If you loved
Cruella
Craig Gillespie · Film · 2021
You loved the way Cruella transformed a vengeful underdog into a stylish mastermind fighting against corrupt and powerful social elites.
Books on the same thread
Cover Story
Susan Rigetti · Book · 2022
Explores: Unreliable narrator, Social climbing, Imposter syndrome.
Just as Cruella navigated the treacherous world of high-stakes fashion, this story features an ambitious protagonist caught in the deceptive, manipulative schemes of a charismatic con artist.
A Stolen Life: A Memoir
Jaycee Dugard · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with Cruella: identity.
While Cruella explores the formation of a hardened persona, this memoir examines the harrowing reality of survival and identity after being forced into a life of captivity.
The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder
Marissa Meyer · Book · 2012
Explores: Cyborgs, Forbidden Romance, Class Differences.
Much like Cruella, Cinder must reconcile her true identity while navigating complex class structures and dangerous secrets that threaten her survival in a cold, unforgiving world.
Daisy Jones & The Six: Reese's Book Club: A Novel
Taylor Jenkins Reid · Book · 2020
Explores: 1970s, Rock and Roll, Band Dynamics.
This novel captures the same vibrant 1970s atmosphere and obsession with artistic rise found in Cruella, focusing on the volatile dynamics behind a meteoric path to fame.
Series on the same thread
Lupin
George Kay · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Cruella: Heist.
If you enjoyed the clever heists in Cruella, you will appreciate this series as a master thief uses his wit to execute vengeance against a powerful family.
Vincenzo
Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Cruella: Revenge.
Vincenzo mirrors the dark, stylish retribution seen in Cruella, following an outsider who uses his unconventional background to dismantle corrupt forces through calculated, high-stakes justice.
Peaky Blinders
Steven Knight · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Cruella: Class Conflict.
The relentless ambition and sharp-edged fashion of Cruella are reflected here, as a determined family rises through the ranks of society during a volatile historical period.
Cruel Summer
Bert V. Royal · Series · 2021
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Identity Crisis, Obsession.
Like Cruella, this story examines the drastic evolution of a young woman’s public image and the psychological cost of shifting from an awkward outlier to someone powerful.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
This podcast explores the same moral ambiguity that defines Cruella, investigating the lives of people who exist in the gray areas between wrongdoers and those wronged.
Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
Spotify Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: dark human nature, criminal psychology, public fascination.
This series mirrors the fascination with high-stakes schemes and complex motivations found in Cruella, diving deep into the dark human nature behind famous heists and rivalries.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Cruella set in the modern day?
Cruella is not set in the modern day. The film takes place in 1970s London during the height of the punk rock revolution. This specific historical setting serves as the backdrop for Estella's journey as she attempts to establish herself within the fashion industry.
What is the main character's profession in Cruella?
In Cruella, the main character Estella is a grifter who aspires to be a fashion designer. She uses her flair for fashion to eventually capture the attention of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who plays a central role in her life on the London streets.
Does Estella work alone in Cruella?
Estella does not work alone in Cruella. After befriending a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, the three of them build a life together on the streets of London while she pursues her goals in the fashion world.
Who is the primary antagonist in Cruella?
The primary antagonist in Cruella is the Baroness von Hellman. She is established as a fashion legend whose influence and position in the industry create a significant conflict for Estella, who is trying to make a name for herself with her own unique designs.