If you loved
Babylon Berlin
Tom Tykwer · Series · 2017
What hooked you in Babylon Berlin is the way the sprawling, systemic corruption of a city reflects the fractured morality of its investigators.
Books on the same thread
The Dark Hours
Michael Connelly · Book · 2021
Like Babylon Berlin, this procedural captures the tension of law enforcement navigating a city defined by social unrest and a pervasive, dangerous sense of urban decay that threatens to overwhelm.
Harry Hole
Jo Nesbø · Book · 1997
The moral ambiguity of the protagonist mirrors Gereon Rath in Babylon Berlin, as both men struggle to maintain their humanity while operating within systems riddled with deep-seated institutional corruption.
Homicide
David Simon · Book · 2007
If you were drawn to the gritty reality of Babylon Berlin, you will appreciate this unflinching look at how systemic failure and urban decay shape the daily lives of homicide investigators.
Bloody January
Alan Parks · Book · 2017
Much like the underworld depicted in Babylon Berlin, this story utilizes a dark, atmospheric setting to explore how class conflict and organized crime influence the desperate actions of its detectives.
Films on the same thread
Chinatown
Roman Polanski · Film · 1974
This film shares the cynical, noir-drenched atmosphere of Babylon Berlin, focusing on a detective who finds himself trapped in a web of powerful conspiracies that mirror 1920s political intrigue.
Blade Runner 2049
Denis Villeneuve · Film · 2017
While the setting shifts to the future, this film captures the same sense of existential dread and moral decay that defines the world of Babylon Berlin, through its investigation of secrets.
The Lives of Others
Film · 2006
This film provides the same historical weight found in Babylon Berlin, focusing on the intersection of surveillance and political intrigue as characters navigate the suffocating pressures of a changing state.
The Departed
Martin Scorsese · Film · 2006
The intense focus on identity, betrayal, and the thin line between law and crime makes this a perfect follow-up to the intricate power struggles seen throughout the episodes of Babylon Berlin.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
If you loved the investigative persistence of Babylon Berlin, this deep dive into historical cold cases provides a similar satisfaction as it uncovers the truth buried beneath decades of mystery.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
This investigative journey mirrors the character-focused social exploration of Babylon Berlin, pulling you into a complex, decaying world where hidden secrets reveal the dark reality of a specific time and place.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Babylon Berlin set in a specific historical period?
Babylon Berlin is set in 1929 during the Golden Twenties. The series depicts the political and social changes occurring in Berlin as police investigator Gereon Rath transfers from Cologne to the city during this era of decadence and underworld activity.
What is the primary setting of Babylon Berlin?
Babylon Berlin is set in the city of Berlin during 1929. The narrative centers on the contrast between the city's surface-level decadence and the underworld of sin that exists beneath the epicenter of political and social change.
Who is the main character in Babylon Berlin?
The main character in Babylon Berlin is Gereon Rath. He is a police investigator who transfers from Cologne to Berlin to navigate the complex social and political landscape of the city during the late nineteen twenties.
What happens in the plot of Babylon Berlin?
Babylon Berlin follows police investigator Gereon Rath after his transfer from Cologne to Berlin in 1929. The plot explores his experiences in the city as he encounters the decadence of the Golden Twenties alongside a hidden underworld of sin.