The Wire (2002): cast, story & where to watch
2002 · Series · ★ 8.5
Released in 2002, The Wire is a drama and crime series. “Listen carefully.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated.
Who’s in it. The Wire stars Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty, Lance Reddick as Cedric Daniels, Sonja Sohn as Kima Greggs and Wendell Pierce as Bunk Moreland, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.5/10, The Wire sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Wire page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Wire tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan and Chernobyl.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Wire (2002)?
- In US, The Wire is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Wire worth watching?
- The Wire holds an audience score of 8.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Wire?
- The Wire stars Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce and Michael Kenneth Williams.
- When was The Wire released?
- The Wire was released in 2002.