The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Listen to After Watching ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
Hulu’s adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale arrived at an opportune moment—at a time when many Americans were beginning to question the integrity of our democracy. The series brought Margaret Atwood’s dark vision of a totalitarian, patriarchal, and fanatical future America (now known as the Republic of Gilead) to life with a witty script, compelling performances, a striking visual style, and instantly iconic costumes.
Now that the series has ended, you might be wondering how to quench your thirst for dark, dystopian futures. Thanks in part to its success, there are plenty of other series offering equally provocative visions of our worst possible future (including the spinoff series The Testaments )—but you can also delve deeper into books, movies, games, and podcasts that offer similar visions of where we might be headed.
The best books similar to The Handmaid’s Tale.
The Handmaid’s Tale is, after all, a film adaptation of a literary work, and the series retains the feel of the novel. If you enjoy reading, here are a few more books that explore similar themes.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
The film adaptation of Atwood’s novel expanded far beyond her original vision out of necessity: it’s impossible to film six seasons of June grappling with patriarchy without inventing a lot of new material. In 2019, Atwood released the long-awaited sequel to her novel , sharing her thoughts on what Gilead would look like in a broader context. Three women smuggle out their experiences from the Republic—a young woman who rejects her arranged marriage despite her strong faith, a teenager who begins to question the foundations of her existence, and, most intriguingly, Lydia, the strict, conflicted aunt responsible for training (and disciplining) the Handmaids.
“The Future Home of the Living God” by Louise Erdrich
If you’re intrigued by ideas about reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, and how quickly society can revert to a more primitive state, The Future Home of the Living God is the perfect choice. In a dystopian future, evolution has run amok—plants and animals seem to be evolving backward, and a host of threats threaten humanity’s survival. When the government begins arresting pregnant women, Cedar Hawk Songmaker flees, embarking on a brutal journey fighting for herself and for the autonomy of women everywhere.
“Women’s Talk” by Miriam Tous
If you enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale’s exploration of the ways the women of Gilead support and protect themselves without real power, you’ll be hooked on Women Speak . The women of the Mennonite colony of Molotshna have long believed that demons attack them at night. However, when a man is caught beating one of their own, they realize they’ve been deceived and psychologically abused by the colony’s patriarchal leaders—in reality, these men have been drugging and abusing them. Unable to read and ignorant of the outside world, the women gather to discuss their options, with the help of the only man in the community they trust.
Children of Humanity by P.D. James
It’s sometimes forgotten that the defining event leading to the creation of the Republic of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale is the birth crisis. James’s dystopian novel takes this even further—by 2021, no children have been born for over 25 years. The novel explores the slow collapse of civilization in the face of inevitable human extinction, with each grim event seeming more terrifyingly plausible than the last. If you enjoy dystopia, this novel is a perfect choice.
“Gateway to Womanland” by Sheri S. Tepper
If you’re looking for a Handmaid’s Tale- like atmosphere but with a different perspective, Tepper’s 1988 novel is for you. In the post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest, a matriarchy has emerged. Women and children live peacefully within the walls of small towns, while men live in more primitive conditions outside, as warriors. But these two groups cannot be permanently separated, and when a young woman from Marthatown befriends a warrior named Chernon, change—violent and otherwise—is inevitable.
Best movies similar to The Handmaid’s Tale.
Hollywood loves a good dystopian epic, so there’s no shortage of bleak films that imagine futures no one wants. If you want to stay in that vein, here are some excellent films worth checking out.
The Handmaid’s Tale (1990)
The most direct way to stay immersed in the universe of The Handmaid’s Tale is to watch the original 1990 film adaptation. Starring Robert Duvall, Natasha Richardson, and Faye Dunaway, the screenplay was written by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter. The film offers a more condensed and melodramatic, but no less terrifying, version of the story. It’s very much in the spirit of the 1990s, but offers an intriguingly different take on the material. Watch The Handmaid’s Tale on Apple TV .
Rating (2024)
If you’re looking to further explore the themes and important questions raised in the series, then “Assessment” is the perfect watch. Set in a future where increasing life expectancy and resource scarcity have led to reproduction becoming a highly regulated process requiring advanced technology, the film follows a couple, Mia and Aaryan (Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel), who are applying to have a child. A state medical examiner, Virginia Tech (Alicia Vikander), visits them for seven days to evaluate their application. The testing quickly takes a dark turn, and the film explores the power dynamics and intense emotions that bind these three remarkable individuals. Watch “Assessment” on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video .
Anniversary (2025)
If you want to delve into the details of how society can descend into madness, “Anniversary” is a great choice. At her husband’s 25th wedding anniversary party, liberal professor Ellen (Diane Lane) meets her son’s new fiancée, Liz (Phoebe Dynevor), a former student. Liz has founded a movement called “Change” that promotes totalitarian rule, and over the next five years, her ideas are gradually and violently spread, destroying Ellen and her family. “Anniversary” is available to watch on Hulu or rent on Prime Video .
