10 Shows and Movies Like The Venture Bros. (2004)

Description: Futurama shares The Venture Bros.' blend of sci-fi adventure and clever humor, with a similar balance of heartfelt moments and absurd comedy. Both shows feature a colorful cast of characters navigating bizarre futuristic worlds, and both make extensive use of science fiction tropes for both parody and genuine storytelling. The shows also share a similar level of scientific literacy in their humor.

Fact: Futurama was canceled twice before being revived. Many episodes feature actual scientific equations in the background. The show's creators hired a physicist to ensure accuracy in sci-fi concepts.

Description: Like The Venture Bros., Aqua Teen Hunger Force is part of Adult Swim's lineup of surreal, adult-oriented animation. Both shows feature bizarre characters in absurd situations, though ATHF leans more into pure surrealism while The Venture Bros. maintains stronger narrative continuity. Both shows also feature frequent genre parodies and a similar offbeat humor style.

Fact: The show was originally called 'Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1'. The Mooninites caused a real-life bomb scare in Boston. The show's creators originally intended it to be more of a detective series.

Description: The Boondocks shares The Venture Bros.' sharp social commentary and satirical edge, though it focuses more on race and politics while The Venture Bros. parodies adventure tropes. Both shows feature intelligent, referential humor and aren't afraid to tackle controversial topics. The animation styles are similarly stylized, and both shows have a distinctive approach to action sequences.

Fact: The show is based on Aaron McGruder's comic strip. John Witherspoon (RIP) voiced Granddad. The show was originally developed for Fox before moving to Adult Swim.

Description: Metalocalypse shares The Venture Bros.' dark humor and focus on a dysfunctional group of characters (in this case, a death metal band). Both shows feature extreme violence played for laughs and satirize their respective subcultures (metal for Metalocalypse, adventure serials for The Venture Bros.). The shows also share a similar adult animation style and musical focus.

Fact: The band Dethklok from the show has released real albums. Creator Brendon Small voices most of the main characters. The show was originally pitched as a reality show parody.

Description: Created by Adam Reed and Matt Thompson (who would later make Archer), Frisky Dingo shares The Venture Bros.' satirical take on superhero tropes and features similarly absurd, rapid-fire humor. Both shows subvert traditional hero/villain dynamics and feature characters who are terrible at their jobs despite their grandiose ambitions.

Fact: The show was canceled after two seasons due to low ratings. Many voice actors from Frisky Dingo went on to work on Archer. The show's title was chosen because it sounded funny when said quickly.

Description: Like The Venture Bros., Archer combines action, espionage, and comedy with a dysfunctional cast of characters. Both shows feature a blend of parody and homage to classic genres (spy films for Archer, adventure serials for The Venture Bros.), and both have a sharp, witty dialogue style. The animation style in Archer, while more stylized, shares a similar attention to detail and visual gags.

Fact: Archer was originally pitched as a serious spy drama before becoming a comedy. The show's creator, Adam Reed, also voices multiple characters. Archer's art style was inspired by mid-century modern design.

Description: Rick and Morty shares The Venture Bros.' blend of sci-fi adventure and dark humor, with a focus on dysfunctional family dynamics. Both shows feature brilliant but flawed protagonists (Rick Sanchez and Dr. Venture) who drag their reluctant family members into dangerous situations. The shows also share a love for deep-cut pop culture references and complex, serialized storytelling.

Fact: Justin Roiland originally voiced both Rick and Morty. The show was inspired by Back to the Future. Rick's burps are improvised by Roiland during recording.

Description: The Tick (2016) shares The Venture Bros.' deconstruction of superhero tropes, presenting a world where superheroes are flawed and often incompetent. Both shows balance absurd humor with surprisingly deep character development and world-building. The Tick's Arthur is particularly reminiscent of Dean Venture in his reluctant hero journey.

Fact: The Tick has been adapted three times (1994 cartoon, 2001 live-action, 2016 live-action). Creator Ben Edlund originally conceived The Tick as a newsletter mascot. Peter Serafinowicz based his Tick voice on Orson Welles.

Description: Sealab 2021 shares The Venture Bros.' approach of taking an old cartoon concept (in this case, Sealab 2020) and reinventing it with adult humor and absurd situations. Both shows feature a dysfunctional crew in a sci-fi setting, with humor derived from their incompetence and bizarre interpersonal dynamics. The shows also share a similar animation style and pacing.

Fact: The show uses footage from the 1972 cartoon Sealab

Description: China, IL shares The Venture Bros.' absurdist take on education and authority figures, featuring incompetent professors at a terrible university. Both shows feature bizarre characters with exaggerated personalities and a similar blend of surreal humor and pop culture references. The animation styles are similarly loose and expressive, favoring character over realism.

Fact: The show was created by Brad Neely of 'Wizard People, Dear Reader' fame. Many characters are voiced by the same few actors. The show's title is a play on 'China, IL' (Illinois) sounding like 'China ill'.