What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMonster
Hirokazu Kore-eda · Film · 2023
If you loved Monster, start with Monster (2004) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Monster across media.
What hooked you in Monster was the way the truth fractures when viewed through the desperate, protective lens of a parent.
Start with the source
The source
Monster
Series · 2004
Books on the same thread
Pieces of Her
Karin Slaughter · Book
Shares a thread with Monster: psychological thriller.
Like the mother in Monster, Andrea Oliver must dismantle her understanding of a parent's identity when long-held secrets emerge, forcing a harrowing search for the truth behind a hidden past.
I Have Some Questions for You
Rebecca Makkai · Book
Explores: unreliable narrator, memory and trauma, institutional secrets.
This narrative echoes the unsettling uncertainty of Monster by placing a protagonist in an institutional setting where memory and past trauma obscure the reality of a tragic, life-altering event.
Ring
Kōji Suzuki · Book · 2003
Explores: Technology and Society, Urban Legends, Contagion.
If you appreciated the creeping dread and societal commentary within Monster, you will find a similar power in this story, which examines how hidden histories and imagery impact contemporary life.
Misery
Stephen King · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with Monster: Psychological Thriller.
The intense power dynamics and psychological isolation found in Monster are mirrored here, as a captive protagonist navigates the erratic behavior of a person who controls his immediate reality.
Series on the same thread
Moving
Park In-je · Series · 2023
Explores: Superpowers, Hidden Identity, Family Secrets.
This series explores the heavy burden of intergenerational trauma and the lengths parents go to protect their children, themes that form the emotional core of the mystery in Monster.
High Potential
Drew Goddard · Series · 2024
Explores: Unlikely Partnerships, Brilliant Outsider, Single Parent.
Much like the mother in Monster, Morgan balances the demands of single motherhood with a drive to uncover hidden truths, proving that a parent's perspective is uniquely suited for discovery.
FROM
John Griffin · Series · 2022
Explores: Trapped in a mysterious town, Monsters in the woods, Survival horror.
The atmosphere of trapped vulnerability seen in Monster is amplified here, where characters must confront inexplicable threats and the loss of control while struggling to maintain a normal life.
Big Little Lies
David E. Kelley · Series · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Monster: Small Town Secrets, Psychological Thriller.
This story delves into the domestic consequences of secrets and lies among parents, mirroring the way the initial incident in Monster unravels the lives of those caught in the middle.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Podcast
Explores: Justice, Wrongful Conviction, Morality.
If you were drawn to the moral ambiguity and the search for justice in Monster, this investigative series offers a compelling look at the complexities of human behavior and truth.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic stories capture the same sense of mystery and moral exploration found in Monster, using short-form narratives to probe the depths of human experience and complex social situations.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 2023 movie Monster related to the 2004 TV series Monster?
No, the 2023 movie Monster directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda is a standalone film. It is not connected to the 2004 TV series Monster. They share the same title but represent entirely different stories and creative projects.
What is the plot of the 2023 movie Monster?
The 2023 film Monster follows a concerned single mother who demands answers after an outburst at school involving her son. Her investigation triggers a sequence of deepening suspicion and turmoil as the events surrounding the incident are revealed.
Should I watch the 2004 TV series Monster before the 2023 movie?
There is no requirement to watch the 2004 TV series Monster before viewing the 2023 movie. The two titles are unrelated projects with distinct narratives, so your viewing experience of the 2023 film does not depend on the 2004 television series.
Who directed the 2023 movie Monster?
The 2023 movie Monster was directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The film focuses on a single mother navigating a difficult situation at her son's school, which eventually leads to a complex series of events involving suspicion and turmoil.