If you loved
The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro · Film · 2017
You were drawn to The Shape of Water by its tender exploration of finding profound, forbidden human connection within isolating, otherworldly circumstances.
Books on the same thread
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt · Book · 2022
Explores: Octopus intelligence, Grief and loss, Intergenerational relationships.
Just as the mute protagonist of The Shape of Water finds solace with an aquatic being, Tova discovers an unexpected, non-verbal emotional bond that helps her process past personal trauma.
Water for Elephants: A Novel
Sara Gruen · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with The Shape of Water: Forbidden Love.
If the forbidden love in The Shape of Water moved you, this story captures that same intensity through a high-stakes romance set against a backdrop of systemic cruelty and hardship.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt · Book · 2022
Explores: unlikely friendships, grief recovery, intergenerational connection.
This story mirrors the central dynamic of The Shape of Water by pairing a lonely woman with a mysterious creature, creating a poignant narrative of healing and unlikely interspecies friendship.
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood · Book · 2017
Explores: Totalitarianism, Religious Extremism, Gender Inequality.
The oppressive, clinical atmosphere of The Shape of Water is mirrored here, focusing on the struggle for individual agency and empathy within a terrifying, dehumanizing, and state-controlled totalitarian society.
Series on the same thread
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller · Series · 2017
Explores: Oppression, Totalitarianism, Religious Extremism.
Fans of the dark, government-controlled environment in The Shape of Water will recognize the same suffocating tension as characters attempt to preserve their humanity under a rigid, discriminatory regime.
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement · Series · 2019
Explores: Vampire Life, Fish-out-of-Water, Supernatural Roommates.
Those who appreciated the supernatural fish-out-of-water elements in The Shape of Water will enjoy this humorous look at how ancient, mystical beings attempt to navigate the complexities of modern life.
Outlander
Ronald D. Moore · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with The Shape of Water: Forbidden Love.
The intense, forbidden romance that defines The Shape of Water is central here, as a woman is thrust into an unfamiliar era where she must forge a deep, life-altering connection.
Goblin
Kim Eun-sook · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with The Shape of Water: Forbidden Love.
This narrative echoes the supernatural romance of The Shape of Water, focusing on an immortal being whose fated encounter with a human transcends the boundaries of time and mortal life.
Podcasts on the same thread
The White Vault
Fool and Scholar Productions · Podcast · 2026
If the mysterious, isolated research facility in The Shape of Water intrigued you, this audio drama delivers a similar sense of dread as a team uncovers terrifying secrets in seclusion.
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold historical anecdotes, curiosity-driven learning, American cultural history.
While the format differs, the curiosity-driven storytelling here mirrors the way The Shape of Water unearths hidden, often overlooked histories to provide a deeper understanding of the human condition.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Shape of Water a story about a mute cleaning woman?
Yes, The Shape of Water follows a mute cleaning woman who works at a government facility. During her shifts, she discovers and eventually falls in love with an amphibious creature being held in captivity within the laboratory.
What is the central relationship in The Shape of Water?
The central relationship in The Shape of Water is between the mute cleaning woman and an amphibious creature. The film details how the two characters form a bond while the creature is being kept at the facility where she is employed.
Who directed The Shape of Water?
The Shape of Water was directed by Guillermo del Toro. Released in 2017, the film focuses on the emotional connection between a mute woman and a unique creature discovered at her workplace.
Does The Shape of Water feature an amphibious creature?
Yes, the plot of The Shape of Water revolves around an amphibious creature that is being held in a facility. The story explores the interaction between this creature and a mute cleaning woman who works at the same location.