What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedPain & Gain
Michael Bay · Film · 2013
If you loved Pain & Gain, start with The Bad Guys (Aaron Blabey) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Pain & Gain across media.
If Pain & Gain kept you hooked with its blend of absurd criminal incompetence and the dark side of ambition, these titles deliver.
Books on the same thread
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
Much like the misguided musclemen in Pain & Gain, the characters here navigate a world of criminal absurdity where personal ambition clashes with their lack of tactical common sense.
Empire of Pain
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book · 2021
Explores: corporate malfeasance, generational wealth, systemic corruption.
This deep dive into systemic corruption mirrors the moral vacuum found in Pain & Gain, showcasing how the pursuit of the American Dream often leads to devastating real-world consequences.
Joyland (Hard Case Crime)
Stephen King · Book · 2013
Explores: Carnivals, First Love, Grief.
If the Florida setting of Pain & Gain drew you in, this story captures a similar regional atmosphere while exploring the collision of innocence and darker, life-altering circumstances.
The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey · Book
Explores: Redemption, Unlikely friendships, Subverting tropes.
You will appreciate the subversion of tropes in this story, which echoes the way Pain & Gain forces you to find humor in the antics of unlikely, morally ambiguous criminals.
Series on the same thread
The A-Team
Frank Lupo · Series · 1983
Explores: Wrongfully Accused, Redemption, Teamwork.
The camaraderie of outcasts on the run in this series will resonate if you enjoyed the dysfunctional team dynamics and desperate high-stakes planning featured in Pain & Gain.
Trailer Park Boys
Mike Clattenburg · Series · 2001
Shares a thread with Pain & Gain: Black Comedy.
This series captures the same spirit of criminal incompetence and lowbrow humor that makes Pain & Gain such a compelling look at friends whose get-rich-quick schemes always go wrong.
Breaking Bad
Vince Gilligan · Series · 2008
Explores: Moral Decay, Man Breaking Bad, Consequences of Crime.
If you were fascinated by the moral decay and desperate life choices in Pain & Gain, this intense descent into criminal enterprise offers a much grittier, high-stakes exploration.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Daniel J. Goor · Series · 2013
Explores: Ensemble Cast, Underdog, Character-Driven.
The ensemble chemistry and focus on workplace culture provide a lighter, comedic counterpoint to the criminal office dynamics that drive the chaotic plot of Pain & Gain.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This podcast explores the same intersection of physical performance and legal absurdity that defines Pain & Gain, finding the dark humor in people who prioritize winning over ethical behavior.
Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Evidence-based training, Industry transparency, Physical performance.
For those interested in the bodybuilding culture of Pain & Gain, this show pulls back the curtain on the industry, exposing the same myths the characters desperately chase.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Pain & Gain based on a true story?
The film Pain & Gain depicts the criminal activities of Daniel Lugo, a manager at Sun Gym in 1990s Miami. He recruits accomplices to extort a wealthy businessman named Victor Kershaw, an event that drives the primary conflict and criminal plot throughout the movie.
What is the main goal of the characters in Pain & Gain?
In Pain & Gain, Daniel Lugo and his accomplices Paul and Adrian seek to achieve their version of the American dream. To reach this goal, they abduct a businessman named Victor Kershaw and attempt to force him to sign over all of his assets to them.
Does Victor Kershaw survive the events of Pain & Gain?
Yes, Victor Kershaw makes it out alive after being abducted by Daniel Lugo and his team. His survival becomes a critical turning point in Pain & Gain, as he manages to escape the extortion plot and eventually brings the attention of authorities to the group.
Who is the primary antagonist in Pain & Gain?
Daniel Lugo serves as the central figure in Pain & Gain. As the manager of Sun Gym, he orchestrates the kidnapping and extortion scheme against Victor Kershaw, recruiting his musclemen accomplices, Paul and Adrian, to help him execute the plan to steal the businessman's assets.