Edgar Wright

Actor, Director, Filmmaker, Producer, Writer

Edgar Wright is an English filmmaker who directed the television sitcom Spaced (1999–2001) and films including Shaun of the Dead (2004), Baby Driver (2017) and The Running Man (2025), known for rapid editing and music-driven set pieces.

Edgar Wright's 52 Book Recommendations

• Monty Python's Tunisian Holiday: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Hard-Boiled Hollywood: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Less Than Zero: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Black Hole: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Shock Value: “Had just read about the genesis of Tobe Hooper's iconic Texas Chainsaw Massacre in this great book on horror masters.”
• Funny Girl: “I loved that book and now have a fictional crush on Sophie Straw.”
• Mike Nichols: “Absolutely LOVED @MarkHarrisNYC's 'Mike Nichols: A Life'. An incredible document of a life well lived (10 times over). ... I did not want it to end.”
• A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away: “Loved that book.”
• Blitzed: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Grasshopper Jungle: “Read this book. You will enjoy.”
• Five Came Back: “NB. This book, along with 'Five Came Back' and 'Pictures At A Revolution' prove that @MarkHarrisNYC is one of the very best writers on film, and I just want him to live forever so he can write all the film books.”
• Books of Blood: “I loved the Books Of Blood.”
• Perfect Sound Whatever: “Loved @JamesAcaster's memoir / epic listicle that posits his theory that 2016 was the best year for music. ... Paints a striking picture of what it means to be a modern musician.”
• Dolce Vita Confidential: Fellini, Loren, Pucci, Paparazzi, and the Swinging High Life of 1950s Rome: “Also these two absolute gems by @shawnlevy: Dolce Vita Confidential (about the post war cultural explosion in Italy, including the creation of the paparazzi) and The Castle On Sunset about love, sex and death at the Chateau Marmont.”
• The Devil's Candy: “Oh yes.”
• The Running Man: “Full circle. From reading and loving the Richard Bachman (@stephenking) novel at age 14, to making my own screen adaptation, to buying the new paperback on opening day.”
• On Writing: “His non-fiction book, On Writing, is one of my favorite books. ... I use it a lot for inspiration.”
• 'Salem's Lot: “I love Salem's Lot – the book. I liked the TV movies. I liked the book better.”
• Carrie: “Everybody can identify with the characters in Carrie. And if you've been to school, those people, you are those people.”
• Them: Adventures with Extremists: “'Them: Adventures With Extremists' by @jonronson is 20 this year. I'm not sure there's been a non-fiction book that was more of an ominous bellwether of what was to come... Required reading then, and shockingly ahead of its time, now.”
• Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story: “Mr @ChrisNashawaty has written a book that is a) about the making of 'Caddyshack' that also manages to be about b) all film comedy. Required reading whether you are a fan of the movie or not. I devoured it & recommend you do too.”
• The Ax: “I have read the Donald Westlake book though (and loved it).”
• Seconds: “I have read Bryan Lee O'Malley's new book 'Seconds' and you are in for a magical treat.”
• Never a Dull Moment: 1971, the Year That Rock Exploded: “I loved this book (my friend had been telling me to read for yonks), such a great dive into the music and culture of the time. Highly recommend.”
• Jews Don't Count: “Will add to the chorus of great reviews for @Baddiel's 'Jews Don't Count'; a fascinating, thought provoking and thorough account of the biases, blind spots and hypocrisies of progressives. ... A must read.”
• Ayoade on Top: “'Ayoade On Top' is the most profoundly silly book on film I've ever read and somehow one of the most insightful too.”
• Winner Takes All: A Life of Sorts: “His book is actually a very fun read. Especially at the end of every chapter where he finds every positive review of even his worst.”
• Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies: “Just finished my good pal @NickJFrost's hilarious and heartbreaking memoir. You should read.”
• Rebel Without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player: “Great book.”
• Hitchcock: “Hitchcock / Truffaut or Rebel Without A Crew”
• The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock: “Loved the book 'The Show That Never Ends. A deep, detailed, funny and affectionate dive into the history of prog rock by @daveweigel.”
• Who the Hell's in It: Conversations with Hollywood's Legendary Actors: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• The Sculptor: “And yes, loved The Sculptor.”
• Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: “a trick I think I'd read in Tom Lennon's book.”
• Meet Me in the Bathroom: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• The Devil in the White City: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• A Kim Jong-Il Production: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Rat Pack Confidential: “Have had this 'Rat Pack' book forever by @shawnlevy & finally devoured it. Great stuff.”
• Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen, and Candy Stripe Nurses: “For anyone interested in movie making I highly recommend @ChrisNashawaty's book on Roger Corman. A must read.”
• Pictures at a Revolution: “NB. This book, along with 'Five Came Back' and 'Pictures At A Revolution' prove that @MarkHarrisNYC is one of the very best writers on film, and I just want him to live forever so he can write all the film books.”
• The Castle on Sunset: “Also these two absolute gems by @shawnlevy: Dolce Vita Confidential (about the post war cultural explosion in Italy, including the creation of the paparazzi) and The Castle On Sunset about love, sex and death at the Chateau Marmont.”
• Hollywood Babylon: “Books: Pictures At A Revolution, Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine & Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood, Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley, Hollywood Babylon (and then Karina Longworth podcast that fact checks it)”
• Tinseltown: “Books: Pictures At A Revolution, Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine & Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood, Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley, Hollywood Babylon (and then Karina Longworth podcast that fact checks it)”
• Lonely Boy: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time: “Adored Craig Brown's brilliant 'One Two Three Four: The Beatles In Time'. Funny, fascinating and beautifully structured with many detailed and engrossing tangents.”
• David Bowie: A Life: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Little Deaths: “Here are some books that I very much enjoyed while on my press tour and my post tour collapse...”
• Members Only: The Life and Times of Paul Raymond: “Just finished reading 'Members Only' the fascinating book on Paul Raymond by Paul Willets.”
• Happy Like Murderers: “I just finished reading Gordon Burn's Happy Like Murderers, which I first bought 22 years ago and never got around to reading (or was too scared).”
• Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood: “Books: Pictures At A Revolution, Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine & Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood, Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley, Hollywood Babylon”
• Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley: “Books: Pictures At A Revolution, Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine & Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood, Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley, Hollywood Babylon”
• Hammer Glamour: “Just been reading a great book called Hammer Glamour covering all the horror actresses.”