What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedPaul
Film · 2011
If you loved Paul, start with ALF (Paul Fusco, 1986) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Paul across media.
You loved Paul because it captures the hilarious, awkward friction that occurs when an extraterrestrial lifeform crashes into mundane human existence.
Books on the same thread
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
Shares a thread with Paul: Friendship.
If you enjoyed the cosmic sarcasm of Paul, you will appreciate how this classic embraces the same absurdist, dry humor while navigating the vast, indifferent dangers of outer space.
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir · Book · 2021
Explores: Amnesia, Planetary Survival, Xenobiology.
Much like the unlikely bond formed in Paul, this story centers on a desperate, high-stakes partnership between a human and an alien as they fight for survival together.
Arrival
Ted Chiang · Book · 2016
Explores: Alien Contact, Linguistics, Time Perception.
While Paul is a road trip comedy, this collection explores the profound linguistic challenges of first contact, offering a more cerebral perspective on how aliens might actually communicate.
Valis
Philip K. Dick · Book · 2011
Explores: Mental Illness, Reality Perception, Gnosticism.
This narrative mirrors the paranoia found in Paul regarding government secrets and extraterrestrial interference, though it trades the comedic road trip for a deep dive into psychological reality.
Series on the same thread
ALF
Paul Fusco · Series · 1986
Shares a thread with Paul: Sci-Fi Comedy.
If the wisecracking alien in Paul was your favorite part, you will immediately connect with this sitcom about a furry visitor navigating the messy reality of family life.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Joel Hodgson · Series · 1989
Shares a thread with Paul: Friendship.
This series captures the same spirit of irreverent, meta-commentary found in Paul, using a group of friends and robots to mock the tropes of classic science fiction cinema.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Series · 1981
Explores: Existentialism, Bureaucracy, Cultural Clash.
This television adaptation perfectly matches the tone of Paul by pairing a bewildered human with a strange alien companion against the backdrop of a chaotic, uncaring universe.
Resident Alien
Chris Sheridan · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Paul: Sci-Fi Comedy.
Like Paul, this show explores the fish-out-of-water comedy of an alien trying to blend into human society while dealing with the complications of a small-town mystery.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
If the buddy comedy dynamic between the leads in Paul kept you watching, you will find a similar focus on the awkward, intimate search for genuine human connection.
THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
ADAM BUXTON · Podcast
Explores: east anglia, family life, dog ownership.
This podcast echoes the conversational, rambling energy of the characters in Paul, providing a humorous and authentic look at the lives of people just trying to get by.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Paul a human or an alien?
Paul is a space-traveling, smart-talking alien. He has spent the last 60 years held in a top-secret military base near Area 51, where he served as an advisor to world leaders regarding his own kind before escaping on a passing RV.
Why did Paul escape from the military base?
Paul escaped because he feared he had outlived his usefulness to the military. He realized that the facility was preparing to place him on a dissection table, prompting his desperate flight from the Area 51 compound to seek safety with two earthlings.
How long was Paul held at the military base?
Paul was held at the top-secret military base for 60 years. During this time, he was kept in captivity while providing information to world leaders about his species, until he eventually fled the facility to avoid being dissected.
How did Paul get away from Area 51?
Paul escaped from the Area 51 compound by jumping onto the first RV that happened to pass by the base. This vehicle contained two earthlings who ultimately became the individuals responsible for rescuing him from the military facility.