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Good Movies as Old Books: Films Reimagined as Vintage Book Covers
Imagine your favorite movies as vintage books! This clever collection features iconic films, cult classics, and box office hits brilliantly designed to look like original book covers—a delight for film fanatics and bibliophiles alike.
A good book cover is evocative, emotional, and revealing. It lures readers in and invites them to begin a journey with just a hint of the story that is about to unfold. They are true works of art.
Though many great movies are based on books, many more are not. Good Movies as Old Books features more than 200 beloved films reimagined as book covers for the first time, giving readers the distinct pleasure of seeing a favorite film transformed into cover art. Through masterful design, art, and typography, graphic designer Matt Stevens has created original vintage-style covers across film genres and eras of book design. From Braveheart to Parasite, Do the Right Thing to Top Gun, this page-turning assortment of box office hits, acclaimed indies, golden era gems, and cult classics will inspire you to discover new favorites or rethink the films you've seen a thousand times. A whole new way to celebrate the movies we love, this is the perfect gift for bibliophiles and cinephiles.
BOOKISH FUN MEETS FILM This art book sits directly in the center of the Venn diagram of book and movie love. It's a fun and fresh appreciation of books and cinema, perfect for both avid readers and movie fanatics.
ORIGINAL COLLECTIBLE Matt Stevens is a graphic designer and illustrator whose passion for film shines through his unique works of art. He uses a dazzling variety of styles and graphics that perfectly reflect each film’s tone, visuals, and emotion.
MOVIE LOVERS The ultimate illustrated statement book for anyone with multiple streaming subscriptions, who loves movies based on books, or who regularly goes to the movie theater, this handsome book features a textured cover and eye-catching foil for an extra-special, luxe feel.
COMPANION SET OF ART Pair this giftable volume with the Good Movies as Old 100 Postcards, a boxed set of 100 images drawn from the book, to create an irresistible set.
Perfect
Cinephiles and bibliophiles
Film students and art students
Movie buffs and avid readers
Gift-giving for Father's Day, Mother's Day, graduation, or birthday
Art book collectors and design enthusiasts
Fans of Jane Mount's Bibliophile, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, The New York Times Book of Movies, and Accidentally Wes Anderson
A good book cover is evocative, emotional, and revealing. It lures readers in and invites them to begin a journey with just a hint of the story that is about to unfold. They are true works of art.
Though many great movies are based on books, many more are not. Good Movies as Old Books features more than 200 beloved films reimagined as book covers for the first time, giving readers the distinct pleasure of seeing a favorite film transformed into cover art. Through masterful design, art, and typography, graphic designer Matt Stevens has created original vintage-style covers across film genres and eras of book design. From Braveheart to Parasite, Do the Right Thing to Top Gun, this page-turning assortment of box office hits, acclaimed indies, golden era gems, and cult classics will inspire you to discover new favorites or rethink the films you've seen a thousand times. A whole new way to celebrate the movies we love, this is the perfect gift for bibliophiles and cinephiles.
BOOKISH FUN MEETS FILM This art book sits directly in the center of the Venn diagram of book and movie love. It's a fun and fresh appreciation of books and cinema, perfect for both avid readers and movie fanatics.
ORIGINAL COLLECTIBLE Matt Stevens is a graphic designer and illustrator whose passion for film shines through his unique works of art. He uses a dazzling variety of styles and graphics that perfectly reflect each film’s tone, visuals, and emotion.
MOVIE LOVERS The ultimate illustrated statement book for anyone with multiple streaming subscriptions, who loves movies based on books, or who regularly goes to the movie theater, this handsome book features a textured cover and eye-catching foil for an extra-special, luxe feel.
COMPANION SET OF ART Pair this giftable volume with the Good Movies as Old 100 Postcards, a boxed set of 100 images drawn from the book, to create an irresistible set.
