What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedInto the Woods
JAMES. SONDHEIM LAPINE (STEPHEN.), Stephen Sondheim · Book · 1987
If you loved Into the Woods, start with Into the Woods (Rob Marshall, 2014) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Into the Woods across media.
What hooked you in Into the Woods was the way dark, subversive storytelling deconstructs familiar tropes to reveal uncomfortable moral truths.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Into the Woods
Rob Marshall · Film · 2014
Films on the same thread
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tim Burton · Film · 2007
Explores: Revenge, Social Injustice, Obsession.
Like Into the Woods, this musical embraces a grim, macabre tone where the consequences of obsession and vengeance spiral into a dark, unforgettable exploration of human nature.
The Princess Bride
Rob Reiner · Film · 1987
Explores: True Love, Good vs Evil, Revenge.
If the fairy tale subversion of Into the Woods captured your imagination, you will appreciate how this story expertly balances classic tropes with a sharp, satirical wit.
Labyrinth
Jim Henson · Film · 1986
Shares a thread with Into the Woods: Dark Fantasy.
This journey through a fantastical realm mirrors the coming-of-age growth found in Into the Woods, forcing its protagonist to face the complex reality behind her childhood fantasies.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Film · 2022
Explores: Mortality, Second Chances, Bravery.
This film echoes the existential weight of Into the Woods by grounding a classic quest in the sobering, very real consequences of one's own mortality and past choices.
Series on the same thread
Midsomer Murders
Anthony Horowitz · Series · 1997
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Investigation, Rural Crime.
If Into the Woods hit, Midsomer Murders shares the thread.
Into the West
Steven Spielberg · Series · 2005
Explores: Westward Expansion, Clash of Cultures, Manifest Destiny.
If Into the Woods hit, Into the West shares the thread.
Inside No. 9
Reece Shearsmith · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with Into the Woods: Moral Ambiguity.
Fans of the moral ambiguity in Into the Woods will find a kindred spirit in these twisted tales, which use dark humor to expose the complexities of character.
Pennies from Heaven
Dennis Potter · Series · 1978
Explores: Escapism, Great Depression, Adultery.
Much like the genre-bending structure of Into the Woods, this series uses musical numbers to clash with a harsh, grounded reality, creating a deeply unsettling and resonant atmosphere.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Wood From The Trees
Podcast
Explores: mindfulness, well-being, introspection.
If Into the Woods hit, The Wood From The Trees shares the thread.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
If Into the Woods hit, The Archers shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Into the Woods available as a book?
Yes, Into the Woods is available as a book featuring the original book and lyrics by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. A new edition is published in 2025 to coincide with the revival production at the Bridge Theatre in London.
How does the 2014 Into the Woods movie compare to the stage musical?
The 2014 Into the Woods movie is a screen adaptation of the stage musical written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. Both versions follow the same core group of characters as they venture beyond their fairy tale endings to discover what truly matters.
What is the 2025 edition of Into the Woods?
The 2025 edition of Into the Woods is a publication of the musical book and lyrics released alongside the revival at the Bridge Theatre in London. It provides readers with the complete text of the stage show created by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim.
Who wrote the original Into the Woods?
Into the Woods was created by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The musical features a story involving iconic fairy tale characters such as the Baker, the Baker's Wife, the Witch, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Cinderella, and Rapunzel as they navigate life after their happy endings.