A backlight system includes an extended area light guide (120) and crossed first (128) and second (130) prismatic recycling films. The light guide provides a first light distribution that has a maximum luminance at a first polar angle, e.g., from 70 to 90 degrees, relative to the optical axis (116) of the system. The recycling films provide a second light distribution. No diffuser film is provided between the light guide and the recycling film disposed nearest the light guide. Instead, light is specularly transmitted from the output surf ace (120a) of the light guide to the input surf ace (128a) of the recycling film nearest the light guide. The recycling films comprise prisms having refractive indices tailored to provide the second light distribution with a maximum luminance at a polar angle of 10 degrees or less. The prisms preferably have a refractive index from 1.63 to 1.76. Related methods and articles are also disclosed.