What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLove and Monsters
Michael Matthews · Film · 2020
If you loved Love and Monsters, start with A Boy and His Dog (L.Q. Jones, 1975) — a film from the same story. Below: 3 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Love and Monsters across media.
What hooked you in Love and Monsters was the way the terrifying scale of a global apocalypse highlights deeply personal journeys.
Start with the source
The source
A Boy and His Dog
L.Q. Jones · Film · 1975
Inspired by
Mad Max 2
Film · 1981
Books on the same thread
Monsters of Men
Patrick Ness · Book · 2010
Explores: War, Morality, Peace.
Like Love and Monsters, this story places young protagonists in a world-ending conflict, forcing them to make difficult moral choices while navigating the darkness of a fractured society.
The Last Kids on Earth
Max Brallier · Book · 2015
Explores: Friendship, Survival, Monsters.
If the monster-slaying survival humor of Love and Monsters resonated with you, this tale of an average kid building a team to survive the apocalypse is a perfect match.
The Sea of Monsters
Rick Riordan · Book · 2006
Explores: Greek mythology in modern settings, Coming-of-age, Found family.
This adventure mirrors the coming-of-age spirit found in Love and Monsters, as the protagonist transitions from a quiet life into a dangerous world filled with legendary mythical beasts.
Series on the same thread
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Explores: Friendship, Coming of Age, Existentialism.
Fans of the camaraderie in Love and Monsters will appreciate this journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape where two inseparable friends rely on each other to face surreal obstacles.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
Bill Wolkoff · Series · 2020
Explores: Survival, Acceptance, Hope.
This series echoes the exact premise of Love and Monsters, following a sheltered character who must leave the safety of their underground bunker to navigate a dangerous surface world.
Love, Death & Robots
Tim Miller · Series · 2019
Explores: Existentialism, Transhumanism, Artificial Intelligence.
If you enjoyed the blend of dark comedy and monstrous creatures in Love and Monsters, this anthology offers a similarly creative and edgy exploration of survival in strange worlds.
Future Boy Conan
Series · 1978
Explores: Environmentalism, Loss of Innocence, Technological Dystopia.
Much like the protagonist of Love and Monsters, Conan begins as an isolated youth who must venture into a ruined, monster-filled world, leading to a profound loss of innocence.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The group dynamics and high-stakes humor found here mirror the comedic adventure style of Love and Monsters, focusing on a band of unlikely heroes slaying various menacing creatures.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
While different in format, this podcast shares the core emotional drive of Love and Monsters by focusing on the intense, often awkward pursuit of genuine human connection and friendship.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Love and Monsters related to A Boy and His Dog?
Love and Monsters shares thematic similarities with the 1975 film A Boy and His Dog. Both movies feature protagonists navigating a post-apocalyptic landscape populated by dangerous creatures, though they are distinct productions with different creative teams and narratives.
Does Love and Monsters share themes with Mad Max 2?
Yes, Love and Monsters draws stylistic inspiration from the post-apocalyptic survival elements found in Mad Max 2. Both films focus on a lone traveler journeying through a hostile, monster-filled wasteland while attempting to reach a specific destination.
What is the premise of Love and Monsters?
Love and Monsters follows Joel Dawson, who has lived in an underground bunker for seven years following the Monsterpocalypse. The story begins when he decides to leave his shelter to reunite with his high school girlfriend, Aimee, despite the dangerous monsters roaming the surface.
How long has Joel been underground in Love and Monsters?
In the movie Love and Monsters, the protagonist Joel Dawson has been living underground for seven years. He spent this time hiding from the monsters that took over the world before finally deciding to venture out to find his high school girlfriend.