What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedEmpire of Pain
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book · 2021
If you loved Empire of Pain, start with Painkiller (2023) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Empire of Pain across media.
If Empire of Pain captivated you, it is likely because you find the intersection of unchecked corporate greed and human devastation fascinating.
Films on the same thread
House of Gucci
Ridley Scott · Film · 2021
Explores: Greed, Family Betrayal, Power Struggle.
Like the Sackler dynasty in Empire of Pain, the Gucci family demonstrates how generational wealth and unchecked ambition can lead to a spectacular and destructive moral unraveling.
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
This film mirrors the investigative weight of Empire of Pain by exploring the heavy burden of legacy and the profound moral ambiguity inherent in historical scientific advancement.
Pain Hustlers
David Yates · Film · 2023
Shares a thread with Empire of Pain: Systemic Corruption.
Much like the corporate malfeasance exposed in Empire of Pain, this story examines the dangerous intersection of pharmaceutical sales, personal desperation, and the corruption of the American dream.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1972
Explores: Power, Family Loyalty, Corruption.
The Corleone saga provides the same deep dive into family dynamics and systemic corruption that made Empire of Pain such a gripping portrait of a dynasty's power.
Series on the same thread
Dopesick
Danny Strong · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Empire of Pain: Systemic Corruption.
If you appreciated the detailed account of the opioid crisis in Empire of Pain, this series offers a complementary look at the human cost of systemic corporate greed.
Painkiller
Series · 2023
Explores: Corporate Greed, Addiction, Pharmaceutical Industry.
This drama echoes the investigative scope of Empire of Pain, focusing on the perpetrators and victims of the opioid epidemic through a lens of government and corporate corruption.
The Crime of the Century
Alex Gibney · Series · 2021
Explores: Pharmaceutical Industry Corruption, Opioid Crisis, Government Regulation Failure.
This documentary serves as a direct companion to Empire of Pain, providing a searing indictment of the same pharmaceutical industry practices and regulatory failures that defined the Sacklers.
Podcasts on the same thread
Infamous
Podcast
Shares 2 threads with Empire of Pain: investigative journalism, true crime.
This podcast shares the investigative spirit of Empire of Pain by holding powerful figures accountable and pulling back the curtain on the scandals that define our modern era.
The Fall of the House of Du Val
BusinessDesk · Podcast
Shares a thread with Empire of Pain: Investigative Journalism.
This investigation into the Du Val group mirrors the structural collapse and financial betrayal found in Empire of Pain, showing how empires built on fraud eventually fall apart.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Empire of Pain a work of fiction?
No, Empire of Pain is a non-fiction book written by Patrick Radden Keefe. It provides a detailed historical account of the Sackler family dynasty, tracing their fortune from the development of Valium to the controversy surrounding the reputation of OxyContin.
What is the primary focus of Empire of Pain?
Empire of Pain examines three generations of the Sackler family. The book explores how the family built their massive fortune through the pharmaceutical industry and how their reputation was ultimately destroyed by their involvement in the marketing and distribution of the drug OxyContin.
Did Patrick Radden Keefe write other books before Empire of Pain?
Yes, Patrick Radden Keefe is a prize-winning and bestselling author who wrote the book Say Nothing before releasing Empire of Pain. Both works have earned critical acclaim for his investigative approach to complex historical and social narratives.
Has Empire of Pain received any literary recognition?
Empire of Pain has received significant recognition, including being named a New York Times notable book of the year and a New York Times bestseller. Additionally, it was selected as a National Book Critics Circle nominee for its contribution to contemporary non-fiction literature.