Must-listen audiobooks and podcasts for every film buff

While a mainstay of film curriculum, Sidney Lumet’s classic guide does not offer a wealth of current information applicable to modern filmmaking. What it does provide, however, is in some ways far more valuable. Over the course of his lifetime, Lumet directed and produced a few of Hollywood’s most timeless films, from 12 Angry Men to Serpico, and the advice and insight he offers in this audiobook endures. Partially serving as a nostalgic film history for the technique of yesteryear and partially an ageless foray into the industry, this listen is among the best movie audiobooks and an out-and-out must for any aspiring filmmaker or movie aficionado.

The man behind the iconic Story Seminar, Robert McKee has been leading classes on the art of narrative and screenwriting for over three decades, building a star-studded trail of alumni including Diane Keaton and John Cleese. In Story, McKee makes his legendary lecture series accessible to all listeners, guiding them through the ins-and-outs of developing a story for the screen. McKee narrates this guide with the same dynamic, commanding delivery that makes his seminars so electric, ensuring that every tip and trick will stay with you. Whether you’re struggling with writer’s block or just don’t know how to get started, this audiobook is an incredibly helpful guide in finally taking that great idea and transforming it into a successful screenplay.

The Sundance Film Festival, held every January in Park City, Utah, is the largest independent film festival in the United States; it’s there that acclaimed films like The Blair Witch Project, Fruitvale Station, Little Miss Sunshine, and Get Out made their debuts. So, it follows that Roberta Marie Monroe, who screened short film submissions at Sundance, knows the exact factors that make an indie film something special. In How Not to Make a Short Film, Monroe walks listeners through the cinematic sins she references in the title, offering some key tips and observations from her own career so they might avoid making those all-too-common novice mistakes.

Responsive and rooted in emotion, the Meisner technique (originated by the legendary Sanford Meisner) has become one of the foremost methodologies in teaching the art of performance. The late Bill Esper, Meisner’s protégé, began his own performing arts school in New York in the mid-1960s. The teachings that made the William Esper Studio a favorite of actors including John Malkovich, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Kathy Bates are housed in The Actor’s Art and Craft, an audiobook that is required listening for all actors looking to hone their craft. Narrated by coauthor Damon DiMarco, a former student of Esper, and Michael Esper, the author’s son, this listen seamlessly blends digestible lessons, actionable exercises, and compelling delivery to craft an audio seminar sure to leave actors of any skill level with something new to think about.

This listen takes its title from a famed speech that Texas’s then-state treasurer Ann Richards delivered at the 1988 DNC: Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did; she just did it backwards and in high heels. Surely, since the dawn of Hollywood’s Golden Age, women have been making strides in the film industry, though their contributions have been largely unsung and their efforts at times an uphill battle. Film journalist Alicia Malone tracks the timeline of Hollywood with an emphasis on the fascinating women who left their mark, shining a light on hidden histories and groundbreaking moments alike. Malone’s research takes her all the way up to the present day industry, where interviews with creatives like America Ferrera, Octavia Spencer, and Geena Davis shed light on modern activism and the ongoing fight for equality.

Film historian Donald Bogle likewise dedicates this fascinating work of nonfiction to another unexplored corner of film history—Black Hollywood—in his absorbing Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams. Bogle explores the lives and careers of Black actors and artists during the early-to-mid 20th century. At the same time that the mainstream industry was beginning to develop, Black performers crafted a version of Tinsel Town with a culture and style all their own. Honing in on Central Avenue in Los Angeles (which Bogle refers to as the Harlem of the West), this listen offers both a rare window into an oft-forgotten corner of film history and a foray into the lives of Black Hollywood mainstays, from Sammy Davis Jr. to Hattie McDaniel.

In Shit, Actually (so named for her takedown of Christmas romcom classic Love, Actually), columnist and comedian Lindy West takes some of our most widely beloved films to task, hilariously skewering them for, well, every absurdity of big screen blockbusters. West rates and recaps films as varied as Jurassic Park and Titanic, American Pie and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, scrapping the veil of nostalgia for some tough love and a more critical sociocultural lens. And before you think West is here to merciless poke fun at all you hold dear, think again: she contests that 1993’s The Fugitive is among the most perfect films ever made. Perhaps the best part of this collection is that West narrates her own essays, and her droll delivery only highlights each sharp-witted punch line. It’s a great choice for any film fan looking for something light, smart, and irreverent.

