25 Shows Like Gilmore Girls You Can Watch Next

Every so often, a TV show becomes so beloved, it braids itself into viewers' actual lives. "Gilmore Girls" is one such show. Fans love Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) like their own family, having watched this mother-daughter pair make their way through life in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, for years. The titular Gilmore girls are utterly relatable, yet also highly entertaining — a blend few viewers can resist.

The only problem with a show becoming this adored is that audiences end up wanting more of it. Though the series ended in 2007, viewers received a four-part sequel in 2016 when "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" hit Netflix. But you can't hit replay forever. Eventually, you have to watch something new — and luckily, there are plenty of shows out there that offer that classic "Gilmore Girls" magic. Some are about small towns, some are about family relationships, and some are simply hilarious. What unites all 25 of these shows is the fact that they're ideal watches for "Gilmore Girls" fans — and best enjoyed with a Luke's Diner-style mug of coffee, of course.

Though the spooky meter is raised a notch in "Charmed," the main characters' bond is refreshingly similar to the one that ties Lorelai and Rory together on "Gilmore Girls." This fantasy drama follows three sisters — Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) — who discover they're powerful witches, known as The Charmed Ones. No matter what supernatural nonsense the women of "Charmed" encounter, their relationship is never broken — the "Power of Three" is just that strong.

Though the differences between these series are obvious, "Charmed" and "Gilmore Girls" handle drama in a remarkably similar way: Romance, family, and betrayal are very much the focus of both productions. If you fancy watching witches balance such emotional experiences with stopping evil, spending some time with these spellcasting sisters is definitely worth it. "Charmed" was also a notably successful production, running for eight seasons and 178 episodes in total. It even spawned a 2018 reboot series of the same name.

"Friday Night Lights" might be a sports-centric TV series, but its small-town enchantment is ideal for "Gilmore Girls" fans. This drama follows the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team led by the one and only Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler). Over the course of five seasons, "Friday Night Lights" explores the trials and tribulations of growing up in its fictional Texas town, as well as the stress and pressure that accompany playing for one of the best high school football teams in the country. 

Though Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton (who plays Coach Taylor's wife, Tami) offer especially outstanding performances, "Friday Night Lights" is chock-full of incredible acting. It's so good, in fact, that the series earned spectacular reviews, and has secured a place in the TV hall of fame. Really, it's worth anyone's time, but "Gilmore Girls" watchers will especially appreciate its nuanced focus on small-town life.

If you crave more portrayals of the sort of mother-daughter bond "Gilmore Girls" focuses on, "Ginny & Georgia" is a must-watch. This comedy-drama follows teenager Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and her mother Georgia (Brianne Howey) as they adjust to life in the New England town they've just moved into. 

Though there's much to love about this series, the dynamic between the titular characters is reason number one to push play. Georgia might be the parent, but Ginny tends to act with more maturity — sound like another fictional mother-daughter pair you've heard of? This resemblance is so remarkable, Georgia even compares herself and Ginny to the titular Gilmore girls. That said, "Ginny & Georgia" is a lot more chaotic than "Gilmore Girls," and also features a little brother in 9-year-old Austin (Diesel La Torraca). But it's very much a roller coaster ride worth taking. If you burn through the first batch of episodes too fast, rest assured: Season 2 of "Ginny & Georgia" is already on the horizon.

"Hart of Dixie" follows Dr. Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson), a New York City dweller and aspiring surgeon whose plans falls through when she fails to snag a coveted fellowship. She finds herself accepting a position in small-town Alabama after a kindly stranger leaves her his chunk of a medical practice. Upon arrival, Zoe discovers this mystery man was, in fact, her biological father.

Though Zoe isn't a bona fide small-towner like "Gilmore Girls" favorites Rory and Lorelai, she learns to love Bluebell and its residents as she makes her new circumstances work. Moreover, as a comedy-drama, "Hart of Dixie" provides audiences with countless laughs and crying jags. Zoe grows into a person she couldn't have imagined, had her picturesque NYC life worked out — and that turns out to be a good thing.

This renowned HBO comedy-drama follows Issa (Issa Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji), two young Black women making their way through romance, career upheaval, and an ever-changing city. Issa, who works for a non-profit, is struggling in her relationship. Molly, in contrast, is a successful lawyer who's frustrated with her dating life. Together, they try to have it all ... if that's even possible. 

"Insecure" takes place in the energetic city of Los Angeles, as opposed to a small town. Though this is a major departure from "Gilmore Girls," the show's focus on Molly and Issa's bond is sure to satisfy fans of Rory and Lorelai. It's also committed to telling bold stories about women, as Rae elucidated in a 2016 interview with IndieWire. "Black women right now are always portrayed like flawless or fierce or superhuman in a sense," Rae remarked. "I feel like that's not real right now. I wanted to see a story about a girl who doesn't have it all together, who isn't that, who's on her journey to that and what that means, what that looks like."

"Mom" is similar to "Gilmore Girls" in that it revolves around a mother-daughter bond, but said bond isn't anywhere near as neatly packaged. Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris) is a newly sober mom trying not to make the mistakes her own mother, Bonnie Plunkett (Allison Janney), made with her. But Bonnie is still part of Christy's life — in fact, the two attend Alcoholics Anonymous together in Napa, California, Christy's new home. There, they build a loving support system that rounds out the show.

