What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedGoodFellas
Martin Scorsese · Film · 1990
If you loved GoodFellas, start with Wiseguy (Frank Lupo, 1987) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to GoodFellas across media.
If you loved GoodFellas, you are drawn to the gritty, intimate exploration of how institutional power corrupts the moral compass.
Start with the source
The source
Wiseguy
Frank Lupo · Series · 1987
Books on the same thread
The Godfather
Mario Puzo · Book · 1969
Explores: Power, Loyalty, Family.
Much like GoodFellas, this foundational crime saga captures the intricate web of family loyalty and the high cost of maintaining power within a clandestine, dangerous criminal organization.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
David Grann · Book · 2018
Explores: Racial injustice, Corruption, Greed.
This investigation into systemic greed and murder mirrors the dark, corrupt underbelly of the American dream that serves as the backbone of the narrative in GoodFellas.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 1991
Explores: The American Dream, Social Class, Wealth and Status.
This classic tale shares the cynical perspective found in GoodFellas, illustrating how the pursuit of status and wealth inevitably leads to personal tragedy and moral decay.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Shares a thread with GoodFellas: Organized Crime.
This unflinching look at modern organized crime provides the same investigative intensity and stark social commentary that defined the rise and fall trajectory seen in GoodFellas.
Series on the same thread
The Sopranos
David Chase · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with GoodFellas: Moral Ambiguity.
Fans of GoodFellas will appreciate this deep dive into the existential crisis and moral ambiguity faced by those attempting to balance domestic life with a criminal career.
Law & Order
Dick Wolf · Series · 1990
Shares a thread with GoodFellas: Moral ambiguity.
The procedural focus on systemic corruption and the pursuit of justice provides a necessary, grounded counterpoint to the criminal perspective established in the world of GoodFellas.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Series · 2014
Shares 2 threads with GoodFellas: organized crime, moral ambiguity.
This gritty drama mirrors the betrayal and power struggles central to GoodFellas, offering a visceral look at the internal dynamics of a brutal, organized criminal machine.
Crime Story
Gustave Reininger · Series · 1986
Shares 2 threads with GoodFellas: Moral ambiguity, Organized crime.
The obsessive, cat-and-mouse dynamic between law enforcement and the criminal underworld echoes the tense, high-stakes atmosphere that drives the narrative momentum of GoodFellas.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
These character-driven narratives capture the same human fascination with the dark, surprising turns of real life that made the storytelling in GoodFellas so incredibly compelling.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
This podcast explores the darker side of human behavior through a conversational lens, appealing to the same curiosity about criminal motives that defined GoodFellas.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is GoodFellas based on a true story?
Yes, GoodFellas is the true story of Henry Hill, a Brooklyn kid who is adopted by neighborhood gangsters at an early age. The film chronicles his life and experiences within the criminal underworld as he navigates his half-Irish and half-Sicilian heritage.
Should I watch Wiseguy after finishing GoodFellas?
If you enjoyed the narrative style of GoodFellas, you can watch Wiseguy. This television production serves as source material related to the same subject matter, providing further context into the life of Henry Hill and the world depicted in the film.
How does the source material Wiseguy relate to GoodFellas?
Wiseguy is a source material title that provides the foundation for the narrative explored in GoodFellas. While GoodFellas is the 1990 film adaptation directed by Martin Scorsese, Wiseguy offers additional background on the true story of Henry Hill and his involvement with local gangsters.
What is the background of the main character in GoodFellas?
The main character in GoodFellas is Henry Hill, a Brooklyn kid of half-Irish and half-Sicilian descent. The story follows his life from his early years being adopted by local neighborhood gangsters to his experiences within their criminal organization.