10 shows like Beauty in Black that you must see

to Tyler Perrybeauty in black’ features the narratives of two women navigating different yet dangerously similar worlds. One of the protagonists, Kimmie, finds herself on the wrong side of the tracks after her mother kicks her out at eighteen. Consequently, as a young adult, she becomes embroiled in the wrong business, forced into the stripping industry by her pimp, Jules, whose menacing connections are far-flung. One of these connections is with the Bellarie family, who have built a rich hair care empire with hidden and cunning secrets. Mallory, the other protagonist, married into the Bellarie family at a young age and now runs their prosperous company. However, one wrong step can end up costing the precarious family holding the dysfunctional family together.

As the show focuses on this double-edged world, it takes on flawed themes families and the sex industry. Thus, the narrative relishes the danger and drama that surrounds Kimmie and Mallory’s lives, exploring the raw reality of their various experiences and leaving fans wanting more similar dramas.

10. Dynasty (2017-2022)

“Beauty in Black” excels at portraying the searing drama between the interconnected characters and their ever-expanding complications. As such, “Dynasty” will prove to be the next best thing for fans of the genre. Created by Sallie Patrick, Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz, the show reboots the 1980s soap opera of the same name. Blake Carrington, the CEO of a thriving business, becomes engaged to his much younger employee Cristal. This attracts the attention of his daughter, Fallon, who is convinced that her father is being played. As a result, she tries to thwart the couple’s engagement and ends up earning her father’s wrath. Consequently, she turns to her father’s rival, Jeff Colby, sparking a feud between two of the wealthiest families in the country.

9. The family business (2018-)

For “Beauty in Black” fans who have found a void in their time for quality drama between morally ambiguous characters who are part of the same dysfunctional family, “The family business’ promises to be the best bet. “The Family Business” is an action crime show based on creator Carl Weber’s book series of the same name that centers around the Duncan family, owners of an exotic car dealership in New York. However, beneath the surface, the family has ties to dangerous mafia circles. Therefore, as a shift in power occurs with Lavernius retiring and his son Orlando taking over, the Duncans find themselves treading new waters. Like Beauty in Black, this show also thrives on a balanced focus on grounded drama and quirky crime stories, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

8. Empire (2015-2020)

Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, “Empire” is a musical drama show that presents a fascinatingly complicated dynamic between a dying man, his family and his legacy. Empire Entertainment CEO Lucious Lyon learns of his future destiny when he receives a terminal medical diagnosis. Therefore, after building his successful domain from his ashes drug-dealing with the past, the man refuses to let his legacy fade with him. For the same reason, he must choose an heir from among his three sons, CFO Andre, R&B musician Jamal and rapper Hakeem. Of course, the same incites a bitter rivalry between the three brothers, which only intensifies once their estranged mother with a criminal past, Cookie Lyon, enters the picture. The dynamic within the Lyon family is especially reminiscent of the complicated Bellarie family, making them the perfect new subject for “Beauty in Black” fans.

7. Fatal Seduction (2023-)

to Steven PillemerFatal seduction“the South African remake of the Mexican show”Dark Desire,’ is a erotic thriller that delves into a world of crime and drama. It follows Nandi Mahlati, a failed successful teacher marriage who finds herself on a risky weekend trip with her best friend Brenda. The weekend culminates in a passionate affair with a younger man, Jacob – and, unexpectedly, the mysterious death of Brenda. Consequently, once Nandi returns to her regular life, she becomes a suspect in the criminal investigation into her friend’s murder – a problem not least helped by the discovery that Jacob is a new student at Nandi’s university. Predictably, the show harnesses plot twists and interpersonal drama, further heightened by Nandi’s family’s confusing mess, to deliver an entertainingly heavy story that “Beauty in Black” fans are sure to find intriguing.

6. Riches (2022)

Abby Ajayi’s drama series ‘Riches’ follows the story of two brothers who find themselves embroiled in an inheritance battle after their estranged father dies. Stephen Richards worked from scratch and built his cosmetics empire, creating a space for black-owned businesses in the industry. His death from a heart attack therefore comes as a shock and threatens to leave his company, Flair & Glory, vulnerable. However, in his will, Stephen leaves his entire business to Nina and Simon, his estranged children from his first marriage. This leads to a dangerous clash between the brothers and the deceased patriarch’s second family, including his widow, Claudia.

