What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLicorice Pizza
Paul Thomas Anderson · Film · 2021
If you loved Licorice Pizza, start with Freaks and Geeks (Paul Feig, 1999) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Licorice Pizza across media.
You loved Licorice Pizza for the way it captures the hazy, specific texture of growing up through messy relationships.
Books on the same thread
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with Licorice Pizza: Nostalgia.
Just like Licorice Pizza, this novel immerses you in a highly stylized version of 1970s Hollywood, blending deep nostalgia with a sharp, cynical look at the industry's fading fame.
These Happy Golden Years
Laura Ingalls Wilder · Book · 1971
Explores: Rural Life, Courtship, Education.
If the earnest, formative courtship in Licorice Pizza resonated with you, this classic account of early independence and budding romance offers a similarly grounded, historical look at young love.
Problematic Summer Romance
Ali Hazelwood · Book
Explores: Age gap, Destination wedding, Workplace power dynamics.
This story mirrors the unconventional age gap dynamic found in Licorice Pizza, shifting the focus to academic power structures while maintaining that same tension between two mismatched, ambitious protagonists.
Cinema Speculation
Quentin Tarantino · Book
Explores: auteur theory, cinematic nostalgia, film theory.
This collection of essays provides the perfect intellectual companion to the cinematic world of Licorice Pizza, exploring the same 1970s film landscape that defined the movie's unique aesthetic.
Series on the same thread
Euphoria
Sam Levinson · Series · 2019
Explores: Drug Addiction, Mental Health, Teenage Angst.
Where Licorice Pizza finds beauty in the chaos of youth, this series takes a darker, more intense approach to the same coming-of-age struggles, identity crises, and turbulent teenage friendships.
The Wonder Years
Neal Marlens · Series · 1988
Shares 2 threads with Licorice Pizza: Nostalgia, First Love.
This series shares the nostalgic, bittersweet tone of Licorice Pizza, using a period setting to perfectly capture the confusing, transformative experience of navigating first love and suburban social hierarchies.
True Detective
Nic Pizzolatto · Series · 2014
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existentialism, Corruption.
While tonally distinct, this series uses a complex, multi-layered narrative structure that will appeal to fans of the intricate, character-driven navigation of life seen throughout Licorice Pizza.
Freaks and Geeks
Paul Feig · Series · 1999
Shares 3 threads with Licorice Pizza: First Love, Nostalgia, Coming-of-Age Story.
This show captures the exact same spirit of social rebellion and first love found in Licorice Pizza, focusing on the awkward, authentic struggle to find identity among high school outcasts.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
These stories possess the same observational intimacy that makes Licorice Pizza feel like a living, breathing world, turning ordinary human experiences into compelling narratives that feel like mini movies.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio dramas mirror the episodic, character-focused charm of Licorice Pizza, delivering short, immersive stories that explore the human condition with the same blend of humor and depth.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Licorice Pizza set in the present day?
No, Licorice Pizza is not set in the present day. The story takes place in 1973 within the San Fernando Valley, focusing on the experiences of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane as they navigate their first love during that specific era.
What is the primary plot of Licorice Pizza?
Licorice Pizza follows the story of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane as they grow up and run around the San Fernando Valley. The film centers on the treacherous navigation of first love between the two characters during the year 1973.
Who directed Licorice Pizza?
Licorice Pizza is a 2021 film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The narrative explores the lives of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane as they experience the challenges of first love while living in the San Fernando Valley in 1973.
Does Licorice Pizza take place in the San Fernando Valley?
Yes, Licorice Pizza is set in the San Fernando Valley. The film depicts the journey of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane as they grow up and experience the complexities of first love in this location throughout 1973.