What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedStrike Back
Jed Mercurio · Series · 2010
If you loved Strike Back, start with Shadow Strike (Brad Taylor) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Strike Back across media.
If Strike Back hooked you, it is because you crave the gritty, high-stakes adrenaline of elite operators facing impossible odds.
Books on the same thread
The Cobra
Frederick Forsyth · Book · 2010
Shares 2 threads with Strike Back: Covert Operations, Action Thriller.
Much like the Section 20 operatives in Strike Back, Paul Devereaux navigates a world of moral ambiguity and covert operations, proving that ruthlessness is often required to achieve results.
Shadow Strike
Brad Taylor · Book
Shares a thread with Strike Back: Military Thriller.
The tactical precision and high-stakes manhunt featured here mirror the intense counter-terrorism missions found in Strike Back, delivering the same level of global security tension and relentless action.
Reacher: Persuader
Lee Child · Book
Explores: undercover operations, lone wolf protagonist, ruthless justice.
If you enjoyed the lone wolf grit of Strike Back, you will appreciate how Reacher uses his specialized military skills to infiltrate dangerous environments and deliver absolute, ruthless justice.
Bad Luck and Trouble
Lee Child · Book
Explores: vigilante justice, former military, conspiracy.
Fans of the camaraderie and military procedural elements in Strike Back will find a familiar satisfaction in watching Reacher protect his former teammates against a lethal, looming conspiracy.
Films on the same thread
Counterattack
Film · 2025
Explores: Tactical Combat, Betrayal, Survival Against Odds.
This film captures the same desperate survival and elite squad dynamics that defined Strike Back, forcing soldiers to rely on their training when a rescue mission turns against them.
Sniper: No Nation
Trevor Calverley · Film · 2026
Shares a thread with Strike Back: Military Thriller.
The focus on brotherhood in arms and high-risk extraction in hostile territory echoes the core appeal of Strike Back, highlighting the bond between operators under extreme geopolitical pressure.
The Empire Strikes Back
Irvin Kershner · Film · 1980
Explores: Good vs Evil, The Force, Father-Son Relationship.
If Strike Back hit, The Empire Strikes Back shares the thread.
The Expendables
Sylvester Stallone · Film · 2010
Shares 2 threads with Strike Back: Redemption, Action Thriller.
This ensemble mirrors the high-octane team dynamic of Strike Back, focusing on a group of skilled mercenaries whose shared history and lethal expertise drive their mission for redemption.
Podcasts on the same thread
Jocko Podcast
Jocko DEFCOR Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: discipline, stoicism, accountability.
If Strike Back hit, Jocko Podcast shares the thread.
The Rest Is Classified
Podcast
Shares a thread with Strike Back: Covert operations.
For those fascinated by the intelligence-gathering and geopolitical maneuvering behind the missions in Strike Back, this podcast provides an authentic look into the real-world machinery of global espionage.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Strike Back based on a true story?
No, Strike Back is not based on a true story. The series features a fictional branch of the Secret Intelligence Service known as Section 20 and follows the missions of former British Special Forces soldier John Porter.
What is the premise of Strike Back?
Strike Back follows the story of John Porter, a former British Special Forces soldier. He is drafted back into active duty to serve for Section 20, which is a fictional branch of the Secret Intelligence Service.
Who created the 2010 series Strike Back?
The 2010 television series Strike Back was created by Jed Mercurio. It centers on the character John Porter as he returns to service for a fictional branch of the Secret Intelligence Service called Section 20.
Does Strike Back feature real intelligence agencies?
Strike Back features a fictional branch of the Secret Intelligence Service called Section 20. While it depicts the operations of a former British Special Forces soldier, the specific unit portrayed in the series is not a real-world organization.