“Wealth” brings to the fore the bitter side of family relationships, highlighting the damage that interpersonal rivalries can cause. As a result, this show is bound to remind viewers of the dynamic between the Bellarie patriarchs and the heirs from “Beauty in Black.”

5. Power (2014-2020)

“Power” is an evergreen classic show in the overlapping genre of crime and family drama. James St. Patrick leads this Courtney A. Kemp show as a notorious drug dealer operating under the alias Ghost. Despite his skills in the underworld, James is looking for a way out to embark on a harmonious life as a nightclub owner. However, his tainted past continues to haunt him at every turn, inviting unwanted attention from the authorities. Simultaneously, his personal life goes south as his marriage to his wife, Tasha, continues to turn. Following the reluctant double life James leads, the series ends up using the narratives of several characters, including the drug lord’s family and professional partners. Therefore, just like “Beauty in Black”, this show also portrays a complete and varied crime narrative full of captivating characters.

4. Queen Sugar (2016-2022)

‘Sugar Queen,’ created by Ava DuVernay, is for fans who enjoyed the complicated family dynamics of ‘Beauty in Black’ and would have liked to see more focus on it. The show revolves around the Bordelon family, three estranged siblings who inherit equal shares of their deceased father’s sugar cane farm in rural Louisiana. Despite leading drastically different lives, the three brothers find themselves drifting towards the farm, reluctantly sharing each other’s company. Inspired by Natalie Baszile’s book of the same name, the show examines the messy complexities of family relationships, featuring compelling characters who fight their own distinct struggles. As such, if “Beauty in Black” left you interested in exploring stories with similar interpersonal relationships, this show is for you.

3. P-Valley (2020-)

In “P-Valley”, Katori Hall adapts her song “Pussy Valley” and presents the story of different employees of a strip club in Mississippi. Uncle Clifford Sayles is the non-binary owner of The Pynk Strip Club, home to several talented dancers, including the famous trio, expert Mercedes Woodbine, Keyshawn Harris and Hailey Colton. As the complications clouding these characters’ personal lives grow, so do their workplace rivalries, paving the way for an engaging show. While “Beauty in Black” presents the darker side of the stripping profession through Kimmie’s character and her thorny circumstances, “P-Valley” offers an alternative take. As such, if you’ve found an interest in the various themes of Kimmie’s story, this show will prove to be worth your attention.

2. Greenleaf (2016-2022)

‘Greenleafis a drama soap opera created by Craig Wright that revels in the story of the titular family and their magnetic and messy relationships. Bishop James and Lady Mae, heads of the Greenleaf family, have built a successful name for themselves through the megachurch in Memphis. However, the church hides a world of dark secrets that sustain the family while also keeping them on the edge of danger. Consequently, these secrets threaten to unravel when Grace Greenleaf, the estranged daughter, returns to the family mansion, intent on getting to the bottom of her sister’s mysterious death. So begins the Greenleaf family’s struggle with their own best-kept lies, as rivalries, clandestine dealings and endless greed promise to herald their fate. “Greenleaf” and “Beauty in Black” share a preference for successful families with dubious pasts whose greatest enemy remains their only inability to function as a common unit.

1. All the Queen’s Men (2021)

Created by Christian Keyes, “All the Queen’s Men” is a unique detective show based on his own novel “Ladies Night”. Delving into the nightclub industry, the narrative focuses on Marilyn “Madam” DeVille, who reigns as top dog in exotic male entertainment circles. However, as her influence and power grow, so do the dangers of her competition. As a result, Marilyn and her trusted few find themselves taking on the challenges thrown by the dizzying industry in order to expand their ever-growing empire. The protagonist of the series proposes a convincing mix between Kimmie and Mallory, the two main characters of “Beauty in Black”. Thus, as Marilyn survives in Kimmie’s world with Mallory’s penchant for mischief, the character becomes an inevitable point of interest for fans of the latter show.