What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Miguel Arteta · Film · 2014
If you loved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, start with A Series of Unfortunate Events (Barry Sonnenfeld, 2017) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day across media.
If you loved the chaotic domestic disasters in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, you will enjoy these stories.
Books on the same thread
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Jeff Kinney · Book · 2014
Shares a thread with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Dysfunctional Family.
Just like the family in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the Heffleys face a series of escalating calamities during their hilariously disastrous road trip.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler · Book · 1999
Explores: Orphans, Conspiracy, Misfortune.
If the relentless misfortune in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day resonated with you, these orphans provide a darker, satirical take on persistent bad luck.
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Book · 2009
Explores: Imagination, Anger Management, Adventure.
This story mirrors the emotional landscape of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by exploring how a young boy processes his anger through imaginative adventures.
The Day the Crayons Quit
Drew Daywalt · Book · 2013
Shares a thread with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Empathy.
Much like the protagonist of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Duncan discovers that even everyday objects have grievances that can turn a day upside down.
Series on the same thread
Arrested Development
Mitchell Hurwitz · Series · 2003
Shares a thread with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Dysfunctional Family.
This series captures the same dysfunctional family dynamic found in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, focusing on how relatives cope when everything goes wrong.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Barry Sonnenfeld · Series · 2017
Explores: Orphanhood, Good vs Evil, Coded Messages.
These orphans endure constant trials and tribulations, echoing the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of bad luck that defined Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Modern Family
Steven Levitan · Series · 2009
Shares 2 threads with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Dysfunctional Family, Family Comedy.
You will recognize the chaotic, multi-generational family antics of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day within the honest and hilarious interactions of this suburban clan.
The Middle
Eileen Heisler · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Dysfunctional Family.
The daily mishaps and survival struggles of this semi-dysfunctional family mirror the relatable domestic stress that Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day portrays so well.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The McElroy family’s improvised group dynamics provide a comedic take on shared adventures that will feel familiar to anyone who enjoyed the family bonding in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Chris & Rosie Ramsey · Podcast · 2026
Explores: domestic life, modern marriage, parenthood struggles.
This podcast explores the same parenting struggles and domestic annoyances that drive the narrative of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in a candid, conversational way.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day about the whole family having a bad day?
Yes, while the story begins with Alexander experiencing a series of calamities, the plot follows his mom, dad, brother, and sister as they also live through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day alongside him.
Does Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day show Alexander finding sympathy from his family?
Initially, Alexander finds little sympathy from his family members. He begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him before his parents and siblings find themselves dealing with their own series of unfortunate events throughout the day.
What triggers the events in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?
The day for Alexander begins with gum stuck in his hair. This initial incident is followed by more calamities that eventually expand to include his entire family, who all experience their own versions of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
How does Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day depict the family experience?
The film depicts the family experience by showing that the bad luck experienced by Alexander is not unique to him. After he wonders if he is the only one having a bad day, his mom, dad, brother, and sister each encounter their own series of unfortunate events.