What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBarbarella
Film · 1968
If you loved Barbarella, start with Star Trek (Gene Roddenberry, 1966) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Barbarella across media.
What hooked you in Barbarella was the surreal blend of intergalactic spectacle and the unapologetic, bold pursuit of personal desire.
Books on the same thread
Weapons of the Metabaron
Alejandro Jodorowsky · Book · 2013
Shares a thread with Barbarella: Space Opera.
If the surreal, high-concept visuals of Barbarella captivated you, you will appreciate how this work pushes space opera into a bizarre, mythic realm of cosmic power and grand ambition.
From the Earth to the Moon
Jules Verne · Book · 1967
Explores: Space Travel, Technological Advancement, Human Ambition.
While Barbarella focuses on eroticism, this classic shares a similar sense of wide-eyed wonder regarding space exploration and the audacity of humans venturing into the great unknown.
Dune
Frank Herbert · Book · 2003
Shares a thread with Barbarella: Space Opera.
Like the sprawling politics of Barbarella, this epic masterpiece builds a complex, immersive universe where individual agency and heavy political intrigue collide on a massive, planetary scale.
Sundiver
David Brin · Book · 1980
Shares a thread with Barbarella: Space Opera.
You will find that the focus on the vast, mysterious nature of galactic civilization mirrors the sense of discovery and strange encounters that defined your time with Barbarella.
Series on the same thread
Star Trek
Gene Roddenberry · Series · 1966
Shares a thread with Barbarella: Space Opera.
The core of Barbarella lies in its unique view of space travel, which finds a parallel here as the Enterprise crew engages with the diverse, often peculiar cultures of space.
Red Dwarf
Doug Naylor · Series · 1988
Shares a thread with Barbarella: Space Exploration.
If the campy, lighthearted tone of Barbarella entertained you, this show captures that same spirit of misfits navigating the absurdity of life while stranded in the deep reaches of space.
Cowboy Bebop
Series · 1998
Explores: Bounty Hunters, Moral Ambiguity, Existentialism.
Much like Barbarella, this series thrives on a stylish, neo-noir atmosphere where the characters navigate a colonized solar system defined by moral ambiguity and a distinct, gritty personality.
Firefly
Joss Whedon · Series · 2002
Shares a thread with Barbarella: Space Opera.
The rebellious, renegade spirit of the crew in this series reflects the same sense of freedom and disregard for traditional authority that defined the protagonist of Barbarella.
Podcasts on the same thread
Call Her Daddy
Alex Cooper · Podcast · 2026
Explores: female empowerment, sexual autonomy, brutal honesty.
The bold, unapologetic exploration of sexual autonomy and female agency found in this podcast mirrors the central character motivations that made Barbarella such a cult classic for viewers.
Regelegorila
Podcast
Explores: Cinema, Television, Film Criticism.
Because you enjoyed the unconventional narrative style of Barbarella, you will appreciate these critical discussions that dissect the very nature of cinema and television with a sharp eye.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary mission of Barbarella in the film?
In Barbarella, the protagonist is a woman living in the far future who is tasked with locating and stopping the evil Durand-Durand. Her journey involves navigating this futuristic setting while encountering a variety of unusual people throughout her mission.
Is Barbarella set in the present day?
No, Barbarella is not set in the present day. The film takes place in the far future, where the titular character travels through space to track down the villain Durand-Durand and interacts with various unique individuals along the way.
Who is the antagonist that Barbarella must stop?
The antagonist that Barbarella is sent to find and stop is named Durand-Durand. The plot of the film follows her efforts to track him down while she encounters a series of unusual characters during her journey in the far future.
Does Barbarella encounter other people during her mission?
Yes, throughout her mission to stop Durand-Durand, Barbarella encounters various unusual people. These interactions occur as she travels through the far future environment depicted in the film, serving as a central part of her journey.