If you loved
Sex and the City
Darren Star · Series · 1998
If you loved Sex and the City, you crave the messy, candid exploration of modern womanhood and the electric intimacy of urban life.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Sex and the City
Michael Patrick King · Film · 2008
Adaptation
Sex and the City 2
Michael Patrick King · Film · 2010
Books on the same thread
The Hours
Michael Cunningham · Book · 1998
Much like the internal monologues that define Sex and the City, this narrative offers a profound, intimate look at the complex emotional lives of women navigating their existential paths.
The Happy Hooker: My Own Story
Xaviera Hollander, Robin Moore, Yvonne Dunleavy · Book · 1971
This memoir provides the raw, unapologetic perspective on sexual liberation that Sex and the City brought to the mainstream, celebrating the same spirit of personal freedom and agency.
Humans of New York
Brandon Stanton · Book · 2013
If you adored the way Sex and the City turned New York City into its own distinct character, you will appreciate this photographic census capturing those same urban rhythms.
Valley of the Dolls
Jacqueline Susann · Book · 1966
This classic captures the same high-stakes pursuit of career and glamour seen in Sex and the City, though it trades the breezy friendship for a darker look at fame.
Films on the same thread
Manhattan
Woody Allen · Film · 1979
You will recognize the neurotic, witty, and deeply flawed New York socialites of Sex and the City in this film, which explores the complexities of modern dating and infidelity.
My Friends
Film · 1975
While the gender dynamics shift, the focus on a tight-knit group of friends navigating midlife crises with humor and reckless behavior mirrors the core social energy of Sex and the City.
Happiness
Film · 1998
This film takes the desperate search for intimacy often hinted at in Sex and the City and pushes it into darker, more complex territory while maintaining an urban setting.
Shortbus
John Cameron Mitchell · Film · 2006
This film explores the same post-9/11 New York landscape as later seasons of Sex and the City, focusing on an eclectic group finding connection through art, politics, and sexuality.
Podcasts on the same thread
What We Said
Dear Media · Podcast · 2026
This podcast carries the torch of the Sex and the City brunch conversation, providing a candid, modern space for best friends to discuss relationships, wellness, and the female experience.
Guys We F****d
Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson · Podcast · 2026
This show evolves the sex-positive dialogue started in Sex and the City, offering a contemporary, feminist perspective on sexual autonomy and the importance of honest female friendship.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Sex and the City movies?
You should watch the 1998 television series first to understand the context of the characters. Following the series, watch the Sex and the City movie released in 2008, and conclude with the sequel titled Sex and the City 2, which was released in 2010.
Is the Sex and the City book the same as the show?
The Sex and the City television series is based on the bestselling book by Candace Bushnell. While the book provides the source material for the show, the 1998 series expands on the stories of the four friends as they navigate their careers and social lives in New York.
How long is the Sex and the City story?
The story spans the original Sex and the City television series created by Darren Star in 1998, the 2002 book by Candace Bushnell, and two feature films. The narrative follows the four friends through their thirties as they pursue their careers and personal lives.
Should I read the Sex and the City book before watching the series?
You can consume the media in any order. The Sex and the City television series, which premiered in 1998, is based on the 2002 book by Candace Bushnell. Both versions follow the same core group of four friends navigating the New York social scene while discussing their lives.