What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Mission
Film · 1986
If you loved The Mission, start with The Bible (2013) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Mission across media.
What hooked you in The Mission was the way profound moral struggles play out against the backdrop of sweeping historical upheaval.
Books on the same thread
Les Misérables
Victor Hugo · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with The Mission: Redemption.
Like the protagonist of The Mission, Valjean experiences a transformative journey of redemption that forces him to navigate the brutal intersection of personal conscience and unforgiving social structures.
The Poisonwood Bible
Barbara Kingsolver · Book · 2013
Explores: Cultural collision, Religious fundamentalism, Female coming-of-age.
This narrative mirrors the colonial tension found in The Mission, illustrating how the collision between missionary zeal and local culture inevitably leads to devastating political and personal consequences.
The Power and the Glory
Graham Greene · Book · 1982
Shares 2 threads with The Mission: redemption, sacrifice.
If you were moved by the religious sacrifice in The Mission, this story of a hunted priest struggling with his faith under oppressive regimes will resonate deeply with you.
Confessions
Saint Augustine · Book · 2007
Shares a thread with The Mission: Redemption.
The Mission captures the intensity of spiritual conversion, a theme explored with raw honesty in this autobiographical work that chronicles the lifelong pursuit of meaning and divine forgiveness.
Series on the same thread
The Chosen
Dallas Jenkins · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with The Mission: Redemption.
Much like the Jesuit efforts depicted in The Mission, this series focuses on the profound impact that a life of faith and discipleship has on those standing at history's crossroads.
Into the West
Steven Spielberg · Series · 2005
Explores: Westward Expansion, Clash of Cultures, Manifest Destiny.
The Mission highlights the tragic clash between indigenous rights and colonial expansion, a central conflict that is examined here through the intimate, multi-generational perspectives of two distinct families.
Jesus of Nazareth
Franco Zeffirelli · Series · 1977
Shares 2 threads with The Mission: Redemption, Sacrifice.
This epic drama shares the spiritual gravitas of The Mission, focusing on the ultimate sacrifice and the struggle to maintain faith while surrounded by powerful, often corrupt political forces.
The Bible
Series · 2013
Shares 3 threads with The Mission: Redemption, Sacrifice, Religious Drama.
If you appreciated the grand historical scope and religious conviction of The Mission, this series offers a similarly sweeping look at the landmark events that define human faith.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
The Mission exposes the dark roots of colonialism, and this podcast provides a necessary, rigorous exploration of how those historical systemic injustices continue to shape our modern national identity.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
The Mission excels at presenting complex moral ambiguity within short, cinematic moments, and this anthology delivers similarly focused, high-stakes storytelling that demands your full attention to every detail.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of The Mission?
The Mission follows a Spanish Jesuit who travels into the South American wilderness to establish a mission for the local indigenous people. A slave hunter eventually joins the mission, and together they are forced to defend their work when the colony is sold by Spain to Portugal.
Why are the characters in The Mission forced to fight back?
The characters in The Mission are forced to defend their settlement because Spain sells the colony to Portugal. This geopolitical change puts the mission and the people living there at risk from Portuguese aggressors, leading the Jesuit and the former slave hunter to take a stand against them.
Is The Mission based on a historical conflict?
The Mission depicts a conflict involving the Spanish Jesuits, indigenous people, and the transfer of territory to Portuguese control. The story centers on the defensive struggle against Portuguese aggressors after Spain sells the colony, resulting in a confrontation to protect the mission that was built in the wilderness.
Does The Mission involve a conversion story?
Yes, The Mission features a slave hunter who undergoes a conversion after observing the work of a Spanish Jesuit in the South American wilderness. Following this change, he joins the mission and ultimately participates in the defense of the colony against the Portuguese aggressors.