Perfect
Cinephiles and bibliophiles
Film students and art students
Movie buffs and avid readers
Gift-giving for Father's Day, Mother's Day, graduation, or birthday
Art book collectors and design enthusiasts
Fans of Jane Mount's Bibliophile, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, The New York Times Book of Movies, and Accidentally Wes Anderson
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 29, 2025
3 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 26, 2025
4.5 stars
" . . . it's important to note it's not a 'best of' list. These are films that made me laugh, cry, think, question, and celebrate. To put it simply, I was moved to use what I love to do to express my affection for these films. I hope you see some movies that you love in these pages . . . " -- from the introduction
Seasons Greetings, everyone! Speaking of that most wonderful time of the year, here is a review for a thoughtful and perfect Christmas present that I received from my lady friend yesterday morning. The book Good Movies as Old Books: Films Reimagined as Vintage Book Covers was an ideal gift as it is a head-on collision of two of my favorite pop culture interests - mainstream films and paperback novels (especially those from the 1970's through the 90's). Author/artist Stevens - an illustrator who has worked for ESPN, Netflix, and Apple TV+ - has crafted a unique project where he takes a known flick and conceptualizes what the cover artwork may have looked like if it was issued in softcover and tucked in a wire spinning rack at a pharmacy or bodega. (At times Stevens' style was reminiscent of artist S. Neil Fujita, best known for his art on jazz albums and paperbacks during the 1960's. You may not know Fujita by name, but you'll recognize his work.) Although he occasionally references a few too many of the films from the last ten or fifteen years - which don't really have quite the same cultural touchstone or reference aspect . . . or maybe I'm just biased that Hollywood is oft-lacking in memorable releases lately - he is absolutely on point when he chooses random blockbusters such as Dirty Harry, Alien, First Blood, The Karate Kid, The Fly, and Do the Right Thing. Some of my favorites include Speed (combining an old-fashioned fuse bomb with a dashboard speedometer) and School of Rock (mixing the color of an apple to resemble ax man Eddie Van Halen's legendary Stratocaster design). Another amusing but accurate touch was the inclusion of a small price sticker - from such defunct businesses as Pic 'N Save and Radio Shack - stamped onto the corner of the cover, which will make some of us nostalgic for when paperbacks routinely cost $1.99. Bring back those days! 😉
" . . . it's important to note it's not a 'best of' list. These are films that made me laugh, cry, think, question, and celebrate. To put it simply, I was moved to use what I love to do to express my affection for these films. I hope you see some movies that you love in these pages . . . " -- from the introduction
Seasons Greetings, everyone! Speaking of that most wonderful time of the year, here is a review for a thoughtful and perfect Christmas present that I received from my lady friend yesterday morning. The book Good Movies as Old Books: Films Reimagined as Vintage Book Covers was an ideal gift as it is a head-on collision of two of my favorite pop culture interests - mainstream films and paperback novels (especially those from the 1970's through the 90's). Author/artist Stevens - an illustrator who has worked for ESPN, Netflix, and Apple TV+ - has crafted a unique project where he takes a known flick and conceptualizes what the cover artwork may have looked like if it was issued in softcover and tucked in a wire spinning rack at a pharmacy or bodega. (At times Stevens' style was reminiscent of artist S. Neil Fujita, best known for his art on jazz albums and paperbacks during the 1960's. You may not know Fujita by name, but you'll recognize his work.) Although he occasionally references a few too many of the films from the last ten or fifteen years - which don't really have quite the same cultural touchstone or reference aspect . . . or maybe I'm just biased that Hollywood is oft-lacking in memorable releases lately - he is absolutely on point when he chooses random blockbusters such as Dirty Harry, Alien, First Blood, The Karate Kid, The Fly, and Do the Right Thing. Some of my favorites include Speed (combining an old-fashioned fuse bomb with a dashboard speedometer) and School of Rock (mixing the color of an apple to resemble ax man Eddie Van Halen's legendary Stratocaster design). Another amusing but accurate touch was the inclusion of a small price sticker - from such defunct businesses as Pic 'N Save and Radio Shack - stamped onto the corner of the cover, which will make some of us nostalgic for when paperbacks routinely cost $1.99. Bring back those days! 😉
April 20, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Chronicle Books) for promotional purposes.
