What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLife on Mars
Matthew Graham · Series · 2006
If you loved Life on Mars, start with Ashes to Ashes (Ashley Pharoah, 2008) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Life on Mars across media.
You loved Life on Mars because it captures the jarring, surreal disorientation of finding yourself trapped within a completely different era.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Ashes to Ashes
Ashley Pharoah · Series · 2008
Books on the same thread
The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1977
Shares a thread with Life on Mars: Nostalgia.
Like Life on Mars, this collection uses the haunting power of nostalgia and the friction of human displacement to examine how we adapt to unfamiliar, alien environments.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Mark Twain · Book · 1988
Shares a thread with Life on Mars: Fish Out of Water.
This classic mirrors the culture clash found in Life on Mars, as a modern protagonist uses his contemporary knowledge to navigate and challenge an archaic, historical society.
The Time Machine
H. G. Wells · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Life on Mars: Time Travel.
If the displacement in Life on Mars resonated with you, this foundational text explores the unsettling psychological impact of being thrust into a world you do not recognize.
Dark Matter
Blake Crouch · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Life on Mars: Identity Crisis.
The existential identity crisis that drives Life on Mars is here in full force, as a man grapples with a reality that fundamentally contradicts his own lived experience.
Films on the same thread
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Mamoru Hosoda · Film · 2006
Explores: Regret, Consequences of Time Travel, First Love.
This film echoes the central tension of Life on Mars by showing how the desire to fix the past inevitably leads to complex, unforeseen consequences for the traveler.
Back to the Future
Robert Zemeckis · Film · 1985
Shares a thread with Life on Mars: Fish Out of Water.
You will recognize the fish-out-of-water dynamic from Life on Mars here, as the protagonist struggles to balance his modern sensibilities against the social norms of the past.
The Martian
Ridley Scott · Film · 2015
Explores: Man vs. Nature, Resourcefulness, Isolation.
Much like the protagonist in Life on Mars, this story centers on a man isolated in a hostile, alien landscape who must rely on his wits to survive.
The Lives of Others
Film · 2006
Explores: Surveillance, Censorship, Humanity.
This drama captures the same era-specific tension found in Life on Mars, focusing on the moral ambiguity and surveillance culture that defined life in a rigid, past society.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
This podcast mirrors the investigative drive of Life on Mars, turning back the clock to unearth truths hidden within a cold case from a different time period.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
If Life on Mars hit, The Archers shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Life on Mars connected to Ashes to Ashes?
Yes, Ashes to Ashes is the direct follow-up series to Life on Mars. While Life on Mars follows a detective transported from 2006 to 1973, Ashes to Ashes continues the narrative journey started in the original series, exploring similar themes of time travel and police procedure in a different decade.
What is the premise of Life on Mars?
Life on Mars centers on a detective chief inspector from 2006 who is struck by a car while investigating a serial killer. He wakes up transported to 1973, where he must navigate outdated technology and social attitudes while attempting to solve the mystery of how he arrived there.
Should I watch Life on Mars before starting Ashes to Ashes?
You should watch Life on Mars first to fully understand the established premise and character dynamics. Ashes to Ashes serves as a continuation of the world introduced in Life on Mars, making the original series essential viewing for those who want to follow the complete story arc as intended.
How does the protagonist in Life on Mars handle being in 1973?
In Life on Mars, the protagonist initially struggles to adapt to his new reality. He finds himself challenged by the lack of modern technology and the different professional attitudes present in 1973, all while trying to determine the cause of his mysterious displacement from the year 2006.