If you loved
The Northman
Film · 2022
What hooked you in The Northman was the way the crushing weight of ancestral destiny forces characters into brutal, life-altering paths of vengeance.
Start with the source
The source
Hamlet
Kenneth Branagh · Film · 1996
Adaptation
Ophelia
Claire McCarthy · Film · 2019
Adaptation
Mufasa: The Lion King
Barry Jenkins · Film · 2024
Books on the same thread
The Great Alone
Kristin Hannah · Book · 2019
Much like the unforgiving landscape of The Northman, this story explores how a patriarch’s volatile legacy turns a fight for survival into a harrowing, claustrophobic struggle against one's own kin.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas · Book · 2020
If you were drawn to the dark, mythic atmosphere of The Northman, you will appreciate how this narrative entangles a quest for retribution with the dangerous allure of ancient, otherworldly powers.
The High King
Lloyd Alexander · Book · 2006
This epic mirrors the grand, heroic stakes of The Northman, focusing on the heavy price a young man must pay when his bloodline is thrust into a definitive battle against evil.
Dune
Frank Herbert · Book · 1965
Paul Atreides’ journey echoes the fated, heavy-handed path of Amleth in The Northman, where the burden of a noble legacy and the necessity of violence define a young man's entire existence.
Series on the same thread
Vinland Saga
Series · 2019
This series is the essential companion to The Northman, directly tackling the psychological toll of a lifelong pursuit of vengeance within the violent, unforgiving culture of the historical Viking age.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series · 2019
The visceral, driven nature of the revenge mission in The Northman finds a parallel here, as a young protagonist survives a family tragedy to hunt those who destroyed his peaceful life.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
While the setting differs from The Northman, you will recognize the same intense focus on a man trapped by his environment and the dark, complex legacies of his small-town surroundings.
Up and Vanished
Tenderfoot TV · Podcast · 2026
Just as The Northman unearths old traumas through a lens of isolation, this investigation into cold cases reveals how the ghosts of the past continue to haunt the living in remote lands.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Northman based on the same story as Hamlet?
Yes, The Northman shares the same foundational narrative as the play Hamlet. Both stories center on a prince seeking vengeance against an uncle who murdered his father and married his mother. The 1996 film adaptation of Hamlet provides a classic look at the source material that inspired this Viking epic.
Should I watch Ophelia if I enjoyed The Northman?
If you enjoyed the Shakespearean roots of The Northman, Ophelia is a relevant choice. It offers a different perspective on the Hamlet narrative by focusing on the character of Ophelia. This film provides an alternative lens through which to view the classic tragedy that serves as the basis for Amleth's journey.
Is Mufasa: The Lion King related to the story in The Northman?
Mufasa: The Lion King is thematically linked to The Northman through their shared connection to the Hamlet narrative. Both stories follow the archetype of a prince dealing with the murder of his father by an uncle. While the settings differ, the core conflict of familial betrayal remains the same.
What is the primary motivation for Amleth in The Northman?
In The Northman, Amleth is driven by a two-decade quest for vengeance. After witnessing his father's brutal murder and his mother's kidnapping by his uncle, he matures into a Viking warrior dedicated to saving his mother, killing his uncle, and avenging his father's death.