Awards season is a celebration of cinematic excellence, but the best stories often start on the page. From a beloved Wizard of Oz retelling to the captivating biopic of a music icon, many of this year’s most lauded films were inspired by books. On Spotify, enjoy the full experience: Immerse yourself in the original stories via audiobooks, then explore podcasts with insightful commentary and behind-the-scenes coverage of the season’s biggest films. Here are some editor-approved picks to begin your journey.
Audiobooks
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
By Gregory Maguire
Narrated by John McDonough
Inspired Best Picture nominee Wicked
As unforgettable as its green-skinned witch, this is the book that inspired the Tony Award–winning hit musical and major motion picture of the same name. Gregory Maguire’s Wicked reimagines the story of one of the most feared and hated characters in all of literature: the Wicked Witch of the West, who, as Maguire tells us, wasn’t nearly as Wicked as we imagined.
Dune: Book One in the Dune Chronicles
By Frank Herbert
Narrated by Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Ilyana Kadushin, and Simon Vance
Inspired Best Picture nominee Dune: Part Two
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune: Book One in the Dune Chronicles follows Paul Atreides, the heir to a noble family caught in a web of treachery that sets him on a journey toward a greater destiny. The Frank Herbert masterpiece combines adventure, mysticism, environmentalism, and politics, making it one of the most influential works in science fiction.
Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties
By Elijah Wald
Narrated by Sean Runnette
Inspired Best Picture nominee A Complete Unknown
On July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan shocked the world at the Newport Folk Festival by playing electric guitar, marking the birth of rock as a cultural force. In Dylan Goes Electric, Elijah Wald offers fresh insights into the night that reshaped popular music, exploring the clash between folk and rock, Dylan’s artistic evolution, and his complex relationship with the folk movement and mentor Pete Seeger.
Discover more books that have sparked films and TV shows on Spotify’s “From book to screen” shelf.
Podcasts
Before Hollywood’s biggest night, catch up on preshow coverage to get the inside track on the season’s most anticipated moments.
The Big Picture
Episode: “The 2025 Alternative Oscars, a.k.a. the 5th Annual Big Picks!”
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins hand out alternative awards for the major categories, plus their own fun picks—the snubbed, the beloved, and more.
Episode: “Final 2025 Oscar Predictions: Who Will Win and Should Win”
Sean and Amanda dive into the latest news on the 2026 movie slate and make their final predictions for the 2025 winners, losers, and everything in between.
The Town with Matthew Belloni
Episode: “Inside Tips to Predict the 2025 Oscar Winners”
Matt Belloni is joined by top talent manager Michael Lasker to sift through the awards season buzz and share tips for finding a gambling edge on the big night.
For post-show coverage, tune back in to The Big Picture and The Town, as well as Ringer Dish for a special episode covering red-carpet reactions and viral surprises.
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