What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedReservation Dogs
Taika Waititi · Series · 2021
If you loved Reservation Dogs, start with Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Taika Waititi, 2016) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 2 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Reservation Dogs across media.
If you loved Reservation Dogs, you will appreciate these stories that explore the complexities of Indigenous identity and tight-knit community dynamics.
Books on the same thread
There There
Tommy Orange · Book · 2018
Explores: Native American Identity, Urban Native Experience, Community.
Like Reservation Dogs, this novel captures the multifaceted urban Native experience, anchoring its narrative in the shared history and resilient community connections that define Indigenous identity today.
Wandering Stars
Tommy Orange · Book
Shares a thread with Reservation Dogs: intergenerational trauma.
This generational saga echoes the intergenerational trauma explored in Reservation Dogs, focusing on the struggle to preserve culture and identity against systemic forces of erasure and historical displacement.
The Night Watchman
Louise Erdrich · Book · 2021
Explores: Native American Rights, Cultural Identity, Government Policy.
This story mirrors the political resistance and community focus of Reservation Dogs, highlighting how individuals on a reservation navigate government policy to protect their cultural identity and future.
Love Medicine
Louise Erdrich · Book · 1993
Shares a thread with Reservation Dogs: intergenerational trauma.
Much like the characters in Reservation Dogs, the families in this tetralogy grapple with deep-seated intergenerational trauma and spiritual resilience, grounding their journey in authentic, localized Indigenous experiences.
Films on the same thread
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Taika Waititi · Film · 2016
Explores: Found family, Intergenerational relationships, Man vs. nature.
Sharing the creator of Reservation Dogs, this film captures the same blend of quirky humor and heartfelt coming-of-age themes found in the bond between unlikely, vulnerable found families.
Boy
Taika Waititi · Film · 2010
Explores: Absentee Father, Childhood, Poverty.
This film reflects the specific comedic tone of Reservation Dogs, focusing on a young boy navigating poverty and the search for an absent father in a rural setting.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast explores the specific dark humor and sociological realities of rural life that serve as the atmospheric backdrop for the small-town struggles seen in Reservation Dogs.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
Fans of the community-driven narrative in Reservation Dogs will find a similar dedication to serialized, authentic storytelling centered on the complexities of rural life and long-term familial relationships.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary premise of Reservation Dogs?
Reservation Dogs follows four Indigenous teenagers living in rural Oklahoma. The group engages in stealing and robbing to save enough money to leave their home and travel to the faraway land of California, which they view as a mysterious and exotic destination.
Who is the creator of Reservation Dogs?
Reservation Dogs was created by Taika Waititi. The series premiered in 2021 and focuses on the experiences of four Indigenous teenagers as they navigate life in rural Oklahoma while planning their departure for California.
Is Reservation Dogs set in a specific location?
Yes, Reservation Dogs is set in rural Oklahoma. The narrative centers on four Indigenous teenagers who live in this environment and attempt to raise funds through various illicit activities to facilitate their journey to California.
What is the main goal of the teenagers in Reservation Dogs?
The four Indigenous teenagers in Reservation Dogs are motivated by a singular goal of reaching California. They spend their time stealing and robbing to accumulate the necessary resources to escape their rural Oklahoma home and reach this mysterious, faraway destination.