What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Natural
Barry Levinson · Film · 1984
If you loved The Natural, start with Baseball (1994) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Natural across media.
If you loved The Natural, you are likely drawn to stories that explore the bittersweet intersection of American mythology and baseball.
Books on the same thread
American Pastoral
Philip Roth · Book · 1998
Shares a thread with The Natural: The American Dream.
Like The Natural, this novel examines the fragile promises of the American Dream, trading the baseball diamond for a domestic tragedy that mirrors the same loss of innocence.
The Boys of Summer
Roger Kahn · Book · 1972
Shares 2 threads with The Natural: Nostalgia, The American Dream.
This narrative captures the deep sense of nostalgia found in The Natural, documenting the real lives of men who lived the baseball history that Roy Hobbs only represented.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with The Natural: Nostalgia.
The mysterious protagonist of The Natural finds his literary precursor here, as this story also dissects the tragic pursuit of an idealized past and the weight of personal ambition.
Underworld
Don DeLillo · Book · 2007
Explores: American History, Cold War, Paranoia.
If the historical atmosphere of The Natural resonated with you, this sprawling novel similarly uses the cultural significance of baseball to frame the broader evolution of American history.
Series on the same thread
Baseball
Series · 1994
Shares a thread with The Natural: Nostalgia.
This documentary series offers the factual foundation for the romanticized nostalgia of The Natural, grounding the mythic grandeur of the sport in the actual voices of its past.
The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox
Series · 2024
Shares a thread with The Natural: Redemption.
The underdog spirit that defines The Natural is on full display here, chronicling a real-life redemptive journey that mirrors the triumphant climb of a struggling team.
Podcasts on the same thread
A New Untold Story
Podcast
Explores: Small-town life, Overcoming adversity, Single motherhood.
This podcast shares the underdog sentiment of The Natural, focusing on a protagonist who finds personal meaning and resilience through a lifelong connection to the game of baseball.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
While set in a different environment than The Natural, this drama mirrors the focus on community and personal struggle that underpins the human experience within a larger story.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Natural a film about professional baseball?
Yes, The Natural is a 1984 film directed by Barry Levinson that follows a baseball team in the 1930s. The story focuses on an unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs who joins a losing team and leads them to the top of the league.
What is the premise of The Natural?
The Natural tells the story of Roy Hobbs, a middle-aged man with a mysterious past who appears suddenly to play baseball. He joins a struggling 1930s team and helps them achieve success by rising to the top of the league through his skills as a batter.
Who directed The Natural?
The 1984 film The Natural was directed by Barry Levinson. It depicts the journey of a mysterious, unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs who joins a losing 1930s baseball team and transforms their performance to reach the top of the league.
Does The Natural feature a sports team from a specific era?
The Natural is set in the 1930s. The film follows a losing baseball team from that decade that reaches the top of the league after an unknown middle-aged player named Roy Hobbs arrives to play for them.