What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedOrphan Black
Graeme Manson · Series · 2013
If you loved Orphan Black, start with They Cloned Tyrone (Juel Taylor, 2023) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Orphan Black across media.
The obsession with Orphan Black stems from how it forces you to confront the fragile, fractured nature of individual identity.
Books on the same thread
Dark Matter
Blake Crouch · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Orphan Black: Identity Crisis.
Just as Orphan Black explores the terror of stolen lives, this story traps a man in a reality where his own existence is no longer his to claim.
The Windup Girl
Paolo Bacigalupi · Book · 2010
Shares 2 threads with Orphan Black: Genetic Engineering, Biopunk.
If the corporate machinations of Orphan Black fascinated you, this vision of bio-terrorism and post-human evolution provides a similarly grim look at the cost of unchecked scientific progress.
Orlando
Virginia Woolf · Book · 1928
Explores: Gender fluidity, Transhistorical narrative, Social satire.
Fans of the shifting, multifaceted personas in Orphan Black will appreciate this classic exploration of how one individual can fluidly inhabit different roles throughout the course of history.
The Orphan Master's Son
Adam Johnson · Book · 2012
Explores: North Korea, Totalitarianism, Identity.
Much like the protagonists of Orphan Black, the characters here must navigate a hostile, totalitarian environment where their personal identity is constantly threatened by state propaganda and surveillance.
Films on the same thread
They Cloned Tyrone
Juel Taylor · Film · 2023
Explores: Government Conspiracy, Identity, Systemic Racism.
This film mirrors the conspiracy-laden thrills of Orphan Black, following an unlikely group as they uncover a dark, systemic secret hidden right beneath the surface of their everyday lives.
Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky · Film · 2010
Shares a thread with Orphan Black: identity crisis.
The duality and psychological disintegration central to Orphan Black are echoed here as a performer loses her sense of self in a descent into obsession and perfectionism.
A Clockwork Orange
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1971
Explores: Free Will vs. Determinism, Societal Control, Violence and Redemption.
If you enjoyed the ethical dilemmas regarding autonomy in Orphan Black, this story offers a stark, chilling look at the conflict between individual free will and societal conditioning.
What Happened to Monday
Tommy Wirkola · Film · 2017
Shares a thread with Orphan Black: Corporate Conspiracy.
Featuring identical siblings struggling to maintain their individuality against a controlling government, this film shares the exact DNA of the high-stakes survival narrative found in Orphan Black.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama captures the same feeling of isolation and discovery present in Orphan Black, focusing on castaways who share familiar faces within a hostile, unforgiving universe.
Glass
Podcast
Explores: infertility, family secrets, identity.
For those captivated by the personal search for truth in Orphan Black, this narrative offers a grounded, intimate investigation into family secrets and the complex reality of identity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Orphan Black?
Orphan Black follows a streetwise hustler who becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy. The narrative begins when she witnesses the suicide of a woman who appears to be her exact physical double, leading her to uncover a complex mystery surrounding her own identity.
Is Orphan Black a conspiracy thriller?
Yes, Orphan Black is a conspiracy thriller centered on a woman who discovers she is part of a larger, hidden agenda. The story unfolds after she witnesses the suicide of a lookalike, pulling her into a high-stakes situation that forces her to investigate the truth behind the events.
Who created the show Orphan Black?
Orphan Black was created by Graeme Manson. First airing in 2013, the series focuses on a streetwise hustler who is thrust into a compelling conspiracy immediately after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks identical to her.
Does Orphan Black feature a mystery plot?
Orphan Black is built around a central mystery involving a streetwise hustler. After she witnesses the suicide of a girl who shares her exact appearance, she is drawn into a deep conspiracy that serves as the primary catalyst for the events throughout the series.