What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHidden Figures
Film · 2016
If you loved Hidden Figures, start with Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Hidden Figures across media.
If you loved Hidden Figures, you likely crave stories where marginalized individuals demonstrate extraordinary brilliance while challenging the rigid status quo of American history.
Books on the same thread
The Help
Kathryn Stockett · Book · 2009
Shares a thread with Hidden Figures: Civil Rights Movement.
Much like the protagonists in Hidden Figures, the women in this narrative navigate the complex social hierarchies of the American South with quiet strength and necessary, life-changing bravery.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Magazine · Book · 2022
Explores: Race in America, Slavery, Historical Revisionism.
If the historical context of Hidden Figures resonated with you, this work provides a deeper, systemic understanding of the racial dynamics that those brilliant women had to overcome.
The Boys in the Boat
Daniel James Brown · Book
Shares a thread with Hidden Figures: Perseverance.
You will appreciate this narrative of athletic perseverance, which echoes the same spirit of overcoming impossible odds and working in unison that defined the team in Hidden Figures.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston · Book · 1991
Explores: Black female identity, self-discovery, love and relationships.
This story of a woman forging her own path to independence mirrors the internal journey of the women in Hidden Figures as they claimed their rightful professional space.
Series on the same thread
For All Mankind
Ronald D. Moore · Series · 2019
Explores: Space Exploration, Cold War, Technological Advancement.
While this series explores an alternate timeline, it captures the same aspirational wonder and dedication to scientific advancement that made the NASA mission in Hidden Figures so compelling.
From the Earth to the Moon
Tom Hanks · Series · 1998
Explores: Space Race, Technological Advancement, American Exceptionalism.
Viewers captivated by the technical achievement and historical gravity of the space race in Hidden Figures will value this detailed, expansive look at the American journey to orbit.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Series · 2020
Shares a thread with Hidden Figures: Biographical Drama.
This series mirrors the empowering biographical focus of Hidden Figures by highlighting a Black woman whose relentless ambition and intellect allowed her to shatter barriers of her time.
Mrs. America
Dahvi Waller · Series · 2020
Explores: Second-wave feminism, Political activism, Culture wars.
If the struggle for gender equality in Hidden Figures moved you, this political drama offers a direct look at the subsequent, intense fight to secure equal rights in America.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This podcast provides the essential historical foundation for the struggles against systemic racism that Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary fought against daily throughout the story of Hidden Figures.
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam · Podcast · 2026
Explores: cognitive bias, human behavior, interpersonal dynamics.
The intellectual curiosity displayed by the NASA mathematicians in Hidden Figures finds a modern home here, as this program examines the human dynamics behind our biggest personal challenges.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Hidden Figures based on a true story?
Yes, Hidden Figures tells the true story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. These three brilliant African-American women worked at NASA and served as the essential brains behind the mission to launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
What is the main plot of Hidden Figures?
Hidden Figures follows the untold story of three visionary African-American women working at NASA. The film depicts how they crossed gender and race lines to serve as the mathematicians behind the historic operation that successfully launched astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
Who are the central characters in Hidden Figures?
The central characters featured in Hidden Figures are Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. These three brilliant women worked at NASA and overcame significant racial and gender barriers to contribute to the success of the mission that put John Glenn into orbit.
What mission does Hidden Figures focus on?
Hidden Figures focuses on the historic operation to launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The film highlights the vital contributions of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, whose work as NASA mathematicians made this significant achievement in history possible.