What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCity of the Beasts
Isabel Allende · Book · 2026
If you loved City of the Beasts, start with Beasts of the Southern Wild (Benh Zeitlin, 2012) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to City of the Beasts across media.
You loved City of the Beasts because it captures the profound transformation that occurs when young characters encounter wild, untamed realms.
Films on the same thread
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Benh Zeitlin · Film · 2012
Shares 2 threads with City of the Beasts: Magical Realism, Coming-of-Age.
Like City of the Beasts, this story highlights the resilience of a child navigating a harsh, immersive environment where the boundary between reality and myth begins to blur.
The Boy and the Beast
Mamoru Hosoda · Film · 2015
Explores: Mentor-Student Relationship, Parallel Worlds, Loss of a Parent.
This film mirrors the mentor-student dynamic found in City of the Beasts, focusing on how an unexpected journey into an alien world facilitates deep personal growth for a youth.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
While less fantastical, this narrative echoes the intergenerational connection central to City of the Beasts, showing how unexpected companionship can lead to profound self-discovery and a new perspective.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
David Yates · Film · 2016
Shares a thread with City of the Beasts: Magical Realism.
If the creature-focused exploration in City of the Beasts captivated you, you will appreciate this tale of a traveler managing a hidden, magical world filled with mysterious, dangerous beings.
Series on the same thread
Tales of the City
Armistead Maupin · Series · 1993
Shares a thread with City of the Beasts: Coming-of-age.
This series captures the same spirit of cultural exploration present in City of the Beasts, as a young protagonist enters a vibrant, unfamiliar world and learns to navigate life.
Smallville
Alfred Gough · Series · 2001
Shares a thread with City of the Beasts: Coming-of-Age.
Fans of the coming-of-age trajectory in City of the Beasts will recognize the struggle of a young person balancing their ordinary life with the weight of an extraordinary destiny.
The Clone
Glória Perez · Series · 2001
Explores: Forbidden Love, Cultural Clash, Identity Crisis.
This story mirrors the cultural clash and identity exploration found in City of the Beasts, forcing its characters to reconcile their personal histories with vast, unfamiliar environments and belief systems.
Hilda
Luke Pearson · Series · 2018
Shares 2 threads with City of the Beasts: Coming-of-Age, Magical Realism.
This animation captures the exact sense of wonder and environmental curiosity that defined City of the Beasts, following a young adventurer as she discovers magical creatures in strange lands.
Podcasts on the same thread
Beauty and the Beasts
Podcast
Explores: Skincare, Supernatural, Asian Folklore.
If your interest in City of the Beasts was driven by its focus on mythological realism, this podcast offers a similarly atmospheric dive into folklore and the supernatural.
Monsters Among Us
Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Unexplained Phenomena, First-hand Testimony, Atmospheric Horror.
This collection of eye-witness testimonies provides the same sense of mystery and encounter with the unknown that characterized the expedition and exploration themes of City of the Beasts.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is City of the Beasts a standalone book?
City of the Beasts is a coming-of-age story by Isabel Allende that follows Alexander Cold on a quest into the Amazon. It functions as a complete narrative centered on his journey of self-discovery and his encounter with the legendary Beast within the heart of the rainforest.
What themes are explored in City of the Beasts?
City of the Beasts explores themes of self-discovery and international adventure. The narrative blends elements of rich mythology and magical realism as the protagonist ventures into the Amazon, transforming a search for a mysterious creature into a profound personal journey for the main character.
Who is the author of City of the Beasts?
City of the Beasts is written by the globally celebrated novelist Isabel Allende. Published in 2026, the book showcases her signature style of magical realism while detailing the expedition of Alexander Cold as he travels into the Amazon to uncover the truth about a legendary beast.
What is the primary setting of City of the Beasts?
The primary setting of City of the Beasts is the Amazon rainforest. This location serves as the backdrop for the international adventure where the protagonist, Alexander Cold, joins his journalist grandmother to search for the mysterious Beast in a journey that leads to significant self-discovery.