What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedShazam!
David F. Sandberg · Film · 2019
If you loved Shazam!, start with Captain Marvel (Ryan Fleck, 2019) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Shazam! across media.
What hooked you in Shazam! was the balance of extraordinary power with the awkward, messy, and relatable reality of growing up.
Start with the source
The source
Captain Marvel
Ryan Fleck · Film · 2019
Adaptation
Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
Film · 2010
Adaptation
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
David F. Sandberg · Film · 2023
Books on the same thread
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Orphanhood, Friendship.
Like Shazam!, this story follows a young boy discovering he has a grand destiny, capturing that same sense of wonder when an ordinary life is suddenly transformed by magic.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain · Book · 1994
Explores: Childhood Adventures, Mississippi River Life, Rebellion.
If you enjoyed the youthful spirit of Shazam!, these classic tales of boyhood rebellion and adventure provide the same heartwarming look at the chaotic process of growing up.
Nimona
ND Stevenson · Book
Explores: found family, moral ambiguity, anti-hero.
The dynamic between a mentor and an unpredictable, super-powered youth in this story mirrors the chaotic energy that made the relationship in Shazam! so engaging and uniquely fun.
Fairy Tale
Stephen King · Book
Explores: coming of age, good versus evil, interdimensional travel.
Much like the portal-like transformation in Shazam!, this book explores the way a young person is thrust into an epic struggle between good and evil beyond their world.
Series on the same thread
Invincible
Series · 2021
Explores: Father-Son Relationship, Superhero Legacy, Brutal Superhero.
This series captures the same core tension found in Shazam! as a teenager navigates the heavy burden of sudden power while trying to maintain his own personal identity.
The Sandman
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2022
Explores: Cosmic Horror, Existentialism, Redemption.
While darker in tone, this journey across worlds echoes the grand, mythic scale of the magic that defines the experience of the main character in Shazam!
Static Shock
Dwayne McDuffie · Series · 2000
Shares 2 threads with Shazam!: Responsibility, Teen Superhero.
Fans of Shazam! will recognize the familiar struggle of a teenager balancing daily life and personal responsibility with the sudden acquisition of extraordinary, life-changing superhero abilities.
The Boys
Eric Kripke · Series · 2019
Explores: Anti-Hero, Corporate Corruption, Abuse of Power.
If you enjoyed the way Shazam! deconstructs the superhero archetype, you will appreciate this gritty, satirical take on how power affects those who wield it in the public eye.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
The sense of discovery and the variety of new worlds found in these cinematic stories provide a similar thrill to the magical transformation experienced in Shazam!
MSA
Podcast
Explores: Life Lessons, Personal Growth, Inspiration.
These personal stories focus on the same themes of inspiration and growth that ground the high-stakes superhero narrative of Shazam! in a very human, relatable experience.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Shazam! movies in?
You should watch the 2019 film Shazam! first to understand the origin story. After that, you can proceed to the sequel titled Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which continues the narrative of the boy who gains superpowers by saying a magic word.
Is Shazam! the same movie as Captain Marvel?
No, they are different films. While the 2019 movie Shazam! tells the story of a boy who transforms into an adult superhero, Captain Marvel is a separate 2019 film release. They are distinct titles and do not share the same plot or characters.
How does Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam relate to Shazam!?
The 2010 animated film Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam serves as an additional adaptation featuring the character. It provides more context for fans of the 2019 Shazam! movie who want to see how the hero interacts with other figures in the broader source material.
Is Shazam! Fury of the Gods a direct sequel?
Yes, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the direct sequel to the 2019 film Shazam!. It follows the same protagonist who uses a magic word to transform into an adult superhero whenever he is in need of those specific abilities.