What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAnimal Kingdom
Jonathan Lisco · Series · 2016
If you loved Animal Kingdom, start with Animal Kingdom (David Michôd, 2010) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Animal Kingdom across media.
If Animal Kingdom hooked you, it is because you are drawn to stories where family loyalty and criminal survival collide.
Start with the source
The source
Animal Kingdom
David Michôd · Film · 2010
Books on the same thread
Joyland (Hard Case Crime)
Stephen King · Book · 2013
Explores: Carnivals, First Love, Grief.
Much like J in Animal Kingdom, the protagonist here navigates a transformative coming-of-age journey while forced to grapple with the darker, mysterious realities of the world around him.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Explores: Mafia, Corruption, Crime.
If the cold, systemic criminality of the Cody clan fascinated you in Animal Kingdom, this deep dive into the real-world machinery of organized crime provides a chilling, necessary expansion.
SIX OF CROWS
Leigh Bardugo · Book
Shares a thread with Animal Kingdom: moral ambiguity.
Fans of the Cody family dynamic will recognize the same intense bonds of a found family operating within a high-stakes, morally gray criminal underworld in this gripping heist tale.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Jon Krakauer · Book
Explores: Religious extremism, Fundamentalist violence, Institutional secrecy.
The institutional secrecy and fundamentalist violence explored here mirror the insular, dangerous codes of conduct that define the family unit at the center of Animal Kingdom.
Films on the same thread
The Grifters
Stephen Frears · Film · 1990
Shares 2 threads with Animal Kingdom: Moral Ambiguity, Neo-Noir.
This film captures the same toxic, high-stakes power struggle between mothers and sons seen in Animal Kingdom, where greed and betrayal dismantle the concept of familial safety.
Wildlife
Paul Dano · Film · 2018
Explores: Marital Dissolution, Family Dysfunction, Loss of Innocence.
The domestic instability and economic anxiety that permeate this story resonate with the tension found in Animal Kingdom, highlighting how familial structures fracture under the weight of external pressures.
Winter's Bone
Debra Granik · Film · 2010
Shares a thread with Animal Kingdom: Survival.
Ree Dolly’s fight to protect her family against a criminal underworld echoes the struggle of J in Animal Kingdom, grounding the narrative in survival, poverty, and fierce kinship.
Mommy
Film · 2014
Shares a thread with Animal Kingdom: Dysfunctional family.
The volatile mother-son relationship at the heart of this film reflects the darker, unpredictable dynamics of the Cody household, focusing on the boundaries of unconditional love and mental instability.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Animal Kingdom: moral ambiguity.
Just as Animal Kingdom explores the blurred lines of morality, this podcast investigates the complex gray areas of human behavior and legal anomalies that define those living outside society.
Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human-wildlife conflict, Apex predators, Biological survival.
The raw, survivalist tension found in these true stories of apex predators mirrors the predatory environment of the Cody family, where danger is a constant, inescapable reality.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Animal Kingdom based on a book or another film?
The 2016 Animal Kingdom television series is inspired by the 2010 film of the same name. Both versions follow the Cody family dynamics, focusing on the matriarch Smurf and her sons as they navigate their criminal lifestyle in Southern California.
How does the Animal Kingdom television series start?
The television version of Animal Kingdom begins when 17-year-old Joshua J Cody moves in with his relatives in a Southern California beach town. This relocation occurs immediately following the death of his mother due to a heroin overdose, forcing him into the world of the Cody family.
Who are the central figures in the Animal Kingdom family?
In Animal Kingdom, the family is led by the matriarch Janine Smurf Cody. The household includes her right-hand man Baz, the oldest and most dangerous son Pope, the fearless middle son Craig, and the youngest son Der, all of whom operate within the family business.
Should I watch the 2010 movie if I enjoyed Animal Kingdom?
If you enjoyed the 2016 series, watching the 2010 Animal Kingdom movie provides context for the original story. The film serves as the source material for the television adaptation, showcasing the initial portrayal of the Cody family and their criminal operations.