What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedGet Shorty
Davey Holmes · Series · 2017
If you loved Get Shorty, start with Get Shorty (Elmore Leonard, 1990) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Get Shorty across media.
You loved Get Shorty because it highlights the darkly comedic collision between criminal ambition and the absurd realities of professional life.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Get Shorty
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1995
Books on the same thread
Pronto
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1993
Explores: Gambling, Mob life, Witness protection.
Since this is also by Elmore Leonard, you will recognize the same sharp, witty dialogue and moral ambiguity found in Get Shorty as characters flee from their criminal pasts.
Harlem Shuffle
Colson Whitehead · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with Get Shorty: Moral Ambiguity.
Just like the protagonist of Get Shorty, Ray Carney navigates the tension of leading a double life, balancing his everyday business aspirations with the demands of the criminal underworld.
Crook Manifesto
Colson Whitehead · Book
Explores: systemic corruption, 1970s urban decay, criminal underworld.
You will appreciate how this narrative mirrors the Get Shorty experience by placing grounded individuals in precarious situations where they must outsmart violent forces to protect their livelihoods.
The Late Show
Michael Connelly · Book · 2017
Explores: Female Detective, LAPD, Redemption.
This thriller captures the same gritty pursuit of redemption seen in Get Shorty, following an underdog professional who is determined to prove their worth within a complex system.
Films on the same thread
The Big Short
Adam McKay · Film · 2015
Explores: Economic collapse, Corporate greed, Systemic corruption.
If you enjoyed the Hollywood satire and systemic corruption in Get Shorty, you will find this biting examination of greed and high-stakes manipulation to be equally compelling and insightful.
The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie · Film · 2020
Shares a thread with Get Shorty: Crime Comedy.
This film delivers the same stylish, fast-paced criminal maneuvering found in Get Shorty, focusing on the intricate power struggles and high-stakes schemes required to maintain a vast illicit empire.
Snatch
Guy Ritchie · Film · 2000
Shares a thread with Get Shorty: Black Comedy.
The ensemble of eccentric criminals and overlapping plotlines mirrors the chaotic energy of Get Shorty, creating a dark comedy where everyone is trying to get ahead through double-crossing.
Baby Driver
Edgar Wright · Film · 2017
Explores: Redemption, Forced into Crime, Love vs. Loyalty.
Much like the protagonist in Get Shorty, this character struggles to escape the criminal life, illustrating the messy consequences that arise when forced labor clashes with personal desire.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
You will enjoy this podcast for the same reason you liked Get Shorty: it finds a humorous, investigative angle on the absurdity of people who fail spectacularly at their professions.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This show echoes the dark, observational humor of Get Shorty by dissecting the tragic ironies of human behavior through a lens that remains consistently entertaining and deeply researched.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 2017 Get Shorty television series a direct adaptation of the 1990 book?
The 2017 Get Shorty television series is based on the 1990 novel by Elmore Leonard. While it draws inspiration from the source material, the series follows the specific premise of Miles Daly attempting to transition from a Nevada crime ring into the Hollywood film industry.
Should I watch the 1995 Get Shorty movie before starting the 2017 television series?
You do not need to watch the 1995 Get Shorty movie to understand the 2017 series. Both the film and the television show are separate adaptations of Elmore Leonard's 1990 novel, featuring their own unique interpretations of the characters and the plot.
What is the premise of the Get Shorty television series?
In the Get Shorty television series, Miles Daly works as muscle for a Nevada crime ring. He attempts to change his profession by becoming a movie producer and laundering money through a Hollywood film with the assistance of a washed-up filmmaker named Rick Moreweather.
Is the Get Shorty television series based on a book?
Yes, the Get Shorty television series is based on the 1990 New York Times bestselling novel by Elmore Leonard. The show adapts the core concept of the book, centering on a criminal who tries to enter the film industry while managing his illicit ties.