This was such a fun coffee table book!
This book is just like the title suggests, good movies as old books. Essentially, movies turned into vintage book covers. The term “good movies” is subjective. The author states in his introduction, “These are films that made me laugh, cry, think, question, and celebrate” (pg. 7). Basically, the films featured are ones that resonated with the author, so there is a bias as to what films made the cut.
Personally, I liked the selection. There was a good mix of older and newer movies. The films featured tended to be geared toward adult men, but I had seen quite a few of them.
The covers themselves are gorgeous! The author really captured the feel of vintage books. The covers had the appropriate amount of wear and tear and some of them even had little sale price tags on them. Other movies even got alternate covers, like Air (pg. 208). My favorite covers were the ones made to look like old leather bound books, like The Goonies (pg. 34). Those were stunning. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear these were real books!
This book is almost entirely all pictures. There’s a short forward and introduction but other than that, the only text is under the book cover giving credit to the director and writer of the movie. I wished there were short blurbs talking briefly about each cover and the inspiration behind them.
Overall, this was a very cool read! If you love movies and/or vintage books, you’ll love flipping through this book.
This was such a fun coffee table book!
This book is just like the title suggests, good movies as old books. Essentially, movies turned into vintage book covers. The term “good movies” is subjective. The author states in his introduction, “These are films that made me laugh, cry, think, question, and celebrate” (pg. 7). Basically, the films featured are ones that resonated with the author, so there is a bias as to what films made the cut.
Personally, I liked the selection. There was a good mix of older and newer movies. The films featured tended to be geared toward adult men, but I had seen quite a few of them.
The covers themselves are gorgeous! The author really captured the feel of vintage books. The covers had the appropriate amount of wear and tear and some of them even had little sale price tags on them. Other movies even got alternate covers, like Air (pg. 208). My favorite covers were the ones made to look like old leather bound books, like The Goonies (pg. 34). Those were stunning. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear these were real books!
This book is almost entirely all pictures. There’s a short forward and introduction but other than that, the only text is under the book cover giving credit to the director and writer of the movie. I wished there were short blurbs talking briefly about each cover and the inspiration behind them.
Overall, this was a very cool read! If you love movies and/or vintage books, you’ll love flipping through this book.
July 5, 2025
This was a lovely book. The artwork was great, though I admit I didn't know a lot of the movies being referenced. That's a me-issue, not a book-issue.
This would make a lovely gift for a movie and book lover in your circle of friends and family. And maybe one to add to your gift list if you are said person in your group.
4, this was an enjoyable read, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an eARC of the book to read and review.
This would make a lovely gift for a movie and book lover in your circle of friends and family. And maybe one to add to your gift list if you are said person in your group.
4, this was an enjoyable read, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an eARC of the book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
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.
Anywho, thanks to the pub and NetGalley for an early look.
April 14, 2025
This was a lot of fun to flip through. I loved the attention to detail including wear and tear on the covers as well as price tags. There were a few covers I thought weren’t as original as some of the others especially when actors’ likeness was used. This made the cover feel more like movie tie in cover.
Overall, greatly enjoyed the art and the creativity.
Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, greatly enjoyed the art and the creativity.
Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2025
I’m obsessed with graphics from the sixties and seventies, so this book was right up my alley. It was a joy to reflect on the movie inspirations and try to understand the choices Stevens made—I’d love to learn more about his creative process.
The only downside? This was an ARC, so the watermark was occasionally distracting. But honestly, I’ll fix that by buying the book! The aged mockups were fantastic—they looked like the books buried at the bottom of my mother’s beach bag circa 1969. The use of the Benguiat font instantly transported me to a screened-in North Wildwood bookstore that sold horror novels, sand buckets, and Sea & Ski.
