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Sometimes, a book is so good that you can't imagine it ever being made into a film at all. But here's the thing: a lot of books do get turned into movies, and it has worked many times! The practice of book-to-movie adaptation has been with us for a very long time. In fact, the earliest known examples date back to the silent film era. And while there have been several successful film adaptations over the years — such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which took J.R.R Tolkien's beloved novels and turned them into three iconic masterpieces — it's not so easy to translate a book into a film or a whole franchise. Books' adaptations are often considered inferior to the original source material, but plenty of great films stick closely to the stories that inspired them. The best movies based on books are those that not only capture the essence of the original novel but also take viewers on an entirely new journey. Some of our favorite films from childhood were inspired by beloved books, and as adults, we can often confirm they've held up to the test of time.

Good movie adaptations are rare material, but we chose tons of movies based on books that did it right! Do these stories still resonate with you? Do you think these movies do justice to their source material? We'll let you be the judge!

#1

Schindler's List

Schindler's List

1993 | 3h 15m | Directed by Steven Spielberg

"Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire." Set in Krakow during World War II, Schindler's List tells the true story of industrialist Oskar Schindler, who witnessed the persecution of his Jewish workforce by the Nazis. He gradually involves himself in their lives through bribes and favors, ultimately saving over 1000 Jews from certain death in concentration camps. Steven Spielberg was granted permission to film inside Auschwitz but chose not to, out of respect for the victims, so the death camp scenes were filmed outside the gates on a set constructed in a mirror image of the real location on the other side. Based on Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally, this masterpiece earned 91 wins (including 7 Academy Awards) and 49 nominations.

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Stephanie Wittenberg
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should be required reading (of the book) and watching (of the movie) for high-school students. "Lest we forget..."

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#2

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption

1994 | 2h 22m | Directed by Frank Darabont

No movie has ever captured the exhilaration of freedom as powerfully as Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Andy Dufresne is a quiet, clever, and mild-mannered banker who one day finds his life shattered when he is sent to prison, accused of murdering his wife and her lover. While there, he makes friends with a fellow inmate, Ellis "Red" Redding, an older man who has spent most of his life in prison. The two men form a strong bond, and Andy begins to make plans for their future life outside of Shawshank State Prison.

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Snowfoxrox
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of my all time favorite movies and novel by my most favorite author!!

#3

To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird

1962 | 2h 9m | Directed by Robert Mulligan

The book that inspired the movie To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most beloved novels of all time. The story follows Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in Alabama during the Great Depression, who witnesses the widespread racism in her small town. Her father, Atticus Finch, is an honest lawyer who thinks everyone deserves a fair trial and takes on the case of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. When Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson in court and attempts to prove his innocence, he challenges the deep-seated racism in his community and becomes a public enemy to many people.

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#4

The Godfather

The Godfather

1972 | 2h 55m | Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Many movies have made cinema history, but this gangster classic is still widely considered one of the greatest movies ever made. Based on the crime novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, the movie tells the story of a Mafia family in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. The movie was ahead of its time in many ways. It was one of the first films to use a disjointed narrative structure, relying heavily on flashbacks to tell its story, which became common in cinematic storytelling. Still, The Godfather did it first and arguably did it best.

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#5

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy

2001-2003 | Directed by Peter Jackson

When they were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003 respectively, The Lord Of The Rings films redefined the fantasy genre and became one of the most successful film series of all time. Using The Fellowship Of The Ring by Tolkien as an inspiration, the creators managed to take an ambitious project and make it real, creating an unforgettable journey that attracted fans from all over the world. Even though the films have been out for 20 years, they still hold up as one of the top franchises in cinematic history.

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WoodenLion
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

never watched them but people that have seem to really like it

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Legolas Greenleaf
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I....... fictional? Do I exist? Am I really here on this Earth? Is it even Middle-Earth?

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#6

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride

1987 | 1h 38m | Directed by Rob Reiner

Included for preservation in the Library of Congress, this comedy movie follows the story of a young woman, chosen by Prince Humperdinck to become his consort despite her refusal, in a quest to reunite with her true love. Based on The Princess Bride by William Goldman, the story is presented in the style of a fairy tale being read by a grandfather to his sick grandson, preserving the novel's metafictional narrative method.

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Jason Marin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Get back, witch." "I'm not a witch, I'm your wife. But after what you just said, I'm not even sure I want to be that any more." "You never had it so good."

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#7

The Silence Of The Lambs

The Silence Of The Lambs

1991 | 1h 58m | Directed by Jonathan Demme

The Silence Of The Lambs is a psychological horror-thriller celebrated by movie lovers and critics alike. An adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel, it's one of the only three movies to have won Academy Awards in all the top five categories – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. When it was released in 1991, the critics praised its tense atmosphere, intelligent story, and exceptional performances from Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, who played Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling.

