If you loved
Emily the Criminal
John Patton Ford · Film · 2022
You were hooked by Emily the Criminal because of how it exposes the terrifying, logical descent into crime fueled by economic desperation.
Books on the same thread
The Empress File
John Sandford · Book · 1992
Explores: Confidence Game, High-stakes deception, Criminal partnership.
Like Emily the Criminal, this book centers on the adrenaline of high-stakes deception and the precarious nature of criminal partnerships when you are driven by the need for success.
Void Moon
Michael Connelly · Book · 2001
Explores: Ex-convict protagonist, High-stakes heist, Professional criminal underworld.
Much like the protagonist of Emily the Criminal, the lead in this story navigates a professional underworld where the line between survival and total destruction is razor thin.
The Guest
Emma Cline · Book · 2023
Shares a thread with Emily the Criminal: Moral ambiguity.
This novel captures the same underlying class anxiety found in Emily the Criminal, depicting a woman performing an identity to escape her circumstances through manipulation and sheer force of will.
A Simple Plan
Scott Smith · Book · 2007
Explores: Moral Decay, Greed, Consequences.
If the moral decay of Emily the Criminal captivated you, this story provides an equally chilling look at how quickly ordinary people descend into violence when sudden wealth becomes an option.
Series on the same thread
The Lincoln Lawyer
David E. Kelley · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Emily the Criminal: Moral Ambiguity.
This series mirrors the moral ambiguity of Emily the Criminal, following a man who manipulates the justice system to his advantage while existing on the fringes of acceptable society.
Ozark
Bill Dubuque · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Emily the Criminal: Neo-Noir.
You will recognize the same suffocating pressure of systemic inequality and the moral compromise seen in Emily the Criminal as this family is forced into the dangerous criminal underworld.
Good Girls
Jenna Bans · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Emily the Criminal: Moral Ambiguity.
Like the desperate transition Emily the Criminal makes into illicit work, these women find that their financial desperation serves as the catalyst for breaking laws to regain personal power.
Extracurricular
Gin Han-sai · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with Emily the Criminal: Moral Ambiguity.
This series perfectly echoes the central conflict of Emily the Criminal by showing how a gifted individual chooses a life of crime as a direct response to social inequality.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime Junkie
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2026
Explores: justice seeking, obsession, societal impact.
If the real-world grit of Emily the Criminal left you obsessed with the mechanics of crime, this podcast offers a deep dive into the true stories behind such investigations.
Bad Money
Kindling Media & Vespucci · Podcast · 2023
This podcast explores the same obsession with wealth and the audacity to challenge powerful systems that drove the protagonist to take risks throughout Emily the Criminal.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Emily the Criminal based on a true story?
The movie Emily the Criminal is a fictional work written and directed by John Patton Ford. It follows the story of a character named Emily who turns to credit card fraud to pay off her debts, rather than being a depiction of actual historical events or people.
What is the primary motivation for Emily in Emily the Criminal?
In Emily the Criminal, the protagonist is driven by a desperate need for income. Faced with financial struggles, she accepts a high-risk gig involving stolen credit cards to secure quick cash, which eventually leads her to pursue more dangerous opportunities alongside a middleman named Youcef.
How does the plot of Emily the Criminal escalate?
The plot of Emily the Criminal begins with small-scale credit card fraud. As Emily becomes seduced by the illicit thrills and the money provided by her associate Youcef, the pair decides to expand their operations, moving from simple tasks to a larger plan to take their illegal business to the next level.
Who is the main character Emily working with in Emily the Criminal?
In Emily the Criminal, Emily works with a charismatic middleman named Youcef. He supplies her with stolen credit cards to facilitate her illegal shopping gigs, and the two eventually form a partnership to hatch a more ambitious plan to grow their criminal enterprise together.