What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Blues Brothers
Film · 1980
If you loved The Blues Brothers, start with Prison Break (Paul T. Scheuring, 2005) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Blues Brothers across media.
What hooked you in The Blues Brothers was the way high-stakes missions rely entirely on the unbreakable bond between brothers.
Books on the same thread
Les Misérables
Victor Hugo · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with The Blues Brothers: Redemption.
Just as the Blues brothers seek a path to righteousness, Jean Valjean pursues a difficult journey toward redemption while constantly evading the relentless authorities who refuse to let him go.
Les Miserables. Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with The Blues Brothers: Redemption.
Much like the mission in The Blues Brothers, this story captures the struggle of an ex-convict trying to turn his life around while being pursued by a rigid, unrelenting lawman.
A Confederacy of Dunces
John Kennedy Toole · Book · 1980
Explores: eccentric protagonist, social misfit, anachronistic worldview.
If the chaotic energy of The Blues Brothers appealed to you, you will appreciate how this picaresque tale centers on a social misfit navigating a world that refuses to understand him.
The Princess Bride
William Goldman · Book · 1999
Shares a thread with The Blues Brothers: Good vs Evil.
The Blues Brothers balances humor and adventure with a strong sense of mission, mirroring how this classic tale blends epic quests with a firm commitment to the power of friendship.
Series on the same thread
Hill Street Blues
Steven Bochco · Series · 1981
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Bureaucracy, Urban decay.
While The Blues Brothers leans into comedy, you will recognize the same gritty urban atmosphere and the complex, messy dynamics of police work depicted within this realistic and ensemble-driven drama.
Prison Break
Paul T. Scheuring · Series · 2005
Shares 2 threads with The Blues Brothers: Brotherhood, Redemption.
This show shares the core premise of The Blues Brothers by focusing on a dedicated brother who risks everything to secure his sibling's freedom through a daring, high-stakes prison escape.
Band of Brothers
Series · 2001
Shares a thread with The Blues Brothers: brotherhood.
The deep sense of brotherhood that defines The Blues Brothers is elevated here, capturing the intense survival and shared history of men who rely on each other during impossible circumstances.
The A-Team
Frank Lupo · Series · 1983
Shares 2 threads with The Blues Brothers: Redemption, Underdog Story.
Like the protagonists in The Blues Brothers, this team of outcasts operates on the run, driven by a mission of redemption while constantly evading the authorities they once served.
Podcasts on the same thread
Prends Un Break
Podcast
Shares a thread with The Blues Brothers: Brotherhood.
If the comedic rapport between the siblings in The Blues Brothers kept you watching, this podcast provides that same sense of spontaneous, brotherly humor and chaotic conversational energy.
My Brother, My Brother And Me
The McElroys · Podcast
Explores: sibling relationships, humorous advice, absurdist humor.
The Blues Brothers succeeds because of its central sibling dynamic, and this podcast captures that exact spirit by featuring three brothers offering their own brand of humor and advice.
Common questions
What is the premise of The Blues Brothers?
The Blues Brothers follows Jake Blues after his release from prison. He reunites his former band to raise money to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised during their childhood.
Who are the primary characters in The Blues Brothers?
The primary characters in The Blues Brothers are brothers Jake and Elwood Blues. After Jake is released from prison, the two brothers work together to organize their old band for a mission to save their childhood home.
Is The Blues Brothers about a band reunion?
Yes, The Blues Brothers centers on Jake and Elwood Blues putting their old band back together. This musical effort is intended to generate the necessary funds to save the Catholic orphanage where the two brothers were raised.
Why do the brothers reunite in The Blues Brothers?
In The Blues Brothers, Jake and Elwood Blues reunite their old band to save the Catholic home where they grew up. Jake initiates this mission immediately following his release from prison to ensure the institution is protected.