What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedReturn to the Blue Lagoon
William A. Graham · Film · 1991
If you loved Return to the Blue Lagoon, start with The Blue Lagoon (Randal Kleiser, 1980) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Return to the Blue Lagoon across media.
You were drawn to Return to the Blue Lagoon because of the intense isolation of youth navigating nature alone.
Start with the source
The source
The Blue Lagoon
Randal Kleiser · Film · 1980
Adaptation
Blue Lagoon: The Awakening
Jake Newsome · Film · 2012
Books on the same thread
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Scott O'Dell · Book · 2010
Explores: Survival, Isolation, Resilience.
Much like the protagonists in Return to the Blue Lagoon, the resilient girl at the center of this story discovers her own strength while surviving in total island isolation.
Goosebumps
R. L. Stine · Book · 1992
Explores: Monsters, Supernatural, Fear.
If the tropical setting of Return to the Blue Lagoon intrigued you, this story offers a similar sense of island exploration, though with a far more suspenseful edge.
Robinson Crusoe
Daniel Defoe, D. K. Swan · Book · 1976
Explores: Survivalism, Man vs. Nature, Colonialism.
This classic tale captures the raw survivalism and solitude found in Return to the Blue Lagoon, focusing on the fundamental struggle of one person against the natural world.
Paul et Virginie
Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre · Book · 1788
Shares a thread with Return to the Blue Lagoon: Innocence.
This novel echoes the innocence and pastoral romance of Return to the Blue Lagoon, depicting children maturing amidst the beautiful and often isolating scenery of a tropical island.
Series on the same thread
Future Boy Conan
Series · 1978
Shares a thread with Return to the Blue Lagoon: Loss of Innocence.
This series mirrors the themes of Return to the Blue Lagoon by placing a youth in a remote, ocean-bound environment where they must adapt to life without adults.
Reading Rainbow
Series · 1983
Explores: Literacy, Imagination, Cultural Exploration.
If the literary romanticism of Return to the Blue Lagoon sparked your imagination, this program provides a broader exploration of the stories that shape our view of adventure.
The Blue Planet
Andy Byatt · Series · 2001
Explores: Ocean Exploration, Marine Life, Environmentalism.
The stunning marine environment that serves as the backdrop for Return to the Blue Lagoon is showcased here with breathtaking detail, revealing the true majesty of the ocean.
Blue Planet II
Series · 2017
Explores: Ocean Exploration, Marine Life, Environmentalism.
This documentary series captures the same awe-inspiring power of the South Pacific seas that define the setting of Return to the Blue Lagoon, focusing on nature's untamed beauty.
Podcasts on the same thread
Raiders Of The Lost Podcast
Podcast
Explores: film criticism, television criticism, blockbuster movies.
Use this podcast to dive deeper into the cinematic tropes and themes found in Return to the Blue Lagoon, exploring how classic survival stories function in modern film.
The Teen Commandments
Podcast
Explores: teenagers, adolescence, parenting teens.
If the focus on adolescent discovery in Return to the Blue Lagoon resonated with you, this podcast provides an honest, humorous look at the realities of growing up.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Blue Lagoon movies in?
The series begins with the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon. Return to the Blue Lagoon serves as the direct sequel to that story. Finally, you can watch the 2012 television film Blue Lagoon: The Awakening to complete your viewing of the franchise.
Is Return to the Blue Lagoon a remake of the 1980 film?
No, Return to the Blue Lagoon is not a remake. It is a sequel to the 1980 classic The Blue Lagoon. While the original film focuses on a couple stranded as children, this sequel follows two different children who grow up together on the same island.
How does Return to the Blue Lagoon connect to Blue Lagoon: The Awakening?
Both films are part of the same cinematic series. Return to the Blue Lagoon follows the 1980 original, while Blue Lagoon: The Awakening is a separate 2012 production. They share the central premise of young people stranded and coming of age in a remote South Pacific island setting.
Should I watch The Blue Lagoon before seeing Return to the Blue Lagoon?
Watching the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon first provides important context for the series. Return to the Blue Lagoon continues the narrative established in the first movie, detailing the lives of children stranded in the South Pacific without adult guidance.