These designs are so cool, I’d consider hanging them on my wall as decor. The most successful pieces, in my opinion, are those that spotlight iconic items from the movies—like Pulp Fiction’s briefcase, the Say Anything boombox, or Wilson the volleyball from Cast Away.
As a graphic artist, I found this book totally outta sight, man.
The only downside? This was an ARC, so the watermark was occasionally distracting. But honestly, I’ll fix that by buying the book! The aged mockups were fantastic—they looked like the books buried at the bottom of my mother’s beach bag circa 1969. The use of the Benguiat font instantly transported me to a screened-in North Wildwood bookstore that sold horror novels, sand buckets, and Sea & Ski.
These designs are so cool, I’d consider hanging them on my wall as decor. The most successful pieces, in my opinion, are those that spotlight iconic items from the movies—like Pulp Fiction’s briefcase, the Say Anything boombox, or Wilson the volleyball from Cast Away.
As a graphic artist, I found this book totally outta sight, man.
May 21, 2025
Was expecting a more varied collection :(
March 31, 2025
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!*
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!*
December 11, 2025
This is a very fun art coffee table book that is an inventive reimagining of movie posters in the style of old mass market paperback novels. Matt Stevens covers a wide variety of styles and genres of novel, and the movies are rather wide in scope too. Most of the films are probably from the past 20 years, and some were not familiar to me, but the skillful execution got me thinking I should try checking out these flicks.
There seemed to be a lot of overlap in taste between the artist and me, which probably helped my enjoyment. He seems to be a bigger horror fan than I was, but there were a lot of Wes Anderson and Coen Brothers selections which were in my millennial wheelhouse. The Barton Fink cover is even something I have as a wall print in my house, given as a very thoughtful gift.
I do wish the introduction explain a bit more of the process, both in movie choice and in art style. I have seen similar approaches in songs imagined in this way (having an REM "Nightswimming" and Radiohead "Paranoid Android" framed above my record player) by an artist, Todd Alcott. Alcott apparently sources a lot from existing covers, such as "Paranoid Android" being a repurposing of Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick. Is Stevens' approach similar?
Either way, a fun thing to flip through!
There seemed to be a lot of overlap in taste between the artist and me, which probably helped my enjoyment. He seems to be a bigger horror fan than I was, but there were a lot of Wes Anderson and Coen Brothers selections which were in my millennial wheelhouse. The Barton Fink cover is even something I have as a wall print in my house, given as a very thoughtful gift.
I do wish the introduction explain a bit more of the process, both in movie choice and in art style. I have seen similar approaches in songs imagined in this way (having an REM "Nightswimming" and Radiohead "Paranoid Android" framed above my record player) by an artist, Todd Alcott. Alcott apparently sources a lot from existing covers, such as "Paranoid Android" being a repurposing of Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick. Is Stevens' approach similar?
Either way, a fun thing to flip through!
January 21, 2025
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.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
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.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 25, 2025
As the holidays approached, I spent the beginning of this week in a joyful reading binge, revisiting artists like Tom Gauld, but then someone told me that with my love of old books, particularly science fiction paperbacks, and the fact that I also have many film obsessions, this volume should be one I get to reading, and so I did. Honestly, if you have any memory or love of old 1970s and early 1980s book covers, this is going to be a great joy to read through while examining the art. Fun, at times thought provoking, and yet readily hitting all the nostalgia buttons for both movie and novel art fans, this is one artists, readers, movie fans, and more can all agree is a fun, worthy distraction, if nothing else. The mix of movies is excellent as well- did not expect to see both a Jean Claude van Damme movie and classic Spielberg works in such a volume, but both and more are there. This is fun, light, and compelling all at the same time because of the diverse films AND the fun art throwback style to paperback novels of a different era. Had a lot of fun with this, so I recommend it!
December 28, 2024
✒️📖ARC REVIEW📖🖋️
This is such a cool concept. Makes me think of an art project that you’d be asked to do in high school, but Matt Stevens has taken it to the next level. He’s reimagined 200ish old movies that have had some impact on his life as books done in the older style of plot on cover.
