Movies based on books are some of the most popular films of all time. Turning books into movies gives the screenwriters and directors a vibrant blueprint to draw from, with characters already fleshed out and plotlines already proven. The best movies based on books are almost guaranteed to be successful because they were preceded by a bestseller. And the best books turned into movies bring with them a dedicated fan base excited to see their favorite scenes come to life on the big screen, just as they’d imagined them. This list of best movies based on novels and memoirs includes some of the most popular series in history as well as a few you may not have realized started out as books.
Top Movies Based On Novels
It is very common for books to be made into movies and has been since the early days of Hollywood. Movies are occasionally made into books, called novelizations. This list includes movies based on fantasy, sci-fi, nonfiction and other book genres. It is based on critical acclaim, box office success, star power and long-term appeal.
20. Dune (2021) PG-13
Based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci fi novel, Dune follows a young man trying to protect his people as he drops onto a new planet where a precious and lacking resource has thrown everything into chaos. Paul is chosen for greatness, but can he live up to the prophecies?
The film, starring Timothee Chalamet, Josh Brolin and Zendaya and directed by Denis Villeneuve, won six Academy Awards, grossed over $400 million and spawned a successful sequel. While it does leave out a few characters from the book, the 2021 Dune is considered more faithful to the original than the 1984 adaptation, and critics praised the visuals for mirroring the book. Here’s where you can stream Dune.
19. The Joy Luck Club (1993) R
Based on Amy Tan’s bestselling 1989 novel about four Chinese American families, The Joy Luck Club follows the lives of two generations of women in the families. As the daughters learn more about their mothers, they begin to bridge the gaps between them and find common ground through mahjong.
Director Wayne Wang faced several challenges in adapting the book, which has multiple narrators and pings from past to present. He added a party scene and a voiceover not in the book to help clarify the storytelling. The movie, starring Ming-Na Wen, Kieu Chinh and Rosalind Chao, did solidly at the box office and received warm reviews. It was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in 2020. Here’s where you can stream The Joy Luck Club.
18. The Godfather (1972) R
Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel about a Mafia family, The Godfather is one of the few movies to own a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It follows Michael (Al Pacino), the youngest son of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), as he gets involved with the family business while trying to maintain a normal life.
The first in a trio of critically acclaimed Godfather films directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the original was a box office and critical hit that won three Oscars, including Best Picture. The top organized crime movie, which Puzo helped write, leaves out several subplots and characters from the book, and it focuses more on the family elements than the book. Here’s where you can stream The Godfather.
17. Hidden Figures (2016) PG
Based on the 2016 nonfiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures tells the story of the often-ignored Black women instrumental to the space race and success of NASA. It focuses on three gifted mathematicians, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who faced discrimination and segregation despite their vital skills.
The film, directed by Theodore Melfi, takes a narrower focus than the book, which also includes some other women who don’t make it into the movie, and doesn’t give as much of the larger historical context of segregation. The film was praised by critics, especially the performances of stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe. It earned a Best Picture Oscar nod, too. Here’s where you can stream Hidden Figures.
16. I Am Legend (2007) PG-13
Based on the 1954 horror classic by Richard Matheson, I Am Legend follows a scientist named Robert (Will Smith), who is the only survivor of a plague that he alone seems immune to. He searches for other survivors while trying to create a cure for the zombie disease.
The biggest change between the book and movie is the ending, which is completely different in the film. Director Francis Lawrence’s film made $585 million worldwide at the box office and has a sequel in the works. Here’s where you can stream I Am Legend.
15. Blade Runner (1982) R
Based on Phillip K. Dick’s 1968 sci fi novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner follows replicant hunter Deckard (Harrison Ford), who unfortunately has fallen in love with a replicant played by Sean Young. His mission raises questions about the ethics of artificial intelligence.
Despite that deep overarching theme, this top sci-fi movie explores fewer of the philosophical and religious themes raised in the book, which also uses some different terminology (like andies instead of replicants). Director Ridley Scott’s film became a cult classic and spawned a sequel, Blade Runner 2049. Here’s where you can stream Blade Runner.
