If you loved
Westworld
Michael Crichton · Film · 1973
What hooked you in Westworld was the way the existential dread of sentient technology forces you to confront the fragility of human control.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Westworld
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2016
Books on the same thread
Congo
Michael Crichton · Book · 2003
Shares a thread with Westworld: Artificial Intelligence.
If the corporate machinations and high-stakes technological expeditions of Westworld intrigued you, this adventure explores similar themes of artificial intelligence and the dangerous consequences of human ambition in remote environments.
All Systems Red
Martha Wells · Book · 2017
Explores: Sentient AI, Social anxiety, Corporate dystopia.
This story mirrors the perspective of the androids in Westworld, providing a sharp and insightful look at sentient machines navigating a world defined by corporate cruelty and human-imposed limitations.
The Gunslinger
Stephen King · Book · 2003
Explores: Quest for redemption, Moral ambiguity, Obsession.
The dreamlike, desolate atmosphere and the relentless quest for redemption found here parallel the gritty, moral ambiguity that defined your experience watching the gunslinger traverse the park in Westworld.
Series on the same thread
Cowboy Bebop
Series · 1998
Shares a thread with Westworld: Existentialism.
Like Westworld, this series masterfully blends the frontier spirit of a western with futuristic technology, focusing on characters whose existences are marked by deep existentialism and a search for redemption.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with Westworld: Artificial Intelligence.
Created by the same mind behind Westworld, this series deepens your interest in artificial intelligence and surveillance, exploring how technology alters the way we define justice and human morality.
Mr. Robot
Sam Esmail · Series · 2015
Explores: Hacking, Anti-capitalism, Mental Illness.
If the corporate conspiracy and the breakdown of reality in Westworld captivated you, this narrative offers a similarly intense psychological journey into the volatile intersection of technology and human society.
Firefly
Joss Whedon · Series · 2002
Explores: Rebellion, Found Family, Moral Ambiguity.
The harsh frontier life and the struggle for autonomy within a sprawling system will feel familiar to anyone who appreciated the complex social dynamics and rebellion found in Westworld.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama captures the same unsettling questions about artificial intelligence and emotional sentience that made the androids of Westworld feel so dangerously real and profoundly human.
Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast
MKBHD · Podcast · 2026
Explores: future of technology, product design and engineering, tech culture.
If the technical premise of Westworld sparked your curiosity about the future of engineering, this podcast provides the analytical context behind the actual gadgets that shape our evolving world.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Should I watch the 1973 Westworld movie before starting the 2016 television series?
You do not need to watch the 1973 Westworld film to understand the 2016 television series. While both versions share the core premise of a futuristic amusement park where androids malfunction and cause havoc, the television series functions as an independent adaptation of the original concept.
Is Westworld based on an original story or a book?
The 1973 Westworld film was written and directed by Michael Crichton. It serves as the primary source material for the franchise, establishing the setting of Delos and the concept of human-like androids turning against the park patrons, which was later adapted into the 2016 television series.
What is the premise of the original 1973 Westworld movie?
In the 1973 Westworld movie, patrons visit a futuristic amusement park called Delos that features themed worlds populated by human-like androids. The plot follows the chaos that ensues after the androids begin to malfunction, specifically focusing on a menacing gunslinger who threatens the park guests.
How are the 1973 Westworld film and the 2016 television show related?
The 2016 Westworld television series is an adaptation of the 1973 Westworld film by Michael Crichton. Both versions explore the dangers of a futuristic park where human-like androids malfunction and create havoc for the patrons visiting the various themed worlds within Delos.