8 Movies And TV Shows Inspired By Mythology That We Like More Than ‘Kaos’

Kaos may have gone as quickly as it came, but that hasn’t stopped us from enjoying its single Netflix season. Starring Jeff Goldblum as a petty Zeus, the show connects three humans through a godly prophecy, using dark humor to reckon with existentialism in the face of potential greater forces. 

With life or death situations, alongside well-known mythological characters and storylines, Kaos is the epitome of a modern-day mythological retelling. Drawing on the legends of Eurydice, Prometheus, Orpheus, Hera, and more, Kaos is just one of many television series’ and films also inspired by mythology, so we’ve picked eight of our favorite examples.

Hercules (1997)

Many of Disney’s most popular animated films were inspired by well-known stories and legends, from J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan to the Brothers Grimm’s Cinderella. But Hercules draws most closely on classic mythology, and more specifically, the story of Hercules, the son of Zeus in Greek mythology. Like in Kaos, Zeus and Hera are married, and Zeus’s evil brother, Hades, plays a significant role. Hercules also faces the underworld, the River Styx, a Cyclops, and more touchpoints of Greek mythology.

Xena: Warrior Princess (1995 – 2001)

Any millennial who fell in love with mythology probably started with a love for Xena: Warrior Princess. The Sam Raimi series starring Lucy Lawless as Xena may not have a mythological protagonist, but it is based in a fictional version of ancient Greece. The show was actually a spin-off of Hercules: The Legendary Journey, in which Xena was a villain. But Xena: Warrior Princess pays homage to its mythological roots.

Its towns are named after real historic Greek towns, such as Athens, Corinth, and Delphi. Scenes take place alongside the River Styx, Valhalla, the Elysian Fields, and more. There are references to gods like Ares and Aphrodite, among others. A perfect mix of modern-day themes in an ancient world, Xena: Warrior Princess is one of the best series inspired by mythology.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

Based on the Rick Riordan novel, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is heavily inspired by Greek mythology. Like Hercules and Kaos, it all goes back to Zeus, whose brother Poseidon has a demigod son named Percy Jackson. Although Percy doesn’t know he’s a demigod, Zeus accuses him of stealing his lightning bolt. This sets off a series of chaotic events that include encounters with a Minotaur, Athena, Hades, Persephone, a Hydra, and more elements of Greek mythology.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Now both a mainstream and cult classic, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! was in part inspired by the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, which is also one of the main storylines in Kaos. In the director’s cut of the film, he revealed its mythological roots. Ewan McGregor’s character is inspired by Orpheus as he “descends into a hellish underworld of prostitution and musical entertainment in order to retrieve Kidman, the singing courtesan who loves him but is enslaved to a diabolical duke,” according to a 2001 New York Times profile of the movie musical.

Clash of the Titans (1981)

With the late and great Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith, no one would expect Clash of the Titans to be a fun epic fantasy adventure romp, but fortunately, this is the world we live in. The film’s catalyst is a prophecy that Danaë’s child will cause King Acrisius of Argos’s demise. Naturally, Zeus (Laurence Olivier) impregnates Danaë, so the King banishes Danaë and her newborn Perseus. In response, Zeus kills the King and orders Poseidon to release the Titans and the Kraken to destroy Argos.

All of this is inspired by the tales of Zeus, Poseidon, Argos, and mythological creatures, such as the Kraken in legendary settings like the River Styx and the Underworld. With appearances from Athena, Aphrodite, Hera, Thetis (Maggie Smith), the Medusa, and more, Clash of the Titans has solidified its place in the canon of goofy fantastical mythological romps.

My Fair Lady (1964)

In the years since My Fair Lady first graced the stage in 1956, the story has become synonymous with its mythological inspiration, Pygmalion. Starring Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady pays homage to its roots without a dark and fantastical tone, like many other mythology-inspired projects. In the ancient Greek mythology, Pygmalion is a sculptor who falls in love with his sculpture, which then comes to life.

In George Bernard Shaw’s 1871 Pygmalion, linguistics professor Henry Higgins “sculpts” Eliza into a high-society Englishwoman. Later adaptations eventually led to the 1964 film, which still pays homage to the Greek roots that inspired its first iteration. In fact, the story is so timeless that it led to several other popular films, such as Trading Places (1983), Pretty Woman (1990), Mighty Aphrodite (1995), She’s All That (1999), and more.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

While Thor and its various spin offs and sequels are very obviously inspired by Norse mythology, the MCU has leaned even further into its mythological inspirations as it dives deeper into the multiverse. In the MCU, gods are treated as celestial heavenly beings similar to aliens — their worlds are planets, such as Asgard and the Nine Realms. When we meet Thor, we also meet his father, Odin, his mother, Frigga, and of course, his mischievous adopted brother, Loki.

Beyond the use of popular Norse characters in the MCU, classic mythological creatures and tales have been alluded to throughout the franchise, from Ragnarok and a Shuma-Gorath lookalike to the Olympians and the Ouroboros. In Thor: Ragnarok, Jeff Goldblum also makes an appearance as we learn more about the Valkyrie and the lore of Odin and Hela. In Thor: Love and Thunder, the gods are front and center with cameos from Zeus, the Fates, Rapu, and many more. But the gods are all over the MCU. In Doctor Strange’s education, he meets several mythological creatures, and of course, we can’t forget Moon Knight, which draws directly from Egyptian lore. 

Krapopolis (2022 – )

Taking place in ancient Greece, it’s impossible not to see the inspiration from Greek mythology. The Dan Harmon-created animated series follows a family of humans, gods, and other mythological creatures as they try to keep the peace in Athens. But with Dan Harmon’s trademark crude humor and silly jokes, Krapopolis is an entirely different take on mythology.

There are references to the lore with Hermes, the Titans, Heracles, Pan (the God of the Wild), nymphs, a Hydra, the Muses, Atlantis, Mount Olympus, and many more staples from the legendary tales. But despite its shared touchpoints, Krapopolis is a totally unique mythology-inspired must-watch.