What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSons of Anarchy
Kurt Sutter · Series · 2008
If you loved Sons of Anarchy, start with Mayans M.C. (Kurt Sutter, 2018) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Sons of Anarchy across media.
If you loved Sons of Anarchy, you are drawn to stories where brotherhood and violence define the survival of a fractured family.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Mayans M.C.
Kurt Sutter · Series · 2018
Books on the same thread
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Explores: Mafia, Corruption, Crime.
Like the internal power struggles in Sons of Anarchy, this investigation into the mafia reveals how criminal organizations exert absolute control over the communities they inhabit.
Angels of Death
William Marsden, Julian Sher · Book · 2010
Explores: Biker Gangs, Criminal Organizations, International Crime.
This definitive account of real-world outlaw biker networks mirrors the gritty, high-stakes international criminal operations and organizational loyalty that drive the narrative of Sons of Anarchy.
Sanctuary
William Faulkner · Book · 1981
Explores: Violence, Trauma, Social Decay.
Much like the moral decay found in Charming, this novel captures the brutal consequences of violence and social collapse within a closed, unforgiving landscape.
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
While lighter in tone, this story of a mobster navigating a new world shares the same fascination with the internal codes and professional shifts of organized crime found in Sons of Anarchy.
Films on the same thread
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1972
Explores: Power, Family Loyalty, Corruption.
Sons of Anarchy echoes the complex power dynamics and the crushing weight of family loyalty seen in this quintessential saga of an organized crime dynasty.
The Wild Bunch
Sam Peckinpah · Film · 1969
Shares 2 threads with Sons of Anarchy: Moral Ambiguity, Brotherhood.
This film captures the same sense of an outlaw brotherhood facing the end of their era that defines the core struggle of the club in Sons of Anarchy.
The Outsiders
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1983
Shares a thread with Sons of Anarchy: Brotherhood.
The fierce tribalism and cycle of violence between rival groups in this story reflect the intense territorial conflicts that keep the characters of Sons of Anarchy at war.
GoodFellas
Martin Scorsese · Film · 1990
Shares a thread with Sons of Anarchy: Moral Ambiguity.
This biographical look at a life within the mob provides the same unflinching examination of how loyalty and betrayal shape the rise and fall of criminal members in Sons of Anarchy.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
Though the setting differs, the focus on a tight-knit community and the complex, long-running personal relationships echoes the small-town, character-driven drama at the heart of Sons of Anarchy.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
This deep dive into a small town and its eccentric, isolated inhabitants mirrors the way Sons of Anarchy explores the dark, hidden secrets of a community under pressure.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Mayans M.C. related to Sons of Anarchy?
Yes, Mayans M.C. is an adaptation and spin-off series released in 2018. It exists within the same universe as Sons of Anarchy, which was created by Kurt Sutter and centered on the activities of the Redwood Original motorcycle club charter in Charming, California.
What is the primary setting of Sons of Anarchy?
Sons of Anarchy is set in the small town of Charming, California. The narrative focuses on the founding charter of the motorcycle club, known as SAMCRO or Redwood Original, as they manage a complex mix of legal and illegal business operations within the community.
Who created the television show Sons of Anarchy?
The television show Sons of Anarchy was created by Kurt Sutter. It premiered in 2008 and follows the lives of the members of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original, as they navigate their operations in the town of Charming, California.
How are the motorcycle clubs in Sons of Anarchy organized?
The Sons of Anarchy organization consists of many charters located throughout the United States and overseas. The series specifically follows the original and founding charter, Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original, which is frequently referred to by the acronyms SAMCRO or Sam Crow.