What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Bandit Queens
Parini Shroff · Book · 2024
If you loved The Bandit Queens, start with Bad Sisters (Sharon Horgan, 2022) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Bandit Queens across media.
You loved The Bandit Queens for the delicious way ordinary women reclaim their agency through dark, subversive acts of vengeance.
Films on the same thread
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
Like the protagonists in The Bandit Queens, the lead here navigates a dangerous game of secrets, mirroring the tension between domestic expectation and the thrill of breaking free.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
If the intergenerational bonds in The Bandit Queens resonated with you, this story offers a similar focus on how unlikely connections provide healing after life-altering discoveries and secrets.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Mohammad Rasoulof · Film · 2024
Explores: Paranoia, Political Unrest, Family Breakdown.
While more intense, this film shares the small-town paranoia found in The Bandit Queens, exploring how domestic structures collapse when suspicion and secrets take root among family members.
Gone Girl
David Fincher · Film · 2014
Explores: Marriage Breakdown, Media Manipulation, False Accusation.
The Bandit Queens captures the fallout of marital rumors, and this film masterfully expands on that theme of media-fueled perception and the hidden reality behind a marriage's breakdown.
Series on the same thread
Bad Sisters
Sharon Horgan · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with The Bandit Queens: Dark Humor, Dark Comedy.
This series is the perfect companion to The Bandit Queens, highlighting a group of women whose bond is tested by the shared goal of eliminating a toxic man.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with The Bandit Queens: dark comedy.
Much like the characters in The Bandit Queens, this protagonist finds an exhilarating, dangerous sense of empowerment by subverting moral norms and targeting those within his social circle.
Queen of Tears
Park Ji-eun · Series · 2024
Explores: Marital Crisis, Second Chance Romance, Corporate Intrigue.
If the marital dynamics of The Bandit Queens drew you in, this story explores the complexities of a crumbling union, albeit with a focus on reconciliation rather than vengeance.
Good Girls
Jenna Bans · Series · 2018
Explores: Female Empowerment, Desperate Housewives, Moral Ambiguity.
Fans of The Bandit Queens will appreciate these suburban women who abandon their conventional roles to pursue their own interests, proving that desperation can lead to unexpected empowerment.
Podcasts on the same thread
Here Comes The Guillotine
Podcast
Shares a thread with The Bandit Queens: dark humor.
The Bandit Queens uses dark satire to dismantle societal expectations, and this podcast offers that same unapologetic, subversive commentary on current events that you found so refreshing.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If the village noir atmosphere of The Bandit Queens captivated you, these deep dives into small-town tragedies provide the same blend of grim crime and comedic observation.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Bandit Queens a lighthearted story?
The Bandit Queens is described as a radically feel-good story. Despite the premise involving the murder of husbands, the narrative focuses on a cast of unsinkable women and maintains a razor-sharp tone throughout the book.
What is the central premise of The Bandit Queens?
In The Bandit Queens, a young Indian woman discovers that rumors of her murdering her husband are surprisingly useful. This reputation leads other women in her village to approach her for assistance in getting rid of their own husbands.
Was The Bandit Queens a popular release?
Yes, The Bandit Queens is a national bestseller. The book also received significant recognition as a Good Morning America Buzz Pick following its release in 2024.
How would you describe the tone of The Bandit Queens?
The Bandit Queens is characterized as a razor-sharp debut. The narrative style balances the dark subject matter of the plot with a feel-good perspective on the resilience and collective actions of the women in the village.