"Mom" is a sitcom through and through, yet it manages to navigate tough real-life issues like addiction, teen pregnancy, and abuse. Christy and Bonnie's relationship might be flooded with mayhem from time to time, but the two characters are really just trying to do their best every single day. Laughter abounds as much as darkness does over the course of the show's magical eight seasons.

Lauren Graham, who "Gilmore Girls" fans know and love as Lorelai, plays Sarah Braverman on "Parenthood," a series loosely adapted from Ron Howard's 1989 movie of the same name. Sarah is a struggling mother who's just trying to do what's best for her kids. Indeed, the entire Braverman family is grappling with everyday life in California, from Sarah's aging parents to her siblings and the families they have spawned. 

Like all worthwhile sitcoms, "Parenthood" will have you chuckling one moment and reaching for the tissue box the next. It encompasses six seasons, and was met with praise from critics and audience members alike. Though Graham is likely the biggest draw for "Gilmore Girls" enthusiasts, there are plenty of other characters to fall in love with on "Parenthood," who boast all the warmth and personality of any Stars Hollow resident.

"Pretty Little Liars" centers around four teenage girls: Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario), Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson), and Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell). Once a tight group of friends, they grew apart after the fifth of their number, Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse-Sheaffer), disappeared. But after an anonymous individual named "A" threatens to out their biggest secrets, they must work together to uncover what happened to their missing queen bee.

This teen drama leans into its mystery and thriller aspects, which might not seem like a perfect fit for "Gilmore Girls" fans. But there are more similarities between these shows than you might expect. For one thing, both series were shot in the same locations, though "Pretty Little Liars" is set in the suburbs of Pennsylvania and "Gilmore Girls" takes place in Stars Hollow, Connecticut. For another, "Pretty Little Liars" and "Gilmore Girls" both lean into the intensity of small town life. "Pretty Little Liars" also offers a whole lot of content for fans in need of a major binge: It spans seven seasons, and spawned multiple spin-offs.

"Sex and the City" shines its light on four single, 30-something women who make New York City their playground. These characters have become so famous, fans often describe themselves as being either a Samantha, a Miranda, a Carrie, or a Charlotte. Though their approaches to romance and career diverge wildly — Charlotte (Kristin Davis) wants nothing more than to be a wife and mother, while Samantha (Kim Cattrall) would rather die than tie the knot — their friendship is ironclad.

This romantic comedy-drama triumphed on HBO for six splendid seasons. It also spawned two movies, a teen-centric prequel, and, most recently, a sequel series. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon reprise their roles as Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda in 2021's "And Just Like That...," though Kim Cattrall does not return. Major differences certainly separate "Sex and the City" from "Gilmore Girls," but both shows are entirely rooted in women's lives, and make plenty of room for both laughter and tears.

"Sweet Magnolias" follows Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), a recently separated woman who pushes the restart button on her life. Throughout the ups and downs that ensue, she has her two best friends by her side: Dana Sue Sullivan (Brooke Elliott) and Helen Decatur (Heather Headley). They call themselves the Sweet Magnolias. If you name your friend group, then you know it's the real deal.

If you've ever found yourself in desperate need of a new beginning, then you'll likely relate to the core sentiment of "Sweet Magnolias." It also has serious small-town-life vibes, much like "Gilmore Girls," thanks to the show's South Carolina setting. "Sweet Magnolias" proves that relationships are the ultimate cheat code in life: A caring and supportive group of loved ones can help people get through virtually any of life's problems. Or, at the very least, they can make events bearable — a fact Lorelai and Rory know well.

"The O.C." follows Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), a teenager with a dark past who finds himself living with a wealthy family in Newport Beach after his mother kicks him out. Though moneyed Orange County might seem like a better influence on troubled Ryan than his previous environment, he finds out soon enough that it has its own dark side. Together, Ryan and his foster brother Seth (Adam Brody) must navigate life within this rich and complex bubble.

Newport Beach certainly isn't Stars Hollow, for a whole bunch of reasons. But like "Gilmore Girls," "The O.C." locates its heart in its relationships. Ryan and Seth prove, despite their differences, that they're going to be there for each other, no matter what. They aren't the only tight pair featured on "The O.C." either: Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) and Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) give them a run for their money. 

"Veronica Mars" is a mystery drama that's overflowing with the sort of quippy sarcasm "Gilmore Girls" fans love. Young Veronica's (Kristen Bell) life is thrown into disarray after her best friend is murdered. Yet this event is also the launchpad for her career as a private investigator. Eventually, Veronica moves up to solving the biggest mysteries in the fictional town of Neptune, alongside her father, Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni).

Though the series' first run lasted just three seasons, "Veronica Mars" eventually made its way to the big screen in 2014. Season 4 was released in 2019. This series might be a mystery drama, but the show's strong daughter-father bond is very reminiscent of Rory and Lorelai's relationship on "Gilmore Girls." Plus, Bell's performance as Veronica is brilliant.