What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSicario
Denis Villeneuve · Film · 2015
If you loved Sicario, start with Narcos (Chris Brancato, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Sicario across media.
If you loved Sicario, you are drawn to the harrowing intersection of systemic corruption, moral decay, and the high-stakes cost of justice.
Books on the same thread
Dreamland
Sam Quinones · Book · 2015
Explores: Opioid Crisis, Drug Addiction, Pharmaceutical Industry.
Much like the drug war depicted in Sicario, this investigation exposes the lethal intersection of corporate greed and government policy that fuels an ongoing, devastating humanitarian crisis.
Millennium
Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz · Book · 2005
Shares 2 threads with Sicario: Crime Thriller, Psychological Thriller.
Fans of the grim, investigative intensity in Sicario will appreciate how this narrative strips away the facade of society to reveal the deep-seated corruption and human vulnerability underneath.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
David Grann · Book · 2018
Explores: Racial injustice, Corruption, Greed.
This chilling account of systemic inequality and institutional rot mirrors the bleak, atmosphere-heavy exploration of corruption that makes Sicario such an unsettling and profound look at American power.
2666
Roberto Bolaño · Book · 2024
Explores: femicide, systemic corruption, elusive authorship.
The brutal, border-spanning landscape and the pervasive sense of existential dread found in this novel reflect the same atmosphere of inevitable violence captured within Sicario.
Series on the same thread
Narcos
Chris Brancato · Series · 2015
Shares 2 threads with Sicario: War on Drugs, Moral Ambiguity.
If the geopolitical power dynamics of the war on drugs in Sicario left you wanting more, this series provides a similarly gritty, unflinching look at cartel influence.
The Wire
David Simon · Series · 2002
Shares 2 threads with Sicario: Moral Ambiguity, War on Drugs.
The Wire captures the same self-sustaining bureaucracy and moral ambiguity that defines the world of Sicario, proving that the war on drugs is often beyond any individual control.
Narcos: Mexico
Doug Miro · Series · 2018
Explores: Drug Trafficking, Mexican Cartels, DEA Operations.
This series expands on the dangerous, high-stakes DEA operations seen in Sicario, offering a detailed look at the rise of cartels and the corruption that permeates the border.
True Detective
Nic Pizzolatto · Series · 2014
Shares 3 threads with Sicario: Moral Ambiguity, Neo-Noir, Psychological Thriller.
The dark, neo-noir tone and the focus on the psychological toll of investigating deep-seated corruption will resonate with anyone who was captivated by the intensity of Sicario.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Sicario: moral ambiguity.
This podcast explores the same grey areas of human behavior and legal anomalies that force characters in Sicario to confront the messy, often unfair nature of true justice.
Kill List
Podcast
Explores: Dark Net, Murder for Hire, Technological Crime.
The dark net investigation into murder-for-hire schemes mirrors the clandestine, lethal world uncovered in Sicario, focusing on the hidden, terrifying realities that exist just beneath the surface.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Sicario a movie about the war on drugs?
Yes, Sicario is a 2015 film directed by Denis Villeneuve that focuses on an idealistic FBI agent enlisted by a government task force to assist in the escalating war against drugs at the border.
What is the premise of the movie Sicario?
Sicario follows an idealistic FBI agent who is recruited by a government task force. She is tasked with providing aid in the escalating war against drugs occurring at the border, leading to a complex exploration of law enforcement operations.
Who directed the 2015 film Sicario?
The 2015 film Sicario was directed by Denis Villeneuve. The movie depicts the experiences of an idealistic FBI agent who joins a government task force to address the escalating war against drugs at the border.
Does Sicario feature an FBI agent as the main character?
Yes, the central character in Sicario is an idealistic FBI agent. She is enlisted by a government task force to help with the escalating war against drugs at the border, which serves as the primary focus of the film.