What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedConcussion
Peter Landesman · Film · 2015
If you loved Concussion, start with Goliath (David E. Kelley, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Concussion across media.
If you loved Concussion, you will appreciate these stories about brave individuals exposing systemic corruption and hidden societal truths.
Books on the same thread
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. · Book · 2015
Explores: Trauma recovery, PTSD, Mind-body connection.
Just as Concussion reveals the medical reality of brain trauma, this book provides the scientific foundation for understanding how the body physically stores the pain mentioned in the film.
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
Malcolm Gladwell · Book · 2013
Explores: adversity, underdogs, success.
This book serves as the perfect companion to Concussion by providing the sociological framework for the David versus Goliath struggle that defined Dr. Omalu’s fight against the league.
The Litigators
John Grisham · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with Concussion: David vs. Goliath.
Readers who enjoyed the legal battle against a powerful institution in Concussion will find this courtroom drama captures the same tension of fighting corporate greed with limited resources.
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel A. Van der Kolk · Book · 2015
Explores: Healing from trauma, Mind-body connection, Neuroplasticity.
Much like the medical discovery at the heart of Concussion, this work explores the long-term impact of trauma on the human brain with deep clinical and scientific insight.
Series on the same thread
Goliath
David E. Kelley · Series · 2016
Shares 3 threads with Concussion: David vs. Goliath, Corporate Corruption, Legal Drama.
This series mirrors the tone of Concussion by following a lone protagonist who risks everything to take down a massive corporate entity in a high-stakes legal confrontation.
Painkiller
Series · 2023
Shares 3 threads with Concussion: David vs. Goliath, Medical Drama, Legal Drama.
If the whistleblowing aspect of Concussion resonated with you, this series offers a parallel look at the systemic corruption and pharmaceutical negligence that harms the public interest.
Dopesick
Danny Strong · Series · 2021
Shares 3 threads with Concussion: David vs. Goliath, Medical Drama, Legal Drama.
This show echoes the investigative spirit of Concussion as it exposes how a powerful company prioritized profit over human lives, leading to a devastating national health crisis.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revisionist History
Pushkin Industries · Podcast · 2026
Explores: historical revisionism, cognitive bias, unconventional perspectives.
Listeners who appreciated the unconventional truth-seeking in Concussion will enjoy how this podcast re-examines historical events to challenge the narratives established by powerful institutions.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
The cinematic and intense atmosphere of this podcast reflects the same focus on the human cost of moral ambiguity that drove the narrative of Concussion.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Concussion based on a true story?
Yes, Concussion is a dramatic thriller based on the true story of Dr. Bennet Omalu. The film follows his discovery of CTE in a professional football player and his subsequent struggle to reveal the truth despite opposition from a powerful institution.
What is the main conflict in Concussion?
The central conflict in Concussion involves Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist, fighting to expose the existence of CTE in football players. His quest for the truth puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful and influential institutions in the world.
Who is the protagonist of Concussion?
The protagonist of Concussion is Dr. Bennet Omalu, an American immigrant and brilliant forensic neuropathologist. He is the central figure who discovers the first evidence of football-related brain trauma known as CTE and faces significant resistance while attempting to share his findings with the public.
What medical discovery drives the plot of Concussion?
The plot of Concussion is driven by Dr. Bennet Omalu's discovery of CTE, which stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This brain trauma was identified in a professional football player, leading to a David versus Goliath struggle as Dr. Omalu fights to bring this medical reality to light.