Unearthing The Black Gold: The 5 Must-Watch Shows About Oil Rigs And Deepwater Drilling (2025 Update)

The world of oil rigs and deepwater drilling has never been more dramatically explored on screen than it is right now, with a new wave of television series capturing the high-stakes risk and immense fortunes of the global energy sector. As of December 2025, the landscape of "oil rig shows" is dominated by two major, current releases: a gritty, star-studded drama from a television titan and an intense, isolated supernatural thriller. These series go far beyond the technical aspects of drilling, delving into the human cost, environmental peril, and sheer psychological pressure faced by the men and women who chase the world’s most volatile commodity. This guide highlights the most current and essential viewing for anyone fascinated by the world of black gold. The renewed interest in this niche genre is driven by the compelling narratives of immense wealth, environmental catastrophe, and the unique isolation of working on an offshore platform. Whether you are looking for a neo-Western drama set in the dusty boomtowns of Texas or a tense sci-fi thriller marooned in the North Sea, the latest shows offer a fresh, deep-dive perspective into the complex, dangerous world of oil and gas exploration.

The New Era of Oil Field Drama: Landman (2024-2025)

The freshest and most high-profile entry into the oil rig genre is Landman, a neo-Western drama that premiered on Paramount+ in late 2024 and has already been renewed for a third season in March 2025. Co-created by television powerhouse Taylor Sheridan (known for *Yellowstone*) and Christian Wallace, the series is a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking set in the volatile boomtowns of West Texas. The show is directly inspired by the *Boomtown* podcast, which explores the sudden, chaotic energy boom in the Permian Basin. Unlike shows that focus purely on the offshore platforms, *Landman* centers on the terrestrial side of the business, specifically the landmen—the individuals responsible for securing the drilling rights from landowners.

Key Cast and Plot Details

*Landman* boasts a stellar, A-list cast, bringing significant star power to the genre. * Billy Bob Thornton stars as Tommy Norris, a veteran landman for an oil company who is desperately trying to maintain his family life while navigating the cutthroat world of Texas oil. * Demi Moore joined the cast as a series regular, playing Cami, a high-powered businesswoman and wife of a major oil executive. * Jon Hamm also features prominently, adding another layer of intrigue to the complex corporate and personal dynamics. The plot explores the moral ambiguities of the energy industry, focusing on the human elements from the top-tier executives to the roughnecks working the rigs. While the series has been renewed, its critical reception has been mixed, with some critics praising its "Texas-sized graphic novel" feel, while others have found the second season's audience scores to be polarizing, highlighting the controversial nature of the industry itself.

The Supernatural Thriller: The Rig (Season 2 Update)

For viewers who prefer their oil rig drama mixed with a healthy dose of sci-fi and isolation horror, The Rig is the definitive choice. This Amazon Prime Video original series is set on the remote Kinloch Bravo oil platform off the coast of Scotland. Season 2, which released new episodes in late 2024/early 2025, continues the story of the crew who were cut off from the mainland by a mysterious, all-encompassing fog and threatened by a strange, ancient force known as The Ancestor. The series, written by David Macpherson, masterfully uses the claustrophobic environment of the offshore platform to amplify the tension.

Season 2 Plot Escalation and Cast

The second season significantly expands the scope of the threat, moving the crew from the destroyed Kinloch Bravo to a new, even more isolated offshore facility called Stac. * Iain Glen returns as Magnus MacMillan, the rig's OIM (Offshore Installation Manager), leading the fight for survival. * Martin Compston and Emily Hampshire also reprise their roles, continuing to investigate the mysterious geological and supernatural events. The plot of Season 2 shifts into a full-blown conflict, described as Pictor Energy (the corporation) going to war with The Ancestor, making it a high-stakes environmental thriller with deep mythological undertones. Critics have noted that Season 2 is visually glorious and an overall improvement on the first, despite becoming overly technical in the middle, ultimately delivering a satisfying, high-budget sci-fi experience.

The Essential Non-Fiction and Disaster Shows

While the fictional dramas capture the imagination, the real-life dangers of deepwater drilling have also inspired some of the most compelling and sobering viewing experiences.

Deepwater Horizon: The Ultimate Disaster Story

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico remains the most significant oil rig disaster in modern history, and it has been the subject of both major Hollywood productions and hard-hitting documentaries. * The Film: The 2016 biographical disaster film *Deepwater Horizon*, starring Mark Wahlberg as Mike Williams, chronicles the final moments on the rig in remarkable detail. While the film takes some liberties for dramatic effect, it accurately depicts the atmosphere and the sequence of events leading up to the catastrophic blowout. * The Documentaries: For a true, unvarnished look, documentaries like *In Their Own Words: Deepwater Horizon* and the FRONTLINE episode *The Spill* offer perspectives from those who were on the rig and those still dealing with the environmental aftermath. These shows are crucial for understanding the engineering failures and corporate decisions that led to the planet's greatest man-made oil disaster.

Reality and Engineering: Black Gold and Big Bigger Biggest

For a glimpse into the actual day-to-day operations and the sheer scale of the engineering involved, reality TV and technological documentaries offer a different, but equally fascinating, perspective. * Black Gold: This reality show, created by Thom “Deadliest Catch” Beers, follows the lives of roughnecks toiling away at three different oil-drilling rigs, primarily focusing on land-based operations. It provides a raw, unscripted look at the gruelling physical labour, the intense heat of the Texas oil fields, and the constant pressure to hit the next big strike. * Technological Innovation Documentaries: Shows like *Big Bigger Biggest* have dedicated episodes to the technological leaps in oil rig design, such as the construction of the Perdido spar in the Gulf of Mexico. These features highlight how modern engineering is pushing the limits of deepwater drilling, allowing platforms to operate in water depths previously unimaginable.

Why the Oil Rig Genre is Exploding Now

The recent surge in high-quality oil platform and oil field drama can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the setting itself provides inherent drama: a small, isolated community facing immense pressure, either from the elements, corporate greed, or, in the case of *The Rig*, supernatural forces. This isolation is a powerful narrative tool. Secondly, the shows tap into a contemporary fascination with the origins of global energy and the ethical dilemmas of resource extraction. *Landman* directly addresses the chaotic, often ruthless world of oil profiteering and the environmental impact on communities in West Texas. The complex relationship between the pursuit of wealth (the "black gold") and the resulting geopolitical and environmental consequences provides rich, topical material for writers and producers. These series serve not just as entertainment, but as compelling examinations of one of the world's most powerful and dangerous industries.