What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAn American in Paris
Film · 1951
If you loved An American in Paris, start with A Moveable Feast (Ernest Hemingway, 1996) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to An American in Paris across media.
What hooked you in An American in Paris was the romantic, idealized struggle of living abroad and pursuing artistic dreams with exuberant style.
Books on the same thread
A Moveable Feast
Ernest Hemingway · Book · 1996
Shares a thread with An American in Paris: Bohemian Lifestyle.
If An American in Paris captured your heart with its vision of the bohemian lifestyle, this memoir grounds those dreams in the authentic, gritty creative struggles of expatriate life.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Truman Capote · Book · 1958
Explores: New York City Life, Socialite Culture, Moral Ambiguity.
Like the social dynamics in An American in Paris, this story explores the life of a charismatic figure navigating complex social circles and the pursuit of a modern identity.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
This classic shares the sense of yearning and class friction found in An American in Paris, focusing on the complicated intersection of wealth, ambition, and the pursuit of love.
The Phantom of the Opera
Gaston Leroux · Book · 1977
Explores: obsession, unrequited love, beauty vs. ugliness.
This gothic romance mirrors the artistic setting of An American in Paris, trading the painter's brush for the composer's obsession within the historic walls of the Paris Opera House.
Series on the same thread
I Love Lucy
Bob Carroll Jr. · Series · 1951
Explores: Marriage, Ambition vs. Domesticity, Friendship.
The comedic tension between ambition and domestic life in this sitcom echoes the lighthearted, frantic energy of the social entanglements Jerry Mulligan faces in An American in Paris.
Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin · Series · 2021
Explores: True Crime Obsession, New York City, Intergenerational Friendship.
Much like the collaborative spirit of the friends in An American in Paris, these characters find themselves unexpectedly bonded while navigating the vibrant, unpredictable landscape of New York City.
The Persuaders!
Robert S. Baker · Series · 1971
Explores: Odd Couple, Culture Clash, Jet Set Lifestyle.
This series captures the jet-set lifestyle and cultural clash present in An American in Paris, following an unlikely duo as they traverse the globe with charm and adventurous spirit.
Angels in America
Series · 2003
Explores: AIDS Epidemic, Identity, Sexuality.
While more somber than An American in Paris, this drama explores the deep identity crises and personal transformation of individuals navigating a rapidly changing, artistically charged urban environment.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If you enjoyed the narrative style of An American in Paris, you will appreciate these vignettes that treat the human condition with the same cinematic flair and emotional resonance.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
This podcast explores the same longing for genuine connection and professional intimacy that Jerry Mulligan experiences while attempting to build a meaningful life away from his home.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is An American in Paris about a professional painter?
An American in Paris follows Jerry Mulligan, an exuberant American expatriate living in France. While he is trying to make a reputation for himself as a painter, he is not yet established in the professional art world during the events of the film.
What is the relationship between Jerry Mulligan and Henri Baurel in An American in Paris?
In An American in Paris, Jerry Mulligan is friends with Adam, a struggling concert pianist. Adam is a long-time associate of the famous French singer Henri Baurel, which connects Jerry to the singer through their mutual friend.
Does Milo Roberts support Jerry Mulligan in An American in Paris?
Yes, in An American in Paris, a lonely society woman named Milo Roberts takes Jerry under her wing. She provides him with support for his work, although the film reveals that she is interested in more than just his art.
Is An American in Paris focused on a struggling musician?
While the main character of An American in Paris is a painter, the film also features the character Adam. Adam is a struggling concert pianist and a close associate of the famous French singer Henri Baurel, who plays a supporting role in the story.