What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRide Along
Tim Story · Film · 2014
If you loved Ride Along, start with Common Law (Marianne Wibberley, 2012) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Ride Along across media.
What hooked you in Ride Along was the way the high-stakes friction of police work thrives on mismatched partners and comedic tension.
Books on the same thread
The Late Show
Michael Connelly · Book · 2017
Shares a thread with Ride Along: Police Procedural.
If the drive to prove oneself in the LAPD during Ride Along kept you watching, this gritty procedural offers a similar focus on a young detective earning respect.
The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey · Book
Explores: Redemption, Unlikely friendships, Subverting tropes.
This story captures the same spirit of subverting tropes found in Ride Along, using a comedic lens to explore redemption and the dynamics of an unlikely partnership.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · Book · 2022
Explores: found family, reluctant guardian, redemption arc.
Much like the personal stakes and approval-seeking tension in Ride Along, this story centers on a character stepping into a challenging new role while finding support from a partner.
Chasing a Kidnapper
Laura Scott · Book
Shares a thread with Ride Along: police procedural.
You will recognize the intensity of the protective instinct and law enforcement duty from Ride Along, here applied to a high-stakes K-9 thriller involving a serious kidnapping case.
Series on the same thread
On Call
Tim Walsh · Series · 2025
Shares 2 threads with Ride Along: Police Procedural, Buddy Cop.
This series mirrors the partner dynamics of Ride Along by pairing a veteran with a rookie, forcing them to navigate the complexities of policing while managing their personal friction.
Common Law
Marianne Wibberley · Series · 2012
Shares 2 threads with Ride Along: Buddy Cop, Police Procedural.
The core of Ride Along is the forced partnership between opposites, a theme this show explores through the lens of two detectives whose conflicting personalities define their professional success.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Daniel J. Goor · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Ride Along: Underdog.
This ensemble comedy perfectly captures the underdog spirit and workplace hierarchy found in Ride Along, showing how a slacker adapts when forced to prove his worth to superiors.
PAW Patrol
Series · 2013
Explores: teamwork, community service, problem solving.
If the procedural aspect of Ride Along appealed to you, these rescue adventures provide a similarly structured focus on teamwork and community service through specialized equipment and problem solving.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast blends the investigative elements of Ride Along with a sharp comedic spin, focusing on the dark realities of small-town life through the chemistry of two hosts.
THE PLAYMAKERS
THE PLAYMAKERS · Podcast · 2020
Explores: male friendship, urban lifestyle, observational humor.
The banter and male friendship that drive the energy of Ride Along are front and center here, offering a conversational take on the same comedic rapport between partners.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Ride Along about a high-school security guard?
Yes, Ride Along follows Ben, a high-school security guard who wants to prove he is worthy of marrying his girlfriend, Angela. He attempts to earn the respect of her brother, James, who is a decorated detective with the APD, by participating in a ride along.
Who directed the 2014 movie Ride Along?
The 2014 film Ride Along was directed by Tim Story. The plot centers on Ben, a security guard, who tries to demonstrate his potential to his future brother-in-law, James, by joining him on a police ride along to prove he is more than a video-game enthusiast.
Does Ride Along feature a character named James?
Yes, James is a central character in Ride Along. He is a decorated APD detective and the brother of Angela. James remains skeptical of Ben, a security guard who wants to marry Angela, and he uses a ride along to test Ben's capabilities and dedication.
Why does Ben want to do a ride along in the movie Ride Along?
In Ride Along, Ben wants to do a ride along to earn the blessing of James to marry his sister, Angela. Ben believes that successfully completing the ride along will prove to the seasoned detective that he is a capable person worthy of joining the family.