What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedScarface
Film · 1983
If you loved Scarface, start with Logan (James Mangold, 2017) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Scarface across media.
What hooked you in Scarface was the intoxicating, violent descent that occurs when unbridled ambition meets the corrupting power of criminal empires.
Start with the source
Inspired by
Logan
James Mangold · Film · 2017
Books on the same thread
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 1991
Explores: The American Dream, Social Class, Wealth and Status.
Like Scarface, this explores the hollow core of the American Dream, showing how the pursuit of status and wealth inevitably leads to a tragic and destructive final act.
The Godfather
Mario Puzo · Book · 1969
Explores: Power, Loyalty, Family.
If the rise and fall of Tony Montana captivated you, this foundational crime saga provides the definitive blueprint for the power, loyalty, and betrayal inherent in mafia life.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with Scarface: American Dream.
This novel mirrors the thematic obsession with wealth and excess found in Scarface, illustrating how an insatiable desire for more ultimately results in a profound and inevitable tragedy.
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
While Scarface depicts the brutal reality of the Miami drug trade, this satirical take offers a sharp, humorous look at the same criminal underworld from a different perspective.
Series on the same thread
Pablo Escobar: The Drug Lord
Carlos Moreno · Series · 2012
Shares a thread with Scarface: Rise and Fall.
This series tracks a criminal rise and fall remarkably similar to the trajectory of Tony Montana, detailing how the pursuit of influence transforms a man into a kingpin.
Narcos
Chris Brancato · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with Scarface: Rise and Fall.
The gritty power dynamics and violent drug war landscape featured here serve as a perfect companion to the high-stakes chaos that defined the world of Scarface.
Miami Vice
Anthony Yerkovich · Series · 1984
Shares 2 threads with Scarface: Drug trafficking, Neo-noir.
Set in the same neon-drenched Miami environment as Scarface, this series captures the moral ambiguity and lethal intensity of the drug trafficking world through a police procedural lens.
Narcos: Mexico
Doug Miro · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Scarface: Drug Trafficking.
Much like the tension surrounding the cocaine trade in Scarface, this series explores the dangerous corruption and high-stakes power struggles that define the operations of international drug cartels.
Podcasts on the same thread
Scam Junkie
Podcast
Explores: scams, con artists, fraud.
If you were drawn to the calculated greed and criminal exploitation in Scarface, this podcast offers a deep dive into the mechanics of fraud and the mindset of cons.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
For those fascinated by the dark side of human nature explored in Scarface, this podcast provides an ongoing exploration of crime through a conversational and community-driven perspective.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Scarface based on a true story about a Cuban drug lord?
The 1983 film Scarface depicts the fictional rise of Tony Montana, who gains a green card by assassinating a Cuban official. While it captures the atmosphere of the Miami drug trade, the narrative follows the original script rather than a direct historical account of a specific drug lord.
How long is the runtime of Scarface?
The 1983 film Scarface has a runtime of approximately 170 minutes. This duration covers the entire arc of Tony Montana as he transitions from a refugee to the most powerful cocaine kingpin in Miami, eventually facing pressure from law enforcement and rival Colombian drug cartels.
Should I watch Logan if I am a fan of Scarface?
If you enjoyed the intense, character-driven violence found in Scarface, you may appreciate Logan. Both films focus on a protagonist facing the consequences of a brutal past while dealing with external threats, though they exist in different cinematic genres and settings compared to the Miami drug trade.
Does Scarface focus on the rivalry with Colombian drug cartels?
Yes, a significant portion of the conflict in Scarface involves Tony Montana navigating wars with Colombian drug cartels. These external pressures, combined with his own deteriorating mental state and law enforcement scrutiny, contribute to the eventual downfall of his cocaine empire in the state of Florida.