What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCaligula
Film · 1979
If you loved Caligula, start with I, Claudius (Martin Lisemore, 1976) — a series on the same thread. Below: 2 books, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Caligula across media.
If Caligula hooked you with its depiction of absolute power, you will appreciate these explorations of imperial corruption and depravity.
Books on the same thread
I, Claudius and Claudius the God
Robert Graves · Book · 1986
Explores: Political Intrigue, Power Struggles, Family Dysfunction.
Just as Caligula portrays the madness of the Roman throne, this classic narrative captures the same murderous greed and family dysfunction from the perspective of an unlikely imperial survivor.
Fall of the Roman Republic
Plutarch · Book · 1958
Explores: Political Intrigue, Decline of Civilization, Power Struggles.
For those fascinated by the moral decay in Caligula, these biographical studies provide the historical foundation for the political intrigue and systemic decline that defined the Roman era.
Series on the same thread
I, Claudius
Martin Lisemore · Series · 1976
Shares 2 threads with Caligula: Madness, Historical Drama.
This series mirrors the dark atmosphere of Caligula, offering a masterclass in how institutional corruption and royal family dynamics create a web of inescapable, blackly comic political tragedy.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
If you enjoyed the exploration of human nature in Caligula, this podcast provides the same intense analysis of civilizational collapse and the moral ambiguity surrounding figures of absolute power.
Dark History
Audioboom Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold narratives, institutional corruption, societal taboos.
Much like the unsettling reality presented in Caligula, this podcast digs into the untold narratives and institutional corruption that reveal the darker, often taboo side of our collective history.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Caligula based on the reign of a historical emperor?
Yes, Caligula depicts the rise of the Roman emperor Caligula following the death of his predecessor, Tiberius. The film focuses on his ascension to power and the subsequent descent into a period of extreme madness and depravity that defined his rule over the Roman Empire.
What happens after Tiberius dies in Caligula?
Following the death of the paranoid emperor Tiberius, his heir Caligula seizes control of the throne. His reign immediately plunges the Roman Empire into a chaotic and violent spiral characterized by widespread madness and intense depravity that consumes the state during his time in power.
Does Caligula center on the political transition from Tiberius?
The narrative of Caligula begins with the death of the emperor Tiberius. It chronicles the transition of power to his heir, Caligula, and explores how this change in leadership leads to a total collapse of order within the empire through a cycle of madness and depravity.
Is the depiction of madness central to the plot of Caligula?
Yes, the plot of Caligula is driven by the protagonist's descent into madness after becoming emperor. This psychological unraveling is central to the film, as it directly causes the empire to plunge into a bloody spiral of depravity following the death of the previous ruler, Tiberius.