What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Equalizer 3
Antoine Fuqua · Film · 2023
If you loved The Equalizer 3, start with The Equalizer (Richard Lindheim, 1985) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Equalizer 3 across media.
If The Equalizer 3 captivated you, you will appreciate these stories of lone protectors and outsiders dismantling entrenched criminal organizations.
Start with the source
The source
The Equalizer
Richard Lindheim · Series · 1985
Adaptation
The Equalizer
Antoine Fuqua · Film · 2014
Adaptation
The Equalizer 2
Antoine Fuqua · Film · 2018
Books on the same thread
COOL MACHINE
Colson Whitehead · Book
Explores: systemic corruption, urban decay, social mobility.
Just as Robert McCall navigates the corruption of a small Italian town in The Equalizer 3, Ray Carney battles the systemic decay and criminal underworld of 1980s Harlem.
Inferno
Dan Brown · Book · 2013
Explores: Dante Alighieri, Global Pandemic, Overpopulation.
The Equalizer 3 leans into high-stakes moral dilemmas, much like this thriller where the protagonist faces a global crisis that demands immediate, decisive action against overwhelming odds.
City on Fire
Don Winslow · Book
Explores: loyalty and betrayal, intergenerational conflict, criminal empire.
If you enjoyed watching McCall take on the mafia in The Equalizer 3, this saga provides a similarly gritty look at the brutal internal wars of organized crime families.
Loyalty
Lisa Scottoline · Book
Explores: organized crime, social injustice, interconnected lives.
Much like the setting of The Equalizer 3, this story explores how the rise of the Sicilian Mafia impacts the lives of ordinary people caught in the crossfire.
Series on the same thread
Tulsa King
Taylor Sheridan · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Equalizer 3: Redemption.
Dwight Manfredi shares the disciplined, outsider perspective of Robert McCall in The Equalizer 3, as both men use their lethal skill sets to establish justice in unfamiliar territory.
Vincenzo
Series · 2021
Shares a thread with The Equalizer 3: Justice.
Vincenzo Cassano mirrors the protagonist of The Equalizer 3, utilizing his unique background to systematically dismantle corrupt organizations through a blend of strategy and calculated force.
Man on Fire
Kyle Killen · Series · 2026
Shares a thread with The Equalizer 3: redemption.
The protector bond at the heart of The Equalizer 3 is mirrored here, as a battle-hardened veteran risks everything to keep an innocent person safe from criminal threats.
MobLand
Ronan Bennett · Series · 2025
Explores: Family Loyalty, Power Struggles, Betrayal.
Similar to the conflict in The Equalizer 3, this narrative focuses on the destructive power struggles within criminal empires that force individuals to choose sides and fight.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
If you were drawn to the moral ambiguity of Robert McCall in The Equalizer 3, this podcast offers a deeper look at the reality of those caught in criminal webs.
Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
Spotify Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: dark human nature, criminal psychology, public fascination.
This podcast explores the dark human nature found in organized crime, echoing the intense criminal rivalries that Robert McCall confronts throughout The Equalizer 3.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Equalizer 3 connected to the previous films?
Yes, The Equalizer 3 continues the story of Robert McCall following the events of the 2014 film The Equalizer and its 2018 sequel The Equalizer 2. While this installment features a new setting in Southern Italy, it remains part of the same cinematic series directed by Antoine Fuqua.
What order should I watch The Equalizer movies in?
To follow Robert McCall's journey in chronological order, you should watch the 2014 film The Equalizer first, followed by The Equalizer 2, and then conclude with The Equalizer 3. This sequence allows you to see the character's progression before he settles in Southern Italy to protect his friends.
Does The Equalizer 3 relate to the 1985 TV series?
The Equalizer 3 and the preceding films are based on the original 1985 television series The Equalizer. While the movies share the core premise of a protector taking on those who threaten the innocent, the 2023 film focuses on Robert McCall's specific conflict with the mafia in Italy.
How does The Equalizer 3 differ from the earlier movies?
In The Equalizer 3, Robert McCall finds himself in Southern Italy rather than his usual environment. The plot shifts to him acting as a protector for his new local friends against crime bosses, marking a change in location and stakes compared to the previous films in the series.