What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedChimes at Midnight
Orson Welles · Film · 1965
If you loved Chimes at Midnight, start with Henry V (Kenneth Branagh, 1989) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Chimes at Midnight across media.
You were drawn to the way Chimes at Midnight anchors grand political upheaval within the messy, intimate complexities of human relationships.
Start with the source
The source
Henry V
Kenneth Branagh · Film · 1989
Adaptation
My Own Private Idaho
Film · 1991
Adaptation
The Hollow Crown
Series · 2012
Books on the same thread
Twelfth Night
William Shakespeare, Maitman, Ian Waldron · Book · 1990
Explores: Mistaken Identity, Love Triangle, Gender Disguise.
Like Chimes at Midnight, this text explores the depths of Shakespearean language, offering a different but equally compelling look at the artifice and deception found in classic dramatic works.
Orson Welles
Simon Callow · Book · 1995
Explores: Creative genius, Artistic ambition, Hollywood history.
This biography reveals the singular artistic vision behind Chimes at Midnight, detailing the creative ambition that allowed Orson Welles to masterfully transform historical theater into a cinematic masterpiece.
Shakespeare's History of King Henry the Eighth
William Shakespeare · Book · 2015
Explores: Monarchy, Power, Betrayal.
If the royal power struggles in Chimes at Midnight captivated you, this play provides a similar examination of monarchy, betrayal, and the heavy burden of ruling a fractured nation.
Great Expectations
Charles Dickens · Book · 2009
Explores: social mobility, unrequited love, moral redemption.
This bildungsroman mirrors the coming-of-age journey seen in Chimes at Midnight, focusing on how personal growth and lost innocence shape a young man navigating a complicated social hierarchy.
Series on the same thread
The Hollow Crown
Series · 2012
Shares a thread with Chimes at Midnight: Shakespearean Adaptation.
This series captures the same Shakespearean weight found in Chimes at Midnight, focusing on the intense political intrigue and the high stakes of succession within a royal court.
Wolf Hall
Peter Straughan · Series · 2015
Explores: Royal Court Intrigue, Power Struggles, Ambition.
Fans of the historical maneuvering in Chimes at Midnight will appreciate this portrayal of a king facing a succession crisis and the dangerous political games played to survive.
Our Friends in the North
Peter Flannery · Series · 1996
Explores: Thatcherism, Police Corruption, Social Change.
This epic tale echoes the focus on friendship over time seen in Chimes at Midnight, illustrating how personal bonds shift and break amidst the pressures of a changing nation.
North and South
Richard T. Heffron · Series · 1985
Explores: Interracial Friendship, Divided Loyalties, Family Conflict.
Much like the fractured loyalties in Chimes at Midnight, this story examines how deep personal friendships are tested and ultimately torn apart by the demands of a divided country.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
While the setting differs, this podcast captures the spirit of camaraderie and group dynamics that defined the relationship between Falstaff and his companions in Chimes at Midnight.
THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
ADAM BUXTON · Podcast
Explores: east anglia, family life, dog ownership.
The blend of humor and seriousness found in these conversations reflects the tone of Chimes at Midnight, where lighthearted banter frequently masks deeper, more melancholy human truths.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Chimes at Midnight based on the same source material as The Hollow Crown?
Yes, both Chimes at Midnight and The Hollow Crown draw from the historical plays of William Shakespeare. While Chimes at Midnight focuses on the relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff, The Hollow Crown provides a broader television adaptation of the Henriad cycle including the events surrounding Henry IV.
Does My Own Private Idaho relate to the story told in Chimes at Midnight?
My Own Private Idaho is a modern reimagining that utilizes characters and themes found in the Shakespearean works that inspired Chimes at Midnight. Both films explore the complex dynamic between a wayward prince figure and his mentor, though they are set in vastly different time periods and settings.
Should I watch Henry V after finishing Chimes at Midnight?
Watching the 1989 version of Henry V is a logical next step for fans of Chimes at Midnight. While Chimes at Midnight centers on the internal conflicts and rebellion faced by Henry IV, Henry V continues the narrative arc of Prince Hal as he matures and takes the English throne.
How does Chimes at Midnight depict the relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff?
Chimes at Midnight portrays Falstaff as a rotund, low-class father figure to Prince Hal. The film contrasts this bond with Hal's duty to his royal father, King Henry IV, who usurped the throne and faces a rebellion led by Hotspur, forcing Hal to choose between his friends and his crown.