This unique coffee table book features imaginary vintage book covers, which the author designed to represent various movies. A few of the movies are actually based on books, but the vast majority of these are original storylines from movies that the artist is imagining book covers for.

The vintage art design is incredibly convincing, and these absolutely look like real books that you'd find in a secondhand shop or somebody's basement. Also, with some of the cover designs, you can immediately tell what movie it is. However, this book just features the cover designs, without any written reflections on the movies or the author's selection choices. This is art to look at, not something to read.

I really enjoyed the art, and I like the clever ways that the artist added details like price stickers and edge-wear to make the covers look authentic. The selection of movies reflects the author's personal tastes, so there's not as wide a range of genres and types of movies as there could be, but there's still a variety. This is a cool, unique book for film buffs and fans of vintage book designs.

Absolutely blown away by the art in this book. Not only is each cover incredibly creative, Stevens also perfectly captures the essence of the movie each was inspired by. I have two brothers that are film buffs and I’m already thinking of what a great Christmas gift this would make for either of them! This makes perfect coffee table book to spark some fun and creative conversations with guests.

3.5 stars.

Exactly what it sounds like, movies reimagined as retro book covers. More than 200 films are included. Some covers are great, but some were a bit too literal for me and since all are from one artist there isn’t a wide range of styles…the book definitely reflects Stevens’s preferred form of mid-century modern type of art. The typefaces are very creative and the whole thing is a fun concept.

I’m not entirely sure but it appears there may have been an earlier volume published a few years ago, but this one features movies from as late as 2024. Looks like the Goodreads entry incorporates what few reviews there were from the earlier publication. Anyway, book and movie lovers will enjoy taking a look at this.

I really enjoyed reading this, it had that element that I was looking for from making movie posters become book covers. It was everything that I was looking for and was glad it was everything that was promised. Matt Stevens was able to create a fun concept and was glad I was able to read this.

This is a perfect coffee table book for movie and book lovers. I love the artwork and felt nostalgic seeing book covers that reminded me of thrifting for books as a kid. I’m excited to see the images without the watermark.

Matt Stevens’ Good Movies as Old Books is an almost stratospherically high-concept work, approximately two hundred and fifty book covers in graphic design styles ranging from about the 1910s to the 1970s, but concentrated in the 40s to 60s; each of which serves as a concept poster for a film. There are captions listing the film’s title, director, writer, and very thorough accounting of media the film was based on (often leading back to a book), there is a one-page forward and a one-page introduction, and other than that, title, and copyright, there is no text. The concept is high, the concept is clear, and by the time you have looked at the first image you have digested the concept and moved past it. This book was clearly meant to stand or fall not on the strength of its concept, but of its content.

In rating the strength of that content, I bring the unique but perhaps ultimately -------perspective of someone who has watched very few movies in their life (that’s why I’m a librarian reviewing books on netgally). Most of the films in here with which I am familiar I know from pop cultural osmosis. I have tried to give the benefit of the doubt to many of these posters that could potentially be quite clever without my knowing because I have not seen the film. My opinions of book covers also heavily favor clever symbolism and elaborate design, two things that the eras this book focuses on featured sparsely at best. Take all of this into account reading this review.

That said, how are these Old Book envisioning of Good Movies? In a word: mixed, tending towards rather good.

A fair percentage of the covers are simple exercises in the graphic style of the eras mentioned, such as those for Unforgiven or Step Brothers, which feature simple portraits of the lead characters, or those for Talk to Me or The Matrix, which feature prominent elements from the film. They might perhaps be impressive in showing Stevens’ command of a range of styles, but are not very inspired when considered both as book covers and as movie interpretations (the cover for Mad Max: Fury Road is particularly bland in composition and impressive in execution).
The same goes for covers which are merely collage of various obvious symbols relating to the film, such as those for Gattaca and Donny Darko. They might perhaps serve as hooks were they actual book covers, but also seem like they could be used for other films of that genre with little adjustment.

Finally, not the majority, but still not rare, are the book covers that serve as interesting interpretations of their movies. What makes them interesting varies: those for John Wick and Dirty Harry serve as pithy references to iconic scenes, Hoop Dreams is a simple symbolic cover rescued by its unique composition, the cover for Psycho is a brilliant focusing on a minor element, though utterly unintelligible if you know nothing of the movie, and covers such as those for Good Will Hunting or You Were Never Really Here use symbols and motifs from the films in interesting ways.

Overall, this a clever work, appropriate for libraries if not necessarily coffee table display. Stevens’ breadth and control of style is impressive and I, for one, would not mind at all if a sequel volume were to appear sometime soon.

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Good Movies as Old Books in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful coffee table read! I absolutely love the details put into the "book covers" of these movies. As a cinephile and a bibliophile, this book is the best of both world! Very perfect for a raining day read or as a palate cleanser.

This book was so much fun to peruse! The artwork is phenomenal with each painting looking exactly like an old book cover! Some were designed to look like hardback books while others were designed as paperbacks. There were details on each cover that made the books look older, including price tags and the appearance of folds on well worn pages. The artwork and color choices were nostalgic and I found myself drawn in and wishing I could pick up some of the books to read - even though they don’t exist in real life. In addition to the covers of the books, there were some titles that included an imagined inside title page and some that had variations of the cover.

