What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWhat's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich · Film · 1972
If you loved What's Up, Doc?, start with Bringing Up Baby (Howard Hawks, 1938) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to What's Up, Doc? across media.
You loved What's Up, Doc? because you crave that specific, escalating chaos where simple misunderstandings spiral into a brilliantly choreographed symphony of pure, unadulterated mayhem.
Start with the source
The source
Bringing Up Baby
Howard Hawks · Film · 1938
Books on the same thread
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
Explores: Existentialism, Bureaucracy, The Absurd.
Much like the bag mix-up in What's Up, Doc?, this book uses the absurd mechanics of the universe to propel its characters through a series of increasingly frantic, unplanned adventures.
The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss · Book · 1957
Explores: Mischief, Imagination, Consequences.
The catastrophic destruction caused by the guest in this story mirrors the physical comedy and rule-breaking spirit that defines the wild, madcap energy of What's Up, Doc?
Twelfth Night
William Shakespeare, Maitman, Ian Waldron · Book · 1990
Shares 2 threads with What's Up, Doc?: Mistaken Identity, Romantic Comedy.
If the identity-based confusion of What's Up, Doc? kept you laughing, you will appreciate this classic play, which serves as the foundational blueprint for all modern comedies of errors.
Summer Lightning
P. G. Wodehouse · Book · 2012
Shares 2 threads with What's Up, Doc?: Mistaken Identity, Farce.
The frantic pace and overlapping imposters at Blandings Castle capture the same delightful farce and mistaken identity hijinks that made What's Up, Doc? a masterpiece of comedic timing.
Series on the same thread
Moonlighting
Glenn Gordon Caron · Series · 1985
Shares a thread with What's Up, Doc?: Screwball Comedy.
The sharp, fast-paced dialogue and the volatile chemistry between the leads mirror the screwball dynamic that made the central pairing in What's Up, Doc? so incredibly fun to watch.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Joe Ruby · Series · 1969
Explores: Teen Detectives, Teamwork, Exposing Scams.
The constant cycle of spooky hijinks and frantic chases in this series captures the physical comedy and team-based absurdity that defined the wild adventures of What's Up, Doc?
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Series · 1973
Shares a thread with What's Up, Doc?: Slapstick Comedy.
The well-meaning protagonist here constantly triggers the same level of accidental disaster and chaotic misunderstanding that viewers associate with the iconic slapstick sequences found in What's Up, Doc?
Mr. Bean
Richard Curtis · Series · 1990
Shares 2 threads with What's Up, Doc?: Slapstick Comedy, Physical Comedy.
This show transforms everyday situations into total chaos through physical comedy, providing the same brand of wordless, slapstick-heavy entertainment that anchored the frantic energy of What's Up, Doc?
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
The way these hosts find dark humor in legal absurdity mirrors the comedic delight of watching characters in What's Up, Doc? navigate increasingly impossible situations with such panicked energy.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
These hosts apply a comedic lens to tragic irony, echoing the way What's Up, Doc? turns potentially serious situations into a fast-paced, hilarious display of escalating, madcap misfortune.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is What's Up, Doc? based on a previous film?
What's Up, Doc? is not a direct remake, but it draws significant inspiration from the 1938 film Bringing Up Baby. Both movies utilize screwball comedy tropes involving accidental mix-ups and chaotic situations to drive the plot forward.
What should I watch if I enjoyed the chaos in What's Up, Doc?
If you enjoyed the wild and wacky situations found in What's Up, Doc?, you should watch Bringing Up Baby. That film serves as a foundational example of the screwball comedy genre that influenced the style and tone of the 1972 production.
Does the plot of What's Up, Doc? revolve around a specific object?
The plot of What's Up, Doc? is centered on the accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags. This confusion leads to a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations that define the movie.
How does Bringing Up Baby compare to What's Up, Doc?
Bringing Up Baby is a 1938 film that shares a similar comedic DNA with What's Up, Doc?. While the specific plot regarding the four identical plaid overnight bags is unique to the 1972 film, both movies focus on escalating sequences of chaotic events.