What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWhat We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement · Film · 2014
If you loved What We Do in the Shadows, start with Wellington Paranormal (Jemaine Clement, 2018) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to What We Do in the Shadows across media.
If you loved the dry, observational humor of What We Do in the Shadows, you will enjoy these stories blending supernatural absurdity with mundane human awkwardness.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Wellington Paranormal
Jemaine Clement · Series · 2018
Adaptation
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement · Series · 2019
Books on the same thread
How to Sell a Haunted House
Grady Hendrix · Book
Explores: Inherited trauma, Dysfunctional family dynamics, Grief as a monster.
Like What We Do in the Shadows, this book uses a domestic setting to ground its supernatural horror, balancing dark, dysfunctional family dynamics with an underlying sense of comedic dread.
Nimona
ND Stevenson · Book
Shares a thread with What We Do in the Shadows: found family.
Fans of the misfit dynamics in What We Do in the Shadows will appreciate this found family story, which features a similarly chaotic, unpredictable anti-hero navigating a rigid society.
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson · Book · 1987
Explores: isolation, sanity, female hysteria.
While more serious, this classic shares the housemate focus of What We Do in the Shadows, exploring how the uncanny nature of an old mansion impacts the inhabitants' sanity.
Ghost World
Daniel Clowes · Book · 2001
Explores: Teenage angst, Female friendship, Existential dread.
Much like the vampires in What We Do in the Shadows, these characters navigate the world with a sense of social alienation and existential dread that defines their unique friendship.
Series on the same thread
Wellington Paranormal
Jemaine Clement · Series · 2018
Explores: Police Procedural, Supernatural Investigation, Monster of the Week.
This show is the direct spiritual successor to What We Do in the Shadows, maintaining the same mockumentary format and deadpan approach to investigating supernatural occurrences in New Zealand.
Flight of the Conchords
Jemaine Clement · Series · 2007
Explores: Musician Life, Fish Out of Water, Cultural Differences.
Created by the same mind behind What We Do in the Shadows, this series captures the same fish-out-of-water struggle as its protagonists attempt to navigate a foreign, modern world.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast mirrors the juxtaposition found in What We Do in the Shadows by layering a sharp, comedic spin over the grim reality of tragic, real-world events.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
Much like the conversational flow of What We Do in the Shadows, this podcast relies on the chemistry of its hosts to find humor and community within dark subject matter.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the What We Do in the Shadows television series a continuation of the 2014 movie?
The 2019 What We Do in the Shadows television series is an adaptation of the 2014 movie by Jemaine Clement. While they share the same mockumentary style and premise regarding vampire housemates, the television series features a different set of characters living in a different location.
What order should I watch the What We Do in the Shadows franchise in?
You can watch the 2014 What We Do in the Shadows movie first to understand the original concept of vampire housemates navigating modern life. Afterward, you can watch the 2019 television series or the 2018 spin-off Wellington Paranormal, as these are separate adaptations and extensions of the original universe.
How is Wellington Paranormal related to What We Do in the Shadows?
Wellington Paranormal is a 2018 television spin-off derived from the universe established in the 2014 What We Do in the Shadows movie. It focuses on the paranormal investigative work conducted by the police officers introduced in the original film rather than the vampire housemates themselves.
Should I watch the What We Do in the Shadows movie before the television show?
Watching the 2014 What We Do in the Shadows movie first provides the best introduction to the mockumentary tone and the premise of undead housemates. However, because the 2019 television show is a separate adaptation, you can also watch it independently without having seen the original film.