There are a few movies given more of concept art before the cover reveal, and I found myself correctly guessing the movie name. I’d wager that many could guess what cover the book goes to even with the title and director(s) removed.
This would make for a great gift for a movie lover who also enjoys books, or a coffee table book that actually has some meaning and could start a conversation.
I was provided a free advanced reader copy courtesy of Matt Stevens and Chronicle Books via NetGalley. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
#arc #advancedreadercopy #NetGalley #GoodMoviesasOldBooks #ChronicleBooks
This is such a cool concept. Makes me think of an art project that you’d be asked to do in high school, but Matt Stevens has taken it to the next level. He’s reimagined 200ish old movies that have had some impact on his life as books done in the older style of plot on cover.
There are a few movies given more of concept art before the cover reveal, and I found myself correctly guessing the movie name. I’d wager that many could guess what cover the book goes to even with the title and director(s) removed.
This would make for a great gift for a movie lover who also enjoys books, or a coffee table book that actually has some meaning and could start a conversation.
I was provided a free advanced reader copy courtesy of Matt Stevens and Chronicle Books via NetGalley. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
#arc #advancedreadercopy #NetGalley #GoodMoviesasOldBooks #ChronicleBooks
May 22, 2025
Good Movies as Old Books is a collection of movie covers, remade by Matt Stevens, who clearly is a lover of cinema and the history of film as well as graphic design. The vintage comic book/pulp paperback aesthetic of the works as well as the selection are an amazing depiction of film history throughout the decades. There's titles anyone would expect to see in a cinephile's collection of favorites, and some choices that are more on the side of personal or cult classics. I enjoyed flipping through and discovering movies I have seen and love, and getting suggestions for others that I haven't been able to see quite yet. I love film and film history, and this book would be an excellent addition to any film lover or buff's home library. The minimalism lets you focus on the film and the art, which I thought was really cool and would make such cool decorations. I really enjoyed checking out his take on the vibe of each movie and the important motifs/designs that will be identifiable to anyone who knows and loves the movie.
Some of my personal favorites in the collection: Inside Llewyn Davis, Mad Max: Fury Road, Taxi Driver, Charade, Prometheus, Big, Late Night With the Devil, The Northman, and others, because there's really too many to list. If you're a design nerd or know a design nerd, the typography and stylistic choices are especially enjoyable and provide excellent examples of how to compose pieces with a retro flair. While looking at these, I thought it would be soooo cool to be able to have cases for discs that resembled old books with these covers, but inside, it held the discs for a film. It would be fun to replace the less aesthetically-pleasing versions with these cool, retro ones for the sake of interior design and be able to display films that mean a lot to me personally.
If you're a cinephile, Criterion Collection expert, or movie buff/design lover in general, this is a great conversation piece and fun inspo for films to rewatch or to finally get around to watching for the first time.
Some of my personal favorites in the collection: Inside Llewyn Davis, Mad Max: Fury Road, Taxi Driver, Charade, Prometheus, Big, Late Night With the Devil, The Northman, and others, because there's really too many to list. If you're a design nerd or know a design nerd, the typography and stylistic choices are especially enjoyable and provide excellent examples of how to compose pieces with a retro flair. While looking at these, I thought it would be soooo cool to be able to have cases for discs that resembled old books with these covers, but inside, it held the discs for a film. It would be fun to replace the less aesthetically-pleasing versions with these cool, retro ones for the sake of interior design and be able to display films that mean a lot to me personally.
If you're a cinephile, Criterion Collection expert, or movie buff/design lover in general, this is a great conversation piece and fun inspo for films to rewatch or to finally get around to watching for the first time.
January 7, 2025
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.
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.
June 3, 2025
If you're a fan of vintage paperback book covers (and who isn't?), this is the book for you.
