What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMasterminds
Jared Hess · Film · 2016
If you loved Masterminds, start with Evil Genius (2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Masterminds across media.
If Masterminds left you craving more stories where ordinary people stumble into absurd, high-stakes criminal chaos, these picks deliver that same hilarious, offbeat energy.
Books on the same thread
The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey · Book
Shares a thread with Masterminds: Heist comedy.
Just like the bumbling crew in Masterminds, this story embraces the charm of unlikely anti-heroes attempting grand heists while navigating their own inherent, endearing incompetence and subverted criminal tropes.
Lifeguard
James Patterson, Andrew Gross · Book · 2005
Explores: Class disparity, Wrong place wrong time, Criminal underworld.
If the high-stakes bank robbery in Masterminds hooked you, this thriller provides a similar rush of adrenaline when a seemingly simple heist inevitably spirals into a complex, dangerous disaster.
Joyland (Hard Case Crime)
Stephen King · Book · 2013
Explores: Carnivals, First Love, Grief.
Masterminds fans will appreciate the atmospheric small-town setting and the way this story captures the specific, slightly surreal feeling of life in the American South during a transformative era.
Crook Manifesto
Colson Whitehead · Book
Explores: systemic corruption, 1970s urban decay, criminal underworld.
This narrative mirrors the 1970s heist focus found in Masterminds, offering a gritty, character-driven look at how ordinary people are forced to navigate the corrupt criminal underworld around them.
Series on the same thread
Money Heist
Álex Pina · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Masterminds: Underdog Story.
The underdog dynamic that defines Masterminds is front and center here, as a group of desperate individuals attempts to pull off an impossible heist against all odds and expectations.
Evil Genius
Series · 2018
Explores: Criminal Mastermind, FBI Investigation, Unlikely Suspects.
This true crime story captures the bizarre, stranger-than-fiction reality that inspired Masterminds, proving that real-world criminal schemes are often far more chaotic and incomprehensible than any scripted heist comedy.
Fargo
Noah Hawley · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with Masterminds: Small Town Crime.
Those who enjoyed the small-town crime and escalating absurdity of Masterminds will find a perfect match in this series, which excels at placing ordinary people in extraordinary, violent circumstances.
Psych
Steve Franks · Series · 2006
Explores: Fake Psychic, Incompetent Detective, Father-Son Relationship.
Much like the protagonist of Masterminds, this show highlights the comedic potential of an unconventional character navigating the criminal justice system through sheer luck, observation, and persistent, quirky incompetence.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If the Southern, small-town setting of Masterminds appealed to you, this podcast provides an equally hilarious and deep dive into the strange, tragic, and often baffling nature of rural crime.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This podcast mirrors the comedic spin on criminal behavior found in Masterminds, focusing on the absurdity of those who attempt to break the law and the hilarious consequences that follow.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Masterminds based on a real event?
Yes, Masterminds is based on one of the biggest bank heists in American history. The film depicts the true events surrounding a night guard at an armored car company in the Southern United States who organized the robbery.
Who directed the movie Masterminds?
Masterminds was directed by Jared Hess. The 2016 film focuses on the story of a night guard who orchestrates a major bank heist within an armored car company located in the Southern United States.
What is the premise of Masterminds?
Masterminds follows a night guard employed at an armored car company in the Southern United States. The plot centers on his decision to organize one of the most significant bank heists in American history.
When was Masterminds released?
Masterminds was released in 2016. Directed by Jared Hess, the film tells the story of a night guard at an armored car company in the Southern United States who attempts to pull off a massive bank heist.