What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Simpsons Movie
Film · 2007
If you loved The Simpsons Movie, start with The Simpsons (Matt Groening, 1989) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Simpsons Movie across media.
What hooked you in The Simpsons Movie was the way a small town faces absurd, high-stakes chaos through a lens of biting, irreverent satire.
Start with the source
The source
The Simpsons
Matt Groening · Series · 1989
Adaptation
Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"
David Silverman · Film · 2020
Books on the same thread
Under the Dome: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2009
Explores: Government Conspiracy, Isolation, Mass Hysteria.
If the dome over Springfield in The Simpsons Movie kept you glued to the screen, you will appreciate how this novel escalates isolation and government incompetence within a trapped community.
The Road
Cormac McCarthy · Book · 2007
Explores: Parent-child bond, Moral ambiguity, Existential dread.
While The Simpsons Movie finds humor in catastrophe, this story explores the raw, desperate survival of a father and son after a disaster has permanently stripped away the comforts of home.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins · Book · 2008
Explores: authoritarianism, class inequality, spectacle of violence.
The Simpsons Movie uses a public spectacle to highlight systemic failure, much like the televised brutality of this dystopia where citizens are forced to participate in a cruel, government-mandated survival game.
The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss · Book · 1957
Explores: Mischief, Imagination, Consequences.
The Simpsons Movie captures the frantic, rule-breaking energy of family life, and this classic tale delivers that same spirit of mischief and chaotic consequences when an unexpected visitor disrupts a quiet household.
Series on the same thread
South Park
Trey Parker · Series · 1997
Shares 2 threads with The Simpsons Movie: Satire, Adult Animation.
You enjoyed the sharp social commentary of The Simpsons Movie, and this series offers a similar brand of irreverent, small-town satire that relentlessly mocks the absurdity of contemporary life and politics.
Family Guy
Seth MacFarlane · Series · 1999
Shares 2 threads with The Simpsons Movie: Satire, Adult Animation.
The Simpsons Movie thrives on the dynamics of a dysfunctional family unit, a hallmark that carries over into this series as the Griffin family navigates its own brand of chaotic, politically incorrect humor.
SPY x FAMILY
Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Simpsons Movie: Satire.
Similar to the underlying family bond that anchors the absurdity of The Simpsons Movie, this show blends high-stakes espionage with the comedic struggle of maintaining a normal, loving home life.
SpongeBob SquarePants
Stephen Hillenburg · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with The Simpsons Movie: Slapstick.
If you appreciated the slapstick and surreal misadventures found in The Simpsons Movie, you will find a similar sense of optimistic, child-like wonder in the daily life of this eccentric underwater resident.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Ringer · Podcast · 2026
Explores: banter, insider access, celebrity culture.
The Simpsons Movie relies on its recognizable cast to drive the humor, and this podcast offers a similar feeling of familiarity by engaging with a rotating group of friends and industry personalities.
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The Simpsons Movie excels at lampooning established tropes, and this podcast brings that same satirical energy to high fantasy, using improvised group dynamics to subvert traditional heroic storytelling in hilarious ways.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Simpsons Movie a direct continuation of the television series The Simpsons?
The Simpsons Movie is a standalone feature film released in 2007. While it features the same characters as the television series The Simpsons, it tells a self-contained story about Springfield being encased in a dome after Homer pollutes the water supply.
Should I watch The Simpsons Movie before viewing Maggie Simpson in Playdate with Destiny?
You do not need to watch The Simpsons Movie to understand Maggie Simpson in Playdate with Destiny. The 2020 short film is an independent production that does not require knowledge of the 2007 movie plot involving the EPA, the dome, or the family being declared fugitives.
What is the main plot conflict in The Simpsons Movie?
In The Simpsons Movie, the primary conflict occurs after Homer accidentally pollutes the town water supply. This action leads the EPA to encase Springfield in a gigantic dome, which results in the Simpson family being declared fugitives and forced to flee the area.
How does the plot of The Simpsons Movie relate to the setting of Springfield?
The setting of Springfield is central to The Simpsons Movie. The entire town is encased in a gigantic dome by the EPA as a direct consequence of Homer polluting the water supply, which serves as the primary catalyst for the family becoming fugitives.