What to Watch: The Family Business – Crime, Drama, and Soap Opera-Level Chaos

If you’re looking for a crime family thriller that delivers high stakes, over-the-top drama, and more plot twists than a tangled web of family secrets, Carl Weber’s The Family Business is the show you need to binge ASAP. Think Power meets Empire, but with even more assassins, drug dealing, and betrayal—all wrapped up in a juicy, soap opera-style crime saga. And since it’s Black History Month, what better time to highlight a show created by a Black author and featuring a powerhouse Black cast?

The Setup: A Family That Means Business

At first glance, the Duncan family looks like a respectable crew running a high-end car dealership in New York. But beneath the luxury cars and tailored suits, they’re running a high-stakes criminal empire. The Family Business is based on Carl Weber’s bestselling novels, bringing the world of organized crime to life with no shortage of family feuds, dangerous alliances, and enough double-crossing to make your head spin.

Meet the Duncans:

L.C. Duncan (Ernie Hudson) – The no-nonsense patriarch trying to keep his family’s empire intact.
Chippy Duncan (Valarie Pettiford) – The matriarch who knows how to hold things down.
Orlando, Vegas, and the rest of the clan – Each sibling has their own role in the family operation, but trust me, the drama between them is just as intense as the crime they’re involved in.

Why You’ll Love The Family Business

Over-the-Top Drama: Every episode has that “did that just happen?!” energy. There’s no slow burn here—this show dives headfirst into the action and doesn’t let up.
Crime, Power, and Betrayal: The Duncans aren’t just fighting rival gangs and law enforcement—they’re dealing with betrayals within their own ranks. Who needs enemies when your own family might stab you in the back?
Soap Opera Vibes: It’s got all the elements—dramatic showdowns, secret affairs, long-lost relatives showing up out of nowhere, and cliffhangers that’ll have you pressing “next episode” before you can even blink.
Badass Women: The women in this show are not just side characters—they’re running the game, making moves, and calling shots just as much as the men.

Where to Watch The Family Business

The first four seasons of The Family Business are currently available to stream on Netflix, while all seasons including Season 5 is available on BET+. You can also purchase episodes on Amazon Prime Video for the first four seasons.

The Family Business: New Orleans

If you can’t get enough of the Duncan family’s high-stakes world, there’s more where that came from. The Family Business: New Orleans is the latest spin-off, shifting the crime, drama, and power struggles to the Big Easy. Expect the same intense storytelling, but with a fresh setting and even more dangerous alliances.

If You Liked The Family Business, Read These Thrillers:

The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow – The ultimate crime thriller about the drug trade, government corruption, and deadly power plays. This one spans decades and follows DEA agents, cartel bosses, and assassins as they fight for control.
Ruthless People by J.J. McAvoy – The perfect pick for romance lovers. A mafia power couple fights to maintain control over their empire, with plenty of betrayal, high-stakes business deals, and unexpected romance. It’s like watching the Duncans’ empire unfold in book form.
Jade City by Fonda Lee – The perfect pick for fans of crime families but with a paranormal twist. The Kaul family controls jade, a magical resource that grants enhanced abilities, but rival clans want in. Imagine The Godfather meets martial arts fantasy, with brutal power plays, assassinations, and family loyalty at its core.

If You Like This, Watch These Next

If The Family Business hits the spot for you, here are a few other crime family dramas worth checking out:

Power – The ultimate crime drama about a nightclub owner with a double life as a drug kingpin.
Empire – If you love the family drama aspect, this music empire series delivers similar betrayals and power struggles.

Worth the Watch?

Absolutely. If you love your crime dramas with a side of jaw-dropping plot twists and high-stakes family drama, The Family Business is a must-watch. Just be ready to get hooked, because once you start, you won’t want to stop until you’re all caught up—and just like me, demanding to know when we’re getting even more of the Duncan family’s saga.

Are you watching The Family Business? Let’s talk in the comments—who’s your favorite Duncan?

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