Possibly the most giftable book ever, perfect for movie fans, vintage book lovers, or coffee table book collectors. The book includes a wide assortment of classics and newer selections, very creatively designed and with fun nods to the films' content. The faded "vintagey" look added to the nostalgia, and frankly most of them would look great hung on the wall Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy.

Matt Stevens, graphic designer and illustrator, imagines over 200 films as vintage book covers in Good Movies as Old Books: Films Reimagined as Vintage Book Covers. I hadn’t seen this concept done before, and as a bibliophile, I had to check this book out.

Stevens makes it clear that this is not a “best of” list, but rather a collection of films that are of personal interest to him. But still, I found a lot of films here that I love, and many that I was unfamiliar with as well. There were also plenty in here that I know are popular that I just have never seen. So I am sure most readers will find something that interests them.

There’s minimal text in this book. Most pages are consumed almost entirely by the cover art, and then have a caption with the film’s title, year, director, and additional relevant information. It’s 1-2 lines maximum of small text.

The covers are stylized to look like worn paperbacks. The art is as varied as vintage covers are, and a few of the titles had some alternate designs as well. I liked the covers, it was fun to see what elements of the films were included, as some were more straightforward than others. I also was trying to identify which book covers might have inspired the designs. (One was super obvious.) I thought the designs were varied and vibrant, though cohesive, and it kept visual interest throughout the entire book. It also sparked my imagination about how some of my favorite movies might have been if they were books first.

I don’t have any particular critiques, but I do wish I could learn more about the author’s creative process and sources for inspiration.

I can’t wait to see the companion postcards. I am big into postcards!

I would recommend it to bibliophiles who are all about the cover art, and cinephiles who can’t get enough of the graphic design in movie posters. But I think anyone with an interest in graphic design or art could get a kick out of this.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

"Good Movies as Old Books" by Matt Stevens is a captivating fusion of film and design, perfect for anyone who appreciates the intersection of visual art and storytelling. This book is an absolute gem for cinephiles and bibliophiles alike, and I can already see it becoming a staple for film students, art students, art collectors, graphic artists, and design enthusiasts. If you're someone who admires the intricate beauty of book covers and the visual language of film, "Good Movies as Old Books" will speak directly to you.
The concept behind this book is fascinating. Matt Steven's idea came to life after collaborating with a friend on a project where they pitched a potential new movie property as a book cover. This sparked a deep dive into the art of visually translating movies into the world of book covers. It's a brilliant concept, and Matt Stevens pulls it off with great insight, blending the worlds of cinema and print in a way that feels both nostalgic and refreshing.
As I turned the pages, I could almost "smell" the scent of these imagined movie covers — the type of scent that reminds you of old books and vintage film posters. The imagery here isn’t just superficial; it’s a deep celebration of how movies and books intertwine in the visual realm. Each page is an invitation to revisit some of the greatest cinematic moments, reimagined in book form.
Reading "Good Movies as Old Books" has me itching to rewatch several beloved films, like Some Kind of Wonderful, Ocean’s Eleven, The Goonies, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. These films, which are already staples in pop culture, now feel even more special as I envision their reimagined book covers.
Even more exciting is the urge this book gives me to watch films I haven't seen yet. Titles like Beau is Afraid, The Banshees of Inisherin, and Mad Max: Fury Road are now on my must-watch list, thanks to the striking, thought-provoking way Matt Stevens explores these films visually.
With its official release set for April 2025, I can’t wait to add this book to my collection. In fact, I’m already planning on purchasing a copy for myself and for my graphic artist niece, who will undoubtedly appreciate the thought and creativity behind each page. Whether you're a movie buff, a design lover, or simply someone who enjoys looking at art in new ways, "Good Movies as Old Books" is a must-have. Go pick up your copy today and immerse yourself in the magical marriage of movies and books!

An interesting idea and a beautiful book . . . but, for me, there was a singularity to the style(s) of each cover that left me somewhat cold as I worked my way through the titles. Definitely worked as a throw back to the paper back aesthetic of years back but, ultimately, I lost interest as the styles seemed sort of the same ole same ole after awhile.

