# Backstory — user reviews > 52 indexed App Store user reviews of Backstory by Unlikely Films, Inc., rated 4.40/5 from 7 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstory/id521967972/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstory/id521967972.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 6 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1 ## Newest reviews (16 of 52) ### 5/5 — Jeff does it again! *2014-01-11, version 1.0.17* Been a fan for a long time (since the Creative Screenwriting days) and I would follow this man’s writing anywhere. Must read for film enthusiasts. ### 5/5 — Wonderful *2014-01-11, version 1.0.17* A wealth of screenwriting knowledge at your fingertips... Literally. If you're a writer or want to learn more about the writer's process this app is a must. Great articles, great interviews, great content overall. ### 5/5 — Must have reading for screenwriters *2013-10-22, version 1.0.17* If you like the podcast, you'll love this cool ezine. Jeff's access is far reaching and the behind the scenes info is always entertaining and informative. ### 5/5 — A must for film fans and writers! *2013-09-22, version 1.0.15* Backstory is a well crafted, well written and fascinating look at the world of screenwriting. Whether you are an industry professional or a casual fan, this is a great read. The layout is the best I've seen for any tablet based magazine. With access to links, downloads, videos and even full scripts and plays, Backstory is a must! For all you get, it's worth twice as much as they charge. Check it out! ### 5/5 — Highly recommended *2013-09-09, version 1.0.15* You can tell the passion and effort that goes into every issue of this magazine. I came to it through Jeff Goldsmith's Q&A podcast, which is easily the best orchestrated and most insightful out there, and he's hit the same high level here - he really knows his stuff and makes the effort to dig out real gold from interviewees and other writers alike. ### 5/5 — A brilliant magazine! *2013-08-31, version 1.0.15* I regularly read Empire and Total Film magazine but this online publication is better than both those fantastic magazines combined! The depth and varieties of the stories, the additional downloadable content and the scrolling artwork make Backstory the best movie magazine there is! Download it now! ### 5/5 — A Gem From Goldsmith *2013-08-21, version 1.0.15* A fantastic digital magazine for both filmmakers and writers alike! Goldsmith has such a great eye for material and the graphics and interactive elements make this such a treat to read. Though by way of disclosure I have written a few articles in past issues, I have to say as a reader and a writer I am delighted by what I find every time I click open the next issue! Bravo!! ### 5/5 — Well done, great content *2013-08-20, version 1.0.15* I love the in depth stories and beautiful design. ### 5/5 — A new classic *2013-08-15, version 1.0.15* Backstory is so polished, such a clean read, it feels like a magazine that's been around for decades. Classic, classy, and a confident, necessary voice! That goes double for the podcast!! ### 5/5 — A must have for any writer or film maker!!!! *2013-07-02* Clean, interactive and just plain awesome! The articles are informative and well written. The layout is beautiful and the graphics are artfully crafted. ### 5/5 — This is Perfection in a Bottle *2013-06-27, version 1.0.15* This is my all time favorite magazine. As an aspiring young film maker/film junky this fits my every need. I love how it's mainly a magazine about movies, but they just have articles for anything interesting. I actually don't mind that it only comes out every other month because there is so much to get through in each issue with all the great articles and movie scripts, and I have enough to do as it is. Great magazine! ### 5/5 — The Perfect Platform - Amazing Content *2013-03-26, version 1.0.13* After having an opportunity to check out this app with the free trial debut issue on a family member's iPad, I got the fever to purchase an iPad for myself. It is that good. I've been a longtime listener of Jeff Goldsmith's insightful podcast, The Q & A with Jeff Goldsmith (formerly Creative Screenwriting Magazine podcast). He functions as the Publisher and Editor In Chief of Backstory and my liaison directing me to this publication via said podcast. I had previously, briefly given Creative Screenwriting Mag a try, but ultimately didn't find it to be compelling enough to continue to pony up for the expensive print publication. Backstory is a complete game changer to the format. Here are the highlights to the magazine and this particular publication format. A) This magazine still delivers on the excellent interviews and journalists that were the highlight of the former Creative Screenwriting publication. B) Most importantly - this format allows for the inclusion of multiple