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves to read and appreciates old books and for movie lovers.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for honest feedback. -5 stars

Deserves more than 5 stars. A delight for fans of film, book, and art media. A fresh look at films across many periods and genres by giving each film title an old-style book cover image. Would love to see some of these as poster art but the whole book is a treasure.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

What a stunning collection of artwork done by Matt Stevens! I <b>absolutely</b> loved seeing some of my own favorite films pop up in his "vintage book cover" designs.

I'm 47 so definitely grew up seeing that style of book as a young child at people's homes growing up.

I viewed this via NetGally so it was via e-book style, but I definitely want to grab me a physical copy to add to my art book collection!

Some of my faves are all the Jordan Peele films (especially the NOPE artwork!), The Truman Show (the lil video things coming down from the sky, so clever), Midsommar, Memento, Intersellar, Cast Away, and Parasite.

Again, STUNNING. Perfect gift for someone who loves movies, books, graphic design, illustration. 100%

Honest Review, always!

Good Movies as Old Books is the perfect coffee table book, and I very much enjoyed it. Paging through what felt like spot on depictions of modern movies as paperbacks from the sixties and seventies was fun, and I was intrigued by the different choices Matt Stevens made. Most felt like pulp novels, but some felt much older - like the classic books you carefully admire on your grandmother's shelf. Several made an impact, but I think Knives Out was my ultimate favorite out of the mix.

HOLY SH!T MATT STEVENS JUST BROKE THE "PORTFOLIO" MOLD!

1) This is genius
2) I'd put the majority of these on my walls, what I'd pass on would just be bc I haven't seen the movie
3) Calling this a coffee table book would be disrespectful, this is...wow

Some personal favorites, Bottle Rocket, Good Will Hunting, Dumb and Dumber, The Game, Edward Scissorhands (GET THAT ON MY WALL THIS INSTANT!!!!!), Nightcrawler, Blair Witch Project, PeeWee's Big Adventure is such a vibe ugh take me back to childhood plz, Elf, Hot Rod, Napoleon Dynamite, Anatomy of a Fall (get on my wall), Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (OMG seriously I will buy this print for my son's room I'm going to check Matt's site after I post this), Get Out & The Truman Show.

Wow, you are one talented designed.

{Thank you bunches to Matt Stevens, Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}

I am obsessed with this! As someone who married a movie buff and I myself am a book nerd, this is the perfect coffee table book for us!

Our favorites included:
The Goonies, Isle of Dogs, Donnie Darko, Edward Scissorhands, Us and Creep

I'm the exact person this book was made for and it's gorgeous. Everything about this- the art, the minimalist presentation, the theme- it's perfect.

Good Movies as Old Books is exactly what it says it is- movie posters of excellent movies reimagined as vintage book covers, mostly from the 60s-80s, complete with little tears, scratches, and wear on the book covers.

What I like most about the list of movies is that it's not IMDB's top 100, or the AFI's list of greatest movies of all times. This is Matt Steven's greatest movies, which include nostalgic favorites like Ghostbusters and The Goonies.

I love how the art of each book cover is presented as a solo presentation. I think adding commentary to each image would take away the striking impact this book has on the observer. Its solely art. It doesn't need to be anything more.

I can't wait to have this book at the center of my coffee table. It's truly a book to not miss. This is an instant buy for me.

What an absolutely fun concept, and a great execution! "Good Movies as Old Books" is such a straightforward title for a really interesting concept. This reminds me of the old coffee table books people used to have displayed in their homes. I'm putting this on my "to buy" list because I'll want to show everyone how cool this is!

A nice nostalgic visual reflection on some well known movies and a great gift for movie buffs. It woukd be nice to have included some narrative summary to describe the plot, story of the movie, outcome snd/or key take away, message.

Clever and artsy concept. Matt Stevens takes movies and creates vintage book covers for them. The movies cover older classics to modern titles. And there are several I was unfamiliar with. The art does not reflect the stars in the movie so don’t expect the covers to look like familiar actors. I was intrigued and surprised at some covers but like good book covers they tie into the story. This is absolutely something that I would enjoy looking at from a library but I don’t know that I would need to own it. And yet I read that there is a companion boxed set of 100 postcards. I collect postcards and that is something I would consider purchasing. Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the temporary digital copy and I am leaving an honest review.

I enjoyed this fun and quick take on movies as vintage book covers. Some work better than others, and quite a few are perfect. I’m not quite sure who the audience is that would purchase this, but it’s a clever idea. Sadly, there’s not a lot of text, just an introduction and the jacket copy says we’re seeing all of these films as book covers for the first time, but several of the films here were based on books and the copywriter doesn’t seem to know! Ie. Psycho, Ghost Story…there were some others, but NetGalley won’t let me return to the book now that I’ve read.

Anywho, thanks to the pub and NetGalley for an early look.

What a treat! I’m reminded that not judging a book buy it’s cover does not mean I won’t be drawn to a book BECAUSE of the cover. I wish that some of these were books that I could collect.