HBO Max is currently airing a brand-new medical drama,The Pitt, which has become an instant hit among audiences, making them wonder what other movies and TV shows might have a similar atmosphere and story.The Pittseason 1centers onthe emergency department of a hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is nicknamed the Pitt, because of its location and chaotic energy. Within, doctors in varying stages of their careers work to help patients survive and cope with their injuries. Meanwhile, they must also deal with the unfair bureaucracy of hospital policy, and the dark issues plaguing society as a whole.
Medical dramas are far from being uncommon nowadays, butThe Pittdefinitely brings something special to the table. First and foremost, the entire first season takes place over the course of a single day, with every episode representing one hour, where new patients are brought in, and new obstacles must be overcome. Furthermore,the large ensemble cast ofThe Pittmakes it so there is always something interesting happening on-screen. Plus, relationship dynamics only make situations more intense. In this way,The Pittsuccessfully showcases the overwhelming energy of a busy emergency department.
At first glance,Contagionmay seem like an out-of-pocket recommendation compared toThe Pitt.However, despite their different genres and forms, the two projects are actually more alike than you might think. Released in 2011,Contagionfollows a woman who returns from a trip to Hong Kong only to find that she is deathly illwith an unknown virus. Following her death, her husband and her doctors must try to figure out what was wrong with her, and more importantly, stop the disease before it kills everyone.
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The theme that truly tiesContagionandThe Pitttogether is the COVID-19 pandemic.Contagionrose in popularity during the pandemic due to its relatable themes of disease, andThe Pitthas an underlying storyline about the effects of COVID on the hospital and its personnel. In this way, those who are eager to see more of Dr. Robby’s traumatic experience during COVID would definitely find the high-stakes fear ofContagionvery interesting. Though it has more of a horror edge,Contagionoffers very real insights into the effects of an unknown disease.
Those who loveThe Pitt’smost heroic and caring doctors should check out the 1990 movie,Awakenings.Based on a true story, this movie follows a doctor in the 1960s who becomes interested in a group of catatonic patientsin a Bronx hospital. Believing that they may be suffering from an advanced form of Parkinson’s, he begins developing a cure for them. Though his superiors doubt his abilities, the doctor is determined to save the lives of these forgotten patients.
Awakeningsmay not have the fast pace ofThe Pitt,but it certainly has the heart. AlthoughThe Pittcan be edgy and full of conflict,everyThe Pittcharacteris clearly dedicated to being a good doctor. More than anything, they want to make people comfortable and help them feel better.Awakenings’protagonist fits into the same category. Audiences will quickly become invested in his journey, and will leave the movie feeling inspired by his passion. Plus, the movie benefits from incredible performances by Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.
Some of the best medical dramas are those that are committed to accuracy, so it makes sense that medical drama lovers would be interested in the 2007 documentary,Sicko.This movie centers onMichael Moore, a filmmaker who sets out to learn more about the United States healthcare system. In particular, he studies insurance issues and shines a spotlight on real patients who were denied care due to red tape or financial issues. Ultimately,Sickoshows just how unfair the healthcare system can be, despite being an incredibly important institution.
Additionally, it is no coincidence thatThe Pittitself touches on bureaucratic hospital issues.
To be fair, not all audiences areinterested in documentaries, butSickois still worth giving a chance. Despite lacking the traditional dramatic nuances of fiction,Sickois never lacking in interesting information or shocking revelations. More importantly,what Moore discovers in this documentary has real effects on audiences, even a decade and a half later. Additionally, it is no coincidence thatThe Pittitself touches on bureaucratic hospital issues. This is a very real problem that all audiences should know more about.
To some,The Pittis such a good watch because of its fast pace and high stakes. Another popular show thatoffers the same elements isThe Bear.The 2022 series followsCarmen Berzatto, a talented professional chef who decides to take over his deceased brother’s sub shopin Chicago. Despite Carmy’s skills, it is far from easy to keep the restaurant afloat, and his journey is made even harder by trauma and family struggles. All in all, Carmen and his staff must fight to survive in a cutthroat business.
Obviously,The Beardoes not have the medical influence ofThe Pitt,but the shows are inextricably linked by their atmospheres. In the same way thatThe Pittshows five doctors huddled around one patient, racing against the clock to save their lives,The Bearis always putting its characters right on the edge of success or failure.All the yelling and swearing can be overwhelming at first, but ultimately,The Bearnever fails to entertain in the same wayThe Pittdoes.
One more documentary that is perfect for fans ofThe PittisCode Black.Released in 2013, this documentary follows resident doctorRyan McGarry as he leads camera crews through the inner workings of America’s busiest emergency department.Just likeThe Pitt,audiences get to see first hand the trials and tribulations of emergency doctors. The only difference is,Code Blackis completely real. This makes it even more entertaining, but also extra heartbreaking for everyone involved.
