What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedGretel & Hansel
Film · 2020
If you loved Gretel & Hansel, start with Hansel and Gretel (Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, 1986) — a book from the same story. Below: 1 book, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Gretel & Hansel across media.
If the unsettling atmosphere of Gretel & Hansel captivated you, these stories explore the thin, terrifying line between childhood innocence and encroaching darkness.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Tommy Wirkola · Film · 2013
Adaptation
Secret Magic Control Agency
Alexey Tsitsilin · Film · 2021
Books on the same thread
Hansel and Gretel
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1986
Shares a thread with Gretel & Hansel: Survival.
Returning to the original fairy tale that inspired Gretel & Hansel reveals the core of the abandonment and survival themes that ground the film's haunting, visceral search for safety.
Series on the same thread
Over the Garden Wall
Patrick McHale · Series · 2014
Shares 2 threads with Gretel & Hansel: Dark Fantasy, Folk Horror.
Much like the protagonists of Gretel & Hansel, the brothers in this series navigate a strange, forest-bound wilderness where every encounter feels steeped in ancient, looming fairy tale dread.
Locke & Key
Meredith Averill · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with Gretel & Hansel: Coming of Age.
The focus on family secrets and the burden of grief in this series echoes the emotional weight that Gretel carries while protecting her brother from supernatural harm and discovery.
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Gretel & Hansel: Survival.
The intense feeling of isolation and the struggle against oppressive, malevolent forces found in Gretel & Hansel is mirrored here through the lens of a terrifying, controlled dystopian society.
Dark
Baran bo Odar · Series · 2017
Explores: Time Paradox, Family Secrets, Existential Crisis.
The sense of predestination and the unraveling of family secrets in this mystery will resonate with those drawn to the psychological tension and dark inevitability of Gretel & Hansel.
Podcasts on the same thread
Horror Tape
Podcast
Shares a thread with Gretel & Hansel: Folk Horror.
For those who appreciated the supernatural folklore roots of Gretel & Hansel, these horror stories provide a similar thrill by exploring the unsettling truth behind persistent and terrifying urban legends.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
If the dark exploration of survival and human nature in Gretel & Hansel left you wanting more, this podcast offers a conversational deep dive into the real-world horrors of humanity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Gretel & Hansel related to the 2013 movie Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters?
No, Gretel & Hansel is a distinct adaptation released in 2020 that focuses on a dark, atmospheric retelling. It shares no narrative connection or production continuity with the 2013 action movie Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.
Should I watch Secret Magic Control Agency after finishing Gretel & Hansel?
You can watch Secret Magic Control Agency if you enjoy the source material, but it differs significantly in tone. While Gretel & Hansel is a dark fairy tale, the 2021 movie Secret Magic Control Agency presents a lighthearted, animated take on the classic story.
Is Gretel & Hansel based on the 1986 book Hansel and Gretel?
Both Gretel & Hansel and the 1986 book Hansel and Gretel are derived from the same traditional fairy tale source material. While they share the foundational story of siblings in a dangerous forest, they are separate creative works with different interpretations.
How does the tone of Gretel & Hansel compare to Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters?
The tone of Gretel & Hansel is centered on a dark, terrifying search for food and work in a distant countryside. In contrast, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is an action-oriented film that deviates from the grim atmosphere found in the 2020 Gretel & Hansel movie.