What to read, watch, and listen to if you loved50/50
Jonathan Levine · Film · 2011
If you loved 50/50, start with The Big C (Darlene Hunt, 2010) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to 50/50 across media.
What hooked you in 50/50 was the way it balances the heavy gravity of mortality with sharp, irreverent humor.
Books on the same thread
When Breath Becomes Air
Paul Kalanithi · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with 50/50: mortality.
Like 50/50, this memoir grounds the existential crisis of a terminal diagnosis in the intimate, often painful reality of the patient experience and the search for meaning.
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with 50/50: Friendship.
This story mirrors the emotional urgency of 50/50, exploring how facing a definitive end date forces characters to confront their deepest fears and find profound connection.
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green · Book · 2012
Shares 2 threads with 50/50: Mortality, Coming-of-Age.
If the blend of teenage vulnerability and medical adversity in 50/50 resonated with you, this novel captures that same bittersweet intersection of young love and terminal illness.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Atul Gawande · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with 50/50: Mortality.
While 50/50 explores the personal side of a diagnosis, this work offers a deeper look at the medical ethics and the difficult conversations surrounding end-of-life care.
Series on the same thread
The Big C
Darlene Hunt · Series · 2010
Shares 2 threads with 50/50: Existential Crisis, Dramedy.
This series shares the DNA of 50/50 by finding a dark, necessary comedy within the struggle of a life-altering cancer diagnosis and the subsequent family dynamic shifts.
Scrubs
Bill Lawrence · Series · 2001
Shares 2 threads with 50/50: Friendship, Coming-of-age.
You will recognize the workplace humor and deep bonds of friendship from 50/50 in this show, which captures the complex, often chaotic atmosphere of hospital life.
After Life
Ricky Gervais · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with 50/50: Dramedy.
Much like the protagonist in 50/50, the lead here uses a cynical, unfiltered approach to cope with a world that has been irrevocably changed by loss.
Shrinking
Brett Goldstein · Series · 2023
Explores: Grief, Therapy, Unconventional Methods.
If you appreciated the way 50/50 used humor to navigate grief, you will value this show's commitment to finding laughter and healing through raw, uncomfortable honesty.
Podcasts on the same thread
Common Man
Podcast
Explores: Positivity, Encouragement, Personal Development.
If 50/50 hit, Common Man shares the thread.
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If 50/50 hit, This American Life shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is 50/50 based on a true story?
Yes, 50/50 is inspired by a true story. The film centers on a 27-year-old man who receives a cancer diagnosis and navigates his struggle to beat the disease while maintaining a comedic perspective on his life experiences.
Does 50/50 focus on the struggle of dealing with a cancer diagnosis?
Yes, 50/50 centers on a 27-year-old man dealing with a cancer diagnosis. The narrative follows his personal journey and the challenges he faces as he attempts to beat the disease while balancing the comedic elements of his situation.
What is the primary theme of 50/50?
The primary theme of 50/50 is the struggle of a 27-year-old man to beat cancer after receiving a diagnosis. The film balances this serious health battle with comedic moments, reflecting the true story that inspired the production.
Is 50/50 a comedy about cancer?
Yes, 50/50 is a comedy centered on a 27-year-old man who learns he has cancer. The film explores his life and the subsequent struggle to beat the disease, combining serious subject matter with comedic storytelling.