What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedEquals
Drake Doremus · Film · 2015
If you loved Equals, start with Humans (Jonathan Brackley, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Equals across media.
If you loved Equals, you are likely drawn to stories that explore the fragile, flickering persistence of human emotion within sterile, controlled environments.
Books on the same thread
Brave New World
Aldous Huxley · Book · 1932
Shares a thread with Equals: Utopian Society.
Much like the world of Equals, this classic examines a society where emotional suppression is mandated for stability, highlighting the inevitable conflict between human individuality and systemic control.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell · Book · 2004
Explores: Totalitarianism, Surveillance, Loss of Individuality.
If you were captivated by the oppressive atmosphere in Equals, you will appreciate how this narrative depicts the internal struggle of an individual resisting a totalizing, emotionless regime.
Matched
Ally Condie · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with Equals: Forbidden Love.
This story mirrors the forbidden love found in Equals, focusing on a protagonist who defies rigid societal dictates regarding human connection to preserve their own sense of free will.
The Giver
Lois Lowry · Book · 1993
Explores: Utopia, Loss of Memory, Individuality vs. Conformity.
This narrative echoes the core premise of Equals by presenting a society that has traded the complexities of human memory and emotion for the comfort of absolute conformity.
Series on the same thread
Westworld
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2016
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Existentialism, Free Will vs. Determinism.
Fans of the existential questions in Equals will find a deeper exploration of human consciousness here, as the characters struggle with the nature of their own programmed, artificial existence.
Humans
Jonathan Brackley · Series · 2015
Explores: Artificial Consciousness, Human-Robot Relations, Technological Singularity.
This series expands on the themes of humanity seen in Equals by questioning where the line is drawn when artificial beings begin to exhibit the emotions we consider uniquely human.
Mr. Robot
Sam Esmail · Series · 2015
Explores: Hacking, Anti-capitalism, Mental Illness.
Just as the characters in Equals navigate a cold, detached world, this story follows a protagonist who struggles to bridge the emotional void separating him from the rest of society.
Severance
Dan Erickson · Series · 2022
Explores: Identity Crisis, Existentialism, Memory Manipulation.
This exploration of memory manipulation and corporate control resonates with the aesthetic of Equals, illustrating how modern systems attempt to surgically excise the messy parts of the human experience.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
If the themes of love and loss in Equals moved you, these audio dramas offer a similar focus on the resilience of human connection within harsh, unforgiving futuristic landscapes.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These stories reflect the intimate, speculative nature of Equals, providing a close look at the human condition through various lenses that challenge the boundaries of reality and emotional depth.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Equals a movie about a world without emotions?
Yes, Equals is a 2015 film directed by Drake Doremus that depicts a futuristic society where human emotions have been completely eradicated. The story centers on a romantic connection formed within this restrictive environment where feeling is considered a disease.
Who directed the 2015 film Equals?
The film Equals was directed by Drake Doremus. It is a futuristic love story released in 2015 that explores the challenges of experiencing human emotion in a setting where such feelings have been successfully removed from the population.
What is the central premise of the movie Equals?
Equals is a science fiction love story set in a future where emotions have been eradicated. The plot follows the development of a forbidden relationship in a society that views the ability to feel as a dangerous condition that must be suppressed.
Is Equals a futuristic love story?
Yes, Equals is classified as a futuristic love story. The narrative focuses on the conflict between the characters and their emotionless society, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining a romantic connection in a world where human feelings are no longer permitted.