After the story of Anna Sorokin aka Anna Delvey was published in New York Magazine through a story by Jessica Pressler, the internet immediately became obsessed with the fake heiress who was able to scam her way to the top of New York’s elite social circle through nothing more than charm, determination, and a carefully constructed persona amplified by over-the-top social media posts depicting her lavish lifestyle. Those familiar with the story know that things didn’t stay this way for Sorokin, who eventually found herself in serious legal trouble after it was discovered that she didn’t possess the huge amounts of money that she claimed.
Now, Shonda Rhimes has fashioned Sorokin's story into a new Netflix drama series called Inventing Anna. Ozark's Julia Garner, who worked hard to replicate Sorokin's accent, stars as titular con-woman Anna. It's no secret that true crime series on Netflix have been a hit with audiences, but what is particularly enrapturing about Inventing Anna is how uniquely elaborate Sorokin's crimes were. A season 2 doesn't seem likely for the series; as such, here are shows like Inventing Anna you should watch next.
6 Dirty John
Dirty John premiered on Netflix in 2019 and was a huge success after its creation by Alexandra Cummingham. The series was based on the podcast of the same name. The story is based on real-life con artist John Meehan (played by Eric Bana) who lied and scammed his way around by posing as a wealthy anesthesiologist with the intention of preying on women. Connie Britton also gives an excellent performance as Debra Newell, who is the daughter of one of John’s victims. The series does an excellent job of analyzing his character and considering what brought him to the horrendous lows he stooped to, similarly to the character analysis in Inventing Anna — and coincidentally, Julia Garner also stars as Debra’s daughter.
5 The Dropout
The Dropout is set to premier on Hulu in March of this year and is also based on a podcast of the same name by Rebecca Jarvis. The series follows a similar format to Inventing Anna, focusing this time on Elizabeth Holmes and her rise and fall through her company, Theranos. Amanda Seyfried takes the leading role of the ambitious CEO, who falsified her research data and lied to the world in order to further her company. Similarly to Anna Delvey, Holmes was charged and tried with nine counts of wire fraud and two additional counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in 2018. It’s a similar con-story which is looking very promising.
4 Blood & Water
Blood & Water is available on Netflix and tells the story of Puleng Khumalo (Ama Qamata), a young girl whose sister was kidnapped as part of a human trafficking network. She then meets an athlete at her college in Cape Town, and becomes obsessed with the idea that she is in fact her long-lost sister and goes on a mission to try and prove this. In the process of her discovery, she uncovers some dark secrets which are being kept by wealthy and powerful individuals. It’s similar to Inventing Anna with themes of power and power abuse as well as the notion that nothing can stay hidden forever.
3 Emily in Paris
One thing that’s notable about Inventing Anna is the glamour and fashion which is constantly present. Even though her actions are wrong, you can’t help but be drawn into the glamour and excitement of the whole situation. Another Netflix show which depicts people living over-the-top and extravagant lifestyles and follows a similar campy format is Emily in Paris. The series follows Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins) who gains the opportunity to work for a marketing firm based in Paris. It’s an over-the-top cliché rom-com-esque series, and satisfies the craving for the lavish.
2 Sneaky Pete
Sneaky Pete is an Amazon Original series created by David Shore and Bryan Cranston, which ran from 2015-2019. The series focuses on Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi), a criminal on the run from gangsters, who uses his cellmate’s identity after he is released and turns up on his estranged family's doorstep, now going by the name Pete Murphy. The show takes a turn when he actually begins to integrate with the family and form bonds with them, all the while hiding from the wrath of the gangsters who are after him. The similarities between this series and Inventing Anna are obvious, with the main characters' motivations being centered around deceiving others with their identity.
1 Imposters
Imposters is another Netflix show which is similar in its themes to Inventing Anna. The leading role of Maddie is taken by Inbar Lavi, who marries wealthy men and disappears with their money. Her newest fiancé, Exra (Rob Heaps) is withheld from his fortune, which complicates the situation and puts her plans at risk. The series is a comedic watch and the intentions of the character are comical, which lends to an entertaining watch even though people are being deceived, very similarly to Inventing Anna.