What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedA Series of Unfortunate Events
Barry Sonnenfeld · Series · 2017
If you loved A Series of Unfortunate Events, start with A Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler, 1999) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to A Series of Unfortunate Events across media.
If you loved A Series of Unfortunate Events, you likely crave stories where resilient children navigate absurd, gothic worlds filled with incompetent or dangerous adults.
Start with the source
The source
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler · Book · 1999
Adaptation
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Brad Silberling · Film · 2004
Books on the same thread
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1962
Shares a thread with A Series of Unfortunate Events: Good vs Evil.
Much like the Baudelaire orphans in A Series of Unfortunate Events, these boys must rely on their own wits to confront a pervasive, encroaching evil that adults fail to recognize.
Hansel and Gretel
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1986
Explores: Poverty, Abandonment, Survival.
The struggle for survival against a wicked antagonist in this classic tale mirrors the constant danger the children face while navigating the treacherous world of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Wicked
Gregory Maguire · Book
Explores: moral ambiguity, social outcast, perspective shift.
Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events will appreciate how this narrative shifts perspectives to explore the moral ambiguity of outcasts who are unfairly labeled as villains by society.
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula K. Le Guin · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with A Series of Unfortunate Events: good vs evil.
Just as the Baudelaires must accept the heavy burden of their circumstances in A Series of Unfortunate Events, this protagonist faces the daunting consequences of his own actions while coming of age.
Films on the same thread
The Addams Family
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1991
Shares 2 threads with A Series of Unfortunate Events: Dark Comedy, Gothic Comedy.
Directed by the same visionary as A Series of Unfortunate Events, this film captures the same macabre humor and focus on eccentric family outsiders attempting to survive a fraudulent relative.
The Goonies
Richard Donner · Film · 1985
Shares a thread with A Series of Unfortunate Events: Good vs Evil.
The spirit of plucky children banding together to save their home from corrupt forces echoes the central underdog dynamic that defines the journey of the protagonists in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Addams Family Values
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1993
Shares 2 threads with A Series of Unfortunate Events: Dark Comedy, Gothic Comedy.
This gothic satire shares the dark, sardonic tone of A Series of Unfortunate Events, featuring siblings who must use their unique skills to outsmart a deceptive and dangerous new caregiver.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Tim Burton · Film · 2016
Explores: Orphanage, Children with Powers, Time Loop.
The plight of orphans possessing unique abilities while hiding from sinister forces will feel intimately familiar to anyone who followed the Baudelaires throughout A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The improvisational wit and satirical take on high-stakes fantasy adventure provide a comedic experience that matches the clever, irreverent storytelling style found in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
If the self-deprecating humor and focus on professional outsiders in A Series of Unfortunate Events resonated with you, this podcast offers a similarly dry, observational look at social isolation.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I experience A Series of Unfortunate Events in?
You can start with the original A Series of Unfortunate Events book released in 1999, watch the 2004 feature film titled Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, or view the 2017 television adaptation directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Each version covers the Baudelaire children and their quest to uncover family secrets.
How long is the 2017 television version of A Series of Unfortunate Events?
The television adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events, produced in 2017 by Barry Sonnenfeld, consists of three seasons. It depicts the trials and tribulations of the orphaned Baudelaire children as they attempt to escape the evil Count Olaf and investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding their parents' death.
Is A Series of Unfortunate Events based on a book?
Yes, A Series of Unfortunate Events is based on the book series first published in 1999. The story follows the orphaned Baudelaire children as they face various trials and tribulations while trying to uncover the secret of their parents' death and evade the evil Count Olaf.
Is the 2004 movie titled Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events a direct adaptation?
Yes, the 2004 movie titled Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is an adaptation of the source material. Like the 1999 book and the 2017 series, the film focuses on the Baudelaire children as they navigate challenges and the pursuit of the evil Count Olaf.