What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCitizen X
Chris Gerolmo · Film · 1995
If you loved Citizen X, start with Making a Murderer (Moira Demos, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Citizen X across media.
What hooked you in Citizen X was the harrowing struggle to pursue truth while trapped inside a crushing, indifferent bureaucratic machine.
Books on the same thread
Homicide
David Simon · Book · 2007
Shares 3 threads with Citizen X: Systemic Corruption, Bureaucracy, Police Procedural.
Just as Citizen X depicts the frustration of police work under political pressure, this account of Baltimore homicide detectives illustrates the systemic incompetence that consistently thwarts meaningful justice.
In Cold Blood
Truman Capote · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with Citizen X: True Crime.
Like the dogged investigative focus of Citizen X, this work masterfully reconstructs a chilling crime, emphasizing the human cost of violence against the backdrop of a rigid society.
Crime and Punishment
Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevskii · Book · 1968
Explores: Guilt and Redemption, Moral Dilemma, Existentialism.
This novel mirrors the psychological weight found in Citizen X, exploring the moral decay of a society where an individual must navigate both guilt and the state apparatus.
American Prometheus
Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin · Book
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Genius and hubris.
This biography echoes the Cold War tension of Citizen X, examining how personal integrity is compromised when caught within the gears of an unyielding and secretive government.
Series on the same thread
Making a Murderer
Moira Demos · Series · 2015
Explores: Wrongful Conviction, Police Corruption, Justice System.
If the institutional corruption in Citizen X disturbed you, this documentary provides a modern, visceral look at how bureaucracy and systemic failure can facilitate years of ongoing injustice.
Chernobyl
Craig Mazin · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Citizen X: Bureaucracy.
Sharing the bleak atmosphere of Citizen X, this series highlights the terrifying consequences of state-level incompetence and the cover-ups that occur when power values image over human life.
The Wire
David Simon · Series · 2002
Shares 3 threads with Citizen X: Systemic Corruption, Bureaucracy, Police Procedural.
The Wire expands on the themes of Citizen X by showing how a massive, self-sustaining bureaucracy renders the efforts of dedicated individuals nearly impossible to achieve.
Homicide: Life on the Street
Paul Attanasio · Series · 1993
Shares 2 threads with Citizen X: Bureaucracy, Police Procedural.
This procedural captures the same procedural fatigue seen in Citizen X, focusing on the toll that a broken system takes on those trying to solve complex criminal cases.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Shares a thread with Citizen X: true crime.
Much like the detective in Citizen X, you will find yourself drawn into a dark, isolated world where the social decay of a community complicates every investigative step.
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
This podcast mirrors the cold case obsession of Citizen X, focusing on the relentless pursuit of truth despite the immense barriers erected by time and historical negligence.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Citizen X based on a true story?
Yes, Citizen X is based on the true story of a Russian serial killer who claimed over 50 victims. The film depicts the long investigation into these crimes and the bureaucratic struggles faced by the detective in charge within the communist state.
What is the primary conflict in Citizen X?
The primary conflict in Citizen X involves a detective attempting to track a serial killer while facing significant interference. His investigation is consistently hampered by incompetence, bureaucracy, and the actions of those in power within the communist state during that era.
Who are the victims in Citizen X?
The victims in Citizen X are primarily children and young people under the age of 17. The film follows the detective's perspective as he investigates the serial killer who claimed more than 50 victims over the course of many years.
How does the political setting affect the investigation in Citizen X?
In Citizen X, the investigation is significantly impacted by the setting of a communist state. The detective in charge of the case struggles to make progress because the police work is obstructed by systemic incompetence, rigid bureaucracy, and interference from those in positions of power.