Nick Digilio, a lifelong Chicagoan, is an award-winning broadcaster, film critic, writer, and performer who has entertained audiences for four decades. Best known for his 35-year career at WGN-AM, including over 20 years hosting the #1 rated overnight show, Nick has also worked in Chicago theater, performed stand-up comedy, and hosted popular events like The Nick D Film Club and “Nick’s Pix.” A sought-after moderator and speaker, he has interviewed top stars at Flashback Weekend Horror Convention for more than 20 years. Today, Nick hosts two hit podcasts: The Nick D Podcast and That Show Hasn’t Been Funny in Years:... Read More
40 Years, 40 Films
October 31, 2025
Trade Paperback
Available now!
$20.00
Film critic Nick Digilio reflects on 40 years of moviegoing, movie reviewing, and movie-loving — one film at a time.
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Nick Digilio
Author
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“40 Years, 40 Films is an artfully conceived combination of autobiography and film criticism by Nick Digilio. It makes for delicious and nostalgic reading, as we get to savor and remember the films, and to imagine them if we have not. All this is punctuated with anecdotes from his life. It’s a wonderfully original book and happy reading for all film buffs, whether or not you agree with Nick’s assessments.”
Summary
For four decades, award-winning film critic and beloved Chicago broadcaster Nick Digilio has passionately reviewed movies, championed underappreciated gems, and entertained audiences across radio, podcasts, theaters, and live events. Now, in this unique and deeply personal collection, he reflects on 40 years of moviegoing, movie reviewing, and movie-loving — one film at a time.
From Albert Brooks’ Lost in America (1985) to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two (2024), each chapter is a heartfelt, hilarious, and razor-sharp essay on Digilio’s favorite film of the year, revealing not just his critical insights, but also the moments in his life that shaped (and were shaped by) these cinematic milestones. Alongside these 40 essays, the book includes full Top 10 lists from every year since 1985, as well as Nick’s personal picks from before his critic days, dating back to his childhood in Wrigleyville.
But this is more than a film book. It’s a candid biography, tracing Nick’s journey from movie-obsessed kid to respected voice in entertainment, through triumphs, turmoil, sobriety, and reinvention. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, showbiz secrets, and genuine love for the art of cinema, 40 Years, 40 Films is a celebration of life at 24 frames per second.