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KimB
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! The book was amazing and Jodie Foster really brought Clarice Starling to life!

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#8

The Wizard Of Oz

The Wizard Of Oz

1939 | 1h 42m | Directed by Victor Fleming

Based on the children's fantasy novel published in 1900, The Wizard of Oz is a classic story that everyone knows. The plot has all the magical elements you could ask for: young Dorothy and her dog get swept away by a tornado and end up in the land of Oz. Here, she'll have to look for the Wizard, the only one who can get her back home. Popular for its musical score and memorable characters, The Wizard of Oz has become the source of many quotes referenced in contemporary popular culture and is one of the few films included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

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Earl Grey
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That movie was cursed. Lots of online references to the disasters in the making of that film, but here’s just one: https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/horrific-stories-behind-wizard-oz-21666437

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#9

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump

1994 | 2h 22m | Directed by Robert Zemeckis

The film adaptation of Forrest Gump by Winston Groom, this timeless movie is full of unforgettable scenes and quotes that are still popular today. Forrest Gump tells the story of a slow-witted but kind-hearted guy from Alabama living through some significant American historical events, like Kennedy's presidency, the Vietnam war, and the Watergate scandal. His only friend is Jenny Curran, with whom he has been friends since they were kids. With their incredible performance, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright significantly contributed to the movie's success.

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#10

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park

1993 | 2h 7m | Directed by Steven Spielberg

Jurassic Park is a visually stunning adventure centered on the disastrous attempt to create an island theme park inhabited by cloned dinosaurs. We follow a select group of paleontologists and mathematicians who get the opportunity to tour the theme park. Despite the owner assuring everyone that the park is totally safe, they soon find out that the creatures have broken free and are hunting the visitors. With its good share of action, Jurassic Park is also a thoughtful science fiction movie saga about the ethics of genetic engineering and how greed can be a lethal motivator.

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#12

Stand By Me

Stand By Me

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Jason Marin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me and my brother would often imitate the scene in the movie when Chris and Gordy would lightly kick each other in the butt.

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#14

Psycho

Psycho

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Onion Patch Petunia
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If Hitchcock had made half as many great films as he did, he would still deserve his ranking among the Giants

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#16

Harry Potter Franchise

Harry Potter Franchise

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Glynna Bowood
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gotta disagree with this - as the movies progressed they seem to differ more and more form the books.

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#20

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

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AKRaven
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't believe this one is on here, as I recall the Roald Dahl was not happy with the film, didn't like it at all.

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#22

The Help

The Help

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WoodenLion
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

maybe 'cause i'm from mississippi in the 60's - if you understand what it was like back then it is very well worth watching.

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#24

The Neverending Story

The Neverending Story

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Snowfoxrox
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good lord Artax was heartbreaking. But this was a wonderful movie. My English teacher had us watch it and discuss foreshadowing and juxtaposition really gave us a deeper understanding of it.

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#26

Misery

Misery

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Jason Marin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kathy Bates didn't want Annie to break Paul's ankles but just like in the book, she wanted Annie to cut his foot off. Talk about getting into the role.

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#30

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins

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Onion Cutting Ninja
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the only movies I liked better than the book. This movie is literally my childhood. Seen it more times than I can count. Other movies I liked more than the book include Fantastic Mr. Fox, and thats pretty much it. Maybe Jurassic Park.

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#32

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

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Onion Patch Petunia
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The technical achievement was outstanding. Imagine the effort Bob Hoskins had to make working with a non-existent co-star.

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#34

Shrek

Shrek

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Onion Cutting Ninja
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

gonna have to disagree with this one... book is amazing, written by one of my (maybe my favorite) childrens book authors, and the movie sucked.

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#37

The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada

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NicNor5560
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both book and movie are great. There's a second book too, which is also great.

#38

The Count Of Monte Cristo

The Count Of Monte Cristo

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Robert Trebor
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The unabridged version of the book is so rich. I found a lovely three volume set which is a joy to read. (it is 01:51 here, better not get volume 1 down right now).

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#39

How To Train Your Dragon

How To Train Your Dragon

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Snowfoxrox
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of my all time favorites!! The way a single, under valued person learns and changes the hearts of those around them with kindness and understanding is a timely message. That and the fact that Toothless is essentially a flying kitten! lol

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#44

The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity

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𝖊𝖆
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the best books I’ve read. The action was so intense and fast I had to re-read some of the pages to get it all, but it was amazing. Totally immersed into his world and you think you know what’s happening but the plot twists are wild.

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#45

Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland

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#46

Little Women

Little Women

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Huddo's sister
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't decide which of the versions of the movie I liked better. They really did the book justice.

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#50

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

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NicNor5560
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was such a great evening at the movies. Loved, loved, loved it. I didn't know it was a book too. Edit: I have the book and didn't know until I looked it up ...

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