What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBefore I Wake
Mike Flanagan · Film · 2016
If you loved Before I Wake, start with Awake (Kyle Killen, 2012) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Before I Wake across media.
What worked in Before I Wake runs through these too.
Books on the same thread
Doctor Sleep: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2013
Explores: Addiction Recovery, Redemption, Good vs Evil.
If Before I Wake hit, Doctor Sleep: A Novel shares the thread.
Bad Dreams in the Night
Adam Ellis · Book
Explores: nightmares, psychological dread, liminal spaces.
If Before I Wake hit, Bad Dreams in the Night shares the thread.
Night Shift
Stephen King · Book · 1976
Explores: Nightmares, Everyday Evil, Working Class Horror.
If Before I Wake hit, Night Shift shares the thread.
Dark Matter
Blake Crouch · Book · 2016
Explores: Identity Crisis, Parallel Universes, Regret.
If Before I Wake hit, Dark Matter shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
The Haunting of Hill House
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Before I Wake: Psychological Horror.
If Before I Wake hit, The Haunting of Hill House shares the thread.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2020
Shares 3 threads with Before I Wake: Grief and Loss, Psychological Horror, Supernatural Drama.
If Before I Wake hit, The Haunting of Bly Manor shares the thread.
Awake
Kyle Killen · Series · 2012
Shares a thread with Before I Wake: Grief and Loss.
If Before I Wake hit, Awake shares the thread.
The Sandman
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2022
Explores: Cosmic Horror, Existentialism, Redemption.
If Before I Wake hit, The Sandman shares the thread.
Podcasts on the same thread
MALIKMATA
Podcast
Explores: Philippine Folklore, Filipino Culture, Mythical Creatures.
If Before I Wake hit, MALIKMATA shares the thread.
Sleep With Me
Silver Sleeper Productions LLC · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Insomnia Relief, Mindfulness, Boredom Induction.
If Before I Wake hit, Sleep With Me shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Before I Wake based on a book or novel?
Before I Wake is an original film directed by Mike Flanagan. It is not an adaptation of a book or novel, so there is no source material to read before or after watching the movie.
What is the central premise of Before I Wake?
The plot of Before I Wake focuses on an orphaned child whose dreams and nightmares physically manifest in the real world while he sleeps. This creates dangerous consequences for those around him as his subconscious thoughts come to life.
Does Before I Wake have any sequels or related films?
There are no sequels, prequels, or related films connected to Before I Wake. The 2016 movie is a standalone story directed by Mike Flanagan and does not belong to a larger franchise or series.
How do the supernatural elements work in Before I Wake?
In Before I Wake, the supernatural events are directly tied to the child's sleep. When the child dreams or experiences nightmares, these internal visions physically manifest into the environment, causing the reality of the characters to shift based on the boy's state of mind.