If you loved
Futurama
Matt Groening · Series · 1999
What hooked you in Futurama was the cynical humor found in navigating the absurd, soul-crushing bureaucracy of an indifferent future.
Books on the same thread
The End of Eternity
Isaac Asimov · Book · 1955
If Futurama made you laugh at the administrative nightmare of the 31st century, you will appreciate how this novel turns temporal bureaucracy into a high-stakes, existential struggle for control.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
Much like the irreverent tone of Futurama, this space-faring classic uses the vast, cold universe as a backdrop for sharp satire and the inevitable absurdity of dealing with incompetent systems.
Fuzzy Nation
John Scalzi · Book · 2011
Fans of Futurama will recognize the biting corporate satire here, as this story mirrors the way Planet Express treats morality as a secondary concern to the bottom line of profit.
Feed
M. T. Anderson · Book · 2012
If you enjoyed the way Futurama parodied the consumerist rot of the future, you will find this exploration of technological dependence and the loss of individual humanity both hauntingly familiar.
Films on the same thread
Sleeper
Woody Allen · Film · 1973
This film shares the exact fish-out-of-water DNA of Futurama, pairing a man displaced in time with a satirical, dystopian vision of the future that mocks our current cultural anxieties.
Mickey 17
Bong Joon Ho · Film · 2025
Fans of Futurama will appreciate this dark take on corporate expendability, where the grim reality of dying on the job is treated with the same casual, systemic indifference as Fry's employment.
The Fifth Element
Luc Besson · Film · 1997
If you loved the retro-futuristic aesthetic and the reluctant hero dynamic of Futurama, this vibrant space opera offers a similar visual spectacle centered on an unlikely protagonist saving the day.
Back to the Future
Robert Zemeckis · Film · 1985
The time-travel mechanics and fish-out-of-water humor that defined the charm of Futurama are front and center in this classic, which explores the comedic friction of being displaced from one's era.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Just as Futurama uses its setting to comment on the cyclical nature of human folly, this historical analysis provides a grounded, cynical look at the patterns of power and collapse.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
If the world-building in Futurama prompted you to think about the fragility of civilization, this long-form analysis will satisfy your curiosity regarding the moral ambiguity and consequences of human power.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Futurama?
Futurama follows Philip J. Fry, a 20th-century pizza delivery boy who is cryogenically frozen for one thousand years. He wakes up in the 31st century and begins working for Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company operating in a retro-futuristic version of New York City.
When was Futurama created?
Futurama is a television series created by Matt Groening that first premiered in 1999. The show centers on the adventures of Philip J. Fry after he is transported from the late 20th century into the 31st century to work at an interplanetary delivery company.
Is Futurama set in the future?
Yes, Futurama is set in the 31st century. The story begins when Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from the late 20th century, is cryogenically frozen and wakes up one thousand years later to find employment at an interplanetary delivery company called Planet Express.
Who is the main character in Futurama?
The main character of Futurama is Philip J. Fry, a late-20th-century pizza delivery boy. After being cryogenically frozen for one thousand years, he finds himself in the 31st century working for Planet Express, which is an interplanetary delivery company located in a retro-futuristic New York City.