feature length scripts (many of them as-yet unproduced Black List winners - a difficult to access and highly sought after resource for the intended audience of this publication) an unrealistic paper publication inclusion. C) Occasional and extremely insightful draft notes, outlines and production notes paired with feature stories and scripts. D) Exclusive links to short films and featurettes related to the writers, producers, and directors being featured in the articles. I can't say enough great things about this app/publication. It targets a specific audience for certain, but if you are a part of that audience, this is essential. I throw this into the pantheon of publications that include Tape Op (for home/studio audio engineers) and Creative Cow (for film/video production folks) and Backstory is a mere 4 issues deep at the time of this review. No looking in the rearview on my iPad purchase. It was worth it for Backstory access alone. That is a bold statement that I mean with absolute sincerity. ### 5/5 — A must read! *2013-03-03, version 1.0.13* Essential reading for anyone who loves film and film production. ### 5/5 — The one we've been waiting for... *2012-11-25, version 1.0.11* At long last! A decent publication on Newsstand for screenwriters. Quality assured in the capable hands of Jeff Goldsmith, whose previous screenwriting podcasts get to the nitty-gritty of the craft. Slick, engaging and interactive. Will definitely be subscribing to this. ### 5/5 — Fantastic - a must-have for every filmmaker and storyteller *2012-08-14, version 1.0.10* As a professional filmmaker and avid storyteller, I've been yearning for a magazine that perfectly captures my lifelong passion. Backstory does just that. On top of the great, in-depth content, interviews, features on films, classic and new, you also get a finely designed and crafted magazine. Each issue feels like a collectable coffee-table book, much like UK's finest independent film magazine, Little White Lies. And, last but not least, each issue includes actual, beautifully formatted screenplays by some of the world's best filmmakers, which you can simply open and read from within the app. The first issue is (still?) free, and it's made me subscribe. Hope many others will, too. ### 5/5 — Excellent Digital Magazine *2012-08-13, version 1.0.10* I have read issue #1, purchased (but only glanced at) #2, and so far I'm impressed. Unlike most magazines in the iTunes Newsstand, Backstory is not kludged together from a print magazine, but rather designed natively for digital, and the interface is clever and intuitive. Content-wise, the articles are well written and informative, and the illustration and design first-rate. I know it's tough times for magazines in any format, but I hope Backstory succeeds. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 2/5 — Needs Retina display support *2012-08-07, version 1.0.9* Great content. Unfortunately, the text looks horribly pixelated on the new iPad. Please fix and i will increase my rating. Update: Issue 2 is out and see that it's still not optimized for retina display. The publisher really needs to fix that problem before putting out additional issues. I won't be subscribing until then. I'm docking Backstory another star because the publisher seems to be unwilling to support iPad 3 users. ### 2/5 — No Retina Support *2012-06-03, version 1.0.8* The content is solid and plentiful, but it looks terrible on the iPad Retina display. Please fix and the score will go up. ### 3/5 — Great magazine... Takes forever to download *2016-02-29, version 1.0.19* Server issues abound! ### 3/5 — Fix the server issues!! *2015-07-02, version 1.0.19* I really want to give this a 5 stars, but I can't download some of the issues I purchased. It downloads for 10 min with little progress and then gives me an error that the server is busy. Then I have to start all over but it hangs every time. I was able to download most of two of the issues, but that's after babysitting the app and u pausing the download every time it pauses itself. I love the content of the magazines and Jeffs q&as are incredible! But trying to get the magazine to download is nothing but frustration. ### 3/5 — Good magazine that will be great with Retina support *2012-06-16, version 1.0.8* Love the concept, content and art direction. I do have to echo some of the other reviews, however, and say that Retina display support is sorely lacking. Hoping that will be in place in time for issue 2, and then I will likely subscribe. ### 3/5 — Great magazine but needs a Full retina update *2012-06-14, version 1.0.8* I love the content in this mag but the text is pretty bad on the ipad3 I will subscribe as soon as it's fixed! Looking forward to future issues ### 3/5 — Why so low res??? *2012-06-08, version 1.0.8* To have such *great* design that looks rather bad on a retina display, when it is released specifically, and only, FOR the iPad is a shame. ### 4/5 — Issue content *2016-08-12, version 1.0.19* It would be great if the issues had a synopsis of content. ### 4/5 — Excellent *2013-01-22, version 1.0.12* Third time's a charm indeed. This volume of Backstory is packed with film / writing tales. Highly recommended! ### 4/5 — Excellent but huge *2012-07-12, version 1.0.8* Great, detailed content but it's 500MB and doesn't seem to download in the background. I wish I didn't have to concern myself with how much storage I have, but I do. