Fictional Books and Newspapers in Movies
Many famous, and not so famous, movies feature a fictional book or newspaper that never existed in the real world as part of its plot. Which is your favorite title of a fictional book or newspaper?
If you got any fictional reading recommendations from the movies, submit them to the editor here.
Oh, to tell the difference between newspapers and book titles, books get the quotation marks - newspapers don’t.
If you got any fictional reading recommendations from the movies, submit them to the editor here.
Oh, to tell the difference between newspapers and book titles, books get the quotation marks - newspapers don’t.
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List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
- 35 titles
- DirectorCharles DavidStarsDeanna DurbinRalph BellamyDavid BruceIn New York, a woman who partially witnesses a killing from a train window seeks the aid of a crime novelist to solve the murder.““The Case of the Headless Bride” by Wayne Morgan”. While there are 2 bonafide ghost stories called “The Headless Bride”, this fictional book is not either one of them. According to the movie, it is a detective novel with 5 deaths in it.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordSean ConneryAlison DoodyIn 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers.Prof. Henry Jones Sr.’s “Grail Diary”
- DirectorRichard QuineStarsJames StewartKim NovakJack LemmonA modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, so she enchants him to love her instead.“Magic in Mexico” by Sidney Redlitch
- DirectorRichard QuineStarsJames StewartKim NovakJack LemmonA modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, so she enchants him to love her instead.“Magic in Manhattan” or “Witchcraft Around Us” by Sidney Redlitch. (He was writing the book but didn’t decide which title to use yet.)
- DirectorChris ColumbusStarsDaniel RadcliffeRupert GrintEmma WatsonHarry Potter lives his second year at Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione when a message on the wall announces that the legendary Chamber of Secrets has been opened. The trio soon realize that, to save the school, it will take a lot of courage.“Magical Me” by Gilderoy Lockhart
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsAlec BaldwinGeena DavisMichael KeatonThe spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.“The Handbook for the Recently Deceased” I understand it is a very boring read.
- DirectorMichael LembeckStarsTim AllenSpencer BreslinElizabeth MitchellScott Calvin has been a humble Santa Claus for eight years, but it might come to an end if he doesn't find a Mrs. Claus.“The Santa Handbook” I heard that as official keeper of the handbook, Curtis is forced to take the book with him when he goes to the bathroom. He can’t leave the book just laying around anywhere.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.The Daily Planet Currently owned by Bruce Wayne. Former owners are Perry White and Lex Luthir. I think Perry White is still the editor.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstWillem DafoeAfter being bitten by a genetically-modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.The Daily Bugle Owner and editor J. Jonah Jameson
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsCary ElwesMandy PatinkinRobin WrightA bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.”“The Princess Bride” by S. Morgenstern” is a fictional book within William Goldman’s own novel and screenplay, “The Princess Bride”.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsGary CooperBarbara StanwyckEdward ArnoldA penniless drifter is recruited by an ambitious columnist to impersonate a non-existent person who said he'd be committing suicide as a protest, and a social movement begins.The New Bulletin
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenOrlando BloomA meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.”There and Back Again” by Bilbo Baggins
- DirectorMike NewellStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintHarry Potter finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares.The Daily Prophet - Rita Skeeter was writing for the newspaper in Goblet of Fire
- DirectorDavid YatesStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintHarry Potter is tasked with the dangerous and seemingly impossible task of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Harry must rely on Ron and Hermione more than ever, but dark forces threaten to tear them apart.The Quibbler - Owner and editor: Xenophilius Lovegood
- DirectorJim HensonStarsDavid BowieJennifer ConnellyToby FroudTeenage Sarah journeys through a maze to save her baby brother from the Goblin King.”The Labyrinth” is the fictional play Sarah is reading from in the movie.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartJean ArthurClaude RainsA naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his character.Boy’s Stuff - Jefferson Smith Editor
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartJean ArthurClaude RainsA naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his character.The Jackson City Star owned by the evil Jim Taylor
- DirectorDanny DeVitoStarsDanny DeVitoBilly CrystalKim GreistA bitter writing teacher wants his successful ex-wife dead. A put-upon mama's boy writing student wants his overbearing mother dead. Will there be a criss-cross murder plot?”Hot Fire” by Margaret Donner who stole it from her ex-husband, Larry Donner.
- DirectorDanny DeVitoStarsDanny DeVitoBilly CrystalKim GreistA bitter writing teacher wants his successful ex-wife dead. A put-upon mama's boy writing student wants his overbearing mother dead. Will there be a criss-cross murder plot?”Throw Momma From the Train” by Larry Donner
- DirectorDanny DeVitoStarsDanny DeVitoBilly CrystalKim GreistA bitter writing teacher wants his successful ex-wife dead. A put-upon mama's boy writing student wants his overbearing mother dead. Will there be a criss-cross murder plot?”Momma and Owen and Owen's Friend Larry” by Owen Lift
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsBruce CampbellEllen SandweissRichard DeManincorFive friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.The “Necronomicon” or “Kitab al-Azif” by Alhazred is a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore created by author H. P. Lovecraft. He had let other writers use his creation which that is the reason why it appears in movies that are not based on his stories. Like this one. Some people believe it is real.
- DirectorsGary TrousdaleKirk WiseStarsMichael J. FoxJim VarneyCorey BurtonA young linguist named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.”The Shepherd’s Journal” by Aziz
- DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppOrlando BloomKeira KnightleyWill Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Hector Barbossa, and the crew of the Black Pearl try and rescue Jack from davy jones locker and prepare to fight Lord Cutler Beckett, who controls Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman.”The Pirate’s Code” Barbosa said it was more like a set of guidelines than a code, and you’d have to be a pirate for it to apply. Note: while many pirates ships did have a pirate’s code to which the crew must agree to abide by, not all the pirate ships had the same code. It was never published in book form, with maps included, as the movie shows it.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsJames CaanKathy BatesRichard FarnsworthAfter a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.”Misery’s Return” by Paul Sheldon He suffered a lot while writing it. (Suggested by TheOldJalapenoman, but the comment was by me.)
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsJames CaanKathy BatesRichard FarnsworthAfter a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.”Misery’s Love” by Paul Sheldon or the rest of Paul Sheldon’s Misery Chastian series: “Misery's Quest”, “Misery's Search”, “Misery's Challenge”, “Misery's Trial”, “Misery's Triumph”, “Misery's Dilemma”, “Misery’s Paradise”, “Misery’s Lover”, “Misery’s Journey”, and “Misery Unchained”. (They are mentioned in the movie and Stephen King’s later novels. It looks like Paul Sheldon continued the series after the movie “Misery” ends.) (suggested by TheOldJalapenoman, but I wrote the note - so don’t blame him for what I added.)
