What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe War of the Roses
Danny DeVito · Film · 1989
If you loved The War of the Roses, start with The Roses (2025) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The War of the Roses across media.
If you loved the escalating, cynical wreckage of The War of the Roses, you will appreciate these depictions of domestic and societal combat.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Roses
Film · 2025
Books on the same thread
Women in Love
D. H. Lawrence · Book · 1987
Explores: Human Relationships, Passion and Destruction, War and Society.
Much like the volatile coupling in The War of the Roses, this novel dissects the destructive power of passion, proving that human relationships are often battlegrounds for existential warfare.
Sitt Marie Rose
Etel Adnan · Book · 1989
Explores: Civil War, Abduction, Execution.
While The War of the Roses scales domestic conflict to absurdity, this work explores the brutal reality of tribalism and war, mirroring the total annihilation found in marital breakdown.
Love in the Western World
Denis de Rougemont · Book · 1990
Explores: Love and Marriage, Passion vs. Duty, History of Love.
This analysis of the history of love provides the intellectual framework for the obsession seen in The War of the Roses, connecting individual misery to broader cultural failures.
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Tom Wolfe · Book · 1987
Explores: Class Struggle, Institutional Corruption, Systemic Injustice.
The War of the Roses captures the spectacular downfall of the affluent, a theme mirrored here as societal forces dismantle a man’s life through systemic hubris and institutional pressure.
Series on the same thread
Roseanne
Matt Williams · Series · 1988
Explores: Economic hardship, Family dysfunction, Parental struggle.
If you enjoyed the biting domestic realism of The War of the Roses, you will find this depiction of family dysfunction and economic struggle a grounded, relatable narrative counterpart.
Married... with Children
Michael G. Moye · Series · 1987
Shares a thread with The War of the Roses: Dark Comedy.
This sitcom embraces the same cynical, dark comedic tone found in The War of the Roses, showcasing a marriage defined by mutual disdain rather than the traditional romantic ideal.
The Odd Couple
Garry Marshall · Series · 1970
Shares a thread with The War of the Roses: Divorce.
Like The War of the Roses, this classic series uses the forced proximity of roommates to highlight how personality clashes and divorce inevitably lead to escalating domestic conflict and chaos.
The Civil War
Series · 1990
Explores: Brother vs. Brother, Reconstruction Era, Abraham Lincoln.
The War of the Roses turns a home into a battlefield, a conceit mirrored in this documentary which examines the catastrophic consequences of brother turning against brother in conflict.
Podcasts on the same thread
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Chris & Rosie Ramsey · Podcast · 2026
Explores: domestic life, modern marriage, parenthood struggles.
Fans of the marital bickering in The War of the Roses will appreciate this candid, humorous look at modern relationships, parenting, and the daily arguments inherent in shared life.
Demoted
Demoted Productions · Podcast
Explores: office culture, work-life balance, career advice.
The War of the Roses highlights the breakdown of professional and personal boundaries; this podcast provides a similar, sharp-witted critique of the modern workplace and its inherent power struggles.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The War of the Roses based on a book or another source?
The War of the Roses is a 1989 film directed by Danny DeVito. It depicts the escalating divorce conflict between Barbara and Oliver Rose as they fight over their shared home, with their lawyer D'Amato trapped in the middle of their increasingly hostile campaign to force each other out.
What order should I watch The War of the Roses and The Roses?
You can watch The War of the Roses, the 1989 film, followed by the 2025 adaptation titled The Roses. Both films explore the premise of a married couple experiencing a volatile divorce, though they represent different iterations of the story centered on the characters Barbara and Oliver Rose.
How long is the runtime of The War of the Roses?
The War of the Roses, directed by Danny DeVito, has a runtime of 116 minutes. The film follows the breakdown of the marriage between Barbara and Oliver Rose, documenting their intense struggle to claim their home during a difficult divorce while their lawyer D'Amato attempts to intervene.
Is The Roses a direct sequel to The War of the Roses?
The Roses, released in 2025, is an adaptation related to the 1989 film The War of the Roses. It is not a direct sequel, but rather a new version of the source material that tells the story of Barbara and Oliver Rose and their contentious divorce.