What to read, watch, and listen to if you loved22 July
Paul Greengrass · Film · 2018
If you loved 22 July, start with 22 July (Sarah Johnsen, 2020) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to 22 July across media.
You appreciated how 22 July balanced the weight of national tragedy with the deeply personal resilience of individual survivors.
Start with the source
Adaptation
22 July
Sarah Johnsen · Series · 2020
Books on the same thread
Nineteen Minutes
Jodi Picoult · Book · 2008
Shares a thread with 22 July: Justice.
Like 22 July, this narrative examines the harrowing aftermath of a school shooting, focusing on the complex legal and psychological recovery required by those forced to bear witness.
11/22/63: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2011
Explores: Time Travel Consequences, Nostalgia, Assassination.
This story mirrors the historical gravity found in 22 July by exploring the ripple effects of political assassination and the intense, singular struggle to alter a tragic trajectory.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
David Grann · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with 22 July: True Crime.
This investigation into systemic corruption and murder echoes the way 22 July documents the intersection of criminal violence and the failure of institutions to protect their own citizens.
Bloodlands
Timothy Snyder · Book
Explores: mass atrocity, state-sponsored violence, historical trauma.
If the unflinching examination of state-sponsored violence in 22 July resonated with you, this historical analysis provides a necessary, sobering look at the scale of mass human suffering.
Series on the same thread
Three Girls
Philippa Lowthorpe · Series · 2017
Explores: Child Sexual Abuse, Grooming, Institutional Failure.
Much like 22 July, this drama highlights the failure of authorities to protect vulnerable victims, centering the advocacy and resilience required to survive institutional neglect after a traumatic event.
SKAM
Julie Andem · Series · 2015
Explores: Teenage Life, Social Issues, Friendship.
While lighter in tone, this series shares the specific Norwegian setting of 22 July, grounding the complex reality of identity and social pressure within the lives of local youth.
Chernobyl
Craig Mazin · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with 22 July: Docudrama.
This docudrama captures the same tension between government cover-ups and individual heroism seen in 22 July, grounding a massive disaster in the intimate sacrifices of the people involved.
9/11: One Day in America
Series · 2021
Shares a thread with 22 July: Resilience.
This series mirrors the documentary approach of 22 July by providing an immersive, harrowing account of a national tragedy that forever altered the collective consciousness of a nation.
Podcasts on the same thread
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with 22 July: Political Thriller.
This investigative series tracks the rise of extremist threats and political corruption, capturing the same urgent atmosphere of political anxiety that defines the background of 22 July.
Search & Rescue NZ
Podcast
Shares a thread with 22 July: true crime.
This collection of stories echoes the focus on human resilience found in 22 July, highlighting the extraordinary courage displayed by individuals during moments of life-altering crisis and survival.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is 22 July based on a true story?
Yes, 22 July depicts the 2011 neo-Nazi terrorist attack in Norway where 77 people were murdered. The film focuses on the experiences of the survivors, the response from Norwegian political leadership, and the legal proceedings that followed the tragedy on Utøya Island.
What is the difference between the 2018 movie 22 July and the 2020 TV series?
The 2018 production of 22 July is a film directed by Paul Greengrass that chronicles the aftermath of the Utøya Island attack. The 2020 TV adaptation provides a different narrative perspective on the same historical events involving the survivors, lawyers, and political figures in Norway.
Does 22 July focus on the perpetrator or the survivors?
The film 22 July centers primarily on the survivors of the attack, the political leadership in Norway, and the lawyers involved in the legal process. It serves as a three-part story exploring the recovery and justice system following the events of 22 July 2011.
Should I watch the 2020 TV series if I have already seen the 2018 movie 22 July?
If you are interested in further exploring the events surrounding the 2011 attack, the 2020 TV version of 22 July offers an additional perspective. Both the film and the series examine the impact of the tragedy on the survivors and the Norwegian legal and political systems.