If you loved
Seven Psychopaths
Martin McDonagh · Film · 2012
What hooked you in Seven Psychopaths was the way the absurdity of criminal life collides with the creative, often desperate process of storytelling.
Books on the same thread
A Simple Plan
Scott Smith · Book · 2007
Explores: Moral Decay, Greed, Consequences.
Much like the spiraling chaos in Seven Psychopaths, this story explores how a simple criminal entanglement leads to a profound and violent descent fueled by greed and poor judgment.
Severed
John Gilmore · Book · 2006
Explores: Hollywood Scandals, Celebrity Culture, Crime.
If the Hollywood backdrop of Seven Psychopaths intrigued you, this noir classic offers a gritty, authentic look at the dark scandals and celebrity culture hidden behind the studio lights.
Misery
Stephen King · Book · 1987
Explores: Obsession, Captivity, Isolation.
You will recognize the tension found in Seven Psychopaths here as a writer is thrust into a dangerous, claustrophobic reality where their life becomes a dark, unpredictable narrative.
Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls: From the Creator of Captain Underpants (Dog Man #7)
Dav Pilkey · Book · 2019
Shares a thread with Seven Psychopaths: Friendship.
While tonally different, this shares the eccentric character dynamics and focus on oddball obsessions that define the central relationships driving the plot of Seven Psychopaths.
Series on the same thread
Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin · Series · 2021
Explores: True Crime Obsession, New York City, Intergenerational Friendship.
This series mirrors the meta-commentary on the true crime genre found in Seven Psychopaths, focusing on an obsession with murder that unexpectedly pulls the protagonists into the criminal underworld.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Daniel J. Goor · Series · 2013
Explores: Ensemble Cast, Underdog, Character-Driven.
The ensemble chemistry and focus on an eclectic group of characters navigating professional and personal disaster will feel familiar to anyone who enjoyed the chaotic camaraderie of Seven Psychopaths.
Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon · Series · 2013
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Existentialism, Dark Humor.
The sociopathic protagonist and dark, existential humor present here echo the irreverent tone and unpredictable, violent stakes that make Seven Psychopaths such a unique cinematic experience.
Sherlock
Mark Gatiss · Series · 2010
Explores: Genius detective, High-functioning sociopath, Unconventional crime solving.
This series captures the intellectual banter and high-functioning sociopathic energy that defines the most memorable and dangerous characters inhabiting the world of Seven Psychopaths.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If you appreciated the way Seven Psychopaths finds dark comedy in horrific violence, you will enjoy this investigation into small-town tragedy paired with sharp, irreverent comedic observation.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This podcast mirrors the satirical approach to criminal behavior found in Seven Psychopaths, using wit and dark humor to dissect the absurd real-life scandals of professional athletes.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary plot of Seven Psychopaths?
Seven Psychopaths follows a struggling screenwriter who finds himself caught in the Los Angeles criminal underworld. The conflict begins when his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu, leading to an entanglement with dangerous local criminals.
Who directed the movie Seven Psychopaths?
Seven Psychopaths was written and directed by Martin McDonagh and released in 2012. The film centers on the chaotic consequences that occur after a screenwriter's friends steal a gangster's dog.
Is Seven Psychopaths based on a true story?
Seven Psychopaths is a fictional dark comedy film directed by Martin McDonagh. The story focuses on a screenwriter navigating the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his friends kidnap a Shih Tzu belonging to a dangerous gangster.
What triggers the criminal events in Seven Psychopaths?
In Seven Psychopaths, the criminal underworld becomes involved in the screenwriter's life specifically because his friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu. This act serves as the catalyst for the subsequent events throughout the film.