What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDon't Breathe
Film · 2016
If you loved Don't Breathe, start with Breaking Bad (Vince Gilligan, 2008) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Don't Breathe across media.
What hooked you in Don't Breathe was the terrifying way that ordinary people find themselves trapped in escalating, high-stakes games of survival.
Books on the same thread
Hold Tight
Harlan Coben · Book · 2008
Explores: Teen Suicide, Parent-Teen Relationships, Privacy.
Like the home invaders in Don't Breathe, the parents here discover that digging for hidden secrets leads to dangerous consequences that spiral far beyond their initial control.
Stay Close
Harlan Coben · Book · 2012
Explores: Secrets, Past Sins, Identity.
If you enjoyed the way Don't Breathe forces characters to confront buried past sins, you will appreciate how these protagonists find that their hidden lives inevitably catch up.
The Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
Explores: Survival, Memory Loss, Conspiracy.
The desperate struggle for survival against a hostile environment in Don't Breathe is echoed here as characters rely on their instincts to escape a lethal, inescapable trap.
Goosebumps
R. L. Stine · Book · 1992
Explores: Monsters, Supernatural, Fear.
Just as Don't Breathe utilizes a claustrophobic setting to amplify fear, this story places characters in a perilous location where one wrong move invites immediate, life-threatening danger.
Series on the same thread
Breaking Bad
Vince Gilligan · Series · 2008
Explores: Moral Decay, Man Breaking Bad, Consequences of Crime.
The moral decay and the harrowing consequences of greed seen in Don't Breathe define this narrative, showing how far individuals will go when their desperation takes hold.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
Much like the terrifying discovery made in Don't Breathe, this series centers on a small group uncovering dark, life-altering secrets hidden behind the walls of their own town.
Money Heist
Álex Pina · Series · 2017
Explores: Mastermind, Underdog Story, Us vs. Them.
The high-stakes cat and mouse tension that defined Don't Breathe is front and center here, as a group of outcasts attempts a near-impossible crime against all odds.
Prison Break
Paul T. Scheuring · Series · 2005
Explores: Brotherhood, Wrongful Conviction, Redemption.
This show mirrors the relentless survival instinct found in Don't Breathe, following a man who must navigate a hostile, locked-down environment to secure his own desperate escape.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
If the moral ambiguity of the characters in Don't Breathe intrigued you, this podcast provides an equally compelling look at the complex lives of those caught in criminal acts.
Crime Junkie
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2026
Explores: justice seeking, obsession, societal impact.
Fans of the suspenseful, investigative nature of Don't Breathe will find themselves drawn into these true crime stories that explore the dark realities behind shocking, hidden acts.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Don't Breathe a home invasion movie?
Yes, Don't Breathe follows a group of teens who break into a blind man's home to commit a robbery. The film centers on the dangerous consequences they face after entering the property thinking they would get away with the perfect crime.
What is the premise of Don't Breathe?
The plot of Don't Breathe involves a group of teenagers who attempt to rob a blind man. They believe the home will be an easy target, but they quickly discover that they are wrong and find themselves trapped in a deadly situation.
Are the intruders in Don't Breathe successful?
No, the intruders in Don't Breathe are not successful. While they initially break into the blind man's home expecting to commit the perfect crime, they soon realize they have made a grave mistake and must struggle to survive the encounter.
Does Don't Breathe involve a blind antagonist?
Yes, the central tension in Don't Breathe is driven by the fact that the man whose home is being invaded is blind. The teens underestimate him, which leads to the intense conflict that defines the events of the movie.