What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Boxtrolls
Film · 2014
If you loved The Boxtrolls, start with Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (Guillermo del Toro, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Boxtrolls across media.
If you loved The Boxtrolls, you clearly enjoy stories about outcasts finding family while navigating the strange, misunderstood layers of society.
Books on the same thread
The Tinder Box
Hans Christian Andersen, George Thompson · Book · 1971
Explores: Good vs Evil, Soldier's Journey, Magical Realism.
Like the underground creatures in The Boxtrolls, this classic tale uses folklore to explore the gap between social classes and the unexpected fortunes found in the shadows of society.
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien · Book · 1937
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Courage, The Hero's Journey.
Much like the reluctant hero in The Boxtrolls, Bilbo Baggins finds his courage when he is thrust out of his comfort zone into a world of hidden perils.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Orphanhood, Friendship.
If the journey of an orphan discovering his true identity in The Boxtrolls moved you, you will appreciate Harry Potter finding his own sense of belonging at Hogwarts.
Artemis Fowl
Eoin Colfer · Book · 2001
Explores: Criminal mastermind protagonist, High-tech magic, Hidden magical societies.
The Boxtrolls features a battle between humans and creatures, and this book captures that same tension by pitting a young genius against a hidden, magical society of fairies.
Series on the same thread
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia
Guillermo del Toro · Series · 2016
Explores: Chosen One, Secret World, Coming of Age.
You will recognize the spirit of The Boxtrolls in how this series balances a secret world of monsters with the coming-of-age journey of a boy caught in between.
Over the Garden Wall
Patrick McHale · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with The Boxtrolls: Dark Fantasy.
This dark, whimsical fable shares the atmospheric charm of The Boxtrolls, following lost souls as they navigate a strange, dangerous landscape in search of home and family.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The Boxtrolls uses humor to address social hierarchies, and this podcast brings that same satirical energy to a high fantasy setting fueled by chaotic group dynamics and adventure.
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
Explores: survivalism, artificial consciousness, existential dread.
If you were drawn to the struggle for survival in The Boxtrolls, you will find a similar intensity in this story of castaways navigating a hostile, unforgiving universe.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Boxtrolls based on a true story?
The Boxtrolls is not based on a true story. It is a fictional film about an orphaned boy raised by underground creatures who must leave his home to save his family and town from an exterminator named Archibald Snatcher.
What is the main conflict in The Boxtrolls?
The main conflict in The Boxtrolls involves an orphaned boy emerging from the sewers to protect his family of underground creatures. He must stop the evil exterminator, Archibald Snatcher, who poses a direct threat to both the Boxtrolls and the town above.
Who is the antagonist in The Boxtrolls?
The antagonist in The Boxtrolls is Archibald Snatcher. He is an evil exterminator who seeks to capture the underground creatures, forcing the boy raised by the Boxtrolls to intervene and save his family from the threat Snatcher poses to their survival.
Does The Boxtrolls feature an orphaned protagonist?
Yes, the protagonist of The Boxtrolls is an orphaned boy. He was raised by underground creatures known as Boxtrolls and eventually ventures out of the sewers to save his family and the town from the exterminator Archibald Snatcher.