What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedParallels
Film · 2015
If you loved Parallels, start with Sliders (Tracy Tormé, 1995) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Parallels across media.
What hooked you in Parallels was the way the vast, mind-bending complexity of the multiverse forces characters to confront their own fractured identities.
Books on the same thread
Dark Matter
Blake Crouch · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Parallels: Parallel Universes.
Like Parallels, this narrative uses the existence of alternate realities to dismantle a protagonist's life, forcing an intense, personal reckoning with the choices and regrets that define who we are.
The Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
Explores: Survival, Memory Loss, Conspiracy.
If the desperate struggle for survival and the mystery of an enclosed, hostile environment in Parallels captured your attention, you will appreciate this high-stakes test of teamwork and memory.
Parable of the Talents
Octavia E. Butler · Book · 1998
Explores: Religious Fanaticism, Social Breakdown, Climate Change.
Much like the societal breakdown seen in Parallels, this story explores how individuals hold onto their humanity and community when faced with a shockingly transformed and dangerous version of reality.
Dark Matter (Movie Tie-In)
Blake Crouch · Book · 2024
Shares a thread with Parallels: Alternate Realities.
Similar to the journey in Parallels, this thriller centers on an ordinary man thrust into an unfamiliar world, creating an existential crisis that mirrors the core conflict of the film.
Series on the same thread
Sliders
Tracy Tormé · Series · 1995
Explores: Interdimensional Travel, Fish Out of Water, Moral Dilemmas.
This series is the essential precursor to Parallels, perfectly capturing the same sense of wonder and moral dilemma that comes with the ability to jump between infinite, unpredictable Earths.
12 Monkeys
Terry Matalas · Series · 2015
Explores: Time Paradoxes, Fate vs. Free Will, Saving the World.
While Parallels focuses on spatial dimensions, this series mirrors the film's tense, mission-driven structure and the heavy emotional toll of trying to correct the past through dangerous, experimental science.
Parasyte -the maxim-
Series · 2014
Explores: Parasitic Invasion, Loss of Humanity, Moral Ambiguity.
The unsettling intrusion of the unknown into everyday life in Parallels is echoed here, as ordinary people must adapt to parasitic threats that challenge their very understanding of human nature.
Arcane
Christian Linke · Series · 2021
Explores: Sisterhood, Dystopian Society, Technological Advancement vs. Social Decay.
The fractured family dynamics and sisterhood conflict found in Parallels are central to this story, where competing ideologies and advanced technology drive a wedge between two deeply connected people.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
If you enjoyed the way Parallels used sci-fi concepts to explore the human condition, these cinematic, self-contained stories offer a similarly thought-provoking dive into speculative and often morally ambiguous scenarios.
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama captures the same themes of survival and identity found in Parallels, particularly through its focus on strangers sharing faces and the emotional weight of a hostile universe.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Parallels a film about martial arts?
Yes, the protagonist of Parallels is an underground MMA fighter. While the story centers on his journey through parallel universes, his background as a fighter is a core element of the character as he confronts his past and his sister.
What is the primary conflict in Parallels?
The primary conflict in Parallels involves an underground MMA fighter who must navigate through various parallel universes. During this adventure, he is required to confront both his estranged sister and the unresolved issues from his past.
Does Parallels feature travel between different worlds?
Yes, Parallels follows an adventure that takes place across multiple parallel universes. The narrative explores how the main character interacts with these different realities while dealing with personal conflicts involving his sister and his history.
Is Parallels a story about family relationships?
Family dynamics are central to Parallels. The plot focuses on the protagonist as he is forced to confront his sister while they are both caught in an adventure that spans across several parallel universes.