What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDescendants: The Rise of Red
Jennifer Phang · Film · 2024
If you loved Descendants: The Rise of Red, start with Cinderella (1950) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Descendants: The Rise of Red across media.
You loved how Descendants: The Rise of Red uses time travel and legacy to explore the complicated bonds between parents and children.
Start with the source
The source
Cinderella
Film · 1950
Adaptation
EverAfter
Andy Tennant · Film · 1998
Adaptation
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True
John Kafka · Film · 2002
Books on the same thread
The Dark Is Descending
Chloe C. Peñaranda · Book
Explores: Forbidden love, Fate vs free will, End of the world.
Like the urgent quest in Descendants: The Rise of Red, this story forces characters to confront their destiny and the weight of their choices as the world reaches a breaking point.
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1)
Rick Riordan · Book · 2010
Explores: Egyptian mythology, Sibling relationships, Ancient Egypt.
If you enjoyed the sibling-like partnership of Red and Chloe in Descendants: The Rise of Red, you will find a similar dynamic in this story of family ties and magical discovery.
The Land of Stories
Colfer Chris Dorman Brandon · Book · 2014
Explores: Siblings, Good vs Evil, Magic.
This adventure mirrors the urgency found in Descendants: The Rise of Red, focusing on siblings who must step into a magical world to rescue their parent and save their future.
Snow White and Rose Red
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1945
Explores: Good vs Evil, Kindness rewarded, Transformation.
This classic tale captures the same fairy tale aesthetic and focus on characters defined by their origins that you enjoyed while watching Descendants: The Rise of Red.
Series on the same thread
House of the Dragon
George R. R. Martin · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Descendants: The Rise of Red: Legacy.
The dynastic conflict and power struggles within this series echo the intense mother-daughter tensions and political stakes that drive the plot of Descendants: The Rise of Red.
Descendants of the Sun
Baek Sang-Hoon · Series · 2016
Explores: Forbidden Love, Duty vs. Love, Star-Crossed Lovers.
This drama captures the emotional intensity of forbidden connections and overcoming obstacles, themes that are central to the core relationships portrayed in Descendants: The Rise of Red.
Scarlet Heart: Ryeo
Tong Hua · Series · 2016
Explores: Time Travel, Historical Romance, Power Struggle.
The time travel premise is the perfect bridge here, offering the same thrill of historical intervention and identity exploration seen in Descendants: The Rise of Red.
Hazbin Hotel
Vivienne Medrano · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Descendants: The Rise of Red: Redemption.
You will appreciate how this show centers on the struggle for redemption and second chances, mirroring the central mission of the characters in Descendants: The Rise of Red.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
Much like the protagonists of Descendants: The Rise of Red who travel back to change the past, this investigative podcast turns back time to uncover the truth behind historical mysteries.
The Preamble
Sharon McMahon · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Critical thinking, Media literacy, Civic engagement.
If you enjoyed deconstructing the complex history of the characters in Descendants: The Rise of Red, this podcast offers a similarly clear-eyed look at the forces shaping our world today.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Descendants: The Rise of Red a sequel to the original Cinderella movies?
Descendants: The Rise of Red is a separate story that incorporates characters inspired by the 1950 Cinderella movie. While it features the daughter of Cinderella, it functions as a standalone time-travel narrative rather than a direct continuation of the 1950 film or its sequel, Cinderella II: Dreams Come True.
What is the premise of Descendants: The Rise of Red?
In Descendants: The Rise of Red, the Queen of Hearts stages a coup on Auradon. Her daughter Red teams up with Chloe, the daughter of Cinderella, to travel back in time. They attempt to prevent the specific traumatic event that originally caused the Queen of Hearts to become a villain.
Should I watch Cinderella before watching Descendants: The Rise of Red?
You do not need to watch the 1950 Cinderella movie to understand the plot of Descendants: The Rise of Red. The film uses established fairy tale archetypes to build its own universe, focusing on the children of classic characters rather than retelling the events of the original animated feature.
How does time travel work in Descendants: The Rise of Red?
In Descendants: The Rise of Red, the protagonists use time travel as a mechanism to undo a past event. By returning to the moment that set the Queen of Hearts on her villainous path, Red and Chloe aim to alter the course of history and prevent the coup on Auradon.