What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWatership Down
Richard Adams · Book · 1972
If you loved Watership Down, start with Watership Down (Martin Rosen, 1978) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Watership Down across media.
If you loved Watership Down, you are likely drawn to stories where small groups navigate perilous journeys to preserve their community.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Watership Down
Martin Rosen · Film · 1978
Films on the same thread
Alice in Wonderland
Clyde Geronimi · Film · 1951
Explores: curiosity, identity crisis, loss of innocence.
Like the rabbits in Watership Down, Alice finds herself navigating a disorienting, foreign world where survival and understanding the rules of a strange society are essential for her progress.
Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Watership Down: Environmentalism.
Much like the protagonists of Watership Down, the Sully family must fight to protect their kin and maintain their way of life against overwhelming forces that threaten their existence.
Robin Hood
Wolfgang Reitherman · Film · 1973
Explores: Good vs Evil, Underdog Story, Taxation without Representation.
This anthropomorphic adventure echoes the heroic spirit found in Watership Down, as an underdog band fights against corrupt authority to ensure justice for their community in a hostile world.
Deliverance
John Boorman · Film · 1972
Explores: Masculinity, Nature vs. Man, Urban vs. Rural.
This film captures the raw, visceral survival instincts found in Watership Down, emphasizing how man must confront the indifference of nature and the breakdown of society under extreme pressure.
Series on the same thread
Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2010
Explores: Class conflict, Social change, Upstairs-Downstairs.
The intricate social hierarchies and the necessity of navigating historical change found in Watership Down are mirrored here as the Crawley family fights to preserve their legacy amidst upheaval.
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Explores: Power Struggles, Moral Ambiguity, War and Politics.
The power struggles and the heavy burden of leadership that defined the journey in Watership Down are central to these noble families fighting for survival in a dangerous land.
The Waltons
Earl Hamner, Jr. · Series · 1972
Shares 2 threads with Watership Down: Community, Hope.
Similar to the close-knit rabbit warren of Watership Down, this series focuses on the bonds of family loyalty and the resilience required to endure hardship in a rural community.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Series · 1981
Explores: Existentialism, Bureaucracy, Cultural Clash.
Arthur Dent's sudden displacement from his home mirrors the exodus in Watership Down, as he is forced to navigate a vast, indifferent universe with only his wits for support.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Shares a thread with Watership Down: community.
Just as Watership Down explores the intricate social fabric of a community, this drama examines the daily struggles and relationships that define life within a dedicated, interconnected rural population.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
The analytical look at how communities collapse and reorganize during periods of intense political transformation echoes the broader themes of societal survival explored throughout Watership Down.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Watership Down a book or a movie?
Watership Down originated as a book written by Richard Adams in 1972. It has since been adapted into a 1978 movie and a later animated miniseries produced for the BBC and Netflix.
Who stars in the Watership Down miniseries?
The animated miniseries adaptation of Watership Down features a voice cast that includes James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, and Sir Ben Kingsley.
How long has Watership Down been a bestseller?
Watership Down has been a phenomenal worldwide bestseller for more than forty years. It remains a timeless classic that continues to be one of the most beloved stories in literature.
What is the story of Watership Down about?
Watership Down is a tale about a group of wild rabbits struggling to maintain their place in the world. The narrative follows their journey and survival efforts as they navigate the challenges of their environment.