What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedGotham
Bruno Heller · Series · 2014
If you loved Gotham, start with Batman: Year One (Sam Liu, 2011) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Gotham across media.
What hooked you in Gotham was the way the rot of a city forces individuals to choose between morality and necessary vigilante justice.
Books on the same thread
Batman
Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale, Bob Kane · Book · 2011
Shares 3 threads with Gotham: Moral Ambiguity, Corruption, Good vs Evil.
Like Gotham, this story explores the deep-seated corruption of a city and the moral ambiguity that defines the early, formative years of iconic figures fighting for justice.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Shares a thread with Gotham: Corruption.
If you were drawn to the systemic corruption depicted in Gotham, this investigative work provides a real-world look at how organized crime maintains its grip on society.
My Hero Academia
Kohei Horikoshi · Book · 2015
Explores: Underdog Story, Heroism, Legacy.
While shifting to a school setting, this series mirrors Gotham by focusing on the complex journey of heroes developing their identities within a challenging, high-stakes social hierarchy.
Absolute Batman, Vol. 2: Abomination
Scott Snyder · Book
Shares a thread with Gotham: superhero noir.
This comic captures the same grim atmosphere found in Gotham, focusing on how corrupt institutions force a vigilante to engage in psychological warfare to achieve dark justice.
Films on the same thread
Batman: Year One
Sam Liu · Film · 2011
Shares 3 threads with Gotham: Corruption, Moral Ambiguity, Vigilantism.
This film serves as a perfect companion to Gotham, detailing the early, intersecting paths of Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne as they navigate the city's pervasive urban decay.
Batman Begins
Christopher Nolan · Film · 2005
Shares 2 threads with Gotham: Vigilantism, Corruption.
Much like Gotham, this origin story emphasizes the struggle of working outside a broken system to fight the deep-rooted corruption that threatens to consume an entire city.
Batman
Tim Burton · Film · 1989
Shares 3 threads with Gotham: Vigilantism, Corruption, Superhero Noir.
This classic film shares the gothic, noir-soaked aesthetic of Gotham, focusing on the psychological trauma of a hero rising to combat the madness ruling his city streets.
The Batman
Matt Reeves · Film · 2022
Shares 3 threads with Gotham: Corruption, Vigilantism, Detective Fiction.
This film mirrors the detective-driven narrative of Gotham, following a young hero as he uncovers institutional corruption and confronts the moral decay of his own family legacy.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Gotham: moral ambiguity.
This podcast explores the moral ambiguity of human behavior in ways that echo the complex, gray-area choices characters are forced to make throughout the seasons of Gotham.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
If the social decay and investigative atmosphere of Gotham captivated you, this character study offers a similarly compelling look at a man fighting against his local environment.
Common questions
What is the premise of Gotham?
Gotham explores the origins of Commissioner Gordon, following his rise from a rookie detective to a high-ranking official. The series depicts his efforts to navigate the deep-seated corruption within Gotham City while witnessing the early development of the world's most iconic villains.
Who created the television series Gotham?
The television series Gotham was created by Bruno Heller. The show focuses on the career of Jim Gordon as he battles the criminal elements that rule the city and deals with the emergence of legendary figures within the Gotham universe.
Is Gotham focused on Commissioner Gordon?
Yes, Gotham centers on the story of Commissioner Gordon. The narrative details his professional journey from a rookie detective to his eventual role as Commissioner, highlighting the challenges he faces while trying to maintain law and order in a city plagued by corruption.
What does Gotham show about the city?
Gotham portrays the city as a spawning ground for the world's most iconic villains. The series examines how corruption secretly ruled Gotham City and how the environment shaped the individuals who would eventually become the famous adversaries known to the public.