What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedForce Majeure
Ruben Östlund · Film · 2014
If you loved Force Majeure, start with Return to Paradise (Joseph Ruben, 1998) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Force Majeure across media.
You were drawn to the way Force Majeure unmasks the fragile, often cowardly underpinnings of human behavior during moments of crisis.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Return to Paradise
Joseph Ruben · Film · 1998
Books on the same thread
The Stranger (L'Étranger)
Albert Camus · Book · 1942
Shares a thread with Force Majeure: Existential Crisis.
Just as Force Majeure explores the absurdity of reaction in a catastrophe, this classic examines how an ordinary person becomes alienated through a senseless and morally ambiguous act.
The Suicide
Nikolaĭ Ėrdman · Book · 1979
Shares a thread with Force Majeure: Social Commentary.
Like the biting social commentary in Force Majeure, this play uses a desperate man to highlight the absurdity of societal expectations and the performative nature of human crisis.
A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman · Book
Explores: found family, grief and loss, grumpy-to-sunshine.
This story mirrors the Scandinavian setting and character-driven focus of Force Majeure, exploring how hidden emotional depths and personal loss shape the way individuals interact with their community.
A Personal Matter
Kenzaburō Ōe · Book · 1969
Shares a thread with Force Majeure: Responsibility.
Much like the internal collapse triggered in Force Majeure, this novel forces its protagonist to confront a profound moral dilemma that tests his identity and sense of fatherhood.
Series on the same thread
Borgen
Adam Price · Series · 2010
Explores: Political Intrigue, Moral Dilemmas, Power and Corruption.
This series captures the same Scandinavian tension found in Force Majeure, tracking how a leader’s personal integrity and moral compass are challenged by the pressures of public office.
Chernobyl
Craig Mazin · Series · 2019
Explores: Nuclear Disaster, Government Cover-Up, Sacrifice.
This drama shares the themes of disaster and human fallibility seen in Force Majeure, focusing on the difficult choices people make when faced with an uncontrollable, catastrophic event.
The Power of Nightmares
Adam Curtis · Series · 2004
Explores: political manipulation, fear mongering, social control.
If you appreciated how Force Majeure deconstructs social facades, this documentary will fascinate you by exposing how politicians manipulate collective fear to exert control over the modern public.
The White Lotus
Mike White · Series · 2021
Explores: Privilege, Class Conflict, Wealth Inequality.
This show echoes the dark, satirical look at human relationships in Force Majeure, revealing the ugly, complex truths hidden beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives and social structures.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These stories mirror the moral ambiguity of Force Majeure, offering quick, cinematic explorations of the human condition that prioritize psychological depth over traditional narrative resolutions.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
Much like the dark humor applied to tragedy in Force Majeure, this podcast uses a comedic lens to examine the sociological failures and grim realities of small-town life.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Force Majeure based on a true story?
Force Majeure is not based on a true story. The film depicts a fictional Swedish family holidaying in the French Alps who experience a crisis of character when an avalanche occurs nearby, forcing them to confront the father's act of cowardliness during the event.
Should I watch Return to Paradise if I liked Force Majeure?
You can watch Return to Paradise if you enjoyed the thematic exploration of moral dilemmas found in Force Majeure. While both films examine difficult human choices and the consequences of personal actions, they are distinct narratives and do not belong to the same series or shared universe.
What is the premise of Force Majeure?
Force Majeure follows a Swedish family vacationing in the French Alps. The central conflict arises when an avalanche breaks out during their trip, leading the family to struggle with the fallout of the father's cowardly reaction to the natural disaster as they attempt to reconcile their relationships.
How long is the movie Force Majeure?
Force Majeure is a 2014 film directed by Ruben Östlund. It focuses on the psychological tension within a Swedish family after an avalanche occurs during their alpine holiday. The film explores the aftermath of the father's cowardliness and the resulting strain on the family dynamic.