What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Roses
Film · 2025
If you loved The Roses, start with The War of the Roses (Danny DeVito, 1989) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Roses across media.
If The Roses hooked you, explore these stories that dissect the sharp, hidden cracks within seemingly perfect domestic and professional lives.
Start with the source
The source
The War of the Roses
Danny DeVito · Film · 1989
Books on the same thread
The Perfect Divorce
Jeneva Rose · Book · 2026
Explores: marital betrayal, courtroom drama, vengeance.
Much like the volatile marriage depicted in The Roses, this thriller explores the high-stakes fallout when deep-seated resentment and betrayal shatter the facade of a successful, high-powered partnership.
The Mad Wife
Meagan Church · Book · 2025
Explores: Gaslighting, Gender roles in the 1950s, Institutional betrayal.
If the gender role tension in The Roses resonated with you, this historical exploration of stifling societal expectations offers a haunting look at the loss of female autonomy.
Revolutionary Road
Richard Yates · Book · 1971
Explores: Marital disillusionment, Suburban malaise, Existential ennui.
This classic serves as the definitive precursor to The Roses, masterfully deconstructing the performative social status and existential ennui that often hide beneath the surface of a suburban marriage.
The Girl I Was
Jeneva Rose · Book · 2025
Explores: Self-discovery, Nostalgia, Character Transformation.
After witnessing the painful career and personal shifts in The Roses, you will appreciate this journey of self-discovery that highlights the necessity of transformation when life paths diverge.
Series on the same thread
The Studio
Peter Huyck · Series · 2025
Explores: Power Dynamics, Creative Compromise, Corporate Culture.
The power dynamics and creative compromise found here mirror the professional friction seen in The Roses, providing a cynical, comedic look at how career ambition dictates personal worth.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with The Roses: dark comedy.
Mirroring the dark comedy and suburban malaise of The Roses, this series follows a man whose sudden loss of status triggers a descent into dangerous, obsessive behavior against his neighbors.
Queen of Tears
Park Ji-eun · Series · 2024
Explores: Marital Crisis, Second Chance Romance, Corporate Intrigue.
If the marital conflict in The Roses kept you engaged, this drama offers a similar look at corporate intrigue and the struggle to maintain a relationship under intense pressure.
The Beast in Me
Gabe Rotter · Series · 2025
Explores: Obsession, Gaslighting, Mind Games.
This psychological thriller echoes the atmosphere of The Roses by focusing on the mind games and hidden identities that can fester behind the walls of an affluent, quiet home.
Podcasts on the same thread
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Chris & Rosie Ramsey · Podcast · 2026
Explores: domestic life, modern marriage, parenthood struggles.
For those who enjoyed the raw look at modern marriage in The Roses, this podcast provides an unfiltered, humorous perspective on the daily annoyances and realities of shared life.
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
While the setting shifts to sci-fi, the core focus on the survival of identity and human connection amidst hostile circumstances mirrors the internal landscape explored in The Roses.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Roses based on The War of the Roses?
While both films explore the disintegration of a marriage through fierce competition and resentment, The Roses is a distinct 2025 production. It focuses on the specific power shift between Ivy and Theo, rather than being a direct remake or adaptation of the 1989 film The War of the Roses.
Does The Roses deal with career competition?
Yes, career competition is the central conflict in The Roses. The plot follows the shifting dynamics between Ivy and Theo as Theo's career nosedives while Ivy's professional ambitions begin to take off, ultimately igniting a tinderbox of hidden resentment within their marriage.
What happens to the couple in The Roses?
In The Roses, the couple faces a crumbling façade as their picture-perfect life is tested. The story tracks the transition from their stable, successful marriage to a state of conflict fueled by the changing professional trajectories of Ivy and Theo, which leads to intense personal and relational friction.
Should I watch The War of the Roses if I liked The Roses?
If you enjoyed the themes of marital breakdown and domestic rivalry in The Roses, you may find The War of the Roses relevant. Both films examine how external pressures and ego can dismantle a seemingly ideal relationship, though they offer different portrayals of the resulting conflict.