What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Revenant
Alejandro González Iñárritu · Film · 2015
If you loved The Revenant, start with American Primeval (Mark L. Smith, 2025) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Revenant across media.
What hooked you in The Revenant was the visceral, soul-testing confrontation between human resilience and the unforgiving, raw power of the natural world.
Books on the same thread
The Martian
Andy Weir · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with The Revenant: Man vs. Nature.
Just as The Revenant explores the limits of human endurance, this story tests the bounds of ingenuity when a lone survivor faces the desolate isolation of a hostile environment.
The Red Winter
Cameron Sullivan · Book
Shares a thread with The Revenant: Revenge.
If the relentless pursuit of vengeance in The Revenant kept you on edge, you will appreciate this grim tale of a monster hunt fueled by historical violence and obsession.
Les Misérables
Victor Hugo · Book · 1987
Explores: Redemption, Social injustice, Poverty.
While The Revenant focuses on physical survival, this epic mirrors the internal grit of its protagonist as he struggles against social injustice and the weight of his own past.
Les Miserables. Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo · Book · 2012
Explores: Redemption, Social Injustice, Poverty.
Much like the protagonist in The Revenant, the central figure here fights to overcome impossible odds and redefine his existence after suffering through a life of profound hardship.
Series on the same thread
Primal
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2019
Explores: Survival, Unlikely friendship, Human-animal bond.
You will recognize the brutal, primal struggle against nature depicted in The Revenant within this animation, which captures the raw bond formed between two survivors in a savage world.
American Primeval
Mark L. Smith · Series · 2025
Shares 2 threads with The Revenant: Frontier Drama, Survival Western.
This series echoes the harsh frontier setting of The Revenant, focusing on the same themes of redemption and the cruelty found within the unforgiving landscape of the American West.
The Walking Dead
Frank Darabont · Series · 2010
Explores: Survival, Loss of Innocence, Moral Decay.
The Revenant showcases a man pushed to his breaking point; this story similarly examines the moral decay and desperate survival instincts that emerge when society collapses into complete chaos.
The Mandalorian
Jon Favreau · Series · 2019
Explores: Lone Gunfighter, Redemption, Protecting the Innocent.
Like the lone frontiersman in The Revenant, this stoic bounty hunter navigates a lawless, dangerous territory, driven by a protective instinct that defies the harshness of his environment.
Podcasts on the same thread
The MeatEater Podcast
MeatEater · Podcast · 2026
Explores: self-reliance, ethical hunting, environmental stewardship.
If the authentic depiction of wild life in The Revenant resonated with you, this podcast offers a grounded exploration of the self-reliance and deep connection to nature found outdoors.
Search & Rescue NZ
Podcast
Explores: search and rescue operations, wilderness survival, human resilience.
These accounts of survival in the wilderness mirror the terrifying stakes of The Revenant, focusing on the indomitable human spirit required to overcome the deadliest of natural landscapes.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Revenant based on a true historical setting?
Yes, The Revenant is set in the 1820s during a fur trading expedition. The narrative focuses on a frontiersman who must fight for survival in the wilderness after sustaining severe injuries from a bear mauling.
What is the primary conflict in The Revenant?
The primary conflict in The Revenant involves a frontiersman struggling to survive in the harsh wilderness. After being mauled by a bear during a fur trading expedition, he must overcome extreme physical trauma and environmental challenges to endure.
How long is the runtime of The Revenant?
The Revenant, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu in 2015, has a total runtime of 156 minutes. This duration covers the extensive journey of the frontiersman as he navigates the dangers of the 1820s American frontier.
Who directed The Revenant?
The Revenant was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Released in 2015, the film depicts the harrowing survival story of a frontiersman left behind during a fur trading expedition in the 1820s.