What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Boys
Eric Kripke · Series · 2019
If you loved The Boys, start with The Boys (Ron Howard, Clint Howard, 2021) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Boys across media.
You crave the way The Boys strips away the shining veneer of heroism to expose the rot underneath.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Gen V
Craig Rosenberg · Series · 2023
Books on the same thread
Watchmen
Alan Moore · Book · 2009
Shares 2 threads with The Boys: Moral Ambiguity, Deconstructionist Superhero.
This graphic novel serves as the blueprint for the cynical deconstruction of power found in The Boys, challenging your perception of morality through its deep exploration of existential dread.
Invincible Compendium One
Robert Kirkman · Book
Shares a thread with The Boys: moral ambiguity.
Like The Boys, this collection explores the dark consequences of unchecked abilities, forcing you to confront the unsettling reality of what happens when heroes possess dangerous and absolute power.
Invincible Compendium Two
Robert Kirkman · Book
Explores: coming-of-age, intergalactic conflict, moral complexity.
Continuing the brutal deconstruction started in The Boys, this volume pushes its characters into complex moral dilemmas where heroism is constantly weighed against the cost of intergalactic conflict.
Invincible Compendium Three
Robert Kirkman · Book
Shares a thread with The Boys: moral ambiguity.
This final collection maintains the narrative intensity of The Boys, grounding its massive scale in the same moral ambiguity and coming-of-age struggles that define its most compelling characters.
Films on the same thread
Watchmen
Zack Snyder · Film · 2009
Shares a thread with The Boys: Moral ambiguity.
This film mirrors the bleak atmosphere of The Boys, replacing traditional heroics with a cold look at government overreach and the nihilistic consequences of masked vigilantes in society.
Kick-Ass
Matthew Vaughn · Film · 2010
Shares a thread with The Boys: Vigilantism.
If you enjoyed the gritty, blue-collar approach to vigilantism in The Boys, you will appreciate this violent take on ordinary people attempting to mimic the superhero lifestyle without powers.
The Avengers
Joss Whedon · Film · 2012
Explores: Teamwork, Sacrifice, Global Threat.
If The Boys hit, The Avengers shares the thread.
The Batman
Matt Reeves · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with The Boys: Vigilantism.
Much like the investigation into Vought in The Boys, this film centers on a dark, detective-led journey to uncover deep-seated corruption and moral decay within a crumbling city.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Daily Wire · Podcast · 2026
Explores: ideological debate, cultural critique, partisan rhetoric.
If The Boys hit, The Ben Shapiro Show shares the thread.
Here Comes The Guillotine
Podcast
Explores: social commentary, political satire, current events.
If The Boys hit, Here Comes The Guillotine shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch The Boys and Gen V?
You should watch The Boys starting with the 2019 television series. Since Gen V was released in 2023, it serves as a spin-off set within the same universe. Viewing the original series first provides the necessary context for the corrupt superhero world established by Eric Kripke.
Is The Boys book different from the 2019 television series?
The 2021 book and the 2019 television series both feature a group of vigilantes working to take down corrupt superheroes. While both versions share the core premise of blue-collar grit and fighting dirty, they are distinct adaptations of the source material created by Eric Kripke.
How long has The Boys been running as a television series?
The Boys television series premiered in 2019. Created by Eric Kripke, the show focuses on a group of vigilantes using grit and dirty tactics to dismantle corrupt superheroes. It has since expanded to include the 2023 spin-off series titled Gen V.
Should I watch Gen V if I finished The Boys?
Yes, if you enjoyed the 2019 television series The Boys, you should watch the 2023 spin-off Gen V. Both shows explore the same universe where vigilantes fight against corrupt superheroes, maintaining the gritty tone and themes established in the original series created by Eric Kripke.