What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe American
Anton Corbijn · Film · 2010
If you loved The American, start with Mr Inbetween (Scott Ryan, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The American across media.
You were drawn to The American by the way it strips away the glamour of crime to reveal the isolated, morally compromised man underneath.
Books on the same thread
The Confession: A Novel
John Grisham · Book · 2010
Shares a thread with The American: Redemption.
Like the protagonist in The American, this story centers on an individual grappling with the heavy weight of past sins and the desperate search for redemption within a flawed system.
The Broker
John Grisham · Book · 2005
Shares a thread with The American: Redemption.
This narrative mirrors the isolated, hunted existence of the hitman in The American, focusing on a man forced into a precarious double life while navigating a dangerous, unfamiliar world.
American Prometheus
Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin · Book
Shares a thread with The American: moral ambiguity.
If the moral ambiguity of The American fascinated you, this biography explores the internal conflict of a man whose legacy is defined by the heavy consequences of his professional choices.
The Lincoln Lawyer
Michael Connelly · Book · 2011
Shares 2 threads with The American: Moral Ambiguity, Redemption.
This legal thriller captures the same sense of moral ambiguity found in The American, following a professional whose complex work forces him to constantly navigate ethical gray areas.
Series on the same thread
True Detective
Nic Pizzolatto · Series · 2014
Shares 2 threads with The American: Moral Ambiguity, Neo-Noir.
Much like the atmosphere of The American, this series uses a neo-noir lens to expose the deep personal and professional secrets hidden beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary life.
Mr Inbetween
Scott Ryan · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with The American: Moral Ambiguity.
This series perfectly echoes the central tension of The American, portraying the struggle of a man who must balance the everyday realities of human connection with his life as a criminal.
The Sopranos
David Chase · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with The American: Moral Ambiguity.
The American shares its core theme of an existential crisis with this series, which examines the friction between a man's domestic responsibilities and his demanding, inherently violent criminal profession.
American Crime Story
Scott Alexander · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with The American: Moral Ambiguity.
The focus on systemic corruption and the human cost of high-stakes investigations provides the same gritty, investigative intensity that made The American so compelling to watch.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
These stories capture the same observant, human-centric focus that defined The American, unfolding like cinematic vignettes that reveal the quiet, complicated truths of the human condition.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The American: moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio dramas mirror the precise, atmospheric storytelling of The American, offering deep dives into moral ambiguity and the isolated experiences of characters in complex situations.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The American set in a specific location?
The American is set in a small Italian town. The protagonist, Jack, is dispatched to this location to await further orders while attempting to maintain a double life that becomes increasingly complicated during his stay.
What is the primary occupation of the main character in The American?
The main character in The American is an assassin named Jack. Throughout the film, he is tasked with living a double life in a small Italian town while he waits for instructions regarding his next assignment.
Does Jack live a peaceful life in The American?
While Jack attempts to lead a double life that feels more relaxing than is good for him, The American centers on the tension between his desire for a quiet existence and his professional obligations as an assassin awaiting further orders.
Who directed The American?
The American was directed by Anton Corbijn. Released in 2010, the film follows the story of an assassin who finds himself in a small Italian town where he must navigate the challenges of his double life.