What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSavages
Film · 2012
If you loved Savages, start with Corazón salvaje (Caridad Bravo Adams, 1992) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Savages across media.
What hooked you in Savages was the way the brutal, high-stakes collision of criminal empires forces ordinary people to fight for survival.
Books on the same thread
City on Fire
Don Winslow · Book
Explores: loyalty and betrayal, intergenerational conflict, criminal empire.
If Savages gripped you with its portrayal of warring criminal entities, this saga delivers a similarly intense exploration of loyalty and betrayal within the dangerous world of organized crime.
Doc Savage
Lester Dent, various authors · Book · 1933
Explores: Physical Perfection, Mental Acuity, Justice.
While Savages centers on modern cartel violence, you will appreciate how this classic pulp adventure maintains a relentless pace and high-stakes justice that mirrors the intensity of Ben and Chon.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins · Book · 2008
Explores: authoritarianism, class inequality, spectacle of violence.
The visceral struggle for survival against insurmountable odds that defined Savages is mirrored here, as a young protagonist is thrust into a lethal, high-stakes game of life and death.
Savage Hearts
J.T. Geissinger · Book
Explores: Underworld Power Dynamics, Morally Grey Protagonists, Loyalty.
Those drawn to the volatile power dynamics and morally grey relationships in Savages will find a compelling evolution of those themes within this gritty and intense dark mafia romance.
Series on the same thread
Narcos
Chris Brancato · Series · 2015
Explores: War on Drugs, Rise and Fall, Corruption.
If the gritty reality of the drug trade in Savages kept you engaged, this chronicle of the war against Colombian cartels offers the same high-stakes tension and power struggles.
Narcos: Mexico
Doug Miro · Series · 2018
Explores: Drug Trafficking, Mexican Cartels, DEA Operations.
This series captures the same dangerous intersection of law enforcement and cartels found in Savages, focusing on the corruptive forces at play when targeting powerful, violent drug trafficking organizations.
Corazón salvaje
Caridad Bravo Adams · Series · 1992
Shares a thread with Savages: Revenge.
Fans of the complex romantic entanglements and family rivalries that fueled the conflict in Savages will recognize those same dramatic tensions within this historical Mexican setting.
Power
Courtney Kemp Agboh · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with Savages: Crime Drama.
The double life and criminal ambition explored in Savages resonate deeply here, as a successful businessman attempts to balance his illicit empire with the desire to protect his family.
Podcasts on the same thread
Search & Rescue NZ
Podcast
Explores: search and rescue operations, wilderness survival, human resilience.
If the intense survival instincts shown by the leads in Savages fascinated you, these true stories of people facing the unforgiving power of nature provide a similarly gripping experience.
Kinahans Downfall
Podcast · 2026
Explores: Organized Crime, Cartels, Criminal Underworld.
The brutal, cold-blooded violence of the cartel world in Savages is echoed in this investigation, which dives into the lethal consequences of gangland conflict and organized criminal operations.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Savages about a conflict with a cartel?
Yes, Savages follows pot growers Ben and Chon as they engage in a dangerous standoff with a Mexican drug cartel. The conflict escalates after the cartel kidnaps the shared girlfriend of the two protagonists, forcing them to take drastic measures to secure her safe return.
What is the primary motivation for the characters in Savages?
The primary motivation for Ben and Chon in Savages is the rescue of their shared girlfriend. After she is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, the two men must navigate a high-stakes confrontation to save her, shifting their focus from their pot growing business to survival.
Who are the main protagonists in Savages?
The main protagonists in Savages are Ben and Chon, two men who operate a pot growing business together. Their lives are upended when they are forced to confront a Mexican drug cartel following the kidnapping of their shared girlfriend, driving the central plot of the film.
Does Savages involve a kidnapping plot?
Yes, the plot of Savages centers on the kidnapping of a woman shared by Ben and Chon. This event serves as the catalyst for the entire story, leading the pot growers into a direct and violent confrontation with the Mexican drug cartel responsible for the abduction.