What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedGrimsby
Louis Leterrier · Film · 2016
If you loved Grimsby, start with Spy (Simeon Goulden, 2011) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Grimsby across media.
If you loved the chaotic brotherhood and bumbling incompetence of Grimsby, these stories masterfully blend high-stakes espionage with irreverent, character-driven absurdity.
Books on the same thread
The Ipcress File
Len Deighton · Book · 1963
Explores: Brainwashing, Betrayal, Working Class Hero.
Much like the tension found in Grimsby, this classic thriller centers on a working-class hero navigating a high-stakes world of deception and betrayal through a lens of gritty realism.
Spy School
Stuart Gibbs · Book
Explores: imposter syndrome, competence porn, underdog hero.
If the underdog spirit of Grimsby resonated with you, this story offers a similar fish-out-of-water experience as an ordinary boy is thrust into the complex world of professional espionage.
The Broker
John Grisham · Book · 2005
Explores: Political Intrigue, Redemption, Conspiracy.
Just as the protagonists in Grimsby find themselves caught in a global conspiracy, this legal thriller captures the same frantic feeling of being a pawn in a dangerous political game.
Spy x Family, Vol. 1
Tatsuya Endo · Book · 2020
Shares a thread with Grimsby: Action comedy.
This series shares the blend of secret agent missions and domestic dysfunction seen in Grimsby, proving that family dynamics are just as volatile as any international espionage plot.
Series on the same thread
SPY x FAMILY
Series · 2022
Shares 3 threads with Grimsby: Fish Out of Water, Satire, Action Comedy.
You will recognize the familiar clash of secret identities and domestic life from Grimsby here, as these characters struggle to maintain their cover while pretending to be a family.
Slow Horses
Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Grimsby: Underdog Story.
This show mirrors the bureaucratic incompetence found in Grimsby, focusing on a team of misfits who must somehow save the day despite their own glaring personal and professional flaws.
Archer
Adam Reed · Series · 2009
Shares 3 threads with Grimsby: Incompetence, Spy Comedy, Satire.
The selfish protagonist and workplace chaos of this series will feel right at home if you enjoyed the crude, high-energy antics and spy comedy elements of Grimsby.
Spy
Simeon Goulden · Series · 2011
Shares 2 threads with Grimsby: Underdog Story, Fish Out of Water.
This sitcom captures the same core premise of Grimsby by thrusting an underachieving, ordinary man into the elite world of MI5 and watching him struggle to keep up.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
The dark humor and focus on scandalous behavior found in this podcast provide the same satirical edge that makes the absurd situations in Grimsby so hilarious to watch.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Ringer · Podcast · 2026
Explores: banter, insider access, celebrity culture.
The emphasis on male friendship and banter in this podcast echoes the central brotherly bond that drives the narrative forward in Grimsby, despite the shift in subject matter.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Grimsby a movie about secret agents?
Yes, Grimsby follows a top MI6 assassin who is wrongfully accused and forced to go on the run. He teams up with his long-lost brother, who is a football hooligan, to stop a sinister plot and save the world.
Does the plot of Grimsby involve a family reunion?
Yes, the narrative of Grimsby centers on the relationship between a top MI6 assassin and his long-lost brother. The two reunite while the assassin is on the run, eventually working together to prevent a global threat.
Who directed the 2016 film Grimsby?
The 2016 film Grimsby was directed by Louis Leterrier. The story focuses on an MI6 assassin who joins forces with his football hooligan brother to clear his name and thwart a sinister plot.
What is the main conflict in the movie Grimsby?
In Grimsby, the primary conflict involves a top MI6 assassin who is wrongfully accused of a crime. While on the run, he must collaborate with his football hooligan brother to save the world from a sinister plot.