What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLeo
Film · 2023
If you loved Leo, start with Win or Lose (2025) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Leo across media.
What hooked you in Leo was the way an unlikely mentor figure finds profound purpose by guiding students through their messy, formative years.
Books on the same thread
See You Later, Alligator
Sally Hopgood, Emma Levey · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Leo: Friendship.
If the heartfelt goodbyes in Leo resonated with you, this story of a tortoise preparing for his next big adventure offers a similarly gentle look at friendship and parting ways.
Swimmy
Leo Lionni · Book · 1973
Explores: Courage, Teamwork, Ingenuity.
Much like Leo uses his experience to help his students, Swimmy demonstrates that even the smallest individuals can use their unique ingenuity to protect and lead their peers toward safety.
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro · Book · 2005
Explores: Mortality, Fate vs. Free Will, Memory and Nostalgia.
If Leo made you reflect on the passage of time, this story captures that same bittersweet nostalgia as characters look back on their school days and the weight of their mortality.
The Magic School Bus
Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen · Book · 1986
Explores: Science Education, Immersive Learning, Teamwork.
You will appreciate how this story mirrors the classroom-based adventures in Leo, showing that the best way to learn about the world is through direct, immersive experience alongside your classmates.
Series on the same thread
Win or Lose
Series · 2025
Shares a thread with Leo: Coming-of-Age.
If you enjoyed the way Leo focused on the individual struggles of students, you will find this series a compelling expansion of those same themes of personal growth and collective pressure.
Tear Along the Dotted Line
Zerocalcare · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Leo: Friendship.
This series captures the existential anxiety present in Leo, using a unique companion to help the protagonist navigate the complexities of life, friendship, and the path toward adulthood.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Series · 2023
Shares a thread with Leo: Self-Discovery.
Fans of Leo will recognize the poignant exploration of mortality here, as a long-lived protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery that highlights the true value of our limited time.
Assassination Classroom
Series · 2015
Explores: Assassination, Underdog Story, Teacher-Student Relationship.
If the core of Leo was the unconventional bond between a teacher and his students, you will find this dynamic pushed to the extreme as a misfit class learns from a monster.
Podcasts on the same thread
Torta Podcast
Podcast
Explores: embracing life, positive mindset, self-acceptance.
The philosophy found in this podcast mirrors the positive, life-affirming message of Leo, encouraging listeners to embrace their current stage of life with self-acceptance and a clear, grounded perspective.
Burdie Stories
Podcast
Explores: life experiences, anecdotes, self-reflection.
Much like the personal growth showcased in Leo, these animated stories use self-reflection and anecdotes to find meaning in everyday life experiences, making the ordinary feel deeply significant and relatable.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Leo a movie about a lizard?
Yes, Leo is a 2023 movie featuring a jaded 74-year-old lizard who has lived in a Florida classroom for decades. The story follows his attempt to escape his terrarium after learning he only has one year left to live.
Does Leo escape the classroom?
Leo plans to escape the classroom to experience life on the outside, but his plans change when he gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students and deals with an impossibly mean substitute teacher instead.
Who is Leo's terrarium-mate?
Leo shares his terrarium with a turtle. They have both been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades before Leo decides he wants to experience life on the outside during his final year.
Why does Leo want to leave the classroom?
Leo decides to leave the classroom after learning that he only has one year left to live. He wants to experience life on the outside rather than staying in his terrarium for the remainder of his life.