What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Assistant
Kitty Green · Film · 2020
If you loved The Assistant, start with The Boss (Mariano Cohn, 2022) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Assistant across media.
If you loved The Assistant, you are likely drawn to stories that expose the suffocating reality of uneven power dynamics.
Books on the same thread
The Power
Naomi Alderman · Book · 2023
Shares 2 threads with The Assistant: Power Dynamics, Abuse of Power.
Just as The Assistant strips back the professional veil to reveal systemic abuse, this novel explores how the sudden inversion of gendered power dynamics fundamentally alters societal structures.
Such a Fun Age
Kiley Reid · Book · 2020
Explores: Racial dynamics, Performative allyship, Class privilege.
Like the quiet tension found in The Assistant, this story unmasks the performative nature of class and privilege, forcing you to confront the uncomfortable realities behind seemingly polite interactions.
The Housemaid
Freida McFadden · Book · 2022
Shares a thread with The Assistant: gaslighting.
The Assistant captures the chilling vulnerability of a subordinate, a feeling that permeates this thriller as a new employee realizes her employer’s home is defined by hidden, dangerous agendas.
The 6:20 Man
David Baldacci · Book
Shares a thread with The Assistant: Power dynamics.
If the corporate claustrophobia of The Assistant kept you on edge, you will appreciate this look at how institutional corruption and absolute power demand a dangerous price for truth.
Series on the same thread
The Morning Show
Jay Carson · Series · 2019
Shares 2 threads with The Assistant: Power Dynamics, Workplace Drama.
This series mirrors the workplace toxicity depicted in The Assistant, providing a similarly unflinching examination of how systemic inequality and media ethics allow abuse to thrive in high-stakes environments.
The Boss
Mariano Cohn · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Assistant: Power Dynamics.
While The Assistant highlights the helplessness of the lower-level employee, this show explores the darker side of that hierarchy by depicting how a subordinate manipulates power from the shadows.
Killing Eve
Phoebe Waller-Bridge · Series · 2018
Explores: Female obsession, Cat and mouse game, Gender roles subversion.
Much like the psychological weight of The Assistant, this series thrives on an intense, obsessive power struggle that challenges your perceptions of morality and the roles people are forced to play.
Industry
Mickey Down · Series · 2020
Shares 2 threads with The Assistant: Corporate Culture, Workplace Drama.
The Assistant portrays the crushing pressure of a demanding office, a theme echoed here as young graduates navigate the morally ambiguous and cutthroat landscape of a high-powered investment bank.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These stories capture the same sense of unease found in The Assistant, using sharp, cinematic audio to explore the complex moral compromises inherent in the human experience and social order.
Pivot
New York Magazine · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Assistant: power dynamics.
The Assistant exposes the rot beneath corporate success, and this podcast offers a similar, necessary scrutiny of the powerful figures who dictate the trends and ethics of our modern world.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Assistant based on a true story?
The Assistant is a fictional drama directed by Kitty Green. While it portrays a searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive, it is not a direct adaptation of a specific real-world event or individual.
What is the primary theme of The Assistant?
The primary theme of The Assistant is the insidious nature of abuse within a professional environment. The film follows Jane as she performs her daily routine and gradually becomes aware of how systemic power dynamics threaten every aspect of her position at the company.
How long is The Assistant?
The Assistant captures a single, focused day in the life of an executive assistant. Because the film is centered on the repetitive and oppressive nature of Jane's daily routine, the runtime is designed to emphasize the slow, mounting tension of her experiences.
Is The Assistant a documentary?
No, The Assistant is a narrative film directed by Kitty Green. It uses a scripted, observational style to depict the life of an assistant, focusing on the internal realization and growing awareness of abuse rather than utilizing documentary footage or interviews.