What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSeven Psychopaths
Martin McDonagh · Film · 2012
If you loved Seven Psychopaths, start with Only Murders in the Building (Steve Martin, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Seven Psychopaths across media.
If you loved the way Seven Psychopaths blends dark, cynical humor with the chaotic, unpredictable consequences of criminal underworld mishaps, explore these.
Books on the same thread
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
Like the meta-commentary in Seven Psychopaths, this novel masterfully mocks Hollywood culture by throwing a gritty mobster into the vapid, professional landscape of the Los Angeles film industry.
The Scared Stiff
Donald E. Westlake · Book · 2013
Shares a thread with Seven Psychopaths: Black Comedy.
This thriller captures the same escalating absurdity found in Seven Psychopaths, where mundane financial desperation forces ordinary people into increasingly violent and poorly planned criminal situations.
A Simple Plan
Scott Smith · Book · 2007
Explores: Moral Decay, Greed, Consequences.
If the moral decay and sudden, visceral violence of Seven Psychopaths resonated with you, this story offers a darker, grounded look at how greed unravels the lives of amateurs.
African Psycho
Alain Mabanckou · Book · 2007
Shares 2 threads with Seven Psychopaths: Violence, Satire.
This novel mirrors the dark, satirical bite of Seven Psychopaths, using a sociopathic lens to dissect human nature through a narrative that is both razor-sharp and deeply unsettling.
Series on the same thread
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Daniel J. Goor · Series · 2013
Explores: Ensemble Cast, Underdog, Character-Driven.
While lighter in tone, the ensemble dynamics and the sense of a found family navigating high-stakes professional pressure echo the eccentric character-driven chaos seen in Seven Psychopaths.
Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin · Series · 2021
Explores: True Crime Obsession, New York City, Intergenerational Friendship.
This series shares the meta-narrative obsession with true crime found in Seven Psychopaths, focusing on how personal fixations can dangerously entangle people in real-life criminal investigations.
Arrested Development
Mitchell Hurwitz · Series · 2003
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Wealth and Privilege, Family Business.
This show excels at the same brand of dark, dysfunctional character comedy present in Seven Psychopaths, highlighting how privileged and chaotic individuals handle their inevitable, self-inflicted downfalls.
Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon · Series · 2013
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Existentialism, Dark Humor.
The sociopathic protagonist and the constant, existential threat of violence in this series reflect the nihilistic humor and unpredictable character arcs that define Seven Psychopaths.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
Much like the tragic irony in Seven Psychopaths, this podcast balances the gravity of real murder with an investigative comedic spin that highlights the absurdity of criminal behavior.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This podcast mirrors the dark humor of Seven Psychopaths by finding the inherent absurdity in criminal missteps, specifically focusing on the scandalous and often hilarious failures of athletes.
Common questions
Is Seven Psychopaths based on a true story?
Seven Psychopaths is a fictional 2012 film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The plot follows a struggling screenwriter who becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his friends kidnap a gangster's Shih Tzu, but it is not based on actual events.
What is the central conflict in Seven Psychopaths?
The central conflict in Seven Psychopaths involves a struggling screenwriter who gets drawn into the Los Angeles criminal underworld. This entanglement occurs after his oddball friends decide to kidnap the beloved Shih Tzu belonging to a dangerous gangster, triggering a series of unpredictable and dangerous events.
Who directed the 2012 film Seven Psychopaths?
The 2012 film Seven Psychopaths was written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The movie centers on a screenwriter navigating the Los Angeles criminal underworld following the kidnapping of a gangster's Shih Tzu by his friends.
Does Seven Psychopaths take place in Los Angeles?
Yes, Seven Psychopaths is set in the Los Angeles criminal underworld. The story follows a struggling screenwriter who becomes involved with this dangerous environment after his friends kidnap a gangster's Shih Tzu, leading to a complex series of events throughout the city.