What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDesignated Survivor
David Guggenheim · Series · 2016
If you loved Designated Survivor, start with Designated Survivor: 60 Days (Tae-heui Kim, 2019) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Designated Survivor across media.
If you loved Designated Survivor, you are drawn to the high-stakes pressure of sudden leadership transitions and the intense maneuvering behind closed government doors.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Tae-heui Kim · Series · 2019
Books on the same thread
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Doris Kearns Goodwin · Book · 2005
Explores: Political Strategy, Leadership Under Pressure, Political Reconciliation.
Just as Tom Kirkman navigates an unexpected presidency in Designated Survivor, this biography explores how Abraham Lincoln mastered leadership under pressure to unite a divided cabinet during national crisis.
The January 6th Report
the January 6 Select Committee · Book
Explores: democratic institutional stability, political extremism, legislative oversight.
The investigative intensity found in the aftermath of the catastrophe in Designated Survivor is mirrored here as this report dissects the fragility of democratic institutions following a political attack.
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book
Explores: sectarian violence, radicalization, conspiracy.
If the conspiracies within Designated Survivor kept you watching, this exploration of radicalization and political history will satisfy your interest in how hidden agendas shape the fate of nations.
Peril
Bob Woodward · Book · 2021
Explores: US Politics, Presidential Transition, Donald Trump Presidency.
This account of a turbulent presidential transition captures the same sense of national insecurity that defined the central crisis for Tom Kirkman throughout the run of Designated Survivor.
Films on the same thread
G20
Patricia Riggen · Film · 2025
Explores: Terrorism, Political Intrigue, Leadership Under Pressure.
This film echoes the high-stakes survival themes of Designated Survivor by placing a leader in a trapped, hostile environment where she must utilize statecraft to save her country.
A House of Dynamite
Film · 2025
Shares a thread with Designated Survivor: Political Thriller.
Much like the national security crises faced in Designated Survivor, this story forces government officials to manage the chaos and rapid decision-making required during an immediate nuclear brinkmanship event.
Dave
Ivan Reitman · Film · 1993
Shares a thread with Designated Survivor: Fish Out of Water.
Fans of the accidental presidency in Designated Survivor will appreciate this satirical look at an ordinary person thrust into the highest office through an unusual set of circumstances.
Conclave
Edward Berger · Film · 2024
Shares a thread with Designated Survivor: Political Thriller.
The tension of navigating power struggles during a leadership void in Designated Survivor is perfectly mirrored here as cardinals engage in a high-stakes conspiracy to elect a new Pope.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Preamble
Sharon McMahon · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Critical thinking, Media literacy, Civic engagement.
If you appreciated the political analysis that grounded the drama in Designated Survivor, this podcast offers the same focus on understanding the complex civic mechanisms driving our future.
The Dan Bongino Show
Cumulus Podcast Network | Dan Bongino · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Government Accountability, Constitutional Rights, Anti-Establishment.
The focus on government accountability and systemic corruption that often fueled the plot of Designated Survivor is front and center in this deep dive into current political events.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Designated Survivor based on a book or another series?
Designated Survivor is a television series created by David Guggenheim. It follows the story of Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member who becomes President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the line of succession.
What is Designated Survivor: 60 Days?
Designated Survivor: 60 Days is a 2019 television adaptation based on the original Designated Survivor premise. It explores a similar narrative arc where a government official is thrust into the presidency following a national disaster that eliminates the existing leadership.
Is Designated Survivor: 60 Days a direct sequel to the 2016 series?
Designated Survivor: 60 Days is an adaptation of the original Designated Survivor concept rather than a direct sequel to the 2016 series. Both shows center on the sudden appointment of a cabinet member to the presidency after a catastrophic event destroys the presidential line of succession.
Should I watch the original Designated Survivor before watching the 2019 adaptation?
You do not need to watch the 2016 Designated Survivor to understand the 2019 adaptation, Designated Survivor: 60 Days. Both series are independent versions of the same core premise, focusing on a low-level official becoming president following a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union.