Matt Stevens has taken some the films that have meant a lot to him, and turned them into awesome literary art. His creations truly look like the covers of old, well-loved books with creases, foxing, and frayed edges included.
This is a treat for film buffs, art enthusiasts, and book lovers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the read.
Matt Stevens has taken some the films that have meant a lot to him, and turned them into awesome literary art. His creations truly look like the covers of old, well-loved books with creases, foxing, and frayed edges included.
This is a treat for film buffs, art enthusiasts, and book lovers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the read.
December 27, 2024
4.5 but I’m rounding up.
This was super cool, especially since it wasn’t necessarily all “good” movies but also included “well-loved”.
My only gripe was I wish this included explanations as to the design choices—why these colors? Why this style? This is truly just an art book of pictures, took me about 10-15 minutes to finish. As a fan of good movies and old books and the making-of both, I craved more details.
This was super cool, especially since it wasn’t necessarily all “good” movies but also included “well-loved”.
My only gripe was I wish this included explanations as to the design choices—why these colors? Why this style? This is truly just an art book of pictures, took me about 10-15 minutes to finish. As a fan of good movies and old books and the making-of both, I craved more details.
April 17, 2025
Whether you are a film buff or just a casual movie fan that appreciates creative art this is a coffee table style book for you! The perfect blend of film and nostalgic paperback art, there are several pieces in this collection that I would have framed, or blown up to poster size, so I can hang them on my wall! Such a fun book!
Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Good Movies as Old Books!
Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Good Movies as Old Books!
January 14, 2025
What a stunning collection of artwork done by Matt Stevens! I absolutely 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!
Thank you Chronicle Books and Net Gally
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!
Thank you Chronicle Books and Net Gally
November 26, 2025
The variety of art styles on these covers is impressive. My enjoyment of the covers varied, but I liked many a lot. I also really like many of the chosen movies. Artwork on vintage book covers was often quite good; it's often fun when artists do a tribute to it and this is no exception. I do wish the scriptwriters rather than the directors were listed as the writers on the book covers.
December 27, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a fun book seeing various movies made into book covers. I like the old look of them with some having worn covers and one even having the sticker price on it.
December 4, 2025
Fun, creative reimaginings of popular movies as covers of old paperback novels. Mostly American films, but also Parasite and some other non-U.S. films. I think the oldest film here is The Birds, from 1963.
June 20, 2025
I loved this book. The art is fantastic. This would make a great present for anyone who is a movie buff, likes vintage paperback books or someone who just appreciates graphic design. I’m all three!
June 22, 2025
Awesome
Loved it! Some of the covers are so smart! Very sharp and beautiful cover images all around for some great movies.
Loved it! Some of the covers are so smart! Very sharp and beautiful cover images all around for some great movies.
September 18, 2025
A creative interpretation of good movies as old books.
Five star illustrations. A nice coffee table gook. Worth picking up from time to time for inspiration.
Five star illustrations. A nice coffee table gook. Worth picking up from time to time for inspiration.
October 31, 2025
Fun art, but the assortment of genres is a bit narrow. Like scrolling through a cool Tumblr.
January 2, 2026
Never before has something transitioned so fast from "checked out from the library," to "purchased a copy and now my shelves won't be complete without it,".
December 4, 2025
so it’s not a “reading” book
It is more of a “coffee table” book. But I LOVED the art. I nerded out hard to this book and want a big copy for MY coffee table now.
It is more of a “coffee table” book. But I LOVED the art. I nerded out hard to this book and want a big copy for MY coffee table now.
December 24, 2025
Loved it. Very cool. I think some of these covers should have actually been the real deal. I may buy this as a coffee table book.
August 20, 2025
Matt Stevens reimagines classic movies as ‘60s and ‘70s paperback books. Maybe unsurprisingly, most of the movies are ones you’ll find on “best of” lists, so I would have liked to have seen lesser known films. Good Movies as Old Books is a perfect gift for anyone who loves cinema and literature and would make for a fun coffee table book, displayed in front of your television and bookshelves.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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