Call Saul on Amazon
- Buy Better Call Saul on Blu-ray on Amazon
While we find these TV shows perfect for fans of Presumed Innocent, the jury will still be out until you watch them yourself.
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