If you loved
Next
Lee Tamahori · Film · 2007
If the precognitive tension of Next hooked you, you will love these stories about individuals caught in complex, high-stakes government conspiracies.
Books on the same thread
The Traveller
John Twelve Hawks · Book · 2005
Explores: Surveillance State, Loss of Privacy, Ancient Conspiracy.
Like the government pursuit in Next, this story centers on a desperate fight for survival against a pervasive, shadow-controlled surveillance state that threatens to crush individual freedom.
Empire
Orson Scott Card · Book · 2007
Explores: Political Intrigue, Military Strategy, Social Collapse.
Fans of the geopolitical stakes in Next will appreciate this look at a collapsing society where political intrigue and military strategy dictate the future of the nation.
Recursion
Blake Crouch · Book · 2019
Explores: Memory manipulation, Existential dread, Butterfly effect.
If you were fascinated by the time manipulation in Next, this narrative offers a similar focus on the existential dread and consequences of altering the flow of time.
Contest
Matthew Reilly · Book · 2006
Explores: High-stakes competition, Father-daughter relationship, Trapped setting.
This thriller echoes the trapped, high-stakes atmosphere of Next, focusing on an intense struggle for survival where every decision determines who lives and who dies in a confined space.
Series on the same thread
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Surveillance State, Moral Ambiguity.
Much like the surveillance themes in Next, this series follows a reclusive genius using advanced technology to prevent violent crimes before they happen, operating outside the law.
The Night Agent
Shawn Ryan · Series · 2023
Explores: Political Intrigue, Government Conspiracy, Undercover Agent.
This political conspiracy mirrors the urgency of Next, as an agent and an expert must navigate a dangerous web of government secrets to prevent a national tragedy.
Fringe
Alex Kurtzman · Series · 2008
Explores: Parallel Universes, Government Conspiracy, Mad Scientist.
If the government conspiracy angle of Next intrigued you, this show provides a broader exploration of mysterious phenomena and secret agencies that manipulate reality for unknown ends.
FlashForward
David S. Goyer · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Next: Precognition.
This series expands on the precognition found in Next, forcing the world to grapple with the consequences of seeing into the future and questioning the nature of fate.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
This podcast explores the real-world implications of the technological disruption and government shifts that provided the backdrop for the high-stakes suspense in Next.
Lex Fridman Podcast
Lex Fridman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, technological ethics, deep thinking.
If you enjoyed the intellectual curiosity behind the power in Next, these deep-dive conversations examine the ethics and philosophy of the technology shaping our future.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Next based on a true story about a magician?
No, Next is a fictional film about a Las Vegas showroom magician named Cris Johnson who possesses the ability to see a few minutes into the future. The plot focuses on his attempt to remain hidden from the government while a terrorist group threatens to detonate a device.
What is the secret power of the main character in Next?
The main character in Next, Cris Johnson, has the secret ability to see a few minutes into the future. He uses this power to perform cheap tricks and win at small-time gambling while trying to avoid the attention of the government and the medical establishment.
Why is Cris Johnson hiding in the movie Next?
In Next, Cris Johnson hides in Las Vegas because he is tired of the examinations he underwent as a child. He wants to avoid the government and medical establishment, who are interested in his ability to see a few minutes into the future, and lives under an assumed name.
Does the protagonist of Next work as a magician?
Yes, the protagonist of Next is a Las Vegas showroom magician. Cris Johnson performs cheap tricks as a cover for his secret ability to see a few minutes into the future, which he uses to earn money through small-time gambling while avoiding government detection.