If you loved
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
Film · 2019
What hooked you in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood was the way it balances genuine Hollywood nostalgia with the unsettling darkness lurking just beneath the surface of the industry.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders
Greg King · Book · 2016
Explores: Cults, Murder, Celebrity Victims.
If the tragic 1969 backdrop of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood fascinated you, this biography offers the real history behind the era that the film reimagines with such precision.
Manson
Jeff Guinn · Book · 2013
Explores: Cult of Personality, Criminal Psychology, Childhood Trauma.
This authoritative account provides the dark, psychological reality of the figure who serves as the looming, villainous shadow over the vibrant 1969 setting of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid · Book · 2018
Explores: Hollywood Glamour, LGBTQ+ Identity, Hidden Love.
Much like Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, this novel captures the intoxicating allure and hidden costs of fame, pulling back the curtain on the glamorous facade of classic cinema.
Valley of the Dolls
Jacqueline Susann · Book · 1966
Explores: Fame and Addiction, Female Friendship, Hollywood.
This classic novel mirrors the bittersweet look at the entertainment industry found in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, focusing on the precarious nature of success and the pressure of stardom.
Series on the same thread
Entourage
Doug Ellin · Series · 2004
Shares a thread with Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood: Friendship.
This series captures the same deep male friendship and codependent professional bond that defines the central relationship between Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
The Kominsky Method
Chuck Lorre · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood: Friendship.
This show explores the fading glory of an aging actor, echoing the poignant professional struggle and existential uncertainty that Rick Dalton faces throughout Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin · Series · 2021
Explores: True Crime Obsession, New York City, Intergenerational Friendship.
If you enjoyed the meta-commentary on fame and crime in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, this mystery offers a similarly sharp, modern perspective on our obsession with true crime.
Episodes
David Crane · Series · 2011
Explores: Culture clash, Hollywood satire, Fish out of water.
This satire captures the cultural friction of working in the entertainment industry, providing a comedic take on the same complex, fickle Hollywood landscape depicted in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
Podcasts on the same thread
You Must Remember Manson
Karina Longworth · Podcast · 2022
This podcast series expands on the historical context of the summer of 1969, grounding the cinematic atmosphere of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood in the chilling reality of the era.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
This podcast explores the thin line between professional acquaintances and true companionship, tapping into the same themes of friendship and industry isolation seen in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood based on a book?
Yes, there is a book version of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood released in 2021. While the 2019 movie focuses on the experiences of Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth in 1969 Los Angeles, the novel provides a literary adaptation of the same story and setting.
What is the setting of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood?
The story of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood takes place in Los Angeles during 1969. The plot follows the lives of television actor Rick Dalton and his stuntman Cliff Booth as they navigate a rapidly changing film industry while living next door to Sharon Tate.
Who are the main characters in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood?
The central figures in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood are Rick Dalton, a television actor known for his work in westerns, and his best friend and stuntman, Cliff Booth. The plot also features their neighbor, the actress and model Sharon Tate, who is married to director Roman Polanski.
Should I read the book if I have already seen Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood?
If you enjoyed the movie, you can choose to read the 2021 book version of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood to experience the story in a different format. Both the film and the novel explore the same 1969 setting and the lives of Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth.