What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Public Enemy
William A. Wellman · Film · 1931
If you loved The Public Enemy, start with The Untouchables (Quinn Martin, 1959) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Public Enemy across media.
What hooked you in The Public Enemy is the visceral, tragic trajectory of individuals consumed by their own ambition and violence.
Books on the same thread
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 1991
Explores: The American Dream, Social Class, Wealth and Status.
Like the rise and fall of Tom Powers in The Public Enemy, this novel explores the hollow core of the American Dream and the inevitable tragedy born from wealth.
Emil and the Detectives
Erich Kästner · Book · 1930
Explores: Justice, Resourcefulness, Friendship.
If you appreciated the gritty urban pursuit seen in The Public Enemy, you will find a similar sense of relentless determination as a young boy tracks a thief through Berlin.
The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck · Book · 1997
Explores: The Great Depression, Migrant Workers, Dust Bowl.
The Public Enemy highlights the brutal consequences of poverty, a theme mirrored in this epic struggle for human dignity and survival amidst the harsh realities of the Great Depression.
Sanctuary
William Faulkner · Book · 1981
Explores: Violence, Trauma, Social Decay.
This novel echoes the dark, uncompromising exploration of violence found in The Public Enemy, painting a grim portrait of social decay and the moral corruption of its central characters.
Series on the same thread
The Untouchables
Quinn Martin · Series · 1959
Explores: Good vs Evil, Corruption, Law Enforcement.
If the battle between criminal underworlds and the law in The Public Enemy kept you engaged, this series offers a direct continuation of that classic Chicago gangland conflict.
Peaky Blinders
Steven Knight · Series · 2013
Explores: Post-WWI Trauma, Ambition, Class Conflict.
Much like the brotherhood and betrayal of Tom and Matt in The Public Enemy, this epic focuses on a crime family navigating the dangerous costs of their own ambition.
Boardwalk Empire
Terence Winter · Series · 2010
Explores: Political Corruption, Organized Crime, American Dream.
This series captures the same Prohibition-era atmosphere of moral ambiguity and political corruption that defined the criminal landscape of The Public Enemy, expanding the scope of the gangster drama.
Prohibition
Ken Burns · Series · 2011
Explores: American History, Organized Crime, Social Reform.
To understand the true historical context behind the bootlegging and crime depicted in The Public Enemy, this documentary provides the essential, sweeping background of the entire Prohibition era.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
If you are fascinated by the complex human behavior behind illegal acts seen in The Public Enemy, this podcast offers a thoughtful, modern look at the lives of criminals.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
While tonally distinct from The Public Enemy, this podcast satisfies the same curiosity about the downfall of individuals who choose a life of crime instead of playing by rules.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Public Enemy based on a true story about Chicago bootleggers?
The Public Enemy follows the fictional lives of Tom Powers and Matt Doyle as they rise from poverty to become bootleggers and killers. While it depicts the criminal atmosphere of 1931 Chicago, the film focuses on these specific characters rather than a direct biographical account of real-life bootleggers.
What is the central conflict in The Public Enemy?
The central conflict in The Public Enemy involves Tom Powers and Matt Doyle navigating the dangers of street notoriety and wealth. As they rise as bootleggers, they face constant pressure from both the police and rival gangsters, while Tom simultaneously struggles to maintain his connection to his family.
How do Tom Powers and Matt Doyle start their criminal careers in The Public Enemy?
In The Public Enemy, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle begin their criminal journey as young hoodlums living in a poverty-stricken slum. They transition from these humble beginnings into petty thieves before eventually escalating their activities to become bootleggers and cold-blooded killers within the Chicago underworld.
Does The Public Enemy show the consequences of the characters' criminal choices?
Yes, The Public Enemy illustrates the consequences of criminal life as Tom Powers and Matt Doyle face mounting heat from law enforcement and rival gangs. Their newfound wealth and notoriety bring them into dangerous gang warfare, complicating Tom's efforts to balance his criminal reputation with his family life.