14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) PG
Based on the first in J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone follows young Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) as he learns that he’s a wizard and is taken to a school where he learns to use his magical powers and confronts an unfathomable evil that will continue to haunt him.
The Harry Potter movies are remarkably similar to the books, which began publishing in 1997, though a few minor subplots are dropped in the interest of time. Chris Columbus directed the first film, which was a huge box office success. Here’s where you can stream Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
13. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) R
Based on Thomas Harris’s 1998 psychological thriller, The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI recruit Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who is tasked with interviewing serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to gain insights on a case. Their give and take does eventually help finder the killer, but at what price?
The movie omits some details from the book, most notably any mention of Will Graham. The Silence of the Lambs was actually a sequel to Harris’s Red Dragon, which detailed Graham’s dealings with Lecter. Director Jonathan Demme’s movie was a critical and box office success that became the third movie ever to sweep Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. Here’s where you can stream The Silence of the Lambs.
12. Forrest Gump (1994) PG-13
Based on the 1986 novel by Winston Groom, Forrest Gump follows the adventures of a man (Tom Hanks) with a knack for turning up at the right place at the right time, whether it’s playing on the national ping-pong team or saving soldiers in Vietnam. But he struggles to help his true love, Jenny (Robin Wright).
There are many small differences with the book, including a gentler Forrest on-screen and a later start to the pivotal friendship between Forrest and Bubba. The movie was a phenomenal success, winning Oscars for Hanks, director Robert Zemeckis and Best Picture and grossing over $300 million domestically. Here’s where you can stream Forrest Gump.
11. The Hate U Give (2018) PG-13
Based on Angie Thomas’s bestselling 2017 novel, The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, who lives in a poor Black neighborhood but attends a posh private school. Those worlds collide after police shoot one of her close childhood friends, who did nothing to deserve it. Devastated, she becomes an unlikely community leader.
Several key characters in the book, including DeVante and Nana, are either eliminated or play small roles in the film, which also opens with a different scene than the novel. The film, directed by George Tillman Jr., was a critical hit and earned strong reviews for actors Amandla Stenberg and Russell Hornsby. Here’s where you can stream The Hate U Give.
10. A Beautiful Mind (2001) PG-13
Based on the unauthorized biography of John Nash published by Sylvia Nasar in 1998, A Beautiful Mind tells the story of the brilliant but troubled Nobel Prize-winning economist and mathematician, who developed mental illness while working on code-breaking projects. It is also a love story between Nash (Russell Crowe) and wife Alicia (Jennifer Connelly).
The box office hit directed by Ron Howard earned more than $300 million and earned Oscars for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress. The movie simplifies a lot of events, eliminates some characters and doesn’t address the Nashes’ divorce. Here’s where you can stream A Beautiful Mind.
9. Schindler’s List (1993) R
Based on the 1982 novel Schindler’s Ark by Australian author Thomas Keneally, Schindler’s List is a fictionalized version of the real-life person Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a Nazi Party member who nonetheless saved more than 1,000 Polish Jews during World War II by offering them work in his factories.
The film, directed by Steven Spielberg and also starring Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley, does not offer the backstory on Schindler’s early years and combines some events to make the plot lines more manageable. The movie was a critical and box office smash, winning seven Oscars, including Best Director and Best Picture. Here’s where you can stream Schindler’s List.
8. The Color Purple (1985) PG-13
Based on Alice Walker’s 1982 epistolary novel that won the Pulitzer Prize, The Color Purple tells the story of the resilient Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), who is abused first by her father and then by her husband. She survives by finding companionship with Shug and dreaming of being reunited with her sister in Africa.
The film received 11 Academy Award nominations and marked the first film role for Oprah Winfrey. Director Steven Spielberg’s film shies away from the lesbian relationship between Celie and Shug that is more clearly depicted in the book. Here’s where you can stream The Color Purple.
7. Crazy Rich Asians (2018) PG-13
Based on Kevin Kwan’s 2014 book, one of this century’s best satirical romance novels, Crazy Rich Asians is about Rachel Wu (Constance Wu), an economics professor who accompanies her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding), back to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. Turns out Nick’s family is crazy rich, and they don’t approve of Rachel.
