What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedPayback
Brian Helgeland · Film · 1999
If you loved Payback, start with The Hunter (Tana French) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Payback across media.
If you enjoyed the ruthless pursuit of justice in Payback, these gritty stories explore the cold calculation of absolute vengeance.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Point Blank
Film · 1967
Adaptation
The Hunter
Daniel Nettheim · Film · 2011
Books on the same thread
The Partner
John Grisham · Book · 1998
Shares 2 threads with Payback: Betrayal, Crime Thriller.
Much like the protagonist of Payback, Patrick finds himself betrayed by those he trusted, fueling a calculated and dangerous quest to settle the score against his former associates.
The Crow
James Vance · Book · 2004
Shares 2 threads with Payback: Revenge, Revenge Thriller.
Just as Porter seeks retribution in Payback after being left for dead, this story examines the heavy psychological and moral toll paid by those obsessed with exacting ultimate vengeance.
Odds Against Tomorrow
Abraham Polonsky · Book · 1999
Explores: Racism, Greed, Desperation.
This narrative mirrors the cynical underworld atmosphere of Payback, focusing on the same themes of greed and moral corruption that define a life spent on the wrong side.
NOIR the Good Girl, the Detective and the Femme Fatale
Reyshan Parker · Book · 2013
Shares 2 threads with Payback: Revenge, Betrayal.
The complex web of deceit and revenge found in Payback is echoed here through these intersecting lives, where every character is driven by greed and a need for retribution.
Series on the same thread
Revenge
Mike Kelley · Series · 2011
Shares 2 threads with Payback: Betrayal, Revenge.
If the systematic dismantling of enemies in Payback satisfied your thirst for justice, you will appreciate how this story follows a woman meticulously ruining those who destroyed her family.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with Payback: Moral Ambiguity.
Porter’s brand of vigilante justice in Payback finds a modern parallel in this partnership, where a man presumed dead uses his lethal skills to enforce his own moral code.
Reprisal
Josh Corbin · Series · 2019
Shares 3 threads with Payback: Revenge, Betrayal, Neo-Noir.
Sharing the same neo-noir DNA as Payback, this story features a protagonist left for dead who returns with a singular, violent focus on destroying the gang that betrayed her.
My Name
Kim Jin-min · Series · 2021
Shares 2 threads with Payback: Betrayal, Moral Ambiguity.
The gritty, revenge-driven atmosphere that makes Payback so compelling is present here as a woman navigates the criminal underworld to avenge her father’s death through betrayal and identity shifts.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Rewatchables
Podcast
Explores: nostalgia, cult classics, film criticism.
For those who appreciate the style and tone of Payback, this podcast offers the same deep dive into the cult classics and cinematic tropes that define the genre.
Criminal
Podcast
Explores: Justice, Wrongful Conviction, Morality.
While Payback offers a fictional look at retribution, this podcast examines the real-world complexities of morality and justice that underpin the human desire to settle a score.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Payback based on a book?
Yes, Payback is an adaptation of the novel titled The Hunter. The story follows Porter, a man left for dead by his partners after a heist, as he returns to seek his revenge. The book provides the source material for both the 1999 film and other adaptations.
How does Payback compare to the 1967 movie Point Blank?
Both Payback and Point Blank are cinematic adaptations of the same source material, the novel The Hunter. While they share the core premise of a betrayed man seeking retribution, they offer different directorial interpretations of the narrative established in the original book.
Is the 2011 movie The Hunter related to Payback?
Yes, the 2011 movie The Hunter is another adaptation of the same source material that inspired Payback. Both films draw from the original book to depict the story of a man navigating betrayal and seeking vengeance against those who left him behind.
What order should I watch Payback and other adaptations of The Hunter?
There is no required viewing order for Payback, Point Blank, and the 2011 film The Hunter. Since each movie is an independent adaptation of the same source novel, you can watch them in any sequence to see how different directors interpret the story of Porter.