When journalists Jodi Cantor and Megan Twohey published their expose on Harvey Weinstein’s serial pattern of sexual assault and harassment (and the lengths that the industry took to cover it up), they completely upended a culture of silence. Following the publication of their explosive New York Times article, the #MeToo movement demanded accountability, with thousands of women sharing their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault. It became evident that widespread abuse in the film industry and the blacklisting that befell actresses who dared to speak up became one of Hollywood’s most frequently swept-under-the-rug horrors, with a multitude of influential figures paying to keeping it hushed. In Catch and Kill, journalist Ronan Farrow chronicles his own chase for the story—and the cycle of intimidation and fear used to kill his story, time and time again, before it even reached the headlines. Farrow’s dedication to uncovering and publishing the truth, regardless of powerful interlopers, shines in this brilliant listen. His writing style is propelling, his journalism relentless in its probing, and his delivery dynamic and engaging. The result is an audiobook that, like its podcast adaptation, is one you unequivocally need to hear.

The incomparable The Princess Bride is one of the most quotable films of all time, from Inigo Montoya’s famed declaration of intent to Miracle Max’s triumphant Have fun storming the castle! In As You Wish, Cary Elwes (who played Westley, a character famed for his deference to the whims of his adored Princess Buttercup) offers a glimpse into the making of the cult classic comedy. Elwes shares some of his favorite off-camera memories, backstage stories, and cherished recollections from the set, a treat for any fan of the film. It’s made all the more compelling with some help from Elwes’s cast members, including the princess herself, Robin Wright, and director Rob Reiner, who offer their own memories in extensive interviews.

Practically perfect in every way, Dame Julie Andrews is a true jewel in the world of moviemaking. Her starring roles in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music made her an instant household name, and her career has only continued to soar since those early days. Though the poise and goodness she is known so well for gives her a royal air, Andrews’s journey to stardom was far from idyllic. In Homework, the Academy Award winner offers listeners a look into her personal and professional life, from her difficult childhood to confronting the pressures and fears of fame to motherhood and finding love amidst the tumult. Every bit as charming as Andrews herself, this self-narrated memoir is an absolute treasure.

There are few film critics who left behind a legacy as storied as Roger Ebert. Receiving two thumbs up from Ebert and his collaborator Gene Siskel was a much-coveted mark of validation amongst filmmakers in the mid-1970s through late-1990s. In Life Itself, listeners are presented with an intimate look into Ebert’s life, from the early days with the Chicago Sun-Times to his highly public battle with thyroid cancer that claimed his voice. Nestled in this memoir are stirring reflections on his late friend Siskel, his life-changing relationships with celebs including Oprah Winfrey, and his thoughts on the work of cinema icons like Martin Scorsese and Warner Herzog. It’s every bit as nuanced and refined as the reviews that marked his career, and in listening in the wake of Ebert’s 2013 passing, it feels like remembering an old friend. In audio, it’s all the more tender, as Edward Herrmann’s warmth and genuine narration ensures Roger Ebert’s revelatory memoir is unforgettable.

As the title of her memoir reflects, Jenifer Lewis is known for playing mothers: she’s been cast as a mom in a number of films and television series, including Poetic Justice, The Preacher’s Wife, and Black-ish. But as she was on her journey toward fame, she also had to grapple with addiction and then-undiagnosed bipolar disorder. In her frank and sincere memoir, Lewis tells stories from her darkest depths to the pinnacle of her success, made all the more satisfying by the path of self-love, healing, and discovery she paved along the way. Lewis’s delivery is infectious in its joyousness, absorbing in its pain, and affectionate in its encouragement, so much so that one listener declared it pure unabashed excellence.

Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld has directed fan favorite films, including the Men in Black trilogy and 1991’s The Addams Family reboot, cinematic proof that he thrives in all that is a little bit weird. And before he was at the helm of some of the most massive franchises of the 90s and 2000s, Sonnenfeld was an incredibly neurotic young man balancing the constant threat of embarrassment from his overly-involved mother with an ever-growing list of health ailments and frailties. After breaking into the film industry with the help of a serendipitous friendship with the Coen Brothers, Sonnenfeld made his mark with hits (Get Shorty) and misses (the critically flayed Wild, Wild, West), but he never lost the quirks and idiosyncrasies that made his voice and style one-of-a-kind. A memoir that fully embraces all of life’s odd, cringey moments, this listen is a masterclass in humor and vulnerability.

While it’s been documented time and again how sinister the impact of fame can be on a young star, Demi Moore’s Inside Out lays bare just how insidious celebrity obsession with public perception is. Moore, who was put on the map by films like Ghost, G.I. Jane, and Indecent Proposal, opens up about her struggles with addiction and insecurities surrounding her body and self-image that were routinely exacerbated by being in the spotlight. In unearthing the traumas that plagued her since childhood and those that developed during her career, Moore pens a memoir that’s thoughtful, reflective, and marked by its immense courage. Her signature soft, slightly raspy voice is the perfect accompaniment for recounting her own story.

