What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedI Origins
Mike Cahill · Film · 2014
If you loved I Origins, start with Sense8 (Lana Wachowski, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to I Origins across media.
If I Origins hooked you with its search for spiritual truth through a scientific lens, these picks continue that inquiry.
Books on the same thread
Stories of Your Life and Others
Ted Chiang · Book · 2015
Explores: Linguistics, Free Will vs. Determinism, The Nature of Reality.
Like I Origins, these stories masterfully bridge the gap between rigorous scientific rationalism and the profound, often inexplicable, nature of human existence and free will.
Arrival
Ted Chiang · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with I Origins: Philosophical Science Fiction.
This collection mirrors the intellectual curiosity of I Origins by using linguistics and the perception of time to interrogate the fundamental boundaries of our reality.
Foundation
Isaac Asimov · Book · 1984
Explores: Civilization Collapse, Rebuilding Society, Psychohistory.
While grander in scope than I Origins, this series echoes the film's fascination with how systemic patterns and history dictate the trajectory of human life.
Cosmos
Carl Sagan · Book · 1980
Explores: Scientific Exploration, Humanism, Skepticism.
Readers of I Origins will appreciate this exploration of the cosmos, which mirrors the film's attempt to place our individual consciousness within a broader, scientific framework.
Series on the same thread
Sense8
Lana Wachowski · Series · 2015
Explores: Connectedness, Empathy, Identity.
This series captures the same sense of interconnectedness found in I Origins, focusing on how extraordinary links between individuals can challenge our understanding of personal identity.
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
Carl Sagan · Series · 1980
Explores: Cosmology, Origin of Life, Scientific History.
If you were drawn to the existential questions in I Origins, this documentary provides the same sense of wonder regarding our origins and place in the universe.
Cosmos
Ann Druyan · Series · 2014
Explores: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Scientific History.
This series shares the spirit of I Origins by presenting complex scientific concepts as a gateway to understanding the deep mysteries of our existence and time.
The OA
Brit Marling · Series · 2016
Explores: Interdimensional Travel, Near-Death Experiences, Faith Healing.
Much like I Origins, this narrative leans into the blurred lines between science and the supernatural, using personal mystery to investigate the power of human belief.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama mirrors the thematic depth of I Origins, exploring how love and consciousness persist even in the face of a cold, indifferent universe.
Lex Fridman Podcast
Lex Fridman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, technological ethics, deep thinking.
These conversations mirror the intellectual rigor of I Origins, inviting you to dive deep into the intersection of technology, biology, and the fundamental human condition.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of I Origins?
I Origins follows a molecular biologist whose research into the human eye leads to significant discoveries. The film explores the intersection of scientific evidence and spiritual beliefs, examining how these findings challenge the fundamental understanding of humanity.
Is I Origins a film about science?
Yes, I Origins centers on a molecular biologist conducting a study on the human eye. The narrative focuses on how this scientific investigation creates far-reaching implications that bridge the gap between empirical biological data and spiritual concepts.
Does I Origins explore spiritual themes?
Yes, I Origins explores spiritual beliefs by contrasting them with the scientific work of a molecular biologist. The story examines how the study of the human eye impacts the protagonist's perspective on the relationship between science and spirituality.
Who directed I Origins?
I Origins was directed by Mike Cahill and released in 2014. The film serves as a character-driven narrative centered on a molecular biologist whose study of the human eye results in profound questions regarding the nature of human existence.