What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Salesman
Asghar Farhadi · Film · 2016
If you loved The Salesman, start with Servant (Tony Basgallop, 2019) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Salesman across media.
If The Salesman hooked you, it is because you are drawn to stories where domestic stability unravels through moral complexity.
Books on the same thread
The Colonel
Mahmoud Dowlatabadi · Book · 2012
Explores: Oppression, Torture, Political Dissidence.
Like The Salesman, this novel explores the deep-seated impact of trauma and political oppression on the family unit, capturing the same heavy, lingering sense of Iranian social reality.
Crime and Punishment
Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevskii · Book · 1968
Explores: Guilt and Redemption, Moral Dilemma, Existentialism.
If the moral disintegration of the protagonist in The Salesman fascinated you, this classic study of guilt and the psychological weight of a crime offers a perfect thematic companion.
The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins · Book · 2015
Explores: Unreliable Narrator, Alcoholism, Infidelity.
Much like the domestic tension found in The Salesman, this thriller relies on the fracturing of a private life to expose hidden secrets and the fragility of personal trust.
The Stranger
Albert Camus · Book · 1993
Explores: Existential crisis, Moral indifference, Alienation.
The Salesman mirrors this existential exploration of how a single, irrevocable action forces an individual to confront the absurdity of their morality and their place within society.
Series on the same thread
The Penthouse
Kim Soon-ok · Series · 2020
Explores: Social Climbing, Wealth and Power, Obsession.
This series captures the same spiraling obsession and moral decay seen in The Salesman, demonstrating how the pursuit of status and security can transform people into unrecognizable versions.
El marginal
Sebastián Ortega · Series · 2016
Explores: Infiltration, False Identity, Kidnapping Investigation.
If you appreciated the high-stakes investigation and personal desperation in The Salesman, this gritty drama will pull you into a similar web of false identity and systemic corruption.
The Night Of
Richard Price · Series · 2016
Explores: Wrongful Accusation, Criminal Justice System, Moral Ambiguity.
Just as an unexpected incident upends the lives of the couple in The Salesman, this series examines the devastating legal and personal consequences of a sudden, life-altering accusation.
Servant
Tony Basgallop · Series · 2019
Explores: Grief, Loss of a Child, Guilt.
This series masterfully replicates the suffocating domestic atmosphere of The Salesman, where grief and unspoken guilt slowly tear apart a marriage under the pressure of a mysterious home intrusion.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio stories capture the same intense, character-driven moral ambiguity that defined The Salesman, providing short but powerful glimpses into the human condition during moments of crisis.
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
For those interested in the broader societal shifts that frame the backdrop of The Salesman, this podcast provides an analytical look at the institutional changes currently reshaping modern life.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What triggers the main conflict in The Salesman?
The conflict in The Salesman begins after Emad and Rana are forced to move into a new flat in Tehran. An incident linked to the previous tenant of this new apartment occurs, which dramatically changes the couple's life and drives the narrative forward.
Why do the characters move in The Salesman?
In The Salesman, the protagonists Emad and Rana are forced to vacate their original apartment due to dangerous construction work occurring on a neighboring building. This relocation to a new flat in the center of Tehran serves as the catalyst for the events that follow.
Is The Salesman set in Tehran?
Yes, The Salesman is set in Tehran. After being forced out of their home by dangerous construction, the couple relocates to a new flat located in the center of the city, where the central incident of the film takes place.
How does the previous tenant affect the plot of The Salesman?
The previous tenant is central to the plot of The Salesman. After Emad and Rana move into their new apartment, they encounter an incident specifically linked to the person who lived there before them, which fundamentally alters the couple's lives.