Here's how to watch "The Westies": the new mafia crime series premieres on MGM+ on Sunday, July 12, with fresh episodes arriving weekly. J.K. Simmons headlines as an Irish mob boss in a violent, 1980s-set saga built for fans of "Peaky Blinders" and "Sons of Anarchy."
If you've been hunting for your next gritty gangster fix, this eight-episode series drops you into the heart of a crime-ridden Hell's Kitchen. For more on what's premiering and where, see our streaming reviews.
Where and when to watch 'The Westies'
"The Westies" streams exclusively on MGM+. In the US, new episodes land at 9 p.m. ET each Sunday starting July 12, with the same episode available on the MGM+ app the day it airs.
The rollout is global. Viewers in the UK, Australia, and Canada also get the series on MGM+, following the same weekly schedule as the US release. MGM+ is a paid subscription service, so you'll need an active plan (or a free trial, where offered) to watch, and each new episode stays available on demand after it airs.
- Platform: MGM+
- Premiere: Sunday, July 12
- Episodes: 8, releasing weekly
- US air time: 9 p.m. ET
What is 'The Westies' about?
Set in 1980s Hell's Kitchen, the series follows the Westies crime gang as they eye the profits flowing from the Javits Center construction project. Vastly outnumbered by the Italian mafia, the crew earns its cut through sheer brutality, but success brings scrutiny.
As the gang tries to climb and take down its rivals, it faces pressure on three fronts: the mafia above them, an FBI investigation closing in, and generational tension within their own ranks. It's a classic rise-and-friction crime drama with a distinctly Irish-American accent.
The 1980s Hell's Kitchen backdrop is a big part of the appeal. This was a rough, pre-gentrification Manhattan, and the show mines that era for the kind of grimy authenticity that fans of period crime sagas crave, right down to the real construction boom the crew tries to exploit.
'The Westies' cast
The ensemble is led by a pair of acclaimed character actors, backed by a deep supporting bench:
- J.K. Simmons as Eamon Sweeney
- Titus Welliver as Glenn Keenan
- Tom Brittney as James "Jimmy" Roarke
- Jessica Frances Dukes as Birdie Polk
- Stanley Morgan as Mickey Flanagan
- Sarah Bolger as Bridget Walsh
- Allen Leech as Brendan Cahill
- Hamish Allan-Headly as John Gotti
- Vincent Walsh as Eddie Breen
- Hilary McCormack as Erin Malone
- Aidan Wojtak-Hissong as Danny Keenan
Simmons and Welliver anchor the drama, bringing the kind of screen presence that elevates the genre. For more casting news and premiere guides, check our latest entertainment news.
Why it's worth a watch
Period crime sagas live or die on atmosphere and cast, and "The Westies" stacks both in its favor: a specific time and place, a real historical backdrop, and leads who know how to hold a scene. Simmons in particular is a rare sight as a lead heavy, and the 1980s Manhattan setting gives the show a grimy, lived-in texture. If "Peaky Blinders" or "Sons of Anarchy" left a gap in your watchlist, "The Westies" is aiming squarely at it. And if the well-worn "outgunned crew fights for a seat at the table" formula still works on you, this one is built to satisfy. Explore more series verdicts in our reviews hub.
Where can I stream 'The Westies'?
Exclusively on MGM+, in the US and internationally, with new episodes weekly from July 12.
How many episodes are in 'The Westies'?
The first season runs eight episodes, released on a weekly schedule.