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Fabulous Magazine For Creatives *2017-05-01, version 2.0* Backstory is one of the best magazines for filmmakers out there. Jeff Goldsmith and company conduct such in depth interviews with Writers, Directors, Actors, Editors and more. It's a gift of creative inspiration and understanding in each issue! The best $25 you'll spend this year on your filmmaking passion is right here. And Jeff's podcast "The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith" is another way to learn and grow too. Enjoy. I've got to get back to reading the newest issue! ### 5/5 — Great Resource *2017-03-19, version 1.0.19* Even though I live in LA and can just go to the WGA library to look at scripts, having them at home, at my fingertips is amazingly convenient. That resource alone makes this worth the purchase. And you get that and so much more! I wish I discovered this sooner. ### 5/5 — Download problems *2016-05-08, version 1.0.19* This is a truely a fantastic magazine it is definitely a 5 out of 5 . Ive been a subscriber from the first issue 1 through 20. All the issues down loaded perfectly except issues 18 and 20. The down loading just stops and each time I try to down load 18 and 20 again a warning presents its self saying the app cannot connect to the server. Issue 19 downloaded just fine. Ive had sympathetic emails from the publisher but the problem still persists. This is just a warning I’m still giving it a 5 out of 5 because it is the best film magazine on the app store even though its not working for me at the moment . Hopefully the publisher will fix the problem. 8/5/16 Just an update from my first review, issue 21 downloaded just fine, issue 22 stalls. Unfortunately the problem has not been fixed. Ive unsubscribe such a shame. My other magazines from Vanity Fair to National Geographic all down load perfectly so Im not sure what the problem could be. ### 5/5 — Indispensable *2015-01-07, version 1.0.19* If you're a screenwriter, filmmaker or just a movie buff interested in the behind the scenes processes then Backstory is the indispensable resource for the craft of screenwriting. Great articles, full of depth and quality sit side-by-side with small moments of delight and the result is something you'll come back to time and time again. You get the story behind the story straight from the horses mouth and I for one wouldn't be without it. ### 5/5 — An insiders look at the industry and the art... *2014-11-19, version 1.0.19* If you ever get the chance to listen to Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith podcast, then you know this magazine is a must subscribe. Great together and worth every minute. So happy right now. Christmas seems to have come early. ### 5/5 — More great material *2014-10-22, version 1.0.19* Supplementing my subscription to American Cinematographer and the wide range of great podcasts including The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith, Backstory is a great new addition to my source of knowledge about the making of movies. I find the sources vital in pursuing my career as a filmmaker. ### 5/5 — Fantastic iPad magazine *2014-09-07, version 1.0.17* If you love film and the craftsmanship that goes into making these stories happen you should subscribe. Seriously. $25 is five trips to the coffee shop. Don't make excuses. You need to be reading this. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2014-08-20, version 1.0.15* Enjoying on the beach! ### 5/5 — Great Reading *2014-05-18, version 1.0.17* Anyone interested in great film journalism, incredible background, special features, and previews of upcoming work needs this magazine!!! Written by someone who loves a great story. ### 5/5 — Such a valuable resource *2014-01-19, version 1.0.17* This magazine is one of the primary reasons I bought an iPad. I've long been a fan of Jeff Goldsmith's podcasts, so the opportunity to access that kind of content in written format was fantastic. As an aspiring screenwriter, access to Blacklist, Nicholl Fellowship and other scripts has been invaluable. Not to mention learning from the writers about their process behind creating and crafting this material. Anyone interested in storytelling, screenwriting or film should check out this publication. I can't recommend it highly enough. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-09.*