Code Blackis the closest viewers can get to the truth about emergency medicine.The Pittis an admirable adaptation, alongside other medical dramas, butCode Blackreally gets into the nitty-gritty of the field. If anything,it puts into perspective the fact that real people are working in ERs every day, seeing difficult things and saving lives. Plus, those who prefer fiction should rejoice, asCode Blackhas a fictionalized TV series that ran for three seasons in 2015.
Yet another TV drama that has nothing to do with medicine, but is actually a perfect companion toThe Pittis24.Running for nine seasons back in 2001,24is about Jack Bauer, a counterterrorism agent who takes on a new death-defying case every single day.The catch is that every episode takes place over the course of just 24 hours and counting. Because of this, audiences are often at the edge of their seats, waiting to see if Bauer can save the day yet again as the clock steadily ticks down.
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Max’s gripping new medical drama series The Pitt offers an unflinching and real look inside a hospital, and now it has scored a season 2 renewal.
Not only is24a strong parallel toThe Pitt,but it is also a beloved drama in general. Its long runtime and 87% on Rotten Tomatoes are just two hints at how much audiences enjoyed this fast-paced action series. Crime procedurals are another type of show that is ridiculously common these days, but24harks back to a simpler time of procedurals, where stories still felt fresh and exciting.Overall, it will definitely scratch the itch of high-speed television thatThe Pittcreates.
A medical drama that can sometimes be overlooked in the face of other flashier series isHouse M.D.This 2004 series stars Hugh Laurie as the titularDr. Gregory House, who is a gruff yet intelligent doctorwho leads a team of other medical professionals in solving strange medical cases. Like certain characters inThe Pitt,House is more prickly than he is kind, and this can often be interpreted as ego. However, at the end of the day, House is committed to patient care, despite his tough personality.
House M.D.stands out among other medical dramas because of its talented cast and unique set up. AlthoughHouse M.D.does have a procedural element to it, there are also overarching themes that make the show feel a bit different. For example,House is really a representative of the classical literature character, Sherlock Holmes.Furthermore, the medical cases he takes on are never straightforward. Because of this, viewers are unlikely to get bored watchingHouse M.D.
Sometimes, in order to see the best of the best in medical dramas, it’s necessary to go back to the beginning.One of the very first medical dramas that garnered serious attention wasSt. Elsewhere.LikeThe Pitt,this series is concerned with the doctors at St. Eligius Hospital in Boston, who are saving lives, but also facing truly dark and disturbing situations. As a result, they must use black humor and their relationships with each other to get by.
St. Elsewhereincluded various notable actors, including Denzel Washington.
In its day,St. Elsewherewon a number of accolades, and it’s no surprise why. The series represented a new kind of medical drama that no longer romanticized doctors and their patients, but instead, showed the reality of working in a hospital. As much as doctors worked hard to save lives, they also made mistakes and were negatively impacted by the trauma they saw every day. Ultimately,The Pittwould not have been possible withoutSt. Elsewhere,somedical drama loversshould certainly check it out.
The closest relative to TV medical dramas is first responder series, and one of the classics isThird Watch.Released in 1999, the series centers onfirefighters, paramedics, and police officers as they take on the 3 PM to midnight shift.In the midst of medical emergencies and high-stakes crimes, these characters also handle their own personal issues and relationship dynamics. Notably, the series was created by John Wells, who acts as executive producer onThe Pitt.
Undoubtedly,Third Watchhas the ideal ambiance for audiences who loveThe Pitt.Within a particular time frame, viewers get to see the highs and lows of first responders, and how they interact with each other and the outside world.Those who enjoyThe Pitt’sdiverse cast will especially loveThird Watch,as it includes a strong ensemble cast with unique personalities and entertaining bonds. Generally, Wells' influence is clear in bothThird WatchandThe Pitt.
1ER (1994)
The Pitt’s Immediate Predecessor
In the end, the best medical drama to watch afterThe PittisER.LikeSt. Elswhere,ERwas one of the first medical shows to go mainstream, and for good reason.The series centers on County General Hospital in Chicago, where the emergency department is constantly flooded with patients. As a result, the doctors, nurses, and interns in the hospital must work hard to stay on top of their assignments, even when they must make tough decisions or face horrible tragedies. This is yet another John Wells project, and starredThe Pitt’sNoah Wylefor all 15 seasons.
Arguably,ERis the direct predecessor ofThe Pitt.Although the shows don’t exist in the same universe, they are inextricably linked by members of their cast and crew. It is clear that the atmosphere and ideals ofERare infused inThe Pitt.For example,ERoriginated the exciting trauma scenes that seem completely ordinary inThe Pitt.Plus, Wyle’s portrayal of Dr. John Carter is adorably refreshing after seeing him as the weary Dr. Robby. Anyone who is impressed with the quality ofThe Pittabsolutely must check outER,because it is what really started it all.
