What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedValerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Luc Besson · Film · 2017
If you loved Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, start with The Expanse (Mark Fergus, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets across media.
If Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets hooked you, it is because you crave sprawling, imaginative intergalactic world-building.
Books on the same thread
Millennium
Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz · Book · 2005
Explores: Corruption, Journalism, Misogyny.
While Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets focuses on space, this mystery mirrors the intense, investigative partnership between two unconventional protagonists working to solve deep-seated systemic corruption.
Weapons of the Metabaron
Alejandro Jodorowsky · Book · 2013
Shares 2 threads with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Cosmic Horror, Space Opera.
Fans of the cosmic horror and grand scale found in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets will appreciate the surreal, high-stakes journey through multiple vast universes.
Children of Dune
Frank Herbert · Book · 1987
Shares 2 threads with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Space Opera, Planetary Romance.
The political intrigue and messianic themes present here offer the same epic, evolutionary scope that defined the planetary romance of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Ready Player One: A Novel
Ernest Cline · Book · 2017
Shares a thread with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Cyberpunk.
Those who enjoyed the vibrant, futuristic aesthetic of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets will find a similar sense of escapism within this immersive virtual reality landscape.
Series on the same thread
The Expanse
Mark Fergus · Series · 2015
Shares 2 threads with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Space Opera, Cyberpunk.
The race across the solar system to expose a massive conspiracy captures the same high-stakes adventure and intergalactic tension seen in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Gene Roddenberry · Series · 1987
Shares a thread with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Space Opera.
If you valued the diplomatic missions and discovery of new species in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, you will appreciate this classic exploration of unknown space.
The Mandalorian
Jon Favreau · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Redemption.
This series captures the spirit of redemption and the lone operative dynamic that drives the central characters throughout Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in a lawless galaxy.
Battlestar Galactica
Glen A. Larson · Series · 2004
Shares a thread with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Space Opera.
The existential threat and struggle for survival against overwhelming odds echo the high-stakes dangers faced by the protagonists in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama offers the same sense of wonder regarding A.I. and survival in a hostile, far-flung future that features prominently in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Existentialism, Individual Responsibility, Cultural Critique.
The intellectual inquiry into how culture and individual values are shaped provides a deeper, philosophical look at the societal themes touched upon in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets set in the future?
Yes, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is set in the 28th century. The story follows two special operatives who are charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories during this time period.
What is the primary mission in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?
In Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, the two special operatives are tasked by the Minister of Defense with a mission to Alpha. They must investigate the mysterious dark force at the center of this ever-expanding metropolis.
What is Alpha in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?
Alpha is an ever-expanding metropolis featured in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Over many centuries, species from across the universe have converged there to share their intelligence, knowledge, and cultures, making it the central hub for the film's events.
Who are the main characters in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?
The main characters in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets are Valerian and Laureline. They serve as special operatives responsible for keeping order throughout human territories and are assigned to investigate the mysterious developments occurring on the metropolis of Alpha.