What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Time Machine
George Pal · Film · 1960
If you loved The Time Machine, start with The Time Machine (H. G. Wells, 2016) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Time Machine across media.
What hooked you in The Time Machine was the unsettling way humanity's distant future serves as a mirror for our own societal failings.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Machine Stops
E. M. Forster · Book · 2011
Explores: Technology Dependence, Social Isolation, Loss of Individuality.
Much like the subterranean fate of humanity in The Time Machine, this story explores the terrifying cost of total technological dependence and the resulting loss of our essential nature.
Planet of the Apes
Pierre Boulle · Book · 1963
Explores: Reverse Evolution, Animal Rights, Social Hierarchy.
This narrative mirrors the shock of discovery found in The Time Machine, presenting a future where the established social hierarchy has been violently and inexplicably overturned by evolution.
From the Earth to the Moon
Jules Verne · Book · 1967
Shares 2 threads with The Time Machine: Steampunk, Victorian Science Fiction.
If you enjoyed the Victorian scientific ambition of The Time Machine, you will appreciate this foundational work that captures the same spirit of daring technological exploration and ingenuity.
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle · Book · 1962
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Conformity vs. Individuality, Family Love.
This journey through time and space echoes the sense of wonder and danger found in The Time Machine as characters confront the stark divide between conformity and true individuality.
Series on the same thread
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling · Series · 1959
Explores: Existentialism, Paranoia, Social Commentary.
These stories capture the same existential unease present in The Time Machine, using speculative scenarios to force viewers to confront uncomfortable moral dilemmas and the fragility of civilization.
Doctor Who
Sydney Newman · Series · 2005
Shares a thread with The Time Machine: Time Travel.
Just as the traveler in The Time Machine navigates the vast currents of history, this series utilizes time travel to explore the moral responsibility of witnessing distant eras.
The Outer Limits
Leslie Stevens · Series · 1963
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existential Dread, Technological Anxiety.
Like The Time Machine, these self-contained tales use the lens of science fiction to examine humanity's anxiety regarding technology and the potential for a bleak, unrecognizable future existence.
Samurai Jack
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2001
Shares a thread with The Time Machine: Time Travel.
This story mirrors the displacement felt by the protagonist of The Time Machine, thrusting a hero into a dystopian future where society has fractured into hostile, unrecognizable tribal factions.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio stories mirror the provocative nature of The Time Machine, challenging listeners to reconsider the human condition through diverse, speculative, and often morally ambiguous narrative worlds.
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
For those interested in the sociopolitical warnings embedded in The Time Machine, this podcast provides an analytical look at the technological disruption currently reshaping our own modern societal structures.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Time Machine based on a book?
Yes, The Time Machine is based on the original science fiction novel written by H.G. Wells. While the 1960 movie directed by George Pal is a classic adaptation, you can also explore the 2016 book edition to experience the source material that inspired the film.
What happens in The Time Machine?
In The Time Machine, a Victorian Englishman uses a specialized device to travel into the far future. Upon arriving, he discovers that humanity has evolved into two distinct and hostile species, forcing him to navigate a dangerous and transformed world.
Should I read the book if I enjoyed the 1960 version of The Time Machine?
Reading the book is a great way to deepen your understanding of the story. The 2016 edition provides the original narrative foundation for The Time Machine, allowing you to compare the Victorian Englishman's journey in the text with the visual depiction provided in the 1960 film.
Does The Time Machine feature a Victorian protagonist?
Yes, the protagonist of The Time Machine is a Victorian Englishman. The story follows his perspective as he constructs his device and travels through time to witness the eventual division of humanity into two hostile species in the distant future.