What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Academy
Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham · Book
If you loved The Academy, start with Gossip Girl (Stephanie Savage, 2007) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Academy across media.
If you loved The Academy, you were likely hooked by how fragile reputations shatter under the weight of institutional scrutiny.
Films on the same thread
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne · Film · 2023
Shares a thread with The Academy: Prep School Drama.
Like The Academy, this film captures the claustrophobic tension of a New England boarding school where academic pressure forces unlikely connections to form under the weight of isolation.
Election
Alexander Payne · Film · 1999
Explores: Ambition, Teacher-Student Conflict, High School Politics.
This satire mirrors the intense reputation management found in The Academy, highlighting how personal vendettas and high school politics can spiral into uncontrollable chaos for those involved.
The Craft
Andrew Fleming · Film · 1996
Explores: Female Empowerment, Revenge, Outcast/Outsider.
Much like the power dynamics in The Academy, this story explores how a clique of students wields social influence and targeted retribution against their peers and authority figures.
The Children's Hour
William Wyler · Film · 1961
Explores: Homophobia, False Accusation, Reputation Ruin.
This film echoes the central conflict of The Academy by showing how a single malicious accusation within a private school setting can irrevocably destroy the lives of staff.
Series on the same thread
Gossip Girl
Stephanie Savage · Series · 2007
Explores: Privilege, Social Status, Secrets.
Fans of The Academy will recognize the familiar intersection of privilege and toxic gossip where the social standing of students is constantly monitored and threatened by hidden forces.
Off Campus
Gina Fattore · Series · 2026
Explores: Fake Dating, Emotional Healing, Coming-of-age.
If the academic environment of The Academy drew you in, this series provides a similar focus on how personal history and social pressure complicate relationships during developmental years.
The Umbrella Academy
Steve Blackman · Series · 2019
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Apocalypse, Superpowers.
While the setting differs, this show captures the same sense of a dysfunctional hierarchy and the pressure of public image that defines the experience of The Academy.
Wednesday
Miles Millar · Series · 2022
Explores: Outsider Perspective, Coming-of-Age, Murder Investigation.
This series captures the same boarding school atmosphere as The Academy, focusing on an outsider who navigates a complex social web while investigating dangerous, hidden institutional secrets.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Preamble
Sharon McMahon · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Critical thinking, Media literacy, Civic engagement.
Much like the focus on rumor and perception in The Academy, this podcast investigates how complex narratives are constructed and why the truth matters in public discourse.
Fame Under Fire
BBC Sounds · Podcast
Explores: Celebrity Culture, Misinformation, Media Ethics.
This investigative look at scandal mirrors the core tension of The Academy, exploring how misinformation and public perception can ruin reputations when the stakes are high enough.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the central conflict in The Academy?
The primary conflict in The Academy involves harmful rumors circulating throughout a New England boarding school. These rumors create significant trouble and tension for both the students and the staff members residing and working on the campus.
Is The Academy set at a boarding school?
Yes, The Academy is set at a New England boarding school. The narrative focuses on how the spread of harmful rumors impacts the daily lives and relationships of the various students and faculty members who are part of that academic community.
Who are the authors of The Academy?
The Academy is a book written by the authors Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham. The story follows the fallout of damaging rumors that disrupt the environment of a New England boarding school for those in attendance.
Does The Academy focus on students and staff?
Yes, The Academy follows the experiences of both students and staff at a New England boarding school. The plot centers on the complications that arise when harmful rumors begin to affect the people living and working within the school.