This was a fun book that imagines numerous movies as book covers. I would recommend it for movie and graphic design fans. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book includes a lot of really fun designs that really feel like they'd be right at home in some bargain bin of old paperbacks. I would 100% buy poster versions of the "Before" trilogy designs! To me, the most effective covers were the ones that managed to establish the vibe of the story, while showcasing an image that would be indecipherable without the context of the story. "Psycho" being the particular cover that I'm thinking of as the most impressive design, with "Everything, Everywhere All At Once" and "Nope" also being excellent examples of this. Overall, this would make for a perfect coffee table book for anyone who loves both movies and old paperbacks.

This was so fun! I loved seeing some of my favorite movies being made into vintage books. All of the details were spot on. Definitely a must for movie and book lovers!

This is a perfect coffee table book for movie and book lovers. It’s as described. Good movies redesigned as old books. The artwork is beautiful, creative, and delightful. I would love to see the art cards.

I’m somewhat of a movie buff so this was a fun picture book for adults to “read”. The art was amazing and I did lost account how many of the covers I thought it was my favorite. This would be fun coffee table book and conversation starter for both books and movies.

I was hoping there would have been something more though so I would have the urge to go back to this multiple times.

I recommend this to all movie, book and art lovers. It’s definitely worth of checking out.

Good Movies as Old Books is a visual book with reimagined posters for classic or well-known films as old books. It reframes these films as books published in the 1980s and 1990s, with simple and basic covers capturing general themes from the books.

This collection of images captures the time and essence of each film as a book cover. My public library customers would be unlikely to give it a chance, but to me it is a lovely expression of the moods of cinema.

Good Movies as Old Books is the perfect mix of art, cinema and reading. Looking through these movie titles reimagined as vintage book covers was a real treat. I was brought back to my younger years and that nastolgic feeling of watching a movie or reading a book for the first time. I couldn't help but smile while reminiscing.

Matt Stevens rocks at designing his specific brand of art, the attention to detail is amazing, and I would enjoy some of these pieces in my home.

This was so beautiful! Good movies as old books is the ultimate cinephile x bookworm combo, Such an easy quick read, and I was so happy to see some old fave movies make their way into this, as well as take ideas for my next movie night! Overall a very creative and we'll executed idea for a book!

This is a clever idea that produces really incredible art. I was intrigued to see what design aspects Stevens chose to highlight for each film/book. There are a lot of favorites here, and the love the author has for cinema is evident.

An interesting exercise in design. The book covers that embrace a more interpretive vision of the films are more successful than ones that are images directly from the movies. Surprising to see so many newer films on here, would have preferred older, more established films, as opposed to ones already designated to being forgotten after a few years. Despite that qualm, the quality of the images and the idea are well executed.

I love the variety of books included. I just wish there was more to the book. It really feels like I am looking through someone's Instagram, which is neat I just would have liked something about the movies. Maybe a brief synopsis or fun fact about the choices. The covers were very well done and it was neat to look at.

4 stars

Good Movies as Old Books by Matt Steven’s was available on NetGalley. It’s exactly what it sounds like. The artist took his favorite films and turned them into vintage books.

The level of detail was impressive. The creases, price stickers, and visible wear as impressive. Stevens goes hard at turning the films he’s loved into vintage books.

His choices for how he opted to represent these films were interesting. Some felt spot on while others made me ponder. I loved it when he added the occasional title page too. It really tickled me when it was a book cover of a movie inspired by a book. Very meta.

I’d definitely recommend a physical copy of this for any film or pop culture buffs in your life. 5/5

Well this was fun ☺️ … definitely a unique concept with the artwork from movies depicted as older book covers. I’m not truly a movie nerd so didn’t recognize all the titles, but a total book nerd appreciating the artwork for the book covers. Made me nostalgic for going to rummage sales, perusing through other people’s treasures.

Thank you to NetGalley.and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A really fun book that reinvents movies into old book covers. It was fascinating to see the authors interpretation of each movie. And it was nostalgic to see the old covers. It makes me wish that these were actual books that you could read.

Art and culture blend well in this collection. It reimagined our favorite films as novels worthy of framing on the wall. Highly recommend for filmmakers and movie clubs and readers of popular novels.