Many famous movies have been based on books and novels, such as “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and the “Harry Potter” series. But, have you thought about the reverse where flicks instead talk about books, bookstores, and booksellers?
Well, the experience is as magical when the passion for books, writing, and publishing becomes the focus on the silver screen. Here’s a list of the famous movies about bookstores and booksellers you shouldn’t miss, as we know you just can’t escape the world of books.
1. Notting Hill (1999)
“Notting Hill” is a classic romantic-comedy film from the 1990s brimmed with a bookish appeal starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. It features William Thacker (Grant), a London bookshop owner, whose tedious existence and dull romantic life was filled with excitement when Anna Scott, a Hollywood celebrity, appeared in her store one day. A simple encounter brought by a spilled orange juice soon turned into a whirlwind full-blown love affair, seeing the two trying to patch things up in their entirely different statuses all for the name of love.
2) 84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
Based on the critically acclaimed book and memoir of Helene Hanff, 84 Charing Cross Road is a film featuring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. The flick revolves around the friendship between Frank Doel (Hopkins), a New York writer, and Helene Hanff (Bancroft), a London bookshop owner, with the two sharing 20 fruitful years and bonding over culture, history, and literature.
3) You’ve Got Mail (1998)
“You’ve Got Mail” centers on the romance between two bookstore owners, Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks). Kelly hates Fox so much as she owns a struggling indie shop when Fox moved across the street and ran a famous chain bookshop. They met and fell in love online without knowing each other’s identity. Eventually, the truth came out, leaving the two trying to square their cyber romance and their real-life hate as business rivals.
4) The Fast Company (1938-1939)
The Fast Company is a trilogy movie series based on the novel Marco Page. The flick goes around the lives of Joel and Garda Sloan, two rare book dealers, who are trying to solve a murder case, making it a thrilling mystery and comedy-movie with a genuine bookish charm.
5) Funny Face (1957)
Another movie filled with enticing bookstore scenes, “Funny Face” is a movie starring that fashion icon Audrey Hepburn playing Jo Stockton, a shy bookshop employee, and Fred Astaire playing Dick Avery, a New York-based high fashion photographer. Avery met Stockton during an impromptu photoshoot, accidentally catching Stockton in one of his photos, eventually turning into a challenging yet adorable romantic affair.
That’s the rundown of the famous movies about bookstores and booksellers. What’s your favorite? Or, is there another flick you think you should be on the list? Make sure to share your insights by sending us a comment below.