What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSuccession
Jesse Armstrong · Series · 2018
If you loved Succession, start with Unscripted (James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams) — a book on the same thread. Below: 1 book, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Succession across media.
What hooked you in Succession was the way the cold machinery of dynastic power inevitably fractures the fragile human heart.
Books on the same thread
Unscripted
James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams · Book
Explores: power dynamics, corporate greed, dynastic succession.
If Succession captured your fascination with corporate power struggles, this true account of the Redstone family provides the real-world blueprint for the brutal dynastic succession you witnessed onscreen.
Films on the same thread
Parasite
Bong Joon Ho · Film · 2019
Explores: Class Warfare, Social Commentary, Deception.
Succession excelled at exposing the grotesque insulation of the ultra-wealthy, and this film mirrors that biting social critique by showing the desperate lengths families go to survive them.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1972
Explores: Power, Family Loyalty, Corruption.
The Roy family dynamic finds its ultimate ancestor here, as this crime saga masterfully explores the heavy moral toll and internal corruption inherent in maintaining a powerful dynasty.
American Fiction
Cord Jefferson · Film · 2023
Explores: Authenticity, Identity, Hypocrisy.
Succession thrived on its sharp, cynical view of media hypocrisy, and this film delivers an equally biting satire of the establishment, targeting the performative nature of cultural industries.
Sweet Smell of Success
Alexander Mackendrick · Film · 1957
Explores: Power Dynamics, Moral Corruption, Ambition.
This noir classic provides the DNA for the manipulative, power-hungry media figures in Succession, illustrating how absolute influence over public opinion inevitably leads to deep moral and personal corruption.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
While the setting shifts from skyscrapers to farmland, the core appeal of Succession remains intact through this long-running drama centered on the complex, messy entanglements of family life.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
Succession drew you in with its focus on the rot hidden behind a wealthy facade, a theme this investigation probes with unsettling precision as it dissects a dying dynasty.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the core premise of Succession?
Succession follows the lives of the Roy family as they navigate the future of their media and entertainment conglomerate. The narrative focuses on the internal power dynamics that emerge as the aging father begins to step back from his leadership role within the company.
Who created the television series Succession?
Succession was created by Jesse Armstrong. The show premiered in 2018 and centers on the Roy family's complex struggle for control over their massive media and entertainment business as their patriarch prepares to step away from his position.
Is Succession focused on a family business?
Yes, Succession focuses on the Roy family and their media and entertainment conglomerate. The plot examines the family members as they contemplate their individual futures and the fate of the company while their aging father starts to step back from his control.
How does the story in Succession begin?
The story in Succession begins as the aging father of the Roy family starts to step back from the media and entertainment conglomerate they control. This shift forces the family members to contemplate their future and the impending transition of power within their organization.