Dogville (2003)
Lars von Trier’s 2003 film adheres to his Dogme 95 principles—a cinematic style that eschews technology and special effects in favor of storytelling fundamentals. The sets are minimalist (buildings and rooms are often defined by lines on the floor), but the story is gripping. A woman named Grace (Nicole Kidman) escapes gangsters and finds refuge in the town of Dogville. Although she is initially welcomed, her situation becomes increasingly bleak as the townspeople realize their power over the desperate woman. It’s a story that explores how ordinary people strive for power over each other. Watch Dogville on Mubi .
Gattaca (1997)
The loss of physical autonomy, the impact of wealth and social status, and the power of government regulation of biology are the central themes of The Handmaid’s Tale , making this 1997 sci-fi film a compelling choice. In the future, genetic engineering allows the creation of “valids”—people with superior genetic makeup. Children conceived naturally (and therefore more likely to develop mutations and subsequent health problems) find themselves at the bottom of the social ladder. The film explores the extremes to which people strive to escape the limitations—both natural and imposed—of their physical bodies. Watch Gattaca on Prime Video .
The best video games like The Handmaid’s Tale.
If there’s one lesson to be learned from The Handmaid’s Tale , it’s that submissiveness and the desire to get along with others lead us to the abyss. If you’re looking to get more involved in the creation of dystopian entertainment, check out these games.
Republic
If you want to actively participate in resistance against a totalitarian state, but not in real life, play République . You help a rebellious girl named Hope, who is trying to escape from a facility where the government is conducting horrific experiments on teenagers. You can use security cameras to track Hope and the guards trying to capture her, hack various systems, open doors, and create distractions to help her gain freedom.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Steam
Detroit: Become Human
The themes of autonomy and personal freedom from The Handmaid’s Tale are reflected in this adventure game, centered on three android characters. In a future world, androids can become “deviants” if they learn to bypass their programming and gain sentience. You can play as three different androids, each with their own backstory, goals, and possible outcomes, confronting a robot uprising and choosing whether to risk becoming a deviant yourself.
Platforms: PlayStation, Steam
Signalis
In Signalis , with deliberately old-school graphics, you play as Elster, a biosynthetic clone known as Replica. You awaken from suspended animation on a sunken ship near a mine where most of the population has perished from a mysterious plague. As you play, you begin to piece together what really happened and discover what Elster is truly searching for. The atmosphere and tone (as well as the themes of female relationships) are well-suited to the series, and the eerie gameplay is simultaneously unsettling and entertaining.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Documents, please.
If you’ve ever wondered how decent people can tolerate such a despotic and brutal totalitarian state like Gilead, this low-budget game is a must-play. You play as a government official processing visa applications at the border between your dystopian country and its mortal enemy. You must navigate increasingly complex rules about who to admit and who to deny, all while managing your personal budget (supplemented by bribes, if you dare) and trying to maintain a shred of humanity. You can either aid the growing rebel group or simply try to complete an increasingly impossible task. It’s a surprisingly tense experience.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Steam
Dustborn
Want The Handmaid’s Tale to be a little more fantastical—and a little more engaging ? Then try Dustborn , set in an alternate timeline where America has become a totalitarian state that oppresses “anomalous”—people who have developed the ability to use a proto-language that gives them the power to alter reality and control others with words. You play as Pax, an anomaly who embarks on a mission to steal data to aid the resistance, gathering a team of friends and traveling undercover as a folk band. The game may be a little heavy-handed in its propaganda, but it definitely captures the same atmosphere as the show.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam
The best podcasts like The Handmaid’s Tale.
Whether you want to hear every detail and discuss every behind-the-scenes decision, or find fiction that explores the same subject matter, here are a few podcasts every Handmaid’s Tale fan should listen to.
Above the garage
If you’re looking for a friendly, in-depth dive into the world of The Handmaid’s Tale , this podcast is perfect. Kate Ettingoff and Kimberly Williams are true fans who shamelessly analyze each episode at length and in depth. If you can’t find friends willing to discuss the show with you all night, check out this podcast.
A Look at Gilead
Hosts Fiona Williams, Heidi Ireland, Sana Kadar, and Natalie Hambly clearly love the show, but they’re also unafraid to criticize it. Eyes on Gilead’s episode reviews are detailed and thoughtful, but the hosts also enjoy discussing the storylines and themes, which is crucial when those themes are so dark and heavy.
Eliza: A Robot’s Tale
Created in collaboration with the Pankhurst Trust and Manchester Women’s Aid (which combats gender inequality and supports victims of domestic violence), Eliza: A Robot’s Tale tells the story of a robot who falls in love with her owner, who then tries to give her true sentience—but nothing is as it seems. The story explores how those in power can exert violence and coercion in subtle ways without resorting to violence, echoing the gaslighting experienced by the handmaids in the series.
Haven Gospel
If you’re looking to explore how society becomes warped and increasingly oppressive under stress, this gripping science fiction story is perfect. In “The Haven Gospel,” the community lives within their living god—literally inhabiting a divine body. Their ritualistic existence is dedicated to maintaining the health of this body, but when it begins to fail, whether from old age or illness, and their world begins to crumble, those in power resort to increasingly desperate acts of violence and oppression to maintain their power. This partly mirrors the formation of Gilead as a response to the infertility crisis threatening the future of humanity, but it explores the process much more graphically and directly.