What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBreathless
Jean-Luc Godard · Film · 1960
If you loved Breathless, start with Breaking Bad (Vince Gilligan, 2008) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Breathless across media.
You were drawn to Breathless by its cool detachment and the way it turns impulsive criminal acts into profound existential questions.
Books on the same thread
The Stranger (L'Étranger)
Albert Camus · Book · 1942
Shares a thread with Breathless: Moral Ambiguity.
Just as Breathless explores the nihilism of a small-time thief, this masterpiece captures the same unsettling moral ambiguity found in a protagonist who commits a senseless, life-altering murder.
Crime and Punishment
Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevskii · Book · 1968
Shares a thread with Breathless: Existentialism.
If the impulsive violence of Breathless gripped you, this deep dive into a murderer’s guilty conscience provides the same intense psychological examination of a man defying social norms.
The Stranger
Albert Camus · Book · 1993
Shares a thread with Breathless: Nihilism.
Mirroring the existential crisis at the heart of Breathless, this narrative remains essential for its exploration of how impossible it is to maintain moral certainty after a crime.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
Like the doomed romance and reckless pursuit of freedom in Breathless, this story captures the tragic consequences of a man chasing an impossible dream with obsessive, destructive force.
Series on the same thread
Breaking Bad
Vince Gilligan · Series · 2008
Explores: Moral Decay, Man Breaking Bad, Consequences of Crime.
Much like the anti-hero in Breathless, Walter White experiences a sudden shift into criminality, forcing you to confront the same dark moral decay and inevitable, harsh life consequences.
Route 66
Stirling Silliphant · Series · 1960
Shares a thread with Breathless: Existentialism.
For those captivated by the road-bound, restless energy of Breathless, this series offers a similar focus on existential discovery and the search for meaning across the American landscape.
Monster
Series · 2004
Shares a thread with Breathless: Existentialism.
This psychological thriller echoes the moral dilemmas of Breathless by forcing its protagonist into a life-altering entanglement with a dangerous, unpredictable figure that shatters his previous world view.
The Fugitive
Roy Huggins · Series · 1963
Explores: Manhunt, Injustice, False Accusation.
If you were drawn to the fugitive’s desperate flight in Breathless, you will find a similar intensity in this story of an innocent man navigating a life of constant pursuit.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Podcast
Explores: Justice, Wrongful Conviction, Morality.
While Breathless fictionalizes the criminal mind, this investigative series examines the real-world complexity of morality and human behavior, satisfying your interest in the fallout of doing something wrong.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
This investigative journey mirrors the gritty, character-driven focus of Breathless by diving into the social decay and isolation of an eccentric man attempting to reshape his own reality.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Breathless a movie about a criminal?
Yes, Breathless centers on a small-time thief who steals a car and murders a motorcycle policeman. The plot follows his attempt to evade the authorities while trying to persuade a girl to flee to Italy with him.
Who directed Breathless?
Breathless is a 1960 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. It depicts the story of a criminal on the run after committing a murder and his efforts to convince a girl to accompany him on an escape to Italy.
What happens in the plot of Breathless?
In Breathless, a small-time thief steals a vehicle and impulsively kills a policeman. As the authorities pursue him, he tries to convince a girl to run away to Italy. The film focuses on these attempts to escape justice following his criminal actions.
When was Breathless released?
Breathless was released in 1960. Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, the film tells the story of a small-time thief who murders a motorcycle policeman and attempts to persuade a girl to escape to Italy with him while being hunted by the authorities.