What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Cobbler
Tom McCarthy · Film · 2014
If you loved The Cobbler, start with Someone Else's Shoes (Jojo Moyes) — a book on the same thread. Below: 1 book, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Cobbler across media.
You loved the way The Cobbler used a touch of the extraordinary to force an intimate, transformative confrontation with the meaning of identity.
Books on the same thread
Someone Else's Shoes
Jojo Moyes · Book
Shares a thread with The Cobbler: identity crisis.
Much like the magical footwear in The Cobbler, these shoes act as a catalyst for a life-altering identity shift that forces the protagonists to see their worlds differently.
Series on the same thread
The Good Place
Michael Schur · Series · 2016
Explores: Redemption, Moral Improvement, Existentialism.
If the moral awakening found in The Cobbler resonated with you, this journey through the afterlife offers a similarly profound, character-driven exploration of personal growth and redemption.
The Bear
Christopher Storer · Series · 2022
Explores: Grief, Family Business, Working Class.
Both The Cobbler and this series center on a man struggling to manage a legacy business while navigating a complex, difficult path toward genuine self-discovery and internal change.
Goblin
Kim Eun-sook · Series · 2016
Explores: Immortal Being, Fate vs. Free Will, Forbidden Love.
This drama captures the same intersection of the supernatural and the human heart found in The Cobbler, using an immortal premise to explore the weight of individual existence.
The Sandman
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Cobbler: Urban Fantasy.
Just as The Cobbler uses a magical heirloom to explore the lives of others, this series employs high-concept fantasy to examine the profound responsibility of shaping human reality.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These audio dramas mirror the episodic, perspective-shifting nature of The Cobbler, offering intimate windows into diverse lives that highlight the complexities of the human condition in short bursts.
StoryCorps
NPR · Podcast
Shares a thread with The Cobbler: empathy.
The Cobbler is built on the power of empathy, and this collection of unscripted stories provides that same grounded, authentic connection to the lives and legacies of others.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Cobbler a fantasy film?
Yes, The Cobbler is a fantasy film centered on a magical heirloom. The story follows a New York shoe repairman who discovers that using his family equipment allows him to step into the lives of his customers and experience the world from their unique perspectives.
What is the premise of The Cobbler?
The Cobbler tells the story of Max Simkin, a man working in a long-standing family shoe shop in New York. He discovers a magical heirloom that enables him to physically transform into his customers, helping him learn more about himself while living through the experiences of others.
Does The Cobbler focus on family history?
The Cobbler focuses on a protagonist who operates a shoe repair shop that has been in his family for generations. The narrative centers on a magical heirloom passed down through this family lineage, which ultimately serves as the catalyst for the protagonist to discover his true self.
Is The Cobbler set in New York?
Yes, The Cobbler takes place in New York City. The film is set within a traditional shoe repair shop that has been operated by the same family for generations, providing the backdrop for the protagonist to discover the magical heirloom that changes his life.