What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Change-Up
David Dobkin · Film · 2011
If you loved The Change-Up, start with 18 Again (Ha Byung-hoon, 2020) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Change-Up across media.
If you loved the hilarious midlife existentialism of The Change-Up, you will appreciate these stories exploring the grass-is-greener side of human nature.
Books on the same thread
Switch
Chip Heath, Dan Heath · Book · 2010
Explores: Decision Making, Habit Formation, Motivation.
While The Change-Up uses comedy to explore life-altering shifts, this book provides the practical framework for actually achieving the personal transformation that Dave and Mitch only dream about.
Rabbit is Rich
John Updike · Book · 1981
Shares a thread with The Change-Up: Midlife Crisis.
This novel captures the same midlife crisis tension found in The Change-Up, focusing on the internal dissatisfaction of a man navigating the weight of his own adult reality.
How to Change Your Mind
Michael Pollan · Book
Explores: consciousness exploration, mental health reform, pharmacology.
If the consciousness-shifting premise of The Change-Up fascinated you, this exploration of how substances can fundamentally alter one's perspective and mental state offers a deeper, real-world scientific angle.
The Choice
Nicholas Sparks · Book
Explores: life-altering choices, destiny, slow-burn romance.
This story mirrors the life-altering choice at the heart of The Change-Up, showing how a single pivot point can completely redefine the trajectory of a person's future path.
Series on the same thread
18 Again
Ha Byung-hoon · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with The Change-Up: Body Swap Comedy.
This series leans into the exact body-swap fantasy seen in The Change-Up, using a magical do-over to help a disillusioned man confront the regrets of his own marriage.
The Trip
Michael Winterbottom · Series · 2010
Shares 2 threads with The Change-Up: Male Friendship, Midlife Crisis.
The banter-filled male friendship that defines The Change-Up is perfectly mirrored in this travelogue, which centers on two friends navigating the complexities of their lives through witty conversation.
Drop Dead Diva
Josh Berman · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with The Change-Up: Body Swap Comedy.
Much like the identity swap in The Change-Up, this show uses a supernatural premise to force a character into a completely new life, leading to humorous self-discovery.
Podcasts on the same thread
VIEWS with David Dobrik & Jason Nash
VIEWS · Podcast · 2026
Explores: internet fame, parasocial relationships, candid storytelling.
If you enjoyed the candid, unfiltered male chemistry between the leads in The Change-Up, you will appreciate this podcast for its honest, anecdotal storytelling and deep comedic rapport.
The Bishop Exchange
Podcast
Explores: cultural differences, life commentary, comedians talking.
The foundation of The Change-Up is the relatable dynamic between two friends, and this podcast offers a similar authentic look at life through the lens of comedic conversation.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Change-Up about two friends who switch lives?
Yes, The Change-Up follows two lifelong friends, Dave and Mitch, who envy each other's lives. After a fateful night of drinking, they magically switch bodies and must navigate the challenges of living the other person's life while dealing with the consequences of their wish.
What triggers the body swap in The Change-Up?
In The Change-Up, the body swap occurs after Dave and Mitch admit they wish they had the other person's life while urinating in a fountain. This drunken confession leads to the supernatural event that forces them to experience the realities of their friend's lifestyle.
Does The Change-Up focus on the differences between Dave and Mitch?
The Change-Up explores the contrast between Dave, who has a family and a high-paying law career, and Mitch, who lives a stress-free, obligation-free playboy lifestyle. The film highlights how each man believes the other has the better life until they are forced to trade places.
Who directed the 2011 film The Change-Up?
The Change-Up was directed by David Dobkin. The film centers on the premise of two friends who are dissatisfied with their current situations and discover that getting what they wish for comes with unexpected complications during their time in each other's bodies.