The movie makes several minor changes from the book, including making Astrid a lesser character while simplifying her issues with Michael and creating a new character, Princess Intan. The film from director Jon M. Chu was one of the highest-grossing romantic movies of the 2010s, bringing in almost $240 million and earning two Golden Globe nominations. Here’s where you can stream Crazy Rich Asians.
6. The Hunger Games (2012) PG-13
Based on the first in Suzanne Collins’ bestselling young adult series, The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as she competes in the sadistic nationally televised battle called the Hunger Games, in which every district sends a teenage tribute to battle to the death. The dystopian tale weaves romance into the fight for survival.
The movie is fairly accurate to the book, but the latter was told from Katniss’s perspective and didn’t include some scenes in the film featuring President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Gary Ross directed the film, which made almost $700 million worldwide. Here’s where you can stream The Hunger Games.
5. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) PG-13
Based on the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada shows Andy (Anne Hathaway), a young wannabe “serious” journalist who lands a job with a famous fashion magazine working for infamous editor Miranda Priestley (a perfectly cast Meryl Streep). Miranda proves a tough taskmaster, but Andy learns a lot.
The Andy character has a harder edge in the book, which also had a subplot about Andy’s friend Lily being an alcoholic that didn’t make it into the movie. Her boyfriend’s name also changes from Alex to Nate in the film, which was directed by David Frankel. The film ranked as the 12th biggest hit of 2006 and drew raves for Streep’s performance. Here’s where you can stream The Devil Wears Prada.
4. The Princess Bride (1987) PG
Based on William Goldman’s 1973 fantasy romance, The Princess Bride follows the romance between Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and farmhand-turned-pirate Westley (Cary Elwes). Buttercup becomes betrothed to another when Westley appears to perish, and many hilarious shenanigans ensue, including some sword duels and a Billy Crystal-Carol Kane bit.
While the basic plot of the movie and book match, the characters in the book are different from the film. The Rob Reiner-directed top family movie has a cult following and was chosen for preservation by the Library of Congress. Here’s where you can stream The Princess Bride.
3. The Wizard of Oz (1939) G
Based on Frank L. Baum’s 1900 children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz follows Kansas farm girl Dorothy (Judy Garland) on a trip over the rainbow, where she meets the Scarecrow, Tinman and Cowardly Lion. Together, they journey to see the wizard, defeat the Wicked Witch and get Dorothy home.
The movie has become one of the most beloved films of all time, winning three Oscars and becoming the most-seen movie ever, according to the Library of Congress. The Victor Fleming-directed film spawned the famous quotes “We’re not in Kansas anymore” and “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too.” The movie introduces new characters in Kansas and, most famously, changes the color of Dorothy’s magical slippers from silver to ruby. Here’s where you can stream The Wizard of Oz.
2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) R
Based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption is Andy’s story. Despite protesting his innocence, Andy (Tim Robbins) is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover and sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary, where he forms a deep friendship with fellow inmate Red (Morgan Freeman).
Two significant differences between the novella and the movie are the fates of young prisoner Tommy and the warden. While it didn’t have great box office results, the film has become a staple on cable and boasts a strong 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating. It also earned seven Oscar nods. Here’s where you can stream The Shawshank Redemption.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) PG-13
Based on the first book in the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring sets up the epic journey undertaken by Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), his hobbit friends and a legion of protectors after Frodo unwittingly inherits the One Ring. Alas, evil forces also want the ring.
You can’t go wrong with any of the LOTR movies, which won a slew of Oscars and grossed more than $3 billion worldwide at the box office. Director Peter Jackson’s movie simplifies much of the book, dropping subplots and combining or removing several characters. Here’s where you can stream The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Bottom Line
Some of the best books ever written have inspired some of the best films to ever make it to the big screen. From rich fantasies to edge-of-your-seat action to romantic comedies, book-to-movie adaptations offer every genre you can think of to suit any mood. Try watching one of these great films today.
