Decade Guides: Best Books, Films And TV By Era
A guide to each decade's reading and viewing, from the 1920s to now.
Pick an era below for its books, then its films and television year by year. Each one links to the calendar, the trivia page and the full page for every year.
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Pick a decade
- 1920s - Silent cinema, the first BBC broadcasts and a decade of detective novels and modernist landmarks. Guide: /blogs/news/1920s-books-films-tv
- 1930s - Talking pictures fill the cinemas, the BBC starts television, and the great crime and children's writers hit their stride. Guide: /blogs/news/1930s-books-films-tv
- 1940s - Wartime cinema and radio, then a post-war burst of British film and the books that came out of the war. Guide: /blogs/news/1940s-books-films-tv
- 1950s - Ealing comedies, the Coronation on television and the arrival of ITV - plus Narnia, Bond and the Angry Young Men. Guide: /blogs/news/1950s-books-films-tv
- 1960s - Doctor Who, Coronation Street, the Bond films and the British New Wave, with children's writing at its best. Guide: /blogs/news/1960s-books-films-tv
- 1970s - Three channels, sitcoms everyone watched at once, blockbuster cinema and a golden run of children's books. Guide: /blogs/news/1970s-books-films-tv
- 1980s - Channel 4 arrives, soaps take over the schedules, and video shops change how films get watched. Guide: /blogs/news/1980s-books-films-tv
- 1990s - Britpop on the telly, the rise of the British film comedy, and the decade Harry Potter started. Guide: /blogs/news/1990s-books-films-tv
- 2000s - Reality television, the Potter and Rings films, and the decade box sets replaced the video shop. Guide: /blogs/news/2000s-books-films-tv
- 2010s - Streaming takes over, prestige drama everywhere, and a decade of huge crossover novels. Guide: /blogs/news/2010s-books-films-tv
- 2020s - Lockdown viewing habits stick, streaming drama dominates, and cosy crime sells by the crate. Guide: /blogs/news/2020s-books-films-tv
How to use it
- Themed night: a film, the decade playlist and a trivia round from the same era.
- Book club: pick a decade and let everyone choose a title from its list.
- Reminiscence session: the television lines get more conversation than the films do.
- Birthday present: a book first published the year they were born is a cheap, personal gift.
How to write it so it lands
- The decade someone turned eighteen is usually the one they remember best.
- A book published in their birth year makes a good, cheap milestone present.
- Pair a decade guide with its playlist and trivia page for a full themed evening.
Where to shop next
- 1920s books, films and TV
- 1930s books, films and TV
- 1940s books, films and TV
- 1950s books, films and TV
- 1960s books, films and TV
- 1970s books, films and TV
- 1980s books, films and TV
- 1990s books, films and TV
- 2000s books, films and TV
- 2010s books, films and TV
- 2020s books, films and TV
- 1920s calendar
- 1930s calendar
- 1940s calendar
- 1950s calendar
- 1960s calendar
- 1970s calendar
- 1980s calendar
- 1990s calendar
- 2000s calendar
- 2010s calendar
- 2020s calendar
- The 2020s so far
- The 2010s: the whole decade
- The 2000s: the whole decade
- The 1990s: the whole decade
- The 1980s: the whole decade
- The 1970s: the whole decade
- The 1960s: the whole decade
- The 1950s: the whole decade
- The 1940s: the whole decade
- The 1930s: the whole decade
- The 1920s: the whole decade
- Shop greetings cards
- Shop birthday cards
- Shop funny cards
- Milestone birthday cards
- Nostalgia gift shop
- Retro party supplies
- Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
- Decade films: best movies and directors by era
- Decade history: key events, politics and culture by era
- Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
- Decade music: top songs, bands and trends by era
- Decade literature: writers, novels and reading trends
- Decade food: classic dishes and food trends
- Decade calendar: every year from 1920
- Decade trivia: fun facts by era
- Guess the year quiz
- Care home reminiscence quiz
- All decade guides in one place
- Decade fashion: styles, designers and trends
- Decade travel: destinations and holidays
- Decade technology: gadgets and computers
- Decade shopping guides
- Decade games: board, card and video games by era
- Decade quizzes: questions and answers by era
- Decade trivia game: play for points
- Decade quiz: test your memory
- Shop art prints and posters
- Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
- Birthday cards for kids
- Good luck cards
- All guides
Frequently asked questions
What decades are covered?
Every decade from the 1920s to the present, each with its own books, films and television page.
Is it UK focused?
Yes. The television is British, the films are the ones that filled British cinemas, and the books are the ones that sold and stayed here.
Can I use these for a quiz or care home session?
Yes, freely. Print them, read them out, copy them - no permission needed.
What is a good example of decade guides: books, films and TV?
"Themed night: a film, the decade playlist and a trivia round from the same era." is one of 15 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.