What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCriminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
If you loved Criminal, start with American Crime Story (Scott Alexander, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 4 series, each matched to Criminal across media.
What hooked you in Criminal is the way you explore the complex, messy boundaries where human morality meets the unforgiving legal system.
Books on the same thread
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
David Grann · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with Criminal: Investigative Journalism.
Like Criminal, this investigative account digs into the chilling intersection of systemic corruption and human greed, revealing how historical crimes shape our modern understanding of justice and institutional failure.
Killers of the Flower Moon
David Grann · Book · 2018
Shares 2 threads with Criminal: narrative non-fiction, investigative journalism.
This narrative mirrors the investigative rigor of Criminal by exposing how institutional power structures exploit vulnerable individuals, turning a singular mystery into a profound examination of systemic moral decay.
The Journalist and the Murderer
Janet Malcolm · Book · 2011
Shares 2 threads with Criminal: Moral Ambiguity, Investigative Journalism.
If you appreciate the journalistic integrity of Criminal, you will value this surgical dissection of the writer-subject relationship, which questions the very nature of truth and narrative in crime reporting.
I Have Some Questions for You
Rebecca Makkai · Book
Explores: unreliable narrator, memory and trauma, institutional secrets.
This meta-fictional approach captures the same podcast-driven curiosity found in Criminal, using an academic lens to probe how memory, trauma, and institutional secrets complicate the search for objective truth.
Films on the same thread
Killers of the Flower Moon
Film · 2023
Explores: Systemic Racism, Greed, Betrayal.
This film echoes the sociological documentary style of Criminal by focusing on the human cost of systemic racism and betrayal, grounding a sprawling historical mystery in intimate, devastating personal tragedy.
Crime 101
Bart Layton · Film · 2026
Explores: High-stakes, Redemption, Obsession.
Much like the character-driven stories in Criminal, this film moves past simple heist tropes to examine the obsession and moral ambiguity inherent in the collision between a criminal and law enforcement.
The Unforgivable
Film · 2021
Explores: Redemption, Social Stigma, Past Trauma.
This drama captures the human interest storytelling of Criminal by focusing on the lingering social stigma of a past crime, exploring the difficult reality of reintegration after serving a sentence.
The Usual Suspects
Film · 1995
Explores: Deception, Unreliable narrator, Criminal underworld.
If you enjoy the way Criminal highlights the gray areas of human behavior, you will appreciate this film’s reliance on an unreliable narrator to challenge your perceptions of guilt and identity.
Series on the same thread
American Crime Story
Scott Alexander · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Criminal: Moral Ambiguity.
This anthology series shares the sociological focus of Criminal, using famous investigations to provide sharp social commentary on how media scrutiny and systemic corruption influence the outcome of justice.
High Potential
Drew Goddard · Series · 2024
Explores: Unlikely Partnerships, Brilliant Outsider, Single Parent.
This series reflects the investigative curiosity of Criminal by pairing an unconventional outsider with a traditional detective, proving that the most complex crimes require a focus on human perspective.
MINDHUNTER
Joe Penhall · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Criminal: Moral Ambiguity.
Fans of Criminal will recognize the same commitment to exploring moral ambiguity and the psychology of those who do wrong, as this series tracks the evolution of FBI criminal profiling.
Forensic Files
Series · 1996
Explores: Forensic Science, Evidence Analysis, Criminal Investigation.
This series aligns with the investigative journalism of Criminal by utilizing scientific evidence to provide clarity, proving that the most compelling stories emerge when objective facts intersect with human drama.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Criminal part of a larger network?
Yes, Criminal is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. The show is hosted by Phoebe Judge and explores stories about people who have done wrong, been wronged, or found themselves caught somewhere in the middle of those experiences.
What kind of stories are featured on Criminal?
Criminal focuses on stories about people who have done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. It is described as the first show of its kind and was named a best podcast of 2023 by the New York Times.
Who is the host of Criminal?
The podcast Criminal is hosted by Phoebe Judge. The show is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network and examines various perspectives of people involved in criminal situations, whether they are the perpetrators, the victims, or those caught in the middle.
Is Criminal considered a highly rated podcast?
Criminal is highly regarded in the industry and was named a best podcast of 2023 by the New York Times. As the first show of its kind, it explores complex stories about people who have done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught in the middle.