What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedOnce Upon a Time in Mexico
Robert Rodriguez · Film · 2003
If you loved Once Upon a Time in Mexico, start with Narcos: Mexico (Doug Miro, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Once Upon a Time in Mexico across media.
If you loved the operatic violence and tangled political webs of Once Upon a Time in Mexico, these stories will satisfy your appetite.
Books on the same thread
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino · Book · 2021
Explores: Nostalgia, Fame and Obsolescence, Counter-culture.
Like Once Upon a Time in Mexico, this novel uses a stylized approach to storytelling, blending meta-fictional elements with a gritty, revisionist look at the legends of a bygone era.
A Brief History of Seven Killings
Marlon James · Book · 2015
Explores: Political Assassination, Jamaican Gang Culture, Music Industry.
This historical thriller captures the same chaotic intersection of political instability and lethal violence found in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, focusing on the dark reality of assassination attempts.
2666
Roberto Bolaño · Book · 2024
Explores: femicide, systemic corruption, elusive authorship.
Fans of the systemic corruption and brutal landscape depicted in Once Upon a Time in Mexico will find a much darker, more expansive exploration of those same themes here.
One Shot
Lee Child · Book
Explores: Vigilante Justice, Military Expertise, Small-town Secrets.
If the lone gunman trope from Once Upon a Time in Mexico drew you in, you will appreciate this procedural thriller focused on a lethal expert pursuing vigilante justice.
Series on the same thread
Narcos: Mexico
Doug Miro · Series · 2018
Explores: Drug Trafficking, Mexican Cartels, DEA Operations.
This series mirrors the high-stakes conflict between law enforcement and powerful cartels seen in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, grounding the drama in the dangerous reality of Mexican history.
La Reina del Sur
Roberto Stopello · Series · 2011
Explores: Drug trafficking, Female protagonist, Rise to power.
Those captivated by the power dynamics and criminal underworld of Once Upon a Time in Mexico will be drawn to this story of an individual rising through the cartel ranks.
Podcasts on the same thread
Kinahans Downfall
Podcast · 2026
Explores: Organized Crime, Cartels, Criminal Underworld.
This podcast explores the brutal mechanics of organized crime hits, mirroring the visceral, high-tension atmosphere that defined the action sequences throughout Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
Much like the investigative hunt for truth amidst corruption in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, this series uncovers layers of historical mystery surrounding a long-forgotten violent crime.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Once Upon a Time in Mexico a standalone story?
Once Upon a Time in Mexico functions as a complete narrative centered on the mission of a hitman named El Mariachi. The plot focuses specifically on the assassination of a Mexican general during a coup d'état, providing a self-contained conflict involving a corrupt CIA agent named Sands.
What is the primary objective of El Mariachi in Once Upon a Time in Mexico?
In Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the character El Mariachi is hired by a corrupt CIA agent named Sands. His primary objective is to assassinate a Mexican general who has been recruited by a drug kingpin to facilitate a coup d'état against the President of Mexico.
Does Once Upon a Time in Mexico feature a coup d'état?
Yes, the plot of Once Upon a Time in Mexico revolves around a drug kingpin who is attempting to stage a coup d'état against the President of Mexico. The hitman El Mariachi is hired to intervene by targeting the general involved in this political takeover.
Who hires the hitman in Once Upon a Time in Mexico?
In Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the hitman known as El Mariachi is hired by a corrupt CIA agent named Sands. Sands recruits him to eliminate a Mexican general who is working with a drug kingpin to execute a coup d'état against the Mexican government.