What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWhat If...?
Series · 2021
If you loved What If...?, start with What If (Michael Dowse, 2013) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 1 podcast, each matched to What If...? across media.
What hooked you in What If...? was the way a single pivotal choice ripples outward to fundamentally reshape entire realities.
Start with the source
The source
What If
Michael Dowse · Film · 2013
Books on the same thread
Watchmen
Alan Moore · Book · 2009
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existentialism, Nuclear Anxiety.
Like What If...?, this work deconstructs the superhero archetype, forcing you to examine the moral dilemmas and consequences that arise when powerful figures operate outside traditional heroic boundaries.
Invincible Compendium One
Robert Kirkman · Book
Explores: legacy, moral ambiguity, heroism.
If you enjoyed the subversion of classic superhero tropes in What If...?, you will appreciate how this series explores the heavy personal consequences and moral ambiguity of gaining powers.
Invincible Compendium Two
Robert Kirkman · Book
Explores: coming-of-age, intergalactic conflict, moral complexity.
Building on the multiversal and complex character studies found in What If...?, this collection continues to challenge your expectations of heroism through intense intergalactic conflict and moral difficulty.
What Was . . . ?
various authors · Book
Explores: historical milestones, cultural literacy, inspirational figures.
While rooted in reality, the focus on historical milestones mirrors the curiosity of What If...? by asking how specific events and choices have defined the world we know.
Films on the same thread
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Sam Raimi · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with What If...?: Alternate Realities.
This film expands on the multiversal chaos of What If...?, diving deeper into the high stakes and psychological burdens that come when alternate realities collide with dangerous consequences.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Film · 2023
Shares a thread with What If...?: Multiverse.
Much like the anthology structure of What If...?, this story masterfully navigates the multiverse, exploring how identity and destiny shift when characters encounter different versions of their own lives.
Avengers: Infinity War
Film · 2018
Explores: Cosmic stakes, Sacrifice, Good vs. Evil.
The cosmic scale and focus on the heavy consequences of heroic choices provide the same sense of high-stakes tension that defined the most gripping episodes of What If...?
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Jon Watts · Film · 2021
Shares 2 threads with What If...?: Consequences, Multiverse.
This film captures the core appeal of What If...? by forcing its protagonist to confront the dangerous consequences of a single choice that ripples across multiple alternate realities.
Podcasts on the same thread
AlternateHistoryHub
Podcast
Shares a thread with What If...?: What If Scenarios.
This podcast serves as the perfect non-fiction companion to What If...?, applying the same counterfactual logic to historical events to reveal how different choices would alter our world.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is What If...? based on an existing comic book series?
Yes, the animated series What If...? takes inspiration from the Marvel comic books of the same name. Each episode explores alternate realities by questioning, revisiting, and twisting classic moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Does the 2013 movie What If relate to the 2021 series What If...?
No, the 2013 movie What If is a separate production and does not share a connection with the 2021 animated series What If...?. The series is exclusively based on Marvel comic books.
What is the premise of the What If...? animated series?
The What If...? animated series functions as an anthology where each episode presents a unique scenario. It reimagines key events from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to show how different choices or circumstances would have significantly altered the outcome of those classic moments.
How does What If...? handle its storytelling structure?
What If...? utilizes an anthology format, meaning each episode is a self-contained story. This structure allows the series to explore various twists on Marvel Cinematic Universe moments without requiring a traditional linear narrative across the entire season.