If you loved
Paul
Film · 2011
What hooked you in Paul is the way the vast, intimidating cosmos is made hilariously manageable through the lens of an unlikely, bickering friendship.
Books on the same thread
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
If you enjoyed the irreverent, cosmic road trip energy in Paul, you will appreciate how Arthur Dent encounters the absurdity of the universe with a similarly cynical, space-faring companion.
Red Planet
Robert Anson Heinlein · Book · 1990
Much like the bond between the human travelers and the extraterrestrial lead in Paul, this story captures the stakes of protecting a unique alien friend while navigating a dangerous world.
Tunnel in the Sky
Robert A. Heinlein · Book · 2005
If the desperate, improvisational survival tactics found in Paul resonated with you, you will find the same spirit of resourcefulness and adaptation among these high schoolers stranded on a planet.
Dune
Frank Herbert · Book · 1965
While Paul offers a comedic take on planetary intrigue, this epic provides a serious foundation for the desert planet tropes and destiny themes referenced with such affection in that film.
Series on the same thread
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Joel Hodgson · Series · 1989
The banter and riffing between the characters in Paul find their direct spiritual ancestor here, where a stranded human relies on robot friends to endure the absurdity of their situation.
Steins;Gate
Series · 2011
If you liked the government conspiracy elements in Paul, you will enjoy how this group of friends stumbles into a dangerous, world-altering mystery involving high-stakes technology and clandestine organizations.
Final Space
Olan Rogers · Series · 2018
This series mirrors the buddy comedy dynamic of Paul by pairing an ordinary human with a powerful, otherworldly sidekick on a serialized adventure across the vast reaches of space.
Red Dwarf
Doug Naylor · Series · 1988
If the misfit crew dynamic in Paul was your favorite part, you will love this classic sitcom about the last human and his eccentric companions stranded in deep space.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
The conversational, personality-driven humor of Paul translates perfectly to this podcast, which explores the awkward, heartfelt, and often hilarious reality of trying to form a genuine human connection.
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward · Podcast · 2026
If you appreciated the blend of scientific curiosity and comedic banter in Paul, this podcast offers a similarly charming, trivia-filled exploration of the bizarre wonders of our natural world.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Paul a human character in the movie?
No, Paul is a space-traveling alien. He has spent the past 60 years held in a top-secret military base near Area 51, where he provided advice to world leaders before escaping on an RV to avoid being sent to a dissection table.
How did Paul end up in an RV?
After worrying that his usefulness to the military was at an end and facing the threat of a dissection table, Paul escaped the top-secret compound. He boarded the first RV that passed by his location in Area 51, which contained two earthlings who helped him.
What was Paul doing at the military base for 60 years?
For 60 years, Paul was kept locked up in a top-secret military base. During this time, the space-traveling alien advised world leaders about his kind until he feared he had outlived his usefulness and faced the threat of being dissected.
Does Paul escape from Area 51?
Yes, Paul escapes from the top-secret military base near Area 51. He manages to flee the compound by boarding an RV that happens to pass by, eventually finding help from the two earthlings who were inside the vehicle.