What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Irishman
Martin Scorsese · Film · 2019
If you loved The Irishman, start with The Sopranos (David Chase, 1999) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Irishman across media.
If you were captivated by The Irishman, you will appreciate these stories that explore the heavy burden of living a life defined by crime.
Books on the same thread
The Godfather
Mario Puzo · Book · 1969
Shares a thread with The Irishman: The American Dream.
Much like the complex hierarchy depicted in The Irishman, this classic novel examines the intricate web of loyalty and power that dictates the survival of an organized crime family.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
David Grann · Book · 2018
Explores: Racial injustice, Corruption, Greed.
If The Irishman left you reflecting on the dark undercurrents of American history, this true account of systemic greed and corruption provides a similarly haunting perspective on institutional betrayal.
The Firm
John Grisham · Book · 1991
Explores: Whistleblower, Dangerous Workplace, Moral Corruption.
While The Irishman focuses on the lifelong toll of mob involvement, this thriller captures the same suffocating tension of a man trapped within a dangerous and morally corrupt organization.
The Partner
John Grisham · Book · 1998
Explores: Betrayal, Corporate Espionage, Financial Crime.
The Irishman explores the devastating consequences of betrayal, and this legal thriller mirrors that intensity as it follows a man navigating the dangerous fallout of his own duplicitous actions.
Series on the same thread
The Sopranos
David Chase · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with The Irishman: The American Dream.
Fans of The Irishman will recognize the same existential weight in Tony Soprano, a man struggling to reconcile the demands of his criminal life with his personal family dynamics.
Godfather of Harlem
Chris Brancato · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with The Irishman: Organized Crime.
Like the power struggles seen in The Irishman, this series depicts a calculated return to the criminal underworld, focusing on the historical grit and ambition that drive organized crime.
Mr Inbetween
Scott Ryan · Series · 2018
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Balancing Family and Crime, Working Class Criminal.
This series captures the same moral ambiguity found in The Irishman, centering on a hitman who must navigate the jarring contrast between his violent profession and his everyday life.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with The Irishman: organized crime.
The Irishman masterfully portrays the internal politics of the mob, and this gritty drama offers a similarly uncompromising look at the cycle of loyalty and brutal power within criminal organizations.
Podcasts on the same thread
Kinahans Downfall
Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Irishman: Organized Crime.
If The Irishman resonated with you, this investigation into the violent reality of modern cartels provides a chilling real-world look at the same themes of gangland loyalty and downfall.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
The Irishman challenges your view of American history, and this series provides a deeper, systemic examination of the legacy and social structures that have shaped the nation's difficult past.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Irishman based on a true story?
The Irishman depicts the life of Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes involved with mobster Russell Bufalino in 1956. The film follows Sheeran as he navigates his role as a trusted associate of Bufalino and his long-term friendship with the powerful union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
How long does The Irishman span?
The Irishman covers a timeline of nearly twenty years. The narrative begins in 1956 when Frank Sheeran, a war veteran, meets Russell Bufalino, leading to his eventual involvement in the world of organized crime and his decades-long relationship with union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
What is the relationship between Frank Sheeran and Jimmy Hoffa in The Irishman?
In The Irishman, Frank Sheeran is sent to Chicago by mobster Russell Bufalino to assist Jimmy Hoffa. This assignment leads to a close friendship between Sheeran and the union leader that lasts for nearly twenty years while they are both connected to organized crime circles.
Who is the main character in The Irishman?
The central figure in The Irishman is Frank Sheeran, an Irish-American war veteran and truck driver. His life changes after he meets mobster Russell Bufalino, which leads him into a complex world of organized crime and a lasting partnership with union leader Jimmy Hoffa.