What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedGet Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
If you loved Get Shorty, start with Get Shorty (Barry Sonnenfeld, 1995) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Get Shorty across media.
You loved Get Shorty for its sharp, cynical humor and the way it masterfully exposes the absurdity hidden within criminal underworlds.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Get Shorty
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1995
Adaptation
Get Shorty
Davey Holmes · Series · 2017
Films on the same thread
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino · Film · 1994
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Redemption, Fate.
Like Get Shorty, this film balances dark violence with witty, philosophical dialogue, perfectly capturing the strange, mundane side of life for people operating outside the law.
GoodFellas
Martin Scorsese · Film · 1990
Explores: Organized Crime, Loyalty and Betrayal, American Dream Corruption.
If you enjoyed the mobster perspective in Get Shorty, you will appreciate this grounded look at the rise and fall of career criminals within a rigid hierarchy.
Heat
Michael Mann · Film · 1995
Explores: Professionalism vs. Personal Life, Obsession, Cat and Mouse.
The cat-and-mouse tension mirrors the professional stakes found in Get Shorty, focusing on men who treat their illicit careers with the same discipline as any other job.
The Big Short
Adam McKay · Film · 2015
Explores: Economic collapse, Corporate greed, Systemic corruption.
This film shares the sharp, satirical edge of Get Shorty, revealing the systemic corruption and greed behind professional worlds through a cynical, humorous lens.
Series on the same thread
The Sopranos
David Chase · Series · 1999
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existential Crisis, Family Dynamics.
You will recognize the same struggle of a mobster attempting to navigate personal life while managing a criminal empire, a central conflict that defines the appeal of Get Shorty.
Law & Order
Dick Wolf · Series · 1990
Explores: Justice, Moral ambiguity, Systemic corruption.
While more procedural than Get Shorty, this series captures the same grit and moral ambiguity of the legal and criminal worlds, keeping the focus on the reality of justice.
Ozark
Bill Dubuque · Series · 2017
Explores: Money Laundering, Moral Decay, Family Dysfunction.
Much like the protagonist in Get Shorty, this character is forced to apply his specialized professional skills to a dangerous criminal underworld, resulting in high-stakes, dark humor.
Better Call Saul
Vince Gilligan · Series · 2015
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Transformation, Redemption.
This transformation of a small-time hustler into a savvy player reflects the career ambition seen in Get Shorty, blending dark comedy with a cynical view of legal systems.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Dan Le Batard, Stugotz · Podcast · 2026
Explores: sports media satire, local sports culture, irreverent commentary.
If Get Shorty hit, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz shares the thread.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
If Get Shorty hit, Crime in Sports shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Get Shorty based on a book?
Yes, Get Shorty is based on the 1990 novel written by Elmore Leonard. The book follows Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark who travels to Los Angeles to track down a client, eventually leading to his career change in the entertainment industry.
What order should I watch Get Shorty in?
You can start with the 1995 film version of Get Shorty, which adapts the original novel. Alternatively, you can watch the 2017 Get Shorty television series. Both adaptations are inspired by Elmore Leonard's story of Chili Palmer but function as distinct projects.
Is the 2017 Get Shorty show a direct sequel to the movie?
No, the 2017 Get Shorty television series is not a direct sequel to the 1995 film. Both projects are separate adaptations of the original source material by Elmore Leonard, centering on the premise of a mobster attempting a career change in the film industry.
How does the Get Shorty movie compare to the book?
The 1995 Get Shorty movie is an adaptation of the 1990 book by Elmore Leonard. Both versions follow Chili Palmer as he leaves his life as a Miami loan shark to pursue a new career path after his pursuit of a client leads him to Los Angeles.