What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Dark Tower
Nikolaj Arcel · Film · 2017
If you loved The Dark Tower, start with The Dark Tower (Stephen King, 1982) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Dark Tower across media.
What hooked you in The Dark Tower was the way the weight of destiny pulls characters across vast, crumbling, and dangerous parallel realities.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Gunslinger
Stephen King · Book · 2003
Explores: Quest for redemption, Moral ambiguity, Obsession.
As the source material for The Dark Tower, this book establishes the gunslinger’s relentless obsession and moral ambiguity, grounding the epic scope of his quest in a hauntingly dreamlike atmosphere.
The Drawing of the Three
Stephen King · Book · 1990
Shares 3 threads with The Dark Tower: Parallel Worlds, Good vs Evil, Fantasy Western.
If the interdimensional stakes of The Dark Tower resonated with you, this sequel deepens the journey by expanding the quest through parallel worlds and pushing the boundaries of fate versus choice.
Fairy Tale
Stephen King · Book
Explores: coming of age, good versus evil, interdimensional travel.
This novel echoes The Dark Tower by centering on a portal to a war-torn realm, blending a coming-of-age narrative with the high-stakes struggle between good and evil across different dimensions.
The Waste Lands
Stephen King · Book · 2003
Explores: Quest, Dystopian Society, Technological Singularity.
Expanding on the dystopian journey found in The Dark Tower, this installment presents dangerous new obstacles and technical horrors that force Roland to confront the true cost of his epic quest.
Series on the same thread
Westworld
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2016
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Existentialism, Free Will vs. Determinism.
Much like the genre-bending landscape of The Dark Tower, this series explores the intersection of a reimagined past and a dark future, focusing on existential questions and the nature of sin.
The Sandman
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2022
Explores: Cosmic Horror, Existentialism, Redemption.
Fans of the cosmic scale in The Dark Tower will appreciate this odyssey across worlds, as it mirrors the protagonist's burden to restore order while navigating immense, supernatural power and responsibility.
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia
Guillermo del Toro · Series · 2016
Explores: Chosen One, Secret World, Coming of Age.
This series captures the Chosen One motif central to The Dark Tower, following a young protagonist who must suddenly balance two worlds while accepting an unlikely destiny to prevent total destruction.
Arcane
Christian Linke · Series · 2021
Explores: Sisterhood, Dystopian Society, Technological Advancement vs. Social Decay.
The moral ambiguity and systemic decay found in The Dark Tower are reflected here, as clashing convictions and technological advancements create a high-stakes conflict that forces characters to choose sides.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
If you enjoyed the cinematic, world-hopping nature of The Dark Tower, this anthology offers a similar sense of discovery through its experimental storytelling and varied, immersive explorations of the human condition.
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
While lighter in tone, this actual play series captures the collaborative, quest-driven spirit of The Dark Tower, emphasizing group dynamics and improvised adventures within a sprawling, high-fantasy world of dangerous encounters.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Dark Tower movie a direct adaptation of the 1982 book?
The 2017 movie The Dark Tower is not a direct adaptation of the 1982 book. While the film draws inspiration from the source material, it presents a distinct narrative regarding a boy who aids a guardian in preventing the destruction of the nexus of universes.
Should I read The Dark Tower book before watching the movie?
Reading the 1982 book The Dark Tower provides context for the expansive universe, but it is not strictly required to understand the 2017 movie. The film functions as an independent story about a guardian protecting the nexus of universes from destruction.
What is the primary conflict in The Dark Tower?
The primary conflict in The Dark Tower involves a boy haunted by visions of a parallel world who joins a disillusioned guardian. Together, they attempt to prevent the destruction of the nexus of universes, which is known as the Dark Tower.
Does The Dark Tower movie cover the entire story from the book?
The 2017 movie The Dark Tower does not cover the entire story of the 1982 book. The film focuses on a specific mission involving a boy and a guardian working to save the nexus of universes rather than adapting the complete narrative of the source material.