What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedInto the Woods
Rob Marshall · Film · 2014
If you loved Into the Woods, start with Into the Woods (JAMES. SONDHEIM LAPINE (STEPHEN.), Stephen Sondheim, 1987) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Into the Woods across media.
If Into the Woods captivated you, it is because you enjoy seeing classic narratives and familiar structures dismantled by sharp, cynical wit.
Start with the source
The source
Into the Woods
JAMES. SONDHEIM LAPINE (STEPHEN.), Stephen Sondheim · Book · 1987
Books on the same thread
Hansel and Gretel
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1986
Explores: Poverty, Abandonment, Survival.
Like the darker corners of Into the Woods, this classic tale explores the grim reality of abandonment and survival that exists beneath the surface of traditional fairy stories.
Wicked
Gregory Maguire · Book
Shares a thread with Into the Woods: moral ambiguity.
This novel mirrors the perspective-shifting nature of Into the Woods, forcing you to reconsider the moral ambiguity of a character once dismissed as a simple, spiteful witch.
Little Red Riding Hood
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1981
Explores: Predation, Deception, Naivete.
Much like the subversive storytelling found in Into the Woods, this original version strips away the safety of a happy ending to highlight the raw, predatory danger.
The Fisherman and His Wife
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1957
Explores: Greed, Dissatisfaction, Consequences.
The consequences of reckless wishes are central to Into the Woods, and this tale serves as a cautionary meditation on the destructive nature of insatiable human greed.
Series on the same thread
Weeds
Jenji Kohan · Series · 2005
Shares 2 threads with Into the Woods: Moral Ambiguity, Dark Comedy.
You will recognize the moral ambiguity and suburban desperation of Into the Woods here, as a mother navigates a dangerous path to provide for her fractured family.
Inside No. 9
Reece Shearsmith · Series · 2014
Shares 2 threads with Into the Woods: Moral Ambiguity, Dark Comedy.
This series captures the same dark comedy and structural irony found in Into the Woods, delivering twisted, satirical tales that constantly subvert your expectations of the genre.
black-ish
Kenya Barris · Series · 2014
Explores: Cultural Identity, Assimilation, Generational Differences.
If the complex family dynamics of Into the Woods drew you in, you will appreciate how this show examines the struggle of maintaining identity within a family.
Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon · Series · 2013
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Existentialism, Dark Humor.
The dysfunctional family unit at the heart of Into the Woods is amplified here through a nihilistic lens, blending existential dread with the same dark, biting humor.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Wood From The Trees
Podcast
Explores: mindfulness, well-being, introspection.
Just as the characters in Into the Woods must look past the surface of their circumstances, this podcast offers the introspection required to see the bigger picture.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast mirrors the dark comedy of Into the Woods by applying a sharp, observational wit to examine the tragic and often ironic realities of human misfortune.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Into the Woods (2014) based on a book?
The 2014 movie Into the Woods is a film adaptation of the 1987 stage musical. While there is no original novel, the story is rooted in the 1987 source material that brings various fairy tale characters together in a woods filled with magic to break a witch's curse.
What is the plot of the 2014 movie Into the Woods?
The movie Into the Woods follows a baker and his wife as they journey into a woods filled with magic. They must interact with various fairy tale characters to lift a curse placed upon them by their neighbor, who is a spiteful witch.
Should I watch the 2014 film before reading the 1987 Into the Woods source material?
You can consume either version independently. The 2014 movie Into the Woods adapts the narrative and characters established in the 1987 source material. Both versions focus on the baker and his wife attempting to break a curse in a woods filled with magic.
Does the 2014 Into the Woods movie feature the same characters as the 1987 source material?
Yes, the 2014 movie Into the Woods maintains the core characters from the 1987 source material. Both versions center on a baker and his wife who must navigate a woods filled with magic and interact with various fairy tale characters to end a curse.