What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Passenger
Michelangelo Antonioni · Film · 1975
If you loved The Passenger, start with The Passenger (Cormac McCarthy, 2022) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Passenger across media.
If The Passenger gripped you, it is because you are fascinated by the chilling, inevitable erosion of the self under pressure.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Stranger (L'Étranger)
Albert Camus · Book · 1942
Shares 2 threads with The Passenger: Moral Ambiguity, Existential Crisis.
Much like the protagonist of The Passenger, you will confront the profound alienation and moral ambiguity that arise when an ordinary individual faces an absurd and life-altering existential crisis.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Patricia Highsmith · Book · 1992
Shares 2 threads with The Passenger: Identity Theft, Moral Ambiguity.
If the identity theft in The Passenger pulled you in, you will find this obsession with assuming another person's life to be a masterclass in psychological tension and moral fluidity.
The Stranger
Albert Camus · Book · 1993
Shares a thread with The Passenger: Existential crisis.
This work mirrors the existential crisis found in The Passenger, forcing you to navigate the same unsettling impossibility of moral certainty that haunts those who have lost their identity.
Millennium
Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz · Book · 2005
Explores: Corruption, Journalism, Misogyny.
Fans of the investigative journey in The Passenger will appreciate how this narrative uses the role of a journalist to peel back layers of corruption and hidden, dangerous truths.
Series on the same thread
The Prisoner
Patrick McGoohan · Series · 1967
Explores: Identity Crisis, Loss of Freedom, Surveillance State.
The Kafkaesque nightmare of this series echoes the loss of freedom and identity crisis seen in The Passenger, plunging you into a surveillance-filled world that defies all logical escape.
Podcasts on the same thread
Passenger List
Passenger List and Radiotopia · Podcast · 2025
The relentless search for a missing person in this podcast mirrors the mystery driving The Passenger, keeping you tethered to the protagonist's desperate need to uncover a hidden truth.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Passenger: moral ambiguity.
Like the cinematic experience of The Passenger, these stories explore the human condition through a lens of moral ambiguity, offering a series of intimate, high-stakes encounters with the unknown.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Passenger movie from 1975 related to the 2022 book titled The Passenger?
No, the 1975 film The Passenger directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and the 2022 book titled The Passenger are separate works. Despite sharing the same title, they do not share source material or narrative connections according to the provided information.
What is the primary conflict in The Passenger?
In The Passenger, the protagonist David Locke assumes the identity of a deceased stranger who happens to be an arms dealer. This decision forces Locke into dangerous situations while he is already struggling with his work as a journalist in northern Africa.
Does The Passenger feature a romantic subplot?
Yes, The Passenger involves a character who is aided by a beautiful woman as he navigates the dangers resulting from his assumed identity. This relationship develops as Locke attempts to escape the consequences of taking on the life of the dead arms dealer.
Is The Passenger based on a true story about a journalist?
The Passenger follows the fictional story of David Locke, a world-weary journalist who assumes a dead man's identity while working in northern Africa. There is no indication that the plot of The Passenger is based on a true story or actual historical events.