What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSteelheart
Brandon Sanderson · Book · 2014
If you loved Steelheart, start with Man of Steel (Zack Snyder, 2013) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Steelheart across media.
What hooked you in Steelheart was the way human grit battles overwhelming, god-like power in a world where authority is corrupted.
Films on the same thread
Man of Steel
Zack Snyder · Film · 2013
Explores: Messianic Archetype, Alien Assimilation, Existential Crisis.
Just as Steelheart explores the existential weight of superpowered beings, this film examines the tension between alien godhood and the human need for hope amidst total annihilation.
Guardians of the Galaxy
James Gunn · Film · 2014
Explores: Found Family, Misfit Heroes, Redemption.
If the underdog resistance against untouchable foes in Steelheart kept you turning pages, you will appreciate this group of outcasts fighting impossible odds against cosmic tyranny.
Real Steel
Shawn Levy · Film · 2011
Explores: Redemption, Father-Son Relationship, Underdog Story.
While Steelheart focuses on high-stakes rebellion, this story mirrors the personal redemption and father-son dynamics found in the Reckoners series through a gritty, grounded lens of competition.
Interstellar
Christopher Nolan · Film · 2014
Explores: Existentialism, Humanity's Survival, Love and Sacrifice.
The desperate, high-stakes fight for humanity’s survival in a crumbling world found in Steelheart finds a deeper, more cerebral reflection in this epic journey across space and time.
Series on the same thread
The Boys
Eric Kripke · Series · 2019
Explores: Anti-Hero, Corporate Corruption, Abuse of Power.
This series is the perfect follow-up to Steelheart, stripping away the glamour of capes to reveal the same corporate corruption and violent vigilante resistance against god-like bullies.
Marvel's Daredevil
Drew Goddard · Series · 2015
Explores: Vigilantism, Moral Ambiguity, Disability & Superpowers.
The moral ambiguity and street-level vigilantism that defined your experience with Steelheart are masterfully executed here as one man fights to clean up a corrupt, decaying city.
Smallville
Alfred Gough · Series · 2001
Explores: Secret Identity, Destiny vs. Free Will, First Love.
If the coming-of-age tension in Steelheart resonated with you, this origin story provides a similar look at the burdens of power and the struggle to define one's destiny.
Steven Universe
Rebecca Sugar · Series · 2013
Explores: Friendship, Self-discovery, Redemption.
Like Steelheart, this series centers on a young protagonist thrust into a world of extraordinary powers, focusing on the trauma and responsibility that come with such immense abilities.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
The sense of living under the shadow of a powerful, oppressive figure seen in Steelheart is echoed in this investigation into the social decay of an isolated town.
Order of Man
Ryan Michler · Podcast · 2026
Explores: self-improvement, stoicism, character building.
The drive for self-improvement and the reclamation of agency against overwhelming odds in Steelheart find a real-world parallel in these lessons on leadership and personal character building.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the reading order for the Steelheart series?
Steelheart is the first book in the Reckoners series. The story continues in the subsequent books, Firefight and Calamity. You should read them in that specific order to follow the complete narrative arc of the series as written by Brandon Sanderson.
Is Steelheart part of a larger series?
Yes, Steelheart is the first installment of the Reckoners series. It is followed by two additional books, Firefight and Calamity, which complete the trilogy. All three books are authored by Brandon Sanderson, who is also known for the Mistborn trilogy and the Wheel of Time series.
Who is the author of Steelheart?
Steelheart was written by Brandon Sanderson. He is a New York Times bestselling author recognized for creating the Mistborn trilogy and coauthoring the Wheel of Time series. He also wrote the follow-up books to Steelheart, titled Firefight and Calamity.
Are there more books after I finish Steelheart?
Yes, there are two more books in the Reckoners series following Steelheart. You can continue the story by reading Firefight and then the final book, Calamity. These titles complete the series written by Brandon Sanderson.