What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Act
Nick Antosca · Series · 2019
If you loved The Act, start with Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (Joe Berlinger, 2019) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 2 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Act across media.
If The Act captured your attention, you will find these stories similarly obsessed with the suffocating nature of hidden domestic deception.
Books on the same thread
Sharp Objects
Gillian Flynn · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with The Act: Psychological Thriller.
Much like The Act, this story explores the harrowing reality of a dysfunctional family dynamic where the people closest to you are the source of your deepest trauma.
Psycho
Robert Bloch · Book · 1959
Shares a thread with The Act: Deception.
If you were gripped by the psychological intensity of The Act, this classic tale of isolation and obsession offers a similar look at fractured, dangerous family identities.
The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins · Book · 2015
Shares 2 threads with The Act: Gaslighting, Psychological Thriller.
This thriller mirrors the unsettling atmosphere of The Act by focusing on an unreliable perspective and the disturbing secrets that lie just beneath the surface of everyday life.
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book
Explores: sectarian violence, historical trauma, political radicalization.
Readers who appreciated the true crime roots of The Act will value this deep dive into historical trauma and the long-lasting impact of secrets kept by a community.
Films on the same thread
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
Joe Berlinger · Film · 2019
Shares 3 threads with The Act: Gaslighting, True Crime Drama, Biographical Crime.
This film echoes the central manipulation found in The Act, highlighting how easily a partner can be blinded by denial while living alongside a master of deception.
Run
Aneesh Chaganty · Film · 2020
Shares 2 threads with The Act: Gaslighting, Psychological Thriller.
This movie is the perfect companion to The Act, as it directly mirrors the terrifying reality of medical abuse and the struggle to escape an overprotective parent.
Podcasts on the same thread
Scamanda
Lionsgate Sound · Podcast · 2025
Shares a thread with The Act: deception.
Fans of The Act will recognize the chilling pattern of medical fraud and calculated public deception, proving that the most horrifying stories are often rooted in real life.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
Like the anthology structure of The Act, these cinematic stories offer varied, immersive looks at the human condition that will keep you questioning the moral ambiguity of others.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Act based on a true story?
Yes, The Act is a true crime anthology series. The first season tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Gypsy Blanchard and her struggle to escape the toxic relationship she has with her overprotective mother.
What is the premise of The Act?
The Act is a seasonal anthology series that focuses on startling true crime stories. The first season specifically explores the life of Gypsy Blanchard as she attempts to break free from the control of her overprotective mother.
Who created The Act?
The Act was created by Nick Antosca. It is a seasonal anthology series that premiered in 2019 and depicts true crime stories, starting with the complex relationship between Gypsy Blanchard and her mother.
How is The Act structured?
The Act is structured as a seasonal anthology series. This means each season features a different true crime story, with the debut season dedicated to the account of Gypsy Blanchard and her overprotective mother.