What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWednesday
Miles Millar · Series · 2022
If you loved Wednesday, start with The Addams Family (Charles Addams, 1964) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Wednesday across media.
You loved Wednesday for its sharp blend of macabre wit, outsider perspectives, and the thrill of navigating dark, institutional mysteries.
Start with the source
The source
The Addams Family
Charles Addams · Series · 1964
Adaptation
The Addams Family
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1991
Adaptation
Addams Family Values
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1993
Books on the same thread
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler · Book · 1999
Shares a thread with Wednesday: Gothic Fiction.
Like Wednesday, this series pairs a dark, gothic aesthetic with a protagonist who relies on cynical wit to navigate a world filled with incompetent adults and looming conspiracies.
Nimona
ND Stevenson · Book
Explores: found family, moral ambiguity, anti-hero.
Nimona shares the defiant, anti-hero spirit found in Wednesday, offering a sharp look at moral ambiguity and the struggle to find belonging while remaining unapologetically true to yourself.
Wicked
Gregory Maguire · Book
Explores: moral ambiguity, social outcast, perspective shift.
If the social isolation of Nevermore Academy resonated with you, Elphaba’s journey in Wicked captures that same feeling of being a misunderstood outcast navigating a complex, judgmental world.
Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling · Book
Shares a thread with Wednesday: coming-of-age.
Much like the boarding school setting of Wednesday, this tale follows a student honing their unique abilities while uncovering deep secrets within the walls of a magical institution.
Films on the same thread
The Addams Family
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1991
Shares a thread with Wednesday: Dark Comedy.
To see more of the macabre family dynamics that shaped Wednesday, this film provides essential context for the Addams household and their unique brand of dark, gothic comedy.
Addams Family Values
Barry Sonnenfeld · Film · 1993
Shares a thread with Wednesday: Dark Comedy.
This sequel highlights the biting, deadpan humor that defines Wednesday, focusing on her interactions with family members and her refusal to conform to standard social expectations during adolescence.
Wonder
Film · 2017
Shares a thread with Wednesday: Coming-of-age.
While more grounded than Wednesday, this story mirrors the high-stakes emotional challenges of navigating a new school environment while dealing with the pressures of being an obvious outsider.
The School for Good and Evil
Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Wednesday: Coming-of-Age.
The battle between good and evil at an enchanted school will feel familiar to any fan of Wednesday, as it explores similar themes of identity and destiny among students.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If you enjoyed the murder investigation aspects of Wednesday, this podcast offers that same inquisitive drive, blending dark subject matter with a dry, comedic analytical perspective on crime.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
This podcast captures the same dark curiosity that drives Wednesday, providing a space where true crime and tragedy are explored through a lens of sharp, conversational, and comedic observation.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Wednesday based on the original The Addams Family TV show from 1964?
Wednesday is a modern adaptation that draws inspiration from the characters created for The Addams Family franchise. While it features the iconic Addams family, the 2022 series focuses specifically on Wednesday Addams as she navigates mysteries at Nevermore Academy rather than following the 1964 television show format.
What order should I watch The Addams Family movies before starting Wednesday?
You do not need to watch The Addams Family movie from 1991 or Addams Family Values from 1993 to understand the plot of Wednesday. The 2022 series is a standalone story that introduces the character of Wednesday Addams in a new setting at Nevermore Academy.
Is Wednesday a direct sequel to Addams Family Values?
No, Wednesday is not a direct sequel to the 1993 film Addams Family Values. It is a separate television production created by Miles Millar that reimagines the life of Wednesday Addams as she investigates twisted mysteries and develops new relationships while attending school at Nevermore Academy.
How does the Wednesday series compare to the 1991 The Addams Family movie?
The 1991 The Addams Family movie and the 2022 Wednesday series both feature the Addams family, but they serve different purposes. The movie focuses on the family dynamic, whereas the Wednesday series centers on Wednesday Addams herself as she investigates mysteries and encounters foes at Nevermore Academy.