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!
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#1 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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49points
#2 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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49points
#3 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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46points
#4 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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45points
#5 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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45points
#6 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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42points
#7 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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38points
#8 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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38points
#9 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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37points
#10 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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36points
