If you loved
Crisis
Nicholas Jarecki · Film · 2021
What hooked you in Crisis was the way the sprawling, systemic rot of the pharmaceutical industry collides with deeply personal stories of human devastation.
Books on the same thread
The Litigators
John Grisham · Book · 2011
Explores: David vs. Goliath, Underdog Story, Moral Ambiguity.
If you were drawn to the corporate corruption depicted in Crisis, this legal thriller offers a similar focus on the human cost behind predatory pharmaceutical business practices and greed.
Dreamland
Sam Quinones · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with Crisis: Opioid Crisis.
This investigative account provides the real-world context for the opioid epidemic you saw in Crisis, masterfully connecting the marketing of OxyContin to the widespread suffering of individual addicts.
The Black Ice
Michael Connelly · Book · 2002
Explores: Police corruption, Cross-border crime, Lone wolf investigator.
Fans of the cross-border drug trafficking narrative in Crisis will appreciate this gritty police procedural, which follows an investigator tracing a lethal trail of narcotics across the Mexican border.
The Crash
Freida McFadden · Book · 2025
Explores: Secrets, Betrayal, Twisted Family Dynamics.
While it leans into domestic suspense, the sense of urgency and the feeling of a life spiraling out of control will resonate with those captivated by the personal stakes in Crisis.
Series on the same thread
Dopesick
Danny Strong · Series · 2021
Explores: Opioid Addiction, Corporate Greed, Pharmaceutical Industry.
This series mirrors the multi-perspective structure of Crisis, exposing how systemic corruption within the pharmaceutical industry facilitates the tragic expansion of the opioid epidemic across American communities.
The Crime of the Century
Alex Gibney · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Crisis: Opioid Crisis.
This documentary complements the narrative of Crisis by offering a searing examination of the government and corporate failures that allowed the opioid crisis to become a national catastrophe.
Painkiller
Series · 2023
Explores: Corporate Greed, Addiction, Pharmaceutical Industry.
Like Crisis, this drama balances the perspectives of those orchestrating the drug epidemic with the victims caught in its wake, highlighting the moral ambiguity of the pharmaceutical industry.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
If you enjoyed the complex moral dilemmas presented in Crisis, this podcast will satisfy your interest in the gray areas of human behavior and the legal anomalies of our society.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
The cinematic, high-stakes storytelling found here echoes the suspenseful tone of Crisis, delivering short, immersive narratives that explore the same uncomfortable moral ambiguity you encountered in the film.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Crisis?
Crisis follows three interconnected stories regarding the opioid epidemic. The plot features a drug trafficker managing a fentanyl smuggling operation, an architect investigating her son's narcotics involvement, and a university professor uncovering corrupt practices within a pharmaceutical company with significant government influence.
Are the storylines in Crisis related?
Yes, the three distinct narratives in Crisis collide as they explore different facets of the opioid crisis. The stories weave together the perspectives of a smuggler, a grieving mother, and an academic to present a comprehensive look at the drug trade and corporate involvement.
Is Crisis based on real events?
Crisis is a 2021 film by Nicholas Jarecki that examines the systemic issues surrounding the opioid epidemic. While the film presents a fictionalized narrative, it focuses on the realistic dangers of fentanyl trafficking and the influence of pharmaceutical companies on public health and government policy.
What themes does Crisis explore?
Crisis explores the complex realities of the opioid epidemic through its three primary storylines. Key themes include the logistics of international fentanyl smuggling, the personal struggle of recovering from OxyContin addiction, and the ethical conflicts faced by researchers working for pharmaceutical companies with deep government ties.