What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHell or High Water
David Mackenzie · Film · 2016
If you loved Hell or High Water, start with Hell and High Water (Tanya Landman, 2016) — a book on the same thread. Below: 1 book, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Hell or High Water across media.
If Hell or High Water captivated you, it is because you appreciate stories where desperate people navigate the crushing weight of their surroundings.
Books on the same thread
Hell and High Water
Tanya Landman · Book · 2016
Explores: Injustice, Family loyalty, Search for truth.
Like the brothers in Hell or High Water, this narrative centers on an urgent, high-stakes quest to save a family name, driven by deep-seated loyalty and necessary defiance.
Series on the same thread
Westworld
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Hell or High Water: Moral Ambiguity.
You will recognize the same moral ambiguity found in Hell or High Water as this series explores how extreme environments force characters to make impossible choices for survival.
Ozark
Bill Dubuque · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Hell or High Water: Crime Drama.
The central struggle to protect a family unit through illicit means in this series mirrors the gritty, desperate ambition that defined the protagonists of Hell or High Water.
Landman
Taylor Sheridan · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Hell or High Water: Neo-Western.
This series captures the same West Texas tension present in Hell or High Water, focusing on the volatile intersection of economic desperation and the harsh realities of modern industry.
Ransom Canyon
Series · 2025
Explores: legacy, land disputes, intergenerational conflict.
If the battle for property and legacy in Hell or High Water resonated with you, this saga offers a similar look at how land disputes define human relationships.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Hell or High Water: moral ambiguity.
This podcast explores the same moral gray areas as Hell or High Water, focusing on the human side of complex legal struggles and those caught in the middle.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
For those who appreciated the focus on rural life in Hell or High Water, this drama provides an immersive look at the interconnected challenges of community and farming.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Hell or High Water based on a true story about a family farm?
Hell or High Water is a fictional drama directed by David Mackenzie. The film follows a divorced father and his ex-con brother who devise a scheme to save their family farm in West Texas, but the narrative is not based on actual events.
What is the primary motivation for the brothers in Hell or High Water?
The main motivation for the characters in Hell or High Water is financial desperation. The divorced father and his ex-con brother execute a series of bank robberies specifically to save their family's farm in West Texas from being lost to the bank.
Does Hell or High Water focus on the relationship between the two brothers?
Yes, Hell or High Water centers on the bond between the two brothers as they navigate their desperate situation. The story explores their dynamic as they work together to carry out their scheme to protect the family farm in West Texas.
Where does the story of Hell or High Water take place?
The story of Hell or High Water is set in West Texas. The location is central to the plot, as the landscape provides the backdrop for the brothers' desperate attempts to save their family farm through their illegal scheme.