What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBringing Up Baby
Howard Hawks · Film · 1938
If you loved Bringing Up Baby, start with What's Up, Doc? (Peter Bogdanovich, 1972) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Bringing Up Baby across media.
You crave the chaotic energy of high-society figures whose best-laid plans are constantly derailed by unpredictable, hilarious, and socially inconvenient circumstances.
Start with the source
Adaptation
What's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich · Film · 1972
Books on the same thread
Curious George
Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey · Book · 1941
Explores: Curiosity, Mischief, Friendship.
Just as Bringing Up Baby features a leopard causing mayhem, Curious George captures the same delight in watching an irrepressible animal create endless, escalating trouble for his well-meaning companion.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Truman Capote · Book · 1958
Explores: New York City Life, Socialite Culture, Moral Ambiguity.
If the social friction of Bringing Up Baby entertained you, you will appreciate how this novella navigates the same high-society quirks and the unpredictable nature of its charismatic lead character.
Tarzan
Edgar Rice Burroughs · Book · 1914
Shares a thread with Bringing Up Baby: Fish Out of Water.
Bringing Up Baby thrives on wild adventures, and this story offers a similarly intense journey where the clash between civilized expectations and raw, untamed environments creates constant, gripping narrative tension.
The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler · Book · 2017
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Urban cynicism, Femme fatale.
While darker in tone, this mystery shares the high-stakes social entanglement found in Bringing Up Baby, forcing its protagonist to navigate complex, elite circles where everything feels dangerously off balance.
Series on the same thread
Keeping Up Appearances
Roy Clarke · Series · 1990
Explores: Social Climbing, Class Conflict, Embarrassment.
Hyacinth Bucket mirrors the frantic social posturing seen in Bringing Up Baby, turning the struggle to maintain appearances into a series of comedic disasters that will feel very familiar.
I Love Lucy
Bob Carroll Jr. · Series · 1951
Explores: Marriage, Ambition vs. Domesticity, Friendship.
The chaotic, slapstick-driven marriage dynamics in this show perfectly echo the frantic energy and constant, escalating misunderstandings that defined the relationship between the leads in Bringing Up Baby.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Andy Borowitz · Series · 1990
Explores: Culture clash, Class differences, Family values.
This show leans into the same fish-out-of-water comedy that made Bringing Up Baby so memorable, placing a vibrant character into a rigid social setting to spark constant, hilarious friction.
Arrested Development
Mitchell Hurwitz · Series · 2003
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Wealth and Privilege, Family Business.
Bringing Up Baby excels at showing how wealthy individuals lose control of their lives, and this show masterfully expands that premise into a high-octane comedy about a family falling apart.
Podcasts on the same thread
THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
ADAM BUXTON · Podcast
Explores: east anglia, family life, dog ownership.
The rambling, unpredictable nature of these conversations mirrors the loose, improvisational spirit of Bringing Up Baby, offering a similar sense of spontaneity and authentic charm in every single episode.
Mad About You
Podcast
Explores: newlyweds, social media influencers, parenthood.
Much like the misadventures that define Bringing Up Baby, this podcast dives into the messy, unscripted reality of navigating life and relationships under the constant pressure of public observation.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is What's Up, Doc? related to Bringing Up Baby?
Yes, the 1972 film What's Up, Doc? functions as a homage to the screwball comedy style established by Bringing Up Baby. Both films feature a series of chaotic misadventures involving academic protagonists and eccentric companions that lead to unexpected, humorous outcomes.
What is the plot of Bringing Up Baby?
Bringing Up Baby follows David Huxley, a man trying to secure a bone for his museum. He encounters Susan Vance, and the two become entangled in a series of strange misadventures that involve a leopard named Baby, significantly complicating his original goal.
Should I watch Bringing Up Baby before What's Up, Doc?
You should watch Bringing Up Baby first to appreciate the foundation of the screwball comedy genre. As the 1938 original directed by Howard Hawks, it introduces the specific comedic pacing and narrative tropes that the later film What's Up, Doc? references and adapts.
Does Bringing Up Baby feature a real leopard?
Yes, the plot of Bringing Up Baby centers on a leopard called Baby. The animal is a central character in the series of strange circumstances and misadventures that occur after David Huxley meets Susan Vance while attempting to acquire a bone for his museum collection.