TV Series Like Sex And The City: 5 Shows That Capture Same Magic
- 01. TV Series Like Sex and the City You Need After Finale
- 02. Why These Shows Resonate with SATC Fans
- 03. Top 15 TV Series Like Sex and the City
- 04. Best Shows by Category for SATC Fans
- 05. If You Want the Direct Continuation
- 06. If You Want Fashion & Glamour
- 07. If You Want Female Friendship Focus
- 08. How to Choose Your Next SATC-Style Show
- 09. Frequently Asked Questions
TV Series Like Sex and the City You Need After Finale
If you're searching for TV series like Sex and the City, the top recommendations are And Just Like That... (the official sequel), Emily in Paris, The Bold Type, Younger, Insecure, Harlem, Gossip Girl, and The Sex Lives of College Girls-all featuring strong female friendships, career-driven storylines, and urban romance settings that mirror SATC's core appeal.
Why These Shows Resonate with SATC Fans
Sex and the City aired on HBO from June 6, 1998 to February 22, 2004, running for 94 episodes across six seasons and pioneering female-led dramedy storytelling centered on four professional women navigating love, friendship, and careers in New York City. The show's cultural impact remains measurable: it generated over 2.3 billion social media impressions during its 2021 Netflix resurgence and spawned a sequel series that debuted December 9, 2021 on HBO Max.
Shows that capture SATC's essence typically share three core elements: a tight-knit group of female friends as central characters, urban settings that function almost as characters themselves, and honest exploration of dating, sexuality, and career ambition without moral judgment.
Top 15 TV Series Like Sex and the City
| Show Title | Years | Streaming Platform | Why It's Like SATC | IMDb Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And Just Like That... | 2021-Present | Max | Direct sequel following original trio in their 50s | 7.3/10 |
| Emily in Paris | 2020-Present | Netflix | Created by Darren Star; fashion, romance, expat life | 6.8/10 |
| The Bold Type | 2017-2021 | Hulu | Three female friends at fashion magazine in NYC | 7.7/10 |
| Younger | 2015-2021 | Param+ | Women navigating publishing industry & dating | 7.9/10 |
| Insecure | 2016-2021 | Max | Black millennial women; LA setting; friendship focus | 7.9/10 |
| Harlem | 2021-Present | Prime Video | Four friends in their 30s pursuing dreams in Harlem | 6.9/10 |
| Gossip Girl | 2007-2012 | Max | Elite NYC social circle; fashion; romantic drama | 7.6/10 |
| The Sex Lives of College Girls | 2021-Present | Max | Four roommates exploring sex, identity at Vermont college | 7.3/10 |
| Broad City | 2014-2019 | Peacock | Two best friends navigating NYC life &> relationships | 7.9/10 |
| Girlfriends | 2000-2008 | Max | Four friends concurrent with SATC; dating &> careers | 7.3/10 |
| Divorce | 2016-2019 | Max | Sarah Jessica Parker; midlife relationships &> family | 7.2/10 |
| Survival of the Thickest | 2023-Present | Netflix | Woman rebuilds life at 38 after breakup | 6.7/10 |
| Girls | 2012-2017 | Max | 20-something hipster women in Brooklyn | 7.2/10 |
| Run the World | 2021-2023 | Starz | Four Black professional women in NYC | 6.6/10 |
| High Fidelity | 2020 | Hulu | Zoey Kravitz; music, dating, NYC friendships | 7.4/10 |
Best Shows by Category for SATC Fans
If You Want the Direct Continuation
And Just Like That... is the only show that continues the original Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte storylines with Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis reprising their iconic roles, while Kim Cattrall's Samantha remains absent. The sequel premiered on December 9, 2021, and has released three seasons through 2025, focusing on midlife reinvention, cancel culture, and evolving friendships in post-pandemic New York.
If You Want Fashion & Glamour
Emily in Paris, also created by Darren Star (SATC's creator), follows an American marketing executive in Paris with bold fashion choices, romantic entanglements, and career ambition as central themes. The show's aesthetic-driven storytelling and aspirational lifestyle content make it the closest spiritual successor to SATC's glamour factor.
- Emily in Paris - Fashion-forward expat life created by Darren Star
- The Bold Type - Fashion magazine workplace setting with style focus
- Gossip Girl - Elite Upper East Side fashion and luxury lifestyle
- Younger - Publishing industry glamour and 40s dating
If You Want Female Friendship Focus
Insecure is frequently described as the Black millennial version of SATC, featuring equal emphasis on humor, sex/relationships, and friendship while showcasing Los Angeles as prominently as SATC showcased New York. Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, it ran for 5 seasons from 2016-2021 on HBO and won two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series.
- Insecure - LA-based Black millennial friendship and dating
- Harlem - Four friends in their 30s pursuing dreams together
- Girlfriends - Four different best friends navigating adult life
- Run the World - Four Black professional women in NYC
- Broad City - Two best friends' NY adventures
How to Choose Your Next SATC-Style Show
Select based on what specific element of SATC you miss most: if it's the New York setting, prioritize Broad City, The Bold Type, or Harlem; if it's fashion and glamour, choose Emily in Paris or Gossip Girl; if it's midlife relationship complexity, go with And Just Like That... or Divorce; if it's diverse representation, watch Insecure, Harlem, or Run the World.
Most SATC fans report watching 3-5 shows from this list within the first month after finishing the original series, with And Just Like That... and Emily in Paris being the most commonly binge-watched pairings according to streaming data from 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Expert answers to Tv Series Like Sex And The City 5 Shows That Capture Same Magic queries
What is the closest show to Sex and the City?
And Just Like That... is the closest as the official sequel continuing the original characters' stories, while Emily in Paris is the closest in spirit since it shares the same creator (Darren Star) and similar themes of fashion, romance, and urban female independence.
Are there any Sex and the City sequels or spin-offs?
Yes-And Just Like That... premiered on December 9, 2021 on HBO Max and follows Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte in their 50s; it has released three seasons through 2025 with a fourth season confirmed. There are also two sequel movies: Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2.
What shows are like Sex and the City but for younger women?
The Sex Lives of College Girls, Girls, Broad City, and High Fidelity target younger demographics (Gen Z and millennials in their 20s) while maintaining SATC's focus on friendship, dating, and self-discovery in urban settings.
Where can I stream shows like Sex and the City?
Most SATC-like shows stream on Max (formerly HBO Max), including Insecure, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Girls, Divorce, and And Just Like That...; Netflix has Emily in Paris and Survival of the Thickest; Hulu has The Bold Type and High Fidelity; Prime Video has Harlem.
Is there a Sex and the City show with Black women?
Yes-Insecure is frequently called the Black millennial SATC, Harlem features four Black women in their 30s, and Run the World follows four Black professional women in NYC; Girlfriends also ran concurrently with SATC and centers on four Black friends.
