What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWelcome to the North
Luca Miniero · Film · 2012
If you loved Welcome to the North, start with Welcome to the South (2010) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Welcome to the North across media.
If you loved Welcome to the North, you will appreciate these stories that explore how radical environment shifts reshape personal identity and relationships.
Start with the source
The source
Welcome to the South
Film · 2010
Books on the same thread
North and South
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell · Book · 1927
Explores: Class Conflict, Industrial Revolution, Social Reform.
Like Welcome to the North, this narrative uses the friction of a regional move to challenge a character's preconceptions about social class and industrial life in a new setting.
Twelfth Night
William Shakespeare, Maitman, Ian Waldron · Book · 1990
Explores: Mistaken Identity, Love Triangle, Gender Disguise.
This classic shares the spirit of misunderstanding found in Welcome to the North, focusing on the comedic consequences of identity and deception within a changing social landscape.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik Backman · Book · 2016
Explores: Grumbling protagonist, Unexpected friendship, Redemption.
The grumpy transformation seen here mirrors the character arcs in Welcome to the North, where a rigid protagonist is forced to adapt to a new, boisterous community environment.
The Gate
Natsume Soseki · Book · 2012
Explores: Marital Discord, Social Isolation, Financial Strain.
This story echoes the marital discord and social isolation present in Welcome to the North, examining how external pressures and life choices impact the stability of a domestic partnership.
Series on the same thread
North & South
Elizabeth Gaskell · Series · 2004
Explores: class conflict, social injustice, forbidden love.
Much like the transition in Welcome to the North, this drama centers on the personal growth that occurs when a character is uprooted and forced to reconcile with northern life.
North of North
Stacey Aglok MacDonald · Series · 2025
Explores: Starting Over, Divorce, Community Pressure.
This series captures the same feeling of starting over after a marital exit as Welcome to the North, highlighting the challenges of navigating small-town scrutiny and evolving cultural identity.
Northern Exposure
Joshua Brand · Series · 1990
Explores: Culture Clash, Fish Out of Water, Community.
This show mirrors the fish-out-of-water comedy of Welcome to the North, placing an urban professional in an eccentric, isolated environment where he must learn to adapt to local customs.
The Trip
Michael Winterbottom · Series · 2010
Explores: Male Friendship, Midlife Crisis, Celebrity Culture.
If the midlife introspection of Welcome to the North resonated with you, this travel comedy offers a similar blend of male friendship and personal crisis set against a regional backdrop.
Podcasts on the same thread
Illumina Show
Podcast
Explores: Humor, Satire, Italian Culture.
This podcast explores regional identity and Italian culture with a satirical edge, capturing the same local observational humor that makes the world of Welcome to the North feel authentic.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This show shares the fascination with provincial life found in Welcome to the North, blending the specific traits of small-town communities with a sharp, comedic lens on local idiosyncrasies.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Should I watch Welcome to the South before Welcome to the North?
Yes, it is recommended to watch the 2010 film Welcome to the South first. Welcome to the North acts as a sequel, following the characters and themes established in the original 2010 movie regarding the cultural differences between Northern and Southern Italy.
Is Welcome to the North a direct sequel to Welcome to the South?
Yes, Welcome to the North is the 2012 follow-up to the 2010 film Welcome to the South. Both movies are directed by Luca Miniero and explore the lives of the same characters as they navigate professional and personal challenges in different regions of Italy.
What is the main plot conflict in Welcome to the North?
In Welcome to the North, Alberto moves to Milan to manage an efficiency program for the Italian Post. His intense focus on this professional task leads to significant marital neglect and frustration for his wife, Silvia, while parallel relationship tensions occur in Castellabate between Matta and Maria.
How does the setting of Welcome to the North differ from the previous film?
While the previous film focused on the Southern Italian experience, Welcome to the North shifts the setting to the Far North in Milan. The story centers on Alberto managing efficiency improvements for the Italian Post, highlighting the contrast between the Northern work environment and the characters' previous lives.