If you loved
Underworld
Don DeLillo · Book · 2007
What hooked you in Underworld is how the vast, sweeping scale of American history unfolds through the intimate, interconnected lives of ordinary people.
Films on the same thread
Train Dreams
Clint Bentley · Film · 2025
Like Underworld, this film captures the quiet grace of a life lived during an era of monumental change, focusing on the personal experience of historical shifts in rural America.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1972
This crime saga mirrors the sprawling historical ambition of Underworld, using the evolution of a specific family to map the changing power dynamics and corruption of mid-century American society.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2019
You will appreciate how this film grounds its period drama in the intimate family bonds and individual growth of its characters, much like the human-centered narrative structure of Underworld.
The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin · Film · 2023
This biographical drama explores the weight of the American Dream and family legacy, echoing the way Underworld dissects the pressures and tragedies inherent in the pursuit of cultural success.
Series on the same thread
This Is Us
Dan Fogelman · Series · 2016
This series captures the same sense of interconnected lives across decades found in Underworld, illustrating how personal secrets and shared history define the trajectory of the American family experience.
I Know This Much Is True
Derek Cianfrance · Series · 2020
Set against the backdrop of twentieth-century America, this story of twin brothers reflects the epic, character-driven focus on trauma and history that defines the emotional resonance of Underworld.
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Jim Hecht · Series · 2022
This ensemble drama captures a specific cultural moment through a dominant institution, echoing how Underworld utilizes sports and cultural artifacts to frame the broader evolution of American society.
Baseball
Series · 1994
Since baseball serves as a foundational motif in Underworld, this documentary offers the same historical reverence for the sport as a lens to view the cultural development of America.
Podcasts on the same thread
American History Tellers
Audible · Podcast · 2026
This podcast digs into the hidden stories of American history, mirroring the way Underworld unearths the forgotten or overlooked societal narratives that shape our collective understanding of the past.
Slow Burn
Slate Podcasts · Podcast · 2026
This investigative series echoes the paranoia and historical revisionism found in Underworld, using archival materials to uncover the consequential moments that lurk beneath the surface of American history.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Underworld considered an award-winning novel?
Yes, Underworld is a highly decorated work. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Additionally, the book was awarded the Howell’s Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
How much history does Underworld cover?
Underworld spans five decades of American history. The narrative follows the intimate lives of the men and women who lived through these specific periods, beginning with a moment of legend that sets the stage for the expansive scope of the novel.
What is the critical reception of Underworld?
The San Francisco Chronicle has described Underworld as a great American novel. Its status is further supported by its recognition as a finalist for several prestigious literary honors, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
What does Underworld focus on besides historical events?
While Underworld spans five decades of American history, the novel focuses on the intimate lives of the men and women who lived through those years. It explores the personal experiences of these individuals against the backdrop of the broader historical timeline.