What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLimitless
Neil Burger · Film · 2011
If you loved Limitless, start with Limitless (Craig Sweeny, 2015) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Limitless across media.
What hooked you in Limitless was the intoxicating, dangerous allure of bypassing human limitations to achieve an idealized, hyper-optimized version of yourself.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Limitless
Craig Sweeny · Series · 2015
Books on the same thread
Flowers for Algernon
Daniel Keyes · Book · 2004
Explores: Intelligence, Ethics of Science, Human Experimentation.
Much like the protagonist in Limitless, the lead character experiences a rapid, artificial expansion of intelligence that forces a confrontation with the ethical costs of playing god with biology.
Boundless
Ben Greenfield · Book · 2020
Shares a thread with Limitless: Cognitive Enhancement.
If you were fascinated by the biohacking premise of Limitless, this guide offers a real-world roadmap to the peak physical and cognitive performance you saw on the big screen.
The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman
Timothy Ferriss · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with Limitless: Self-Improvement.
This book translates the fictional quest for perfection seen in Limitless into actionable protocols, helping you apply the same desire for radical self-optimization to your own daily life.
The Power of Habit
Charles Duhigg · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with Limitless: Self-Improvement.
While Limitless explored a chemical shortcut to success, this book provides the sustainable behavioral blueprint for achieving that same level of elite productivity through the science of habit formation.
Series on the same thread
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares 2 threads with Limitless: Moral Ambiguity, Techno-thriller.
You will recognize the same high-stakes tension found in Limitless as these characters leverage hidden technological advantages to navigate a world of surveillance and complex moral compromise.
Black Mirror
Charlie Brooker · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with Limitless: Techno-thriller.
This series captures the darker, paranoid atmosphere of Limitless, focusing on the unintended consequences and societal dangers that arise when humanity gains access to transformative, game-changing technologies.
Severance
Dan Erickson · Series · 2022
Explores: Identity Crisis, Existentialism, Memory Manipulation.
Like the identity crisis faced by the hero of Limitless, this show explores the psychological fracture that occurs when you manipulate your own mind to achieve a desired end.
Mr. Robot
Sam Esmail · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with Limitless: Techno-thriller.
If the techno-thriller pacing of Limitless resonated with you, you will appreciate how this series uses specialized skills to challenge corporate power structures in a high-stakes, paranoid environment.
Podcasts on the same thread
Huberman Lab
Podcast
Explores: Brain Health, Mental Health, Behavioral Science.
This podcast grounds the fictional neuro-enhancement themes of Limitless in reality, offering science-based tools to optimize your brain health and nervous system for improved cognitive output.
Pildoras
Podcast
Shares a thread with Limitless: Self-Improvement.
Mirroring the transformation of the lead character in Limitless, these audio sessions focus on the internal reprogramming required to transcend your current limitations and reach a new level.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the Limitless TV series a direct sequel to the 2011 movie?
The 2015 Limitless television series functions as a continuation of the 2011 film. It follows the events established in the original movie, focusing on the impact of the brain-enhancing drug on the protagonist and the new characters navigating the consequences of its use.
What is the correct order to consume the Limitless media?
You should begin with the 2011 Limitless film directed by Neil Burger to understand the core premise of the smart drug. After finishing the movie, you can proceed to the 2015 Limitless television series or the Limitless podcast to explore further expansions of the story.
Does the Limitless podcast follow the same plot as the movie?
The Limitless podcast serves as an additional adaptation of the source material. While it shares the central concept of a writer gaining perfect cognitive abilities through a secret drug, it operates as a distinct entry within the franchise alongside the 2011 film and the 2015 television series.
How long is the 2011 Limitless movie?
The 2011 Limitless movie, which depicts the transformation of an unsuccessful writer using a top-secret smart drug, has a runtime of 105 minutes. This film establishes the foundation for the subsequent television series and podcast adaptations that explore the shadowy forces attracted by the drug.