The Best Books, Movies, Video Games and Podcasts to Check Out After Watching 'Euphoria'
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Euphoria might be the messiest show in existence—not only are its teenage characters dealing with epic levels of drama, trauma, and variously illegal activities, but the show’s production has been off the rails (season three was announced four years ago) even as the cast is beefing. Add in a chaotic approach to storytelling, and you have a show that seems to have been designed for our very online times.
Season three finally arrives on April 12, and if that seems like a miracle to you, you might wonder how you’ll get your Euphoria fix after you've run out of new episodes. We’ve already suggested a bunch of streamalike shows with the same vibes, but Euphoria's dramatic, inebriated, way-too-much aesthetic of the show can be found in other media, too—books, video games, movies, and even podcasts. Stream Euphoria on HBO Max.
The best books like 'Euphoria'
There’s a novelistic aspect to Rue’s narration—you could totally see the series as the adaptation of a postmodern novel series. If you’re feeling bookish and you want to get the same jittery fix offered by the show, here are some books that are perfect for you.
Heroine, by Mindy McGinnis
If you love Rue’s story above all else, Heroine is the book for you. When high school softball star Mickey suffers an injury, she relies on the painkillers she’s prescribed to stay in the game—and you probably know exactly where this is going. It’s a powerful look at teenage addiction and mental health.
Fuccboi, by Sean Thor Conroe
Drugs, emotional devastation, social stagnation—Fuccboi’s searing story at a feckless young man who is slowly realizing that his poor decisions and general cowardice have put him in a cycle of misery is a perfect fit for fans of Rue, Cassie, and Jules.
Hello Girls, by Brittany Cavallaro & Emily Henry
If Rue and Jules’ doomed relationship was the fuel that powered you through the first two seasons of Euphoria, pick up Hello Girls. Winona and Lucille do the one thing Rue and Jules couldn’t: They run away together to escape their suffocating lives and terrible families.
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, by Brandy Colbert
If Euphoria's depiction the invisible pressure that kids live under in the modern age felt way too real to you, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph is a good chaser. Dove “Birdie” Randolph is working tirelessly to be the perfect daughter her parents want—until a beautiful boy who’s obviously a bad idea and a reckless relative conspire to derail her controlled existence.
More Happy Than Not, by Adam Silvera
Do you feel all the emotions when watching Euphoria? Dive into Silvera’s emotional rollercoaster of a book. In More Happy Than Not, Aaron Soto is navigating life after his father’s suicide. But as life gets more and more confusing and he has fewer people he can trust to talk about it, he considers an experimental procedure that might bring him peace—at the cost of everything else.
The best movies like Euphoria
If you want a deeper dive into the frenetic, dramatic experience that Euphoria offers, these films will scratch the itch.
Thirteen (2003)
Thirteen is a film that speaks the same language as Euphoria. Straight-laced honor student Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) meets new girl Evie (Nikki Reed), who shows her a world of drugs, sex, and really terrible decisions that is initially exciting, with a range of realistically bleak consequences. Rent Thirteen from Prime Video.
Kids (1995)
Less stylized and a lot more upsetting, Kids is what unsupervised teens with access to drugs and each other’s bodies look like without flashy editing or actors who look like Zendaya. Following a gang of young teens in New York as they drink, smoke, and have unprotected sex, it’s a car crash you can’t look away from—and so controversial, it's long been tough to see (it's not streaming anywhere, but you can buy it on Blu-ray). Buy Kids on Blu-ray from Amazon.
The Rules of Attraction (2002)
If you’ve ever wondered what the kids of Euphoria will face when they get to college, The Rules of Attraction is the movie for you—in fact, Euphoria was very likely influenced by this film (and the Bret Easton Ellis novel on which it is based). The main character is Sean Bateman, younger brother of American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman, and his antics are based on Ellis’ own drug-soaked experiences at Bennington College in Vermont. It’s a delirious spiral into drugs, sex, and madness that fans of HBO’s show will love. Stream The Rules of Attraction on Prime Video.
Assassination Nation (2018)
Sam Levinson is the driving creative force behind Euphoria, and his 2018 film Assassination Nation is basically a dry run for the series. This tale of high school kids exploring their gender identities, sexual orientation, and taste in illegal substances (while a social media bomb detonates into pure chaos in their small town) isn’t as grounded as Euphoria, but it adopts the same neon and glitter sensibility as it explores similar themes in a much more heightened manner. Stream Assassination Nation on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Beautiful Boy (2018)
At its core, Euphoria is about relationships tested by mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and emotional betrayals. Beautiful Boy is the story of a father and son navigating the son’s addiction to meth, and is based on a true story. It doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutal impact addiction can have on even the most loving and well-intentioned relationship. Stream Beautiful Boy on Prime Video.
The best video games like Euphoria
Video games offer a more immersive experience and a sense of involvement in the story that a TV show can’t match. Here are some games that swim in the same space as Euphoria.
Life is Strange
If you find yourself yelling at the screen when characters make terrible decisions on Euphoria, Life is Strange will be cathartic. Dealing with issues like bullying and mental health, the game’s mechanic offers the ability to rewind time in order to change the course of events as you navigate teenage social hierarchies and the dark mysteries hidden under the surface of your hometown.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Steam
The Quarry
Although it’s a horror game where you control nine teenagers so they can survive a night filled with monsters and murderous humans, the depth of the character development and relationships makes The Quarry a perfect play-along for Euphoria. Every decision you make for the kids impacts the story (there are close to 200 distinct possible endings), offering a richly-detailed universe that will remind you of the HBO show’s vibe.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Steam
Tell Me Why
This emotionally rich game examines how we lie to ourselves, and how our memories trick us. Tell Me Why follows two telepathic siblings when they return to their home in Alaska to deal with their mother’s death and her messy legacy, the game deals with gender, sexuality, trauma, and an intense personal relationship tying it all together.
Platforms: Xbox, GeForce Now, PC, Steam
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage
Perfect for Euphoria fans, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage follows four high school friends who record their summer vacation on a camcorder in the 1990s, then reunite 27 years later to deal with the secret that drove them apart. With realistic interactions with the characters that react to your actions (or inactions), it replicates and enhances Euphoria’s ensemble experience with all the drama.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, GeForce Now, Steam
The best podcasts to listen to after watching Euphoria
The long gap between seasons two and three means that a lot of Euphoria-centric podcasts have either moved on or given up, but with the show roaring back into the zeitgeist, there are some key podcasts planning to produce new episodes.
The Watch (The Ringer)
Hosts Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald will be recapping and commenting on season three of Euphoria at The Watch—they’ve already devoted a whole episode to thinking way too hard about the trailer, so you know it’s going to be a fun deep dive.
That’s So Euphoric
This was one of the more energized and interesting podcasts about the show, so it seems hopeful that hosts Paige Blaser and Alex Miller will start it up again for season three.
Previously On with Jillian Bonanne
Previously On has been re-watching the first two seasons of the show in preparation for its return, so this is a perfect way to remind yourself why you fell for these messy kids in the first place.