What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWellington Paranormal
Jemaine Clement · Series · 2018
If you loved Wellington Paranormal, start with What We Do in the Shadows (Jemaine Clement, 2014) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 1 film and 2 podcasts, each matched to Wellington Paranormal across media.
What hooked you in Wellington Paranormal was the way it finds absurd, bureaucratic comedy within the mundane realities of supernatural investigation.
Start with the source
The source
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement · Film · 2014
Adaptation
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement · Series · 2019
Books on the same thread
Nimona
ND Stevenson · Book
Explores: found family, moral ambiguity, anti-hero.
Like the officers in Wellington Paranormal, Nimona embraces a chaotic, irreverent spirit that refuses to take its own high-stakes fantasy elements too seriously, favoring personality over polished heroism.
Redshirts
John Scalzi · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with Wellington Paranormal: Bureaucracy.
If the rigid, ineffective bureaucracy of Wellington Paranormal delighted you, this satirical take on expendable crew members provides a similarly cynical look at the absurdity of institutional structures.
For Whom the Belle Tolls
Jaysea Lynn · Book
Explores: forbidden attraction, bureaucracy in the afterlife, fish out of water.
This story mirrors the administrative headaches found in Wellington Paranormal by placing a mundane job within an otherworldly setting, showing the tedious reality of managing the afterlife.
Masters of Death
Olivie Blake · Book
Explores: supernatural real estate, ghost hunting, vampire society.
You will appreciate how this narrative grounds supernatural entities in the professional, everyday world, capturing the same droll, matter-of-fact tone used to depict ghosts in Wellington Paranormal.
Films on the same thread
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement · Film · 2014
Explores: Vampires, Modern Life, Housemates.
As the direct predecessor to Wellington Paranormal, this mockumentary delivers the same dry, character-driven humor while exploring how mythological creatures struggle with the simple inconveniences of contemporary existence.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
Much like the hosts of Wellington Paranormal, these comedians apply a sharp, irreverent lens to dark subject matter, finding the comedic irony hidden within grim, real-world investigative scenarios.
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward · Podcast · 2026
Explores: intellectual curiosity, scientific wonder, human obsession.
The hosts of Wellington Paranormal thrive on curiosity about the unknown, and this podcast captures that same spirit by exploring bizarre, scientific phenomena with an infectious, conversational enthusiasm.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Wellington Paranormal related to the What We Do in the Shadows movie?
Yes, Wellington Paranormal is a spin-off of the 2014 movie What We Do in the Shadows. Officers Minogue and O'Leary, who appear in the original film, are the lead characters tasked with investigating supernatural activity in the capital of New Zealand throughout the television series.
Should I watch the What We Do in the Shadows movie before Wellington Paranormal?
While not strictly required for the plot, watching the 2014 movie What We Do in the Shadows provides context for the characters of Minogue and O'Leary. Wellington Paranormal builds upon the mockumentary style and universe established in that initial film.
Is Wellington Paranormal connected to the 2019 What We Do in the Shadows TV show?
Both Wellington Paranormal and the 2019 television series What We Do in the Shadows share the same creative roots from Jemaine Clement. However, they are separate productions, with Wellington Paranormal focusing on the specific police investigations conducted by Minogue and O'Leary in New Zealand.
What is the premise of Wellington Paranormal?
Wellington Paranormal follows officers Minogue and O'Leary as they patrol the streets of New Zealand's capital. The show documents their efforts to investigate various supernatural events and paranormal phenomena, serving as a comedic spin-off originating from the documentary style featured in What We Do in the Shadows.