If you haven’t heard the name William Haines, that’s likely because his career was cut short after only a decade. Haines was the star of several silent films in the 1920s and 1930s, and he became sought after for his wisecracking persona and his dapper looks. But when the cameras stopped rolling, Haines had to face a homophobic industry that insisted he keep his personal life private, forcing him to choose between stifling himself and abandoning the love of his life for a promising career or being open about his sexuality and identity. Biographer William J. Mann captures the bigoted history of Production Codes, blacklists, and the Hollywood closet while also painting a compelling portrait of the brave young actor who defied them all.

Hollywood screen legend Marlene Dietrich is as much renowned for her efforts during the Second World War as she is for her performances in films like The Blue Angel and Morocco. Awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1947 for her support of US and Allied troops and her defiant resistance against the Nazi Party, the German-American actress is remembered as both a leading lady and a humanitarian hero. In this biography, Dietrich’s daughter Maria Riva unpacks the story of her mother’s life, from her childhood in Schöneberg with a mother who did not support her aspirations to her image as a fashion and beauty icon who completely upended all gender expectations. Riva’s portrait is full and beautiful, a fitting tribute to her mother’s memory and contributions.

The world of filmmaking is rich with family legacies and intergenerational talents. Take, for instance, Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now, The West Wing) and Emilio Estevez (The Mighty Ducks, The Breakfast Club), a father-and-son duo who exemplify that remarkable kind of giftedness and connection. In Along the Way, a unique dual-memoir written by Sheen and Estevez in alternating chapters, each actor recounts his childhood, formative experiences, and career—there are certainly plenty of behind-the-scenes stories of film and television to be found here. But where this memoir truly shines is in the pair’s relationship with one another. Whether Sheen and Estevez are sharing the story of their trip to India to shoot Gandhi or the making of their drama The Way, the love between them shines through, creating a touching listen that’s absolutely captivating.

Gabrielle Union immediately won our hearts with her breakout role in 2000’s cheerleader comedy Bring It On, and she’s remained a mainstay ever since. But it’s not just her magnetic performances in rom-coms like Think Like a Man that make Union a standout; she is also an outspoken activist for women’s health and an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. In her memoir We’re Going to Need More Wine, Union offers up essays on significant, necessary topics ranging from race to beauty standards to sexuality to the cutthroat competition and hostility that runs rampant at casting calls, red carpets, and beyond. Like the title implies, this listen has a real air of friendship and candidness, and it’s performed with grace and kindness by the author herself.

Robert Evans is the producer, developer, and exec behind iconic movies—we’re talking the likes of Rosemary’s Baby, The Godfather, and Chinatown—and if you’re looking for a Hollywood memoir that’s sensational, scandalous, and off-the-wall, look no further than The Kid Stays in the Picture. The controversial movie mogul, famed not only for his role in the film industry but also for his seven marriages, cocaine arrest, and implication in a murder investigation, knew the ins-and-outs of how to write a totally enthralling memoir. At turns driven by shock, by narcissism, and by a self-deprecating wit, this swaggering listen is a mainstay in Hollywood nonfic for good reason, and it’s made even stronger by Evans’s drawling charm and conversational narration.

Carrie Fisher was one of Hollywood’s most excellent memoirists, with her Wishful Drinking and Shockaholic both highlighting her comedic chops and earnest rejection of the veneer of celebrity. The last memoir published before her death in 2016, The Princess Diarist is somewhat narrower in scope but just as openhearted. Fisher became an icon not just of the big screen but of an entire generation when she was cast as Princess Leia Organa in George Lucas’s Star Wars saga. In this memoir, narrated by Fisher and her daughter Billie Lourd, she reflects on journals she found while working on the set of the first film in 1977. Reminiscing on her relationship with co-star Harrison Ford, behind-the-scenes antics and cherished memories alike, and the follies that follow a stint as the galaxy’s most famous royal, Fisher leaves us with the very thoughtful musings and quick wit that will forever cement her legacy.

It’s no secret that it takes a ton of time, effort, and soul to make a groundbreaking great film. But what goes into making a film that has routinely been panned as the worst movie ever made? In The Disaster Artist, one of the stars of Tommy Wiseau’s infamous dud The Room reveals just that. Along with film critic Tom Bissell, actor Greg Sestero (who portrayed Mark, of Oh, hi Mark! and What a story, Mark! fame) lets listeners in on the secrets of the cult film and the eccentric, puzzling screenwriter, producer, director, and actor behind it all. While Wiseau has become an odd celebrity of sorts over the years, Sestero offers a more personal look into the near mythic man, crafting the kind of portrayal that only a close friend could offer. With tales both following the creation of the nonsensical picture and the fallout from its universally dismal reception, The Disaster Artist is a memoir at once expectedly hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt.