What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCriminal
Ariel Vromen · Film · 2016
If you loved Criminal, start with Criminal (Motohiro Matsumoto, 2026) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Criminal across media.
What hooked you in Criminal was the way a high-stakes global conspiracy forces an identity-altering collision between two completely different lives.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Criminal
Motohiro Matsumoto · Series · 2026
Books on the same thread
The Bourne Identity
Robert Ludlum · Book · 1986
Shares a thread with Criminal: Action Thriller.
If the memory-wiping stakes of Criminal kept you on edge, you will find this story of a man fighting to recover his lost identity equally gripping and intense.
Crime and Punishment
Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevskii · Book · 1968
Shares a thread with Criminal: Redemption.
Criminal explores the burden of a stranger's memories, much like this classic examines the crushing psychological weight of guilt and the desperate search for personal moral redemption.
Dark Matter
Blake Crouch · Book · 2016
Explores: Identity Crisis, Parallel Universes, Regret.
This story mirrors the jarring identity crisis seen in Criminal as a man wakes up in a life that is not his own, forcing a frantic search for truth.
Flowers for Algernon
Daniel Keyes · Book · 2004
Explores: Intelligence, Ethics of Science, Human Experimentation.
Much like the experimental procedure in Criminal, this narrative focuses on the volatile consequences of scientific intervention on the human mind and the resulting changes to personal identity.
Series on the same thread
El marginal
Sebastián Ortega · Series · 2016
Explores: Infiltration, False Identity, Kidnapping Investigation.
The tension of living under a false identity to complete a dangerous mission connects this gritty prison drama directly to the undercover stakes found throughout Criminal.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with Criminal: Redemption.
Those who enjoyed the redemption arc of the protagonist in Criminal will appreciate this partnership, which uses special training to navigate a complex and dangerous surveillance landscape.
Psycho-Pass
Series · 2012
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Technological Determinism, Social Control.
Criminal uses technology to judge the morality of its characters, a theme echoed here through a society that relies on brain scans to predict and prevent criminal behavior.
Mr. Robot
Sam Esmail · Series · 2015
Explores: Hacking, Anti-capitalism, Mental Illness.
Just as the hacker in Criminal drives the global threat, this story centers on a skilled individual using technology as a weapon to navigate a corrupt and dangerous system.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime Junkie
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2026
Explores: justice seeking, obsession, societal impact.
If the investigative intensity of Criminal left you wanting more, this podcast series delivers the same obsession with uncovering the truth behind dark and complex criminal cases.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
This anthology captures the same sense of moral ambiguity and high-stakes tension found in Criminal, presenting cinematic stories that explore the darker side of the human condition.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Criminal 2016 related to the 2026 TV series?
The 2016 film Criminal and the 2026 television series share the same title, but they are separate productions. The 2016 movie focuses on the memory transfer of CIA agent Bill Pope into an ex-convict, while the 2026 TV series is a distinct adaptation.
What is the main mission in the movie Criminal?
In the movie Criminal, the central plot follows an ex-convict who receives the memories of a deceased CIA agent. He must use these transferred memories to track down a hacker known as The Dutchman and prevent the launch of ICBMs before World War III begins.
Does the movie Criminal involve memory transfer?
Yes, the plot of Criminal centers on an experimental procedure that transfers the memories of CIA agent Bill Pope into the mind of a dangerous ex-convict. This memory transfer is the core mechanism that drives the protagonist to complete the mission to stop The Dutchman.
Who is the antagonist in the movie Criminal?
The primary antagonist in the movie Criminal is a shadowy hacker known as The Dutchman. The protagonist must stop this hacker from launching ICBMs and starting World War III using the memories he acquired from CIA agent Bill Pope.