What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Sopranos
David Chase · Series · 1999
If you loved The Sopranos, start with The Many Saints of Newark (Alan Taylor, 2021) — a film from the same story. Below: 3 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Sopranos across media.
What hooked you in The Sopranos was the way the crushing weight of existential dread balances against intimate, messy family dynamics.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Many Saints of Newark
Alan Taylor · Film · 2021
Books on the same thread
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Explores: Mafia, Corruption, Crime.
Like The Sopranos, this investigative work strips away the romantic veneer of the mob to expose the bleak, systemic corruption and social decay underlying organized criminal life.
The Godfather
Mario Puzo · Book · 1969
Shares a thread with The Sopranos: The American Dream.
This foundational text provides the blueprint for the family-centered power struggles that define The Sopranos, focusing on the heavy burden of legacy and the inevitable betrayal of loyalty.
Dubliners
James Joyce · Book · 1992
Explores: Paralysis, Epiphany, Irish Identity.
These stories capture the profound sense of paralysis and urban malaise found in The Sopranos, highlighting how mundane settings reveal the deepest truths about the human condition.
Films on the same thread
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1972
Shares a thread with The Sopranos: The American Dream.
This film mirrors the epic scope of The Sopranos, exploring how the toxic requirements of the American Dream corrupt the bonds of family and personal integrity.
The Many Saints of Newark
Alan Taylor · Film · 2021
Shares a thread with The Sopranos: Mob Drama.
This film serves as the essential prequel to The Sopranos, offering a deeper look at the mentorship and family dynamics that shaped Tony’s early development and identity.
GoodFellas
Martin Scorsese · Film · 1990
Shares a thread with The Sopranos: Moral Ambiguity.
Much like The Sopranos, this narrative masterfully charts the rise and fall of mobsters, focusing on the specific moral ambiguity that accompanies life within a criminal organization.
The Departed
Martin Scorsese · Film · 2006
Shares a thread with The Sopranos: Moral Ambiguity.
This film echoes the identity crises seen in The Sopranos, using an intense cat-and-mouse game to explore how moral ambiguity forces characters to hide their true selves.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If the character studies in The Sopranos drew you in, these personal narratives provide a similar deep dive into the surprising twists and big feelings of everyday life.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
This long-running drama reflects the complex family dynamics and community tensions central to The Sopranos, proving that serialized storytelling excels at exploring the depth of human relationships.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch The Sopranos and The Many Saints of Newark?
You should watch The Sopranos series first to fully understand the characters and the criminal organization Tony Soprano leads. Once you have finished the series, you can watch The Many Saints of Newark, which serves as a prequel movie to the original 1999 television show.
Is The Many Saints of Newark related to The Sopranos?
Yes, The Many Saints of Newark is a 2021 movie that functions as a prequel to The Sopranos. It expands on the background of the world and characters established in the original television series created by David Chase.
How long is the story of Tony Soprano in The Sopranos?
The Sopranos follows the life of New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano as he balances his criminal organization and his home life. The narrative explores his ongoing professional relationship with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi throughout the duration of the television series.
Should I watch The Sopranos if I am interested in the history of the mobster family?
The Sopranos is the primary source for understanding the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano. If you are interested in his background, you should start with the series and then view The Many Saints of Newark to see the earlier history of the organization.