Movies (and Other Things)

Movies (and Other Things) is a collection of movie-focused essays by writer Shea Serrano. Each chapter poses and answers a specific question about films, film culture, and cinematic moments. The book covers topics ranging from action sequences to character relationships across different movie genres and decades. Serrano examines films through both critical analysis and personal connection, often incorporating pop culture references and sports analogies. The text is enhanced by illustrations from artist Arturo Torres, whose artwork appears throughout the book to supplement Serrano's commentary. The format allows readers to engage with chapters in any order, as each essay stands independently. The work explores how movies reflect and shape cultural conversations while celebrating the pure entertainment value of cinema. Through his analysis, Serrano demonstrates how films can simultaneously serve as both meaningful cultural artifacts and sources of joy.

Readers highlight Serrano's humor, casual writing style, and ability to explore unique movie questions and scenarios. Many note his perspective feels like discussing films with a knowledgeable friend rather than reading formal criticism. Liked: - Entertaining illustrations by Arturo Torres - Chapter format allows jumping between topics - Balance of analytical depth and accessibility - Personal anecdotes and pop culture references Disliked: - Focus on recent/mainstream movies rather than classics - Some chapters feel repetitive - Basketball references confuse non-sports fans - Limited coverage of international films Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) Review quotes: "Like having a movie debate with your funniest friend" - Goodreads reviewer "Made me look at familiar movies in completely new ways" - Amazon reviewer "Too much sports talk for a movie book" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby This novel brings the same passion for ranking and analyzing pop culture that drives Serrano's work, filtered through the lens of music and relationships.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling The essays combine cultural commentary and personal stories with a focus on entertainment industry insights and pop culture debates.

Chuck Klosterman X by Chuck Klosterman These collected essays examine sports, music, and film through cultural analysis and unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated topics.

The Rap Year Book by Shea Serrano This illustrated deep dive into hip-hop history applies the same analytical approach and visual style to music that Serrano brings to cinema.

I Like to Watch by Emily Nussbaum The collection presents television criticism through a cultural lens while exploring how entertainment reflects and shapes society.

🎬 Shea Serrano wrote this book entirely while watching Netflix in his living room, often collaborating with illustrator Arturo Torres via text message 🌟 The book debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, making it Serrano's third consecutive book to achieve this feat 🎨 Each chapter features original illustrations by Arturo Torres, who has collaborated with Serrano on all of his books, creating a signature visual style that blends pop culture with comic book aesthetics 🤝 Serrano frequently uses his social media influence (particularly on Twitter) to organize impromptu charitable campaigns, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various causes 📚 The book's unique structure allows readers to jump between chapters in any order, as each chapter poses and answers a specific movie-related question, such as "Who's in the Perfect Movie Cast?" and "Were the Jurassic Park raptors just misunderstood?"