BFI Film Classics books in order

Reading order

BFI Film Classics is one of the most respected series in film publishing. Each slim volume focuses on a single film, offering critical analysis, production history, and cultural context written by an expert in the field. The series launched in the early 1990s and has grown to cover dozens of films spanning the entire history of cinema, from Abel Gance’s Napoleon to recent titles like The Big Lebowski.

The range of films covered is broad. Classic Hollywood sits alongside European art cinema, horror films next to war dramas, and animated films share shelf space with documentaries. Contributors include well-known critics and scholars, and the series has a reputation for pairing the right writer with the right film. Anne Billson’s entry on The Thing is a standout example, combining her horror expertise with close textual analysis.

Whether you are looking for a quick introduction to a film you have never seen or a deeper reading of something you already love, BFI Film Classics offers accessible, intelligent writing that avoids both academic jargon and superficial plot summary. The books are short enough to read in a single sitting but substantial enough to change how you think about the film.