If you loved
Dolittle
Stephen Gaghan · Film · 2020
If Dolittle captured your imagination, you will love these stories that blend eccentric protagonists with the healing power of unconventional companionship.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Doctor Dolittle
Betty Thomas · Film · 1998
Books on the same thread
Haroun and the Sea of Stories
Salman Rushdie · Book · 1991
Like the whimsical world of Dolittle, this story features an inventive journey through an exotic landscape where talking animals and imaginative magic restore a sense of wonder and purpose.
Mrs. Perivale and the Blue Fire Crystal
Dash Hoffman · Book · 2017
Much like the reluctant hero in Dolittle, this story follows an unlikely protagonist embarking on a high-stakes adventure where magical creatures play a vital role in overcoming a world-altering crisis.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt · Book · 2022
If you appreciated the way Dolittle uses animal companionship to process grief, you will resonate with this moving story about finding connection and healing through an unexpected bond with an octopus.
Flock Together
B.J. Hollars · Book · 2017
While Dolittle explores the fantasy of talking to animals, this reflection on extinction mirrors the film's deeper focus on the profound sense of loss and memory associated with our natural world.
Series on the same thread
The Apothecary Diaries
Series · 2023
If you enjoyed the medical mystery at the heart of Dolittle, you will find this tale of a brilliant apothecary navigating palace intrigue to save lives equally gripping and intellectually stimulating.
The Good Doctor
David Shore · Series · 2017
The protagonist of this series shares the outsider perspective and unique medical expertise that defined Dr. Dolittle, focusing on the professional growth that comes from solving complex, life-saving puzzles.
Sweet Tooth
Jim Mickle · Series · 2021
This adventure mirrors the tone of Dolittle by pairing a unique, hybrid protagonist with a protector, emphasizing the importance of unlikely friendships during a perilous journey through a changed world.
Scissor Seven
Xiaofeng He · Series · 2018
Much like the eccentric and bumbling hero of Dolittle, this character navigates a world of feuding factions while attempting to regain his identity through a series of absurd, action-packed encounters.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
If the personality of the lead in Dolittle kept you engaged, you will enjoy this candid look at professional intimacy and the search for authentic connection beyond the public persona.
Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy · Podcast · 2026
Fans of the medical oddities and period setting in Dolittle will appreciate this humorous exploration of historical medicine, which highlights the strange and often misguided ways we have treated patients.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Dolittle based on a book?
Yes, the character of Dr. John Dolittle originates from the literary source material titled The Story of Doctor Dolittle, which was published in 1948. This book serves as the foundation for the various cinematic adaptations of the eccentric doctor who can communicate with his menagerie of animals.
What order should I watch the Dolittle movies in?
There is no official chronological order for these films, as they are separate adaptations. You can watch the 1998 Doctor Dolittle movie or the 2020 Dolittle film independently. Each version provides a unique take on the doctor's interactions with his animals and his journey to save the queen.
How is the 2020 Dolittle different from the 1998 version?
The 2020 Dolittle is a distinct adaptation that follows a grieving doctor in Queen Victoria's England who embarks on an epic voyage to a mythical island. The 1998 Doctor Dolittle is a separate film adaptation that does not share the same plot regarding the queen's illness or the island quest.
Does the 2020 Dolittle movie follow the 1948 book exactly?
The 2020 Dolittle film is an adaptation inspired by the source material, The Story of Doctor Dolittle. While it features the iconic character and his menagerie of exotic animals, the movie introduces a specific plot involving a quest to find a cure for the young queen.