“Super Pumped” (or “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber”) follows the remarkable story of the titular transportation startup and its co-founder and CEO, Travis Kalanick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The tale is a roller coaster ride through the ups and downs of Silicon Valley and dramatizes the rapidly changing world of tech start-ups and tantalizing venture capital valuations.
If you can’t get enough of the boldly ambitious characters and glitzy technological world of the Showtime series, we’ve got some equally intriguing recommendations for you to dig into. You can watch most of these shows similar to “Super Pumped” on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
7. Stop and Catch Fire (2014-2017)
Created by Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers, “Halt and Catch Fire” looks at the beginnings of the personal computer and the rise of the Internet (or, as it was then commonly known, the World Wide Web). Part tech series, part vintage drama, the tale follows an entrepreneur, computer engineer, and prodigious programmer as they attempt to create and grow their computer-centric business. Subsequent seasons shift from material to online communities and the rise of search engines. Much like “Super Pumped,” this series is full of boldly ambitious characters trying to change the status quo with the cutting-edge technologies of their time.
6. Succession (2018-)
This wildly popular series follows the family behind a global media conglomerate and their antics as they attempt to maneuver the giant corporation under their control. The show has a notable comedic advantage as the central family is quite eccentric. However, the realities of high-powered business ups and downs are never far away. Everyone’s curious about the amazing conversations that happen behind closed doors, and just like “Super Pumped,” this show also gives us an entertaining glimpse into a dramatized version of those conversations.
5. Silicon Valley (2014-2019)
Continuing our foray into the funny, this next recommendation is arguably one of the most comedic depictions of the sometimes bizarre world of tech start-ups. “Silicon Valley” focuses on how incredibly smart tech entrepreneurs can also be woefully incapable of dealing with real-life situations.
There are tons of tongue-in-cheek references to all sorts of quirks in the tech industry, some of them surprisingly accurate. Hidden in all of its comic layers is some very interesting information about how Silicon Valley works. If you enjoyed the tech entrepreneur’s journey in “Super Pumped” and want a funnier but equally tumultuous tale, look no further.
4. Versailles (2015-2018)
You might be wondering how a historical drama ended up in a list of tech shows, but hear us out, “Versailles” might just become your next favorite series. Set in 17th century France during the time of Louis XIV, the show follows the young king as he decides to build the most lavish palace in the world. The scale of the project is unprecedented and its sponsor is undertaking a remarkable journey in its attempts to succeed. If it was Travis Kalanick’s astonishing ambition that got you hooked on “Super Pumped,” how about stepping back a few centuries to an equally ambitious project, which also had its fair share of difficulties and is ultimately become a global icon?
3. Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
This three-part documentary series is arguably one of the best insights into one of the tech industry’s best-known personalities. Although some might call “Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates” more flattering than objective about his eponymous personality, the series is incredibly detailed. The story explores Gates’ childhood, the creation of Microsoft (which he co-founded), and his position as a philanthropist and one of the richest people on the planet. If you enjoyed the dramatized insights “Super Pumped” provides into the life of Travis Kalanick, consider this documentary series a crash course in Bill Gates.
2. Startup (2016-2018)
The worlds of technology and crime collide in the most intriguing way in “StartUp.” The show centers on a trio of unlikely collaborators who become involved in a disruptive new digital currency called GenCoin. Glitzy tech offices take precedence over large swaths of the narrative, which also includes exciting elements of organized crime. There’s even a stubborn FBI agent who makes things even more chaotic. However, much like “Super Pumped”, at the center of the story is a brilliant technological idea that promises to revolutionize society in unexpected ways.
1. Billions (2016-)
One of the shows closest to “Super Pumped” in terms of its powerful financial framework and daring central character, “Billions” follows hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). The protagonist moves from project to project, often using dubious means to accumulate capital and power. The tantalizing amounts of money floating around will remind you of Uber’s incredible valuations in “Super Pumped.” Incidentally, the two shows are more closely related than you might imagine, as they’re both co-created by Brian Koppelman and David Levien.
Read more: Who is the narrator in Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber?
