What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Old Devils
Kingsley Amis · Book · 2012
If you loved The Old Devils, start with Still Game (Ford Kiernan, 2002) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Old Devils across media.
If you loved the sharp, cynical wit of The Old Devils, these selections capture that same caustic brilliance and aging malaise.
Films on the same thread
My Friends
Film · 1975
Explores: Midlife Crisis, Male Friendship, Escapism.
Like the characters in The Old Devils, these men grapple with the onset of middle age by embracing immaturity, using pranks and escapism to mask their profound existential dissatisfaction.
The Royal Tenenbaums
Wes Anderson · Film · 2001
Explores: Family Estrangement, Redemption, Nostalgia.
This film mirrors the family dysfunction found in The Old Devils, presenting a similarly ironic gaze at the tangled, nostalgic, and often painful history that binds long-term relationships together.
As Good as It Gets
Film · 1997
Explores: Misanthropy, Unlikely Friendship, Personal Growth.
The misanthropic lead shares the biting, unfiltered temperament of the cast in The Old Devils, proving that even the most stubborn personalities can find redemption through unlikely, messy human connections.
Amour
Michael Haneke · Film · 2012
Explores: Dementia, Caregiving, Marriage.
While more somber than The Old Devils, this film provides a similarly unflinching examination of the endurance of marriage and the heavy toll that aging takes on a lifelong bond.
Series on the same thread
The Golden Girls
Susan Harris · Series · 1985
Explores: Female Friendship, Aging, Found Family.
This series shares the focus on the social artifice and camaraderie of aging friends found in The Old Devils, celebrating the resilience required to navigate life in one's later years.
Good Omens
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2019
Explores: The Antichrist, End of the World, Unlikely Friendship.
The central friendship between an angel and a demon echoes the complex, booze-inflected banter of the aging couples in The Old Devils, blending supernatural stakes with dry, observational wit.
Black Books
Dylan Moran · Series · 2000
Explores: misanthropy, dysfunctional friendship, alcoholism.
Bernard Black embodies the same sharp, foul-tempered cynicism that makes the characters in The Old Devils so compelling, prioritizing eccentricity and alcohol over the demands of a conventional life.
Still Game
Ford Kiernan · Series · 2002
Explores: Aging, Friendship, Community.
Jack and Victor reflect the same Welsh provincial life spirit as The Old Devils, using caustic humor and nostalgia to cope with the frustrations of aging in a changing world.
Podcasts on the same thread
Grumpy Old Geeks
Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister with Dave Bittner · Podcast · 2026
Explores: cynicism, digital culture, corporate skepticism.
This podcast channels the same biting, satirical commentary on modern life that defined the tone of The Old Devils, focusing on the cynicism that often accompanies growing older.
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Chris & Rosie Ramsey · Podcast · 2026
Explores: domestic life, modern marriage, parenthood struggles.
Much like the domestic struggles depicted in The Old Devils, this show finds humor in the irritations of long-term partnership, offering a candid look at the realities of modern marriage.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary subject matter of The Old Devils?
The Old Devils focuses on a group of elderly married couples who gather at a pub. The narrative explores their booze-inflected reminiscing and complaining, providing a sharp and funny look at the realities of marriage, aging, and friendship among this specific group of characters.
Did The Old Devils receive any literary awards?
Yes, The Old Devils is a Booker Prize winner. This recognition highlights the quality of Kingsley Amis's writing in this English comedy about the complexities of growing older and the enduring, if complicated, nature of long-term friendships and marital relationships.
Does The Old Devils feature characters who have mellowed with age?
No, the characters in The Old Devils have not mellowed with age. Kingsley Amis depicts them with a humane and ironic gaze, showing that despite their elderly status, their personalities remain sharp, argumentative, and deeply involved in the complex dynamics of their social circle.
How is the tone of The Old Devils described?
The tone of The Old Devils is described as sharp and funny. It is an English comedy that examines the lives of its aging characters through an ironic lens, focusing on their interactions during a pub gathering where they engage in extensive reminiscing and complaining.