What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTaken
Leslie Bohem · Series · 2002
If you loved Taken, start with The X-Files (Rob Bowman, 1998) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Taken across media.
What hooked you in Taken was the way the vast scope of extraterrestrial contact deeply disrupts the lives of ordinary families.
Books on the same thread
The Tommyknockers
Stephen King · Book · 2016
Explores: Technological Horror, Mind Control, Alien Artifacts.
Like the alien experimentation in Taken, this story explores the terrifying way an otherworldly presence infiltrates a small community and irrevocably changes the lives of its unsuspecting residents.
The Three-Body Problem
Cixin Liu · Book
Explores: Existential threat, Technological singularity, Societal collapse.
If the intergenerational stakes of Taken resonated with you, you will appreciate this expansive narrative that tracks the long-term existential consequences of humanity facing a superior alien civilization.
Millennium
Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz · Book · 2005
Explores: Corruption, Journalism, Misogyny.
Much like the investigative intensity found in Taken, this story centers on deep-seated corruption and hidden histories that reveal how powerful institutions manipulate individual lives from the shadows.
Under the Dome: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2009
Explores: Government Conspiracy, Isolation, Mass Hysteria.
This novel mirrors the government conspiracy and isolation themes of Taken, trapping a small town under an inexplicable force that forces residents to confront terrifying, unexplained phenomena.
Films on the same thread
The X-Files
Rob Bowman · Film · 1998
Explores: Skepticism vs. Belief, Government Overreach, The Unexplained.
As a spiritual successor to the conspiracy elements of Taken, this film focuses on the high-stakes struggle to uncover the truth about alien colonization buried by shadowy government actors.
Signs
Film · 2002
Explores: Faith vs. Skepticism, Family Dynamics, Isolation.
This film captures the same sense of family-centered dread present in Taken, focusing on how mysterious, unexplained events force ordinary people to confront their fears and protect their own.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Steven Spielberg · Film · 1977
Explores: Government Conspiracy, The Sublime, Man vs. The Unknown.
If you enjoyed the government's desperate attempts to manage extraterrestrial contact in Taken, you will find this cinematic exploration of the sublime and the unknown deeply familiar and captivating.
Fire in the Sky
Rob Lieberman · Film · 1993
Shares 2 threads with Taken: Alien abduction, Conspiracy thriller.
This film echoes the alien abduction focus of Taken, highlighting the skepticism and isolation faced by those who experience the unexplained while the government hides the reality of contact.
Podcasts on the same thread
UAP Unidentified Alien Podcast
Podcast
Explores: Unidentified Flying Objects, Government Secrets, Extraterrestrial Life.
This podcast digs into the real-world government secrets and alien sightings that serve as the foundation for the conspiracy-driven narrative you followed throughout the entirety of Taken.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
Just as the various families in Taken deal with the burden of hidden secrets, this podcast examines the social decay and isolation found within a complex, tight-knit small town.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What time period does Taken cover?
The television series Taken spans from 1944 to 2002. It follows the evolving history of three specific families—the Crawfords, the Keys, and the Clarkes—as they navigate the long-term consequences of the Roswell crash and subsequent alien interactions over several decades.
Is Taken focused on a single family?
No, Taken follows three distinct families. The Crawfords work to cover up the Roswell crash, the Keys are subjected to frequent alien experimentation, and the Clarkes provide shelter to an alien survivor. The narrative explores how these families are connected through these alien-related events.
What is the primary role of the Crawford family in Taken?
In Taken, the Crawford family plays a central role in the effort to cover up the Roswell crash. They are dedicated to concealing the truth about the crash and the existence of aliens from the public throughout the duration of the series.
How are the Keys involved with aliens in Taken?
The Keys family is deeply affected by extraterrestrials in Taken, as they are subject to frequent experimentation by the aliens. This ongoing interaction defines their experience throughout the timeline of the show, which spans from 1944 to 2002.