What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Outlaws
Stephen Merchant · Series · 2021
If you loved The Outlaws, start with The Outlaws (Kang Yun-sung, 2017) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Outlaws across media.
You loved The Outlaws for its chaotic collision of mismatched outsiders forced into high-stakes situations that demand unexpected, redemptive cooperation.
Start with the source
The source
The Outlaws
Kang Yun-sung · Film · 2017
Books on the same thread
The Thursday Murder Club
Richard Osman · Book · 2020
Explores: Retirement, Friendship, Unlikely Detectives.
Much like the community service group in The Outlaws, this story centers on an unlikely ensemble whose camaraderie and unconventional problem-solving skills turn a mundane setting into a crime-solving hub.
The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey · Book
Shares a thread with The Outlaws: Redemption.
This collection mirrors the redemptive arcs found in The Outlaws, showing how a group of societal misfits can subvert expectations and unite to define their own sense of morality.
The Devils
Joe Abercrombie · Book
Shares a thread with The Outlaws: redemption.
If the found family dynamic of The Outlaws resonated with you, you will appreciate this journey where monsters and murderers navigate moral ambiguity while forging deep, unexpected bonds together.
The Outsiders
S. E. Hinton · Book · 1967
Shares a thread with The Outlaws: Redemption.
The social friction and loyalty between disparate groups in this novel echo the class-based tensions that define the early interactions of the characters in The Outlaws.
Films on the same thread
The Ladykillers
Alexander Mackendrick · Film · 1955
Shares a thread with The Outlaws: Crime Comedy.
This film captures the same spirit of criminal incompetence and accidental stakes that forces the group in The Outlaws to rely on each other in increasingly absurd, dangerous circumstances.
The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie · Film · 2020
Shares a thread with The Outlaws: Crime Comedy.
The complex power struggles and criminal underworld dealings here provide a more intense, gritty version of the dangerous situations that threaten the protagonists throughout the series The Outlaws.
The Outsiders
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1983
Explores: Class Conflict, Youth Violence, Loss of Innocence.
This adaptation highlights the same themes of social outcasts caught in dangerous cycles of violence that force unlikely friendships to form, much like the core group in The Outlaws.
Thunderbolts*
Jake Schreier · Film · 2025
Explores: Redemption arcs, Found family, Moral ambiguity.
This ensemble of disillusioned castoffs mirrors the reluctant team in The Outlaws, proving that even the most damaged individuals can find redemption when forced into a life-changing mission.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
If you enjoyed the dark humor used to examine criminal situations in The Outlaws, you will find this deep dive into the legal absurdities of athletes equally entertaining and insightful.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast uses the same blend of investigative research and comedic commentary seen in The Outlaws to explore how tragic events can be unpacked through a lens of dark wit.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Outlaws 2021 show related to the 2017 movie The Outlaws?
No, the 2021 series The Outlaws created by Stephen Merchant is a distinct project and is not related to the 2017 movie titled The Outlaws. They share a title but feature completely different storylines, characters, and production teams.
What is the premise of The Outlaws?
The Outlaws follows seven strangers from diverse backgrounds who are forced to work together renovating a derelict community centre. While they initially resent each other, they are eventually forced to unite when one member becomes involved in a dangerous world of organised crime.
How do the seven strangers in The Outlaws interact with each other?
In The Outlaws, the seven individuals come from different walks of life and would not normally interact. They initially resent the menial physical labour required at the community centre and hold mutual resentment toward one another before their circumstances change.
Does The Outlaws involve organized crime?
Yes, The Outlaws involves organised crime. Although the group begins by performing community service, one of the seven strangers gets dragged into a dangerous criminal world, which forces the group to unite in ways they did not think were possible.