What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedPolar
Film · 2019
If you loved Polar, start with Too Old to Die Young (Nicolas Winding Refn, 2019) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Polar across media.
You loved Polar because of the visceral tension created when a retired professional is forced back into a lethal, high-stakes game.
Books on the same thread
Too Old for This
Samantha Downing · Book · 2025
Explores: Retired Serial Killer, Hidden Identity, Suburban Secrets.
Like the protagonist of Polar, Lottie Jones discovers that a peaceful retirement is impossible when her violent past catches up to her, forcing a return to lethal measures.
The Hunter
Tana French · Book
Explores: Outsider status, Protecting family, Hidden pasts.
Much like the retired assassin in Polar, the protagonist here finds his carefully constructed quiet life threatened, forcing him to confront the consequences of his hidden past.
Dead Eye
Mark Greaney · Book · 2019
Shares 2 threads with Polar: Betrayal, Survival.
The relentless manhunt in this story mirrors the high-stakes survival struggle in Polar, as an operative betrayed by his own organization is forced to fight back to survive.
Trapped on the Alaskan Glacier
Megan Short · Book
Explores: witness protection, isolation, man versus nature.
This survival thriller captures the same frantic, isolated desperation found in Polar, following a woman forced to outrun ruthless pursuers through a punishing and dangerous landscape.
Series on the same thread
Too Old to Die Young
Nicolas Winding Refn · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Polar: Neo-Noir.
If the existential grit of Polar resonated with you, this series offers a similar dive into the dark, violent underworld where a professional killer navigates a double life.
My Name
Kim Jin-min · Series · 2021
Shares 2 threads with Polar: Betrayal, Vengeance.
The core of Polar is a brutal quest for vengeance, and this drama delivers that same intensity as a woman infiltrates a criminal organization to settle a debt.
Marvel's The Punisher
Steve Lightfoot · Series · 2017
Explores: PTSD, Conspiracy, Moral Ambiguity.
This series reflects the grim, revenge-fueled action of Polar, focusing on a man with a lethal skillset who is drawn into a sprawling conspiracy after a personal tragedy.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Cleaner
Voyage Media · Podcast
Explores: estranged family, moral ambiguity, redemption arc.
Just as the assassin in Polar confronts his past, this story forces a professional cleaner to reconcile his violent trade with the sudden discovery of his own family.
To Live And Die In New Orleans
Voyage Media · Podcast
Shares a thread with Polar: betrayal.
While Polar leans into dark action, this story shares its focus on the sudden, violent shattering of a quiet life when long-buried secrets and betrayals finally surface.
Common questions
Is Polar about a retired assassin?
Yes, Polar follows a retiring assassin who discovers that he has become the target of a hit. He is forced back into his former life to defend himself against a gang of younger, ruthless killers who are trying to eliminate him.
Does Polar involve a conflict with other killers?
Yes, the plot of Polar centers on the protagonist going head to head with a gang of younger, ruthless killers. After realizing he is the target of a hit, he must engage these opponents to survive his retirement.
What is the primary conflict in Polar?
The primary conflict in Polar occurs when the main character, a retiring assassin, realizes he is being hunted. This discovery forces him back into the game to engage in a lethal confrontation with a group of younger killers seeking to take him out.
Is the protagonist in Polar trying to retire?
Yes, the protagonist of Polar is an assassin attempting to retire. His plans are interrupted when he discovers he is the target of a hit, which forces him to return to his dangerous work and face off against a group of younger, ruthless killers.