The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece Audiobook By Tom Hanks cover art

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece

A Novel

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece

By: Tom Hanks
Narrated by: Tom Hanks, Peter Gerety, Natalie Morales, Ego Nwodim, Nasim Pedrad, Connor Ratliff, Holland Taylor, Rita Wilson, full cast
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.75

Buy for $24.75

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

From the legendary actor and best-selling author: a novel about the making of a star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film...and the humble comic books that inspired it. Funny, touching, and wonderfully thought-provoking, while also capturing the changes in America and American culture since World War II.

"Wild, ambitious and exceptionally enjoyable."—Matt Haig, best-selling author The Midnight Library, The Humans and Reasons to Stay Alive

Part One of this story takes place in 1947. A troubled soldier, returning from the war, meets his talented five-year-old nephew, leaves an indelible impression, and then disappears for twenty-three years.

Cut to 1970: The nephew, now drawing underground comic books in Oakland, California, reconnects with his uncle and, remembering the comic book he saw when he was five, draws a new version with his uncle as a World War II fighting hero.

Cut to the present day: A commercially successful director discovers the 1970 comic book and decides to turn it into a contemporary superhero movie.

Cue the cast: We meet the film’s extremely difficult male star, his wonderful leading lady, the eccentric writer/director, the producer, the gofer production assistant, and everyone else on both sides of the camera.

Bonus material: Interspersed throughout are three comic books that are featured in the story—all created by Tom Hanks himself—including the comic book that becomes the official tie-in to this novel’s "major motion picture masterpiece."

*Includes a downloadable PDF of the comics from the book and a QR code for access to the original screenplay of Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Tom Hanks (P) 2023 Random House Audio
Literary Fiction World War II Celebrity Tearjerking Funny Suspenseful
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece is its own universe, complete with a sun, a cast of circling planets, and a limitless number of stars. Its gravity pulls you in and its far reaching, multi-layered, rollicking exuberance holds you in place. I would have been happy to live inside this book forever." —Ann Patchett, best-selling author of These Precious Days

"This is a wild, ambitious and exceptionally enjoyable novel. A story about how stories happen, with a swirling kaleidoscope of characters across the best part of a century, and a real beating emotional heart. It has a lot of astute and fascinating things to say about comic books, movies, show business, America and human beings. I loved every page." —Matt Haig; author The Midnight Library, The Humans and Reasons to Stay Alive

"An extravagant, buoyant, joyfully sprawling book, bursting with affection for its characters, for the intricate lore of the movie business, and for the many ways in which human beings are one another's greatest opportunity." —Tana French, award-winning novelist of In The Woods and The Searcher

Featured Article: Hit the Open Highway with the 40+ Best Road Trip Listens for Your Next Journey


It takes more than great storytelling to be the right fit for each type of road trip. What works for a cross-country adventure may not be quite right for a quick day trip. What you listen to with your significant other may not be (read: is definitely not) the same as what you listen to with a carload of kids. And when driving solo, sometimes what you want is a little company. No matter what kind of journey you have coming up, we’ve got you covered.

Editorial Review

Tell me a story, Tom
If I had to describe what listening to this story was like as a place, this is how I’d put it: Picture a friendly pub with a roaring fire and enough bustle to make it feel lively, but not so much noise that you couldn’t have a conversation. And there are big, comfy chairs because it’s all about sinking in and letting Tom tell his stories without skipping a single detail. By the time the story gets into all the action, you're hooked, mesmerized, and eager to keep listening to every character that joins in on the storytelling—each anchored by the dynamic and affable voice of Tom Hanks. It’s comforting, invigorating, and time will go by way too quickly as you listen. —Tricia F., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    961
  • 4 Stars
    176
  • 3 Stars
    83
  • 2 Stars
    43
  • 1 Stars
    37
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    990
  • 4 Stars
    82
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    22
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    827
  • 4 Stars
    161
  • 3 Stars
    72
  • 2 Stars
    35
  • 1 Stars
    37

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bliss

As an actress from a small town learning the business of show, I find this book is both a treasure from our beloved Mr. Hanks and a gift to demystifying the magical realm of moviemaking.. Enjoyable characterizations, prose and stories. The candor in Mr.Hanks voice is a delight. Every reader serves the story beautifully.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The magic of movies answered on a typewriter.

The future of audiobooks is here and it is all starting with this. The story is everything one would expect it to be with much more human interest than you can shake a stick at. The character voice actors do-not disappoint as they completely understood the asignment. The post audio editing is missing a few things but I am sure that can be fixed soon.
How blessed we are in this time to have the talent of Tom Hanks, Rita Wison and the rest of the cast expound thier talents in this medium. I thabk you all for your efforts and dedication to your craft.
I will be buying a new-to-me typewriter, recommending this book and a typewriter to everyone that I know including my mother.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a fun insight into filmmaking!

What an interesting insight into film making. I loved the characters and the story from the beginning and how it circled back at the end. It’s also always great to hear Tom Hanks!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun peek behind the movie curtain

A touching story and interesting insight into the world of cinema. Tom Hanks is an easy to listen to narrator. Highly recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not the usual kind of thing I would read, but I took a chance and loved it

While it was not the kind of story or book, that I would normally choose to read, given that it was written by Tom Hanks I thought I might give it a shot and I’m certainly glad that I did. Given the author being in the business of film, it gives credence to this fantastic story of how a movie probably more often than not comes in to being. Fascinating.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sweet story

In this crazy world we live in not every book or story has to be tragic to be of value. I loved this book. It was sweet, gave me lots of info into film making and enjoyable. His voice is soothing, comfortable and the book was interesting. I give it a thumbs up!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Seeing Behind the Curtain Through Tom Hanks’ Eyes

The story reads like a guided tour of the film business by Tom Hanks. The world building is meticulous and palpable. The characters made me care enough that I laughed, cried and worried about people who did not exist the day before. The performances added to the experience.

My only knock is there was a minimal amount of tension. Threats like a stalker just disappeared rather than coming to fruition. Bill, Al and Ynez had straightforward worldviews that were never tested. The only moment the film was in doubt for me was during OKB’s destructive tenure. Just needed more like that to be a 5-star story. Great listen though.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it!

Wow! What a fantastic work. I know personally that sitting down to write a challenging and seeing projects like this through takes cleverness, thoughtfulness, and hard work. It took some research to you can tell from all the details. I’m really impressed with the writing I thought Mr. Tom Hanks did a phenomenal job. I’m really impressed Mr. Hanks. :-) I myself am pursuing writing and I really appreciate the way that you put this together and shared with us. You’re incredible insight into the movie making business. And your insightful life hacks were pretty cool as well. I really loved it. I was even moved to tears a few times really great job. Thank you for writing this book. Write another one!
D.D.R.Stewart

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it!

I’m a big fan of Tom Hanks and enjoy everything he does. Yes, at times it was a little confusing but I put that me more than the book. Learned a lot about movie making and think he did a great job of explaining. I will listen again in the future and hope a movie and more books come from Tom. Thank you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story made so much better by the performance of the narrator, Tom Hanks!

If you have ever starred in a movie, helped make a movie or watched a movie, you will love this book. The book not only gives you an idea of how movies are made but the characters and the story are amazing. Tom Hanks adds so much as the narrator to the story. His wonderful cadence lets you know exactly what he was thinking when he wrote the words. Bravo!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!