What to read, watch, and listen to if you loved22 July
Sarah Johnsen · Series · 2020
If you loved 22 July, start with 22 July (Paul Greengrass, 2018) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to 22 July across media.
What hooked you in 22 July is the way it balances the chilling mechanics of terror with the agonizing, intimate aftermath of survival.
Start with the source
The source
22 July
Paul Greengrass · Film · 2018
Books on the same thread
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book
Explores: sectarian violence, radicalization, conspiracy.
Like 22 July, this investigation into the Troubles dissects how sectarian violence fractures a society, providing a deep, haunting look at the long-term historical consequences of radicalization and trauma.
Knife
Salman Rushdie · Book
Shares a thread with 22 July: resilience.
If you appreciated the focus on personal resilience in 22 July, you will value this memoir, which mirrors that narrative by documenting a singular individual's quiet, determined healing process.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Jon Krakauer · Book
Explores: Religious extremism, Fundamentalist violence, Institutional secrecy.
This book explores the dark roots of fundamentalist violence with the same unflinching gravity found in 22 July, examining how extremist ideologies inevitably shatter lives and challenge institutional safety.
The Terror Dream
Susan Faludi · Book · 2007
Explores: Post-9/11 America, Gender Roles, Media Representation.
Moving beyond the event itself, this analysis of post-9/11 culture captures the same psychological shock that defines the national trauma experienced by the characters throughout 22 July.
Films on the same thread
Patriots Day
Peter Berg · Film · 2016
Shares a thread with 22 July: Docudrama.
This film echoes the procedural intensity of 22 July, capturing the frantic race against time and the collective community resilience required to confront a sudden, violent act of terrorism.
The Fallout
Megan Park · Film · 2021
Explores: School Shooting Aftermath, Teenage Grief, PTSD.
While 22 July focuses on a national tragedy, this story narrows the lens to the intimate, messy recovery of teenagers, mirroring that same profound journey toward healing after trauma.
United 93
Paul Greengrass · Film · 2006
Shares a thread with 22 July: Docudrama.
Much like 22 July, this real-time docudrama strips away artifice to present a harrowing, moment-by-moment account of a terrorist act, highlighting the raw courage found in desperate, impossible situations.
September 5
Film · 2024
Shares a thread with 22 July: Docudrama.
This film captures the same tension seen in 22 July by focusing on how those caught in the middle of a terror crisis manage the impossible weight of reality.
Podcasts on the same thread
Search & Rescue NZ
Podcast
Shares a thread with 22 July: emergency response.
The human resilience displayed in 22 July is echoed here, as this podcast highlights the courage required to survive life-threatening situations and the heavy burden placed on rescue operations.
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Authoritarianism, Domestic Espionage, Threats to Democracy.
This investigative series mirrors the political urgency of 22 July, exposing the dangerous rise of extremism and the persistent threats to democratic stability that linger long after violence occurs.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is 22 July (2020) based on the same events as the 2018 movie titled 22 July?
Yes, both titles focus on the terror attack that occurred in Norway on July 22, 2011. While the 2020 television production by Sarah Johnsen explores the experiences of people working during the event, the 2018 film 22 July provides a different cinematic perspective on the same historical tragedy.
Should I watch the 2018 movie 22 July if I just finished the 2020 television series?
If you are interested in further dramatizations of the 2011 Norway terror attack, the 2018 movie 22 July is a relevant companion piece. Both titles cover the same historical event, though they offer distinct narrative approaches and formats regarding the impact of the tragedy on those involved.
What is the primary focus of the 2020 television series 22 July?
The 2020 series 22 July, created by Sarah Johnsen, centers on the perspectives and experiences of the individuals who were working on the day of the 2011 terror attack in Norway. It examines the human impact of the events that unfolded throughout that specific day.
Is 22 July a documentary or a dramatization?
The 2020 television series 22 July is a dramatized story about the people working during the 2011 Norway terror attack. Similarly, the 2018 film 22 July is a dramatization of the same historical event rather than a documentary, focusing on the human stories surrounding the tragedy.