What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Bad Guys 2
Pierre Perifel · Film · 2025
If you loved The Bad Guys 2, start with The Bad Guys (Aaron Blabey) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Bad Guys 2 across media.
You loved The Bad Guys 2 for the way it balances high-stakes criminal antics with the hilarious, heartwarming struggle of being misunderstood outcasts.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Bad Guys
Pierre Perifel · Film · 2022
Books on the same thread
The Bad Guys in the Serpent and the Beast
Aaron Blabey · Book
Shares a thread with The Bad Guys 2: heist comedy.
If the team dynamics in The Bad Guys 2 captured your imagination, you will enjoy this graphic novel installment that deepens the redemption arc through more absurdist humor.
The Bad Guys in One Last Thing
Aaron Blabey · Book
Explores: redemption arc, found family, slapstick comedy.
This final chapter mirrors the found family themes of The Bad Guys 2, offering a satisfying conclusion that leans into the same blend of slapstick comedy and heart.
The Bad Guys #14
Aaron Blabey · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with The Bad Guys 2: heist comedy.
Fans of The Bad Guys 2 will appreciate these origins, as the story highlights the same unlikely heroes attempting good deeds while struggling with their established villainous reputations.
The Bad Guys in the Sever-Ending Story (the Bad Guys #13), Volume 13
Aaron Blabey · Book · 2021
Explores: Redemption arc, Found family, Subversion of villain tropes.
The subversion of villain tropes in The Bad Guys 2 is front and center here, showing exactly how these characters started their long, messy journey toward being good.
Series on the same thread
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball
Ben Bocquelet · Series · 2025
Explores: Subversion of Reality, Family Dynamics, Small Town Life.
The absurd, reality-bending humor found in The Bad Guys 2 carries over to this surreal animated world, where chaotic family dynamics keep the stakes consistently high and funny.
Gachiakuta
Series · 2025
Explores: Wrongful Accusation, Social Outcasts, Revenge.
Much like the protagonists of The Bad Guys 2, these social outcasts find themselves fighting for justice after being wrongly accused, blending action with a compelling underdog narrative.
A Man on the Inside
Michael Schur · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with The Bad Guys 2: Crime Comedy.
This series captures the spirit of second chances seen in The Bad Guys 2, focusing on an unlikely lead navigating a high-stakes investigation with a fresh perspective.
Win or Lose
Series · 2025
Shares a thread with The Bad Guys 2: Teamwork.
If the focus on teamwork in The Bad Guys 2 resonated with you, this series offers a similar look at how groups navigate pressure and growth during critical moments.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
The Bad Guys 2 relies on the intersection of crime and comedy, a theme this podcast explores by dissecting real-world legal mishaps through a lens of dark, investigative humor.
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The collaborative, improvised group dynamics that define The Bad Guys 2 are present in this high fantasy adventure, which thrives on the chemistry of its eccentric main cast.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Do I need to watch the 2022 movie before seeing The Bad Guys 2?
While The Bad Guys 2 continues the story of the reformed crew, it functions as a new globe-trotting heist adventure. Watching the 2022 film first helps establish the characters, but the plot of the sequel focuses on the specific conflict between the Bad Guys and the new Bad Girls team.
Is The Bad Guys 2 based on the original book series?
The Bad Guys 2 is a cinematic follow-up to the 2022 movie rather than a direct adaptation of a specific book. While the franchise draws inspiration from the original book series, this sequel introduces an original plot involving the Bad Girls that is unique to the film medium.
What is the premise of The Bad Guys 2?
In The Bad Guys 2, the reformed crew attempts to maintain their status as good citizens. Their plans are interrupted when they are hijacked into a high-stakes heist orchestrated by a rival group of criminals known as the Bad Girls, forcing them into a global confrontation.
Who directed The Bad Guys 2?
The Bad Guys 2 is directed by Pierre Perifel. He also directed the 2022 film, maintaining consistency in the series as the Bad Guys transition from their initial reformation to facing the new threat posed by the Bad Girls in this 2025 sequel.