Everything you need to know about Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire is a gritty crime drama set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 30s.
The show follows Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson, a growing political figure in Atlantic City, New Jersey, who plays both sides of the law in his quest for absolute power.
However, as he gains more recognition in both the gangster underworld and the government, he has to keep his wits about him.
The lead character is loosely based on the real-life Enoch L Johnson, and as such we see recreations of real historical people, including politicians and mobsters alike as the story progresses.
Created by Terence Winter (Tulsa King, The Sopranos), Boardwalk Empire is inspired and adapted from the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson.
The show launched in September 2010 and ran through to October 2014.
Who starred in Boardwalk Empire?
Boardwalk Empire has a huge ensemble cast, however eight stars appeared in all 56 episodes.
These stars are:
- Steve Buscemi (Fargo, Reservoir Dogs) as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson
- Kelly Macdonald (No Country For Old Men, Gosford Park) as Margaret Thompson
- Michael Shannon (Amsterdam, George and Tammy) as Nelson Van Alden
- Shea Whigham (Take Shelter, Splinter) as Elias "Eli" Thompson
- Stephen Graham (This Is England, Boiling Point) as Al Capone
- Vincent Piazza (Tulsa King, The Passage) as Charles "Lucky" Luciano
- Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire, Lovecraft Country) as Albert "Chalky" White
- Paul Sparks (House Of Cards, The Night Of) as Mieczyslaw "Mickey Doyle" Kuzik
Other key characters throughout the show are:
- Gretchen Mol (Perry Mason, American Gigolo) as Gillian Darmody
- Michael Stuhlbarg (Your Honor, The Staircase) as Arnold Rothstein
- Jack Huston (Kill Your Darlings, Expats) as Richard Harrow
- Michael Pitt (Funny Games, Seven Psychopaths) as James "Jimmy" Darmody
- Ron Livingston (The Conjuring, Office Space) as Roy Phillips
- Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction, Westworld) as Dr. Valentin Narcisse
- Bobby Cannavale (The Watcher, Nine Perfect Strangers) as Gyp Rosetti
- Charlie Cox (Daredevil, Kin) as Owen Sleater
How many episodes of Boardwalk Empire are there and will it ever return?
Boardwalk Empire ran for five seasons, totalling 56 episodes.
Seasons one to four ran for 12 episodes each, with season five running for eight.
In the ten years since the show ended, there have been no announced plans for a spin-off, and there is currently no intention for a reboot.
Dedicated fans of the show have previously aired their hopes of a return to the 1920s world, with some even launching a petition online to get HBO bosses’ attention.
Michael K Williams also said in 2018 he would be open to doing a spin-off based on his character, Chalky White. However, he sadly died in 2021.
How successful was Boardwalk Empire and what awards did it win?
Boardwalk Empire was internationally acclaimed and widely praised during its run.
As a result, the show received 184 nominations, winning 64 gongs.
Wins includes:
- 20 Primetime Emmys
- One Golden Globe (for best TV drama)
- Four Screen Actors Guild awards (two for outstanding ensemble, and two for Steve Buscemi’s depiction of Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson)
What is the age rating of Boardwalk Empire?
Boardwalk Empire’s official rating in the UK, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is 18 over the show's run.
This means the show is suitable for adult audiences only.
Reasons for the rating include:
- Graphic depictions of sex, sex acts and sexual language - including one instance of incest
- Moderate use of nudity in relation to sex workers
- Graphic blood and gore including blood spray and graphic injury
- Frequent use of guns and gun violence - including machine guns, handguns and other weaponry
- Profane language is used in every episode
- Offensive language including slurs directed at Jewish people, Black people, Italians and Irish people
- Depictions of drug abuse including cocaine and heroin
How to watch Boardwalk Empire in the UK
Boardwalk Empire is available to stream in full on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
Sky is the exclusive home of Boardwalk Empire in the United Kingdom, with HBO distributing the show in the United States. You can’t watch it on Netflix.