What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedNarcos: Mexico
Doug Miro · Series · 2018
If you loved Narcos: Mexico, start with Pablo Escobar (Sebastián Marroquín, 2016) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Narcos: Mexico across media.
What hooked you in Narcos: Mexico was the brutal intersection of high-stakes political corruption and the harrowing reality of cartel life.
Books on the same thread
News of a Kidnapping
Gabriel García Márquez · Book · 2014
Explores: Kidnapping, Drug Cartels, Political Violence.
If the political tension in Narcos: Mexico kept you on edge, you will appreciate how this account details the high-stakes hostage negotiations involving Pablo Escobar and the Colombian political elite.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Shares 2 threads with Narcos: Mexico: Corruption, Organized Crime.
You will recognize the same systemic corruption seen in Narcos: Mexico, as this investigative work exposes how criminal organizations exert control over entire regions through violence and deep-seated societal influence.
Pablo Escobar
Sebastián Marroquín · Book · 2016
Explores: Family Loyalty, Narco Culture, Moral Ambiguity.
After witnessing the rise of cartels in Narcos: Mexico, this memoir offers a personal perspective on the moral ambiguity and family dynamics inherent in the world of drug lords.
Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia
John Dickie · Book · 2015
Shares 2 threads with Narcos: Mexico: Corruption, Organized Crime.
The ruthless power structures and ritualistic violence that defined the Guadalajara Cartel in Narcos: Mexico find their historical and organizational roots in this deep dive into the Sicilian Mafia.
Films on the same thread
Scarface
Film · 1983
Shares a thread with Narcos: Mexico: Drug trafficking.
Fans of the rise-and-fall narrative in Narcos: Mexico will appreciate this classic depiction of a man clawing his way to the top of the drug trade through cold-blooded violence.
Sicario
Denis Villeneuve · Film · 2015
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, War on Drugs, Government Corruption.
This film mirrors the moral decay and government corruption you experienced in Narcos: Mexico, focusing on the dark realities of the border war against drug cartels.
El Infierno
Luis Estrada · Film · 2010
Shares a thread with Narcos: Mexico: Corruption.
Much like the descent into criminality portrayed in Narcos: Mexico, this film captures the inevitable corruption of a man forced to survive within the machinery of a vicious cartel.
Traffic
Steven Soderbergh · Film · 2000
Explores: Drug Addiction, Political Corruption, Moral Ambiguity.
If the multi-layered war on drugs in Narcos: Mexico resonated with you, this film provides a similarly complex look at the political and personal costs of global drug policy.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell
Podcast
Shares a thread with Narcos: Mexico: Drug Trafficking.
This podcast explores the gritty realities of the drug trade and prison life, providing a raw, firsthand look at the consequences of the war on drugs seen in Narcos: Mexico.
Kinahans Downfall
Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Narcos: Mexico: Organized Crime.
The sudden, shocking violence that punctuated the narrative of Narcos: Mexico is echoed in this investigation into the brutal power plays and gang warfare of the modern Kinahan cartel.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Narcos: Mexico a continuation of the original series?
Narcos: Mexico is a distinct 2018 production created by Doug Miro. It focuses on the specific rise of the Guadalajara Cartel and the experiences of an American DEA agent operating in 1980s Mexico, rather than continuing the narrative of the previous series.
What is the main storyline of Narcos: Mexico?
The plot of Narcos: Mexico centers on the emergence of the Guadalajara Cartel. The narrative follows an American DEA agent who discovers the severe dangers involved in targeting narcos during the 1980s in Mexico.
Who created Narcos: Mexico?
Narcos: Mexico was created by Doug Miro. The series premiered in 2018 and explores the historical rise of the Guadalajara Cartel and the challenges faced by American law enforcement agents stationed in Mexico during that decade.
When is Narcos: Mexico set?
Narcos: Mexico is set in the 1980s. The series depicts the historical rise of the Guadalajara Cartel and follows an American DEA agent as they navigate the dangerous environment of Mexico during that specific time period.