What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Great
Tony McNamara · Series · 2020
If you loved The Great, start with The Scarlet Empress (Josef von Sternberg, 1934) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Great across media.
What hooked you in The Great was the sharp intersection of systemic political volatility and the absurd, darkly comedic human ego.
Books on the same thread
The Master and Margarita
Mikhail Bulgakov · Book · 2008
Explores: Good vs Evil, Power of Art, Redemption.
If you enjoyed the chaotic satire of The Great, you will appreciate how this novel uses supernatural elements to dismantle the hypocrisy and corruption of a rigid state.
A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel
Amor Towles · Book · 2017
Explores: Adaptation, Resilience, Loss of Innocence.
Those who loved the claustrophobic royal court dynamics of The Great will find a similar focus on individual resilience and adaptation within the halls of a changing Russia.
Fire and Blood
George R.R. Martin · Book
Shares a thread with The Great: Political intrigue.
Fans of the dynastic power struggles in The Great will recognize the same high-stakes maneuvering and ruthless pursuit of the throne found within this historical Targaryen chronicle.
Gargantua and Pantagruel
François Rabelais · Book · 1937
Explores: Humanism, Grotesque Realism, Social Satire.
The Great shares a biting, bawdy sensibility with this classic, which uses intellectual absurdity and grotesque realism to satirize the social structures of its time with unmatched wit.
Films on the same thread
The Scarlet Empress
Josef von Sternberg · Film · 1934
Explores: Royal power struggle, Political transformation, Arranged marriage.
As a predecessor to the story told in The Great, this film offers a more traditional look at the political transformation and arranged marriages defining Catherine's rise to power.
The Favourite
Yorgos Lanthimos · Film · 2018
Shares a thread with The Great: Political Intrigue.
This film mirrors the acerbic wit and female-led power dynamics of The Great, showcasing a bitter, darkly comedic battle for influence within the confines of an eighteenth-century court.
The Death of Stalin
Film · 2017
Explores: Power struggle, Authoritarianism, Bureaucratic incompetence.
If the bureaucratic incompetence and back-stabbing of The Great entertained you, you will find this film’s portrayal of a frantic, panicked power vacuum equally cynical and hilarious.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
This podcast explores the same cyclical patterns of collapse and ambition that drive the narrative of The Great, grounding the drama in the realities of historical political change.
Here Comes The Guillotine
Podcast
Explores: social commentary, political satire, current events.
The subversive, darkly funny social commentary found in this show echoes the irreverent spirit of The Great, providing a modern outlet for your interest in sharp political dissent.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Great based on actual history?
The Great is described as an anti-historical series. While it follows the rise of Catherine the Great in 18th century Russia, the show utilizes a genre-bending approach to the narrative rather than strictly adhering to historical facts.
What is the premise of The Great?
The Great follows the journey of Catherine the Nothing as she rises to become Catherine the Great. The series focuses on her volatile and explosive relationship with her husband, Peter, the emperor of Russia, set within an 18th century Russian backdrop.
Who created The Great?
The Great was created by Tony McNamara. It premiered in 2020 as a genre-bending take on the life of Catherine the Great and her marriage to the Russian emperor Peter.
What kind of relationship do Catherine and Peter have in The Great?
In The Great, Catherine and Peter share an explosive and complicated relationship. The show centers on this dynamic as Catherine transitions from Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great while